Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, Page 42

  CHAPTER XI.

  The author's dangerous voyage. He arrives at New Holland, hoping tosettle there. Is wounded with an arrow by one of the natives. Is seizedand carried by force into a Portuguese ship. The great civilities of thecaptain. The author arrives at England.

  I began this desperate voyage on February 15, 1714-15, at nine o'clock inthe morning. The wind was very favourable; however, I made use at firstonly of my paddles; but considering I should soon be weary, and that thewind might chop about, I ventured to set up my little sail; and thus,with the help of the tide, I went at the rate of a league and a half anhour, as near as I could guess. My master and his friends continued onthe shore till I was almost out of sight; and I often heard the sorrelnag (who always loved me) crying out, "_Hnuy illa nyha_, _majah Yahoo_;""Take care of thyself, gentle _Yahoo_."

  My design was, if possible, to discover some small island uninhabited,yet sufficient, by my labour, to furnish me with the necessaries of life,which I would have thought a greater happiness, than to be first ministerin the politest court of Europe; so horrible was the idea I conceived ofreturning to live in the society, and under the government of _Yahoos_.For in such a solitude as I desired, I could at least enjoy my ownthoughts, and reflect with delight on the virtues of those inimitable_Houyhnhnms_, without an opportunity of degenerating into the vices andcorruptions of my own species.

  The reader may remember what I related, when my crew conspired againstme, and confined me to my cabin; how I continued there several weekswithout knowing what course we took; and when I was put ashore in thelong-boat, how the sailors told me, with oaths, whether true or false,"that they knew not in what part of the world we were." However, I didthen believe us to be about 10 degrees southward of the Cape of GoodHope, or about 45 degrees southern latitude, as I gathered from somegeneral words I overheard among them, being I supposed to the south-eastin their intended voyage to Madagascar. And although this were littlebetter than conjecture, yet I resolved to steer my course eastward,hoping to reach the south-west coast of New Holland, and perhaps somesuch island as I desired lying westward of it. The wind was full west,and by six in the evening I computed I had gone eastward at leasteighteen leagues; when I spied a very small island about half a leagueoff, which I soon reached. It was nothing but a rock, with one creeknaturally arched by the force of tempests. Here I put in my canoe, andclimbing a part of the rock, I could plainly discover land to the east,extending from south to north. I lay all night in my canoe; andrepeating my voyage early in the morning, I arrived in seven hours to thesouth-east point of New Holland. This confirmed me in the opinion I havelong entertained, that the maps and charts place this country at leastthree degrees more to the east than it really is; which thought Icommunicated many years ago to my worthy friend, Mr. Herman Moll, andgave him my reasons for it, although he has rather chosen to follow otherauthors.

  I saw no inhabitants in the place where I landed, and being unarmed, Iwas afraid of venturing far into the country. I found some shellfish onthe shore, and ate them raw, not daring to kindle a fire, for fear ofbeing discovered by the natives. I continued three days feeding onoysters and limpets, to save my own provisions; and I fortunately found abrook of excellent water, which gave me great relief.

  On the fourth day, venturing out early a little too far, I saw twenty orthirty natives upon a height not above five hundred yards from me. Theywere stark naked, men, women, and children, round a fire, as I coulddiscover by the smoke. One of them spied me, and gave notice to therest; five of them advanced toward me, leaving the women and children atthe fire. I made what haste I could to the shore, and, getting into mycanoe, shoved off: the savages, observing me retreat, ran after me: andbefore I could get far enough into the sea, discharged an arrow whichwounded me deeply on the inside of my left knee: I shall carry the markto my grave. I apprehended the arrow might be poisoned, and paddling outof the reach of their darts (being a calm day), I made a shift to suckthe wound, and dress it as well as I could.

  I was at a loss what to do, for I durst not return to the samelanding-place, but stood to the north, and was forced to paddle, for thewind, though very gentle, was against me, blowing north-west. As I waslooking about for a secure landing-place, I saw a sail to thenorth-north-east, which appearing every minute more visible, I was insome doubt whether I should wait for them or not; but at last mydetestation of the _Yahoo_ race prevailed: and turning my canoe, I sailedand paddled together to the south, and got into the same creek whence Iset out in the morning, choosing rather to trust myself among thesebarbarians, than live with European _Yahoos_. I drew up my canoe asclose as I could to the shore, and hid myself behind a stone by thelittle brook, which, as I have already said, was excellent water.

  The ship came within half a league of this creek, and sent her long boatwith vessels to take in fresh water (for the place, it seems, was verywell known); but I did not observe it, till the boat was almost on shore;and it was too late to seek another hiding-place. The seamen at theirlanding observed my canoe, and rummaging it all over, easily conjecturedthat the owner could not be far off. Four of them, well armed, searchedevery cranny and lurking-hole, till at last they found me flat on my facebehind the stone. They gazed awhile in admiration at my strange uncouthdress; my coat made of skins, my wooden-soled shoes, and my furredstockings; whence, however, they concluded, I was not a native of theplace, who all go naked. One of the seamen, in Portuguese, bid me rise,and asked who I was. I understood that language very well, and gettingupon my feet, said, "I was a poor _Yahoo_ banished from the _Houyhnhnms_,and desired they would please to let me depart." They admired to hear meanswer them in their own tongue, and saw by my complexion I must be aEuropean; but were at a loss to know what I meant by _Yahoos_ and_Houyhnhnms_; and at the same time fell a-laughing at my strange tone inspeaking, which resembled the neighing of a horse. I trembled all thewhile betwixt fear and hatred. I again desired leave to depart, and wasgently moving to my canoe; but they laid hold of me, desiring to know,"what country I was of? whence I came?" with many other questions. Itold them "I was born in England, whence I came about five years ago, andthen their country and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they wouldnot treat me as an enemy, since I meant them no harm, but was a poor_Yahoo_ seeking some desolate place where to pass the remainder of hisunfortunate life."

  When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or saw any thing moreunnatural; for it appeared to me as monstrous as if a dog or a cow shouldspeak in England, or a _Yahoo_ in _Houyhnhnmland_. The honest Portuguesewere equally amazed at my strange dress, and the odd manner of deliveringmy words, which, however, they understood very well. They spoke to mewith great humanity, and said, "they were sure the captain would carry me_gratis_ to Lisbon, whence I might return to my own country; that two ofthe seamen would go back to the ship, inform the captain of what they hadseen, and receive his orders; in the mean time, unless I would give mysolemn oath not to fly, they would secure me by force. I thought it bestto comply with their proposal. They were very curious to know my story,but I gave them very little satisfaction, and they all conjectured thatmy misfortunes had impaired my reason. In two hours the boat, which wentladen with vessels of water, returned, with the captain's command tofetch me on board. I fell on my knees to preserve my liberty; but allwas in vain; and the men, having tied me with cords, heaved me into theboat, whence I was taken into the ship, and thence into the captain'scabin.

  His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very courteous and generousperson. He entreated me to give some account of myself, and desired toknow what I would eat or drink; said, "I should be used as well ashimself;" and spoke so many obliging things, that I wondered to find suchcivilities from a _Yahoo_. However, I remained silent and sullen; I wasready to faint at the very smell of him and his men. At last I desiredsomething to eat out of my own canoe; but he ordered me a chicken, andsome excellent wine, and then directed that I should be put to bed in avery clean cabin. I would not undres
s myself, but lay on thebed-clothes, and in half an hour stole out, when I thought the crew wasat dinner, and getting to the side of the ship, was going to leap intothe sea, and swim for my life, rather than continue among _Yahoos_. Butone of the seamen prevented me, and having informed the captain, I waschained to my cabin.

  After dinner, Don Pedro came to me, and desired to know my reason for sodesperate an attempt; assured me, "he only meant to do me all the servicehe was able;" and spoke so very movingly, that at last I descended totreat him like an animal which had some little portion of reason. I gavehim a very short relation of my voyage; of the conspiracy against me bymy own men; of the country where they set me on shore, and of my fiveyears residence there. All which he looked upon as if it were a dream ora vision; whereat I took great offence; for I had quite forgot thefaculty of lying, so peculiar to _Yahoos_, in all countries where theypreside, and, consequently, their disposition of suspecting truth inothers of their own species. I asked him, "whether it were the custom inhis country to say the thing which was not?" I assured him, "I hadalmost forgot what he meant by falsehood, and if I had lived a thousandyears in _Houyhnhnmland_, I should never have heard a lie from themeanest servant; that I was altogether indifferent whether he believed meor not; but, however, in return for his favours, I would give so muchallowance to the corruption of his nature, as to answer any objection hewould please to make, and then he might easily discover the truth."

  The captain, a wise man, after many endeavours to catch me tripping insome part of my story, at last began to have a better opinion of myveracity. But he added, "that since I professed so inviolable anattachment to truth, I must give him my word and honour to bear himcompany in this voyage, without attempting any thing against my life; orelse he would continue me a prisoner till we arrived at Lisbon." I gavehim the promise he required; but at the same time protested, "that Iwould suffer the greatest hardships, rather than return to live among_Yahoos_."

  Our voyage passed without any considerable accident. In gratitude to thecaptain, I sometimes sat with him, at his earnest request, and strove toconceal my antipathy against human kind, although it often broke out;which he suffered to pass without observation. But the greatest part ofthe day I confined myself to my cabin, to avoid seeing any of the crew.The captain had often entreated me to strip myself of my savage dress,and offered to lend me the best suit of clothes he had. This I would notbe prevailed on to accept, abhorring to cover myself with any thing thathad been on the back of a _Yahoo_. I only desired he would lend me twoclean shirts, which, having been washed since he wore them, I believedwould not so much defile me. These I changed every second day, andwashed them myself.

  We arrived at Lisbon, Nov. 5, 1715. At our landing, the captain forcedme to cover myself with his cloak, to prevent the rabble from crowdingabout me. I was conveyed to his own house; and at my earnest request heled me up to the highest room backwards. I conjured him "to conceal fromall persons what I had told him of the _Houyhnhnms_; because the leasthint of such a story would not only draw numbers of people to see me, butprobably put me in danger of being imprisoned, or burnt by theInquisition." The captain persuaded me to accept a suit of clothes newlymade; but I would not suffer the tailor to take my measure; however, DonPedro being almost of my size, they fitted me well enough. He accoutredme with other necessaries, all new, which I aired for twenty-four hoursbefore I would use them.

  The captain had no wife, nor above three servants, none of which weresuffered to attend at meals; and his whole deportment was so obliging,added to very good human understanding, that I really began to toleratehis company. He gained so far upon me, that I ventured to look out ofthe back window. By degrees I was brought into another room, whence Ipeeped into the street, but drew my head back in a fright. In a week'stime he seduced me down to the door. I found my terror graduallylessened, but my hatred and contempt seemed to increase. I was at lastbold enough to walk the street in his company, but kept my nose wellstopped with rue, or sometimes with tobacco.

  In ten days, Don Pedro, to whom I had given some account of my domesticaffairs, put it upon me, as a matter of honour and conscience, "that Iought to return to my native country, and live at home with my wife andchildren." He told me, "there was an English ship in the port just readyto sail, and he would furnish me with all things necessary." It would betedious to repeat his arguments, and my contradictions. He said, "it wasaltogether impossible to find such a solitary island as I desired to livein; but I might command in my own house, and pass my time in a manner asrecluse as I pleased."

  I complied at last, finding I could not do better. I left Lisbon the24th day of November, in an English merchantman, but who was the master Inever inquired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the ship, and lent me twentypounds. He took kind leave of me, and embraced me at parting, which Ibore as well as I could. During this last voyage I had no commerce withthe master or any of his men; but, pretending I was sick, kept close inmy cabin. On the fifth of December, 1715, we cast anchor in the Downs,about nine in the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got safe to myhouse at Rotherhith. {546}

  My wife and family received me with great surprise and joy, because theyconcluded me certainly dead; but I must freely confess the sight of themfilled me only with hatred, disgust, and contempt; and the more, byreflecting on the near alliance I had to them. For although, since myunfortunate exile from the _Houyhnhnm_ country, I had compelled myself totolerate the sight of _Yahoos_, and to converse with Don Pedro de Mendez,yet my memory and imagination were perpetually filled with the virtuesand ideas of those exalted _Houyhnhnms_. And when I began to considerthat, by copulating with one of the _Yahoo_ species I had become a parentof more, it struck me with the utmost shame, confusion, and horror.

  As soon as I entered the house, my wife took me in her arms, and kissedme; at which, having not been used to the touch of that odious animal forso many years, I fell into a swoon for almost an hour. At the time I amwriting, it is five years since my last return to England. During thefirst year, I could not endure my wife or children in my presence; thevery smell of them was intolerable; much less could I suffer them to eatin the same room. To this hour they dare not presume to touch my bread,or drink out of the same cup, neither was I ever able to let one of themtake me by the hand. The first money I laid out was to buy two youngstone-horses, which I keep in a good stable; and next to them, the groomis my greatest favourite, for I feel my spirits revived by the smell hecontracts in the stable. My horses understand me tolerably well; Iconverse with them at least four hours every day. They are strangers tobridle or saddle; they live in great amity with me and friendship to eachother.