The following excerpts from Gulliver's Travels describe the Yahoos, a race of human beings who are treated like beasts of burden in the land ruled by horses, the Houyhnhnms (pronounced hoonums). When the horses first see Gulliver they mistake him for a Yahoo until he proves to them that he is a different kind of human being.

The greed, violence and inhuman behavior of the Yahoos could be compared to today's bankers who own all the gold; war mongers who set people against each other; and media owners who fill their newspapers, magazines, television, books, video games, movies, radio and internet with filthy language, non-stop perverted sex, violence, torture, etc etc. ~ Jackie Jura

PART 4, CHAPTERS 1 thru 10 - Gulliver in the land of the Houyhnhnms:

...I fell into a beaten Road, where I saw many Tracks of human Feet, and some of Cows, but most of Horses. At last I beheld several Animals in a Field, and one or two of the same kind sitting in Trees. Their Shape was very singular and deformed, which a little discomposed me, so that I lay down behind a Thicket to observe them better. Some of them coming forward near the Place where I lay, gave me an Opportunity of distinctly marking their Form. Their Heads and Breasts were covered with a thick Hair, some frizzled and others lank; they had Beards like Goats, and a long ridge of Hair down their Backs and the fore-parts of their Legs and Feet, but the rest of their Bodies were bare, so that I might see their Skins, which were of a brown buff Colour. They had no Tails, nor any Hair at all on their Buttocks, except about the Anus; which, I presume, Nature had placed there to defend them as they sate on the Ground; for this Posture they used, as well as lying down, and often stood on their hind Feet. They climbed high Trees, as nimbly as a Squirrel, for they had strong extended Claws before and behind, terminating in sharp points, and hooked. They would often spring, and bound, and leap with prodigious Agility. The Females were not so large as the Males, they had long lank Hair on their Heads, but none on their Faces, nor any thing more than a sort of Down on the rest of their Bodies, except about the Anus, and Pudenda. Their Dugs hung between their Fore-feet, and often reached almost to the Ground as they walked. The Hair of both Sexes was of several Colours, brown, red, black and yellow. Upon the whole, I never beheld in all my Travels so disagreeable an Animal, nor one against which I naturally conceived so strong an Antipathy. So that thinking I had seen enough, full of Contempt and Aversion, I got up and pursued the beaten Road, hoping it might direct me to the Cabbin of some Indian. I had not got far when I met one of these Creatures full in my way, and coming up directly to me. The ugly Monster, when he saw me, distorted several ways every Feature of his Visage, and stared as at an Object he had never seen before; then approaching nearer, lifted up his Fore-paw, whether out of Curiosity or Mischief, I could not tell. But I drew my Hanger, and gave him a good Blow with the flat Side of it, for I durst not strike him with the Edge, fearing the Inhabitants might be provoked against me, if they should come to know, that I had killed or maimed any of their Cattle. When the Beast felt the smart, he drew back, and roared so loud, that a Herd of at least forty came flocking about me from the next Field, howling and making odious Faces; but I ran to the Body of a Tree, and leaning my Back against it, kept them off, by waving my Hanger. Several of this cursed Brood getting hold of the Branches behind, leaped up in the Tree, from whence they began to discharge their Excrements on my Head: However, I escaped pretty well, by sticking close to the Stem of the Tree, but was almost stifled with the Filth, which fell about me on every side.

In the midst of this Distress, I observed them all to run away on a sudden as fast as they could, at which I ventured to leave the Tree, and pursue the Road, wondering what it was that could put them into this Fright. But looking on my Left-hand, I saw a Horse walking softly in the Field: which my Persecutors having sooner discovered, was the Cause of their Flight. The Horse started a little when he came near me, but soon recovering himself, looked full in my Face with manifest Tokens of Wonder: He viewed my Hands and Feet, walking round me several times. I would have pursued my Journey, but he placed himself directly in the way, yet looking with a very mild Aspect, never offering the least Violence. We stood gazing at each other for some time; at last I took the Boldness, to reach my Hand towards his Neck, with a Design to stroak it using the common Style and Whistle of Jockies when they are going to handle a strange Horse. But this Animal seeming to receive my Civilities with Disdain, shook his Head, and bent his Brows, softly raising up his right Fore-foot to remove my Hand. Then he neighed three or four times, but in so different a Cadence, that I almost began to think he was speaking to himself in some Language of his own.

While he and I were thus employed, another Horse came up; who applying himself to the first in a very formal Manner, they gently struck each other's right Hoof before, neighing several times by turns, and varying the Sound, which seemed to be almost articulate. They went some Paces off, as if it were to confer together, walking Side by Side, backward and forward, like Persons deliberating upon some Affair of Weight, but often turning their Eyes towards me, as it were to watch that I might not escape. I was amazed to see such Actions and Behaviours in brute Beasts, and concluded with myself, that if the Inhabitants of this Country were endued with a proportionable Degree of Reason, they must needs be the wisest People upon Earth. This Thought gave me so much Comfort, that I resolved to go forward until I could discover some House or Village, or meet with any of the Natives, leaving the two Horses to discourse together as they pleased. But the first, who was a Dapple-Gray, observing me to steal off, neighed after me in so expressive a Tone, that I fancied myself to understand what he meant; whereupon I turned back, and came near him, to expect his farther Commands. But concealing my Fear as much as I could, for I began to be in some Pain, how this Adventure might terminate; and the Reader will easily believe I did not much like my present Situation.

The two Horses came up close to me, looking with great Earnestness upon my Face and Hands. The gray Steed rubbed my Hat all round with his right Fore-hoof, and discomposed it so much, that I was forced to adjust it better, by taking it off, and settling it again; where at both he and his Companion (who was a brown bay) appeared to be much surprized, the latter felt the Lappel of my Coat, and finding it to hang loose about me, they both looked with new Signs of Wonder. He stroked my Right-hand, seeming to admire the Softness, and Colour; but he squeezed it so hard between his Hoof and his Pastern, that I was forced to roar; after which they both touched me with all possible Tenderness. They were under great Perplexity about my Shoes and Stockings, which they felt very often, neighing to each other, and using various Gestures, not unlike those of a Philosopher, when he would attempt to solve some new and difficult Phænomenon.

Upon the whole, the Behaviour of these Animals was so orderly and rational, so acute and judicious, that I at last concluded, they must needs be Magicians, who had thus metamorphosed themselves upon some design, and seeing a Stranger in the way, were resolved to divert themselves with him; or perhaps were really amazed at the sight of a Man so very different in Habit, Feature, and Complection from those who might probably live so remote a Climate. Upon the Strength of this Reasoning, I ventured to address them in the following Manner: Gentlemen, if you be Conjurers, as I have good Cause to believe, you can understand any Language; therefore I make bold to let your Worships know that I am a poor distressed English Man, driven by his Misfortunes upon your Coast, and I entreat one of you, to let me ride upon his Back, as if he were a real Horse, to some House or Village, where I can be relieved. In return of which Favour, I will make you a Present of this Knife and Bracelet (taking them out of my Pocket). The two Creatures stood silent while I spoke, seeming to listen with great Attention; and when I had ended, they neighed frequently towards each other, as if they were engaged in serious Conversation. I plainly observed, that their Language expressed the Passions very well, and their Words might with little Pains be resolved into an Alphabet more easily than the Chinese.

I could frequently distinguish the Word Yahoo, which was repeated by each of them several times; and altho' it was impossible for me to conjecture what it meant; yet while the two Horses were busy in Conversation, I endeavoured to practice this Word upon my Tongue; and as soon as they were silent, I boldly pronounced Yahoo in a loud Voice, imitating, at the same time, as near as I could, the Neighing of a Horse; at which they were both visibly surprized, and the Gray repeated the same Word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right Accent, wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myself perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any Degree of Perfection. Then the Bay tried me with a second Word, much harder to be pronounced; but reducing it to the English Orthography, may be spelt thus, Houyhnhnm. I did not succeed in this so well as the former, but after two or three farther Trials, I had better Fortune; and they both appeared amazed at my Capacity.

After some further Discourse; which I then conjectured might relate to me, the two Friends took their Leaves, with the same Compliment of striking each other's Hoof; and the Gray made me Signs that I should walk before him, wherein I thought it prudent to comply, till I could find a better Director. When I offered to slacken my Pace, he would cry Hhuun, Hhuun; I guessed his Meaning, and gave him to understand as well as I could, that I was weary, and not able to walk faster; upon which he would stand a while to let me rest.

...The Mare soon after my Entrance, rose from her Matt, and coming up close, after having nicely observed my Hands and Face, gave me a most contemptuous Look; then turning to the Horse, I heard the Word Yahoo often repeated betwixt them; the Meaning of which Word I could not then comprehend, although it were the first I had learned to pronounce; but I was soon better informed, to my everlasting Mortification: For the Horse beckoning to me with his Head, and repeating the Word Hhuun, Hhuun, as he did upon the Road, which I understood was to attend him, led me out into a kind of Court, where was another Building at some Distance from the House. Here we enter'd, and I saw three of these detestable Creatures, whom I first met after my Landing, feeding upon Roots, and the Flesh of some Animals, which I afterwards found to be that of Asses and Dogs, and now and then a Cow dead by Accident or Disease. They were all tyed by the Neck with strong Wyths fastened to a Beam; they held their Food between the Claws of their Fore-feet, and tore it with their Teeth.

The Master Horse ordered a Sorrel Nag, one of his Servants, to untie the largest of these Animals, and take him into the Yard. The Beast and I were brought close together; and our Countenances diligently compared, both by Master and Servant, who thereupon repeated several times the Word Yahoo. My Horror and Astonishment are not to be described, when I observed, in this abominable Animal, a perfect human Figure; the Face of it indeed was flat and broad, the Nose depressed, the Lips large, and the Mouth wide. But these Differences are common to all Savage Nations, where the Lineaments of the Countenance are distorted by the Natives suffering their Infants to lie groveling on the Earth, or by carrying them on their Backs, nuzzling with their Face against the Mother's Shoulders. The Fore-feet of the Yahoo differed from my Hands in nothing else, but the Length of the Nails, the Coarseness and Brownness of the Palms, and the Hairiness on the Backs. There was the same Resemblance between our Feet, with the same Differences, which I knew very well, tho' the Horses did not, because of my Shoes and Stockings; the same in every Part of our Bodies, except as to Hairiness and Colour, which I have already described.

The great Difficulty that seemed to stick with the two Horses, was, to see the rest of my Body so very different from that of a Yahoo, for which I was obliged to my Cloaths whereof they had no Conception: The Sorrel Nag offered me a Root, which he held (after their Manner, as we shall describe in its proper Place) between his Hoof and Pastern; I took it in my Hand, and having smelt it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could. He brought out of the Yahoo's Kennel a Piece of Ass's Flesh, but it smelt so offensively that I turned from it with loathing; he then threw it to the Yahoo, by whom it was greedily devoured. He afterwards shewed me a Whisp of Hay, and a Fetlock full of Oats; but I shook my Head, to signify that neither of these were Food for me. And indeed, I now apprehended, that I must absolutely starve, if I did not get to some of my own Species: For as to those filthy Yahoos, although there were few greater Lovers of Mankind, at that time, than myself; yet I confess I never saw any sensitive Being so detestable on all Accounts; and the more I came near them, the more hateful they grew, while I stayed in that Country. This the Master Horse observed by my Behaviour, and therefore sent the Yahoo back to his Kennel. He then put his Fore- hoof to his Mouth, at which I was much surprized, although he did it with Ease, and with a Motion that appeared perfectly natural, and made other Signs to know what I would eat;...

About Noon I saw coming towards the House a kind of Vehicle, drawn like a Sledge by Four Yahoos. There was in it an old Steed, who seemed to be of Quality, he alighted with his Hind-feet forward, having by Accident got a Hurt in his Left Fore-foot. He came to dine with our Horse, who received him with great Civility... The Grey ordered me to stand by him, and much Discourse passed between him and his Friend concerning me, as I found by the Stranger's often looking on me, and the frequent Repetition of the Word Yahoo...

...In about Ten Weeks time I was able to understand most of his Questions, and in three Months could give him some tolerable Answers. He was extremely curious to know from what Part of the Country I came, and how I was taught to imitate a rational Creature; because the Yahoos (whom he saw I exactly resembled in my Head, Hands, and Face, that were only visible,) with some Appearance of Cunning, and the strongest Disposition to Mischief, were observed to be the most unteachable of all Brutes. I answered, That I came over the Sea from a far Place, with many others of my own Kind, in a great hollow Vessel made of the Bodies of Trees. That my Companions forced me to land on this Coast, and then left me to shift for myself. It was with some Difficulty, and by the help of many Signs, that I brought him to understand me. He replied, That I must needs be mistaken, or that I said the Thing which was not. For they have no Word in their Language to express Lying or Falsehood. He knew it was impossible that there could be a Country beyond the Sea, or that a parcel of Brutes could move a Wooden Vessel whither they pleased upon Water. He was sure no Houyhnhnm alive could make such a Vessel, nor would trust Yahoos to manage it.

The Word Houyhnhnm, in their Tongue, signifies a Horse, and in its Etymology, the Perfection of Nature. I told my Master, that I was at a loss for Expression, but would improve as fast as I could; and hoped in a short time I should be able to tell him Wonders: He was pleased to direct his own Mare, his Colt and Fole, and the Servants of the Family to take all Opportunities of instructing me, and every Day for two or three Hours, he was at the same Pains himself: Several Horses and Mares of Quality in the Neighbourhood came often to our House upon the Report spread of a wonderful Yahoo, that could speak like a Houyhnhnm, and seemed in his Words and Actions to discover some Glimmerings of Reason. These delighted to converse with me; they put many Questions, and received such Answers, as I was able to return. By all these Advantages, I made so great a Progress, that in five Months from my arrival, I understood whatever was spoke, and could express myself tolerably well.

The Houyhnhnms who came to visit my Master with the Design of seeing and talking with me, could hardly believe me to be a right Yahoo, because my Body had a different Covering from others of my Kind...I told my Master, That in the Country from whence I came, those of my kind always covered their Bodies with the Hairs of certain Animals prepared by Art, as well for Decency, as to avoid the Inclemencies of Air both Hot and Cold; of which, as to my own Person, I would give him immediate Conviction, if he pleased to command me; only desiring his Excuse, if I did not expose those Parts, that Nature taught us to conceal. He said my Discourse was all very strange, but especially the last Part; for he could not understand why Nature should teach us to conceal what Nature had given. That neither himself nor Family were ashamed of any Parts of their Bodies; but however I might do as I pleased. Whereupon, I first unbuttoned my Coat and pulled it off. I did the same with my Waste-coat; I drew off my Shoes, Stockings, and Breeches. I let my Shirt down to my Waste, and drew up the Bottom, fastening it like a girdle about my Middle to hide my Nakedness.

My Master observed the whole Performance with great Signs of Curiosity and Admiration. He took up all my Cloaths in his Pastern, one Piece after another, and examined them diligently; he then stroakd my Body very gently, and looked round me several times, after which he said, it was plain I must be a perfect Yahoo; but that I differed very much from the rest of my Species, in the Softness and Whiteness and Smoothness of my Skin, my Want of Hair in several Parts of my Body, the Shape and Shortness of my Claws behind and before, and my affectation of walking continually on my two Hinder-feet. He desired to see no more, and gave me Leave to put on my Cloaths again, for I was shuddering with Cold.

I expressed my uneasiness at his giving me so often the Appellation of Yahoo, an odious Animal, for which I had so utter an Hatred and Contempt. I begged he would forbear applying that Word to me, and take the same Order in his Family, and among his Friends whom he suffered to see me...

In the mean time, he desired I would go on with my utmost Diligence to learn their Language, because he was more astonished at my Capacity for Speech and Reason, than at the Figure of my Body, whether it were covered or no; adding that he waited with some Impatience to hear the Wonders which I promised to tell him...

That I came from a very far Country, as I already had attempted to tell him with about Fifty more of my own Species; that we travelled upon the Seas, in a great hollow Vessel made of Wood, and larger than his Honour's House. I described the Ship to him in the best Terms I could, and explained by the help of my Handkerchief displayed, how it was driven forward by the Wind. That upon a Quarrel among us, I was set on Shoar on this Coast, where I walked forward without knowing whither, till he delivered me from the Persecution of those execrable Yahoos. He asked me, Who made the Ship, and how it was possible that the Houyhnhnms of my Country would leave it to the Management of Brutes? My Answer was, That I durst proceed no further in my Relation, unless he would give me his Word and Honour that he would not be offended, and then I would tell him the Wonders I had so often promised. He agreed; and I went on by assuring him, that the Ship was made by Creatures like myself, who in all the Countries I had travelled, as well as in my own, were the only governing, rational Animals; and that upon my Arrival hither, I was as much astonished to see the Houyhnhnms act like rational beings, as he or his Friends could be finding some Marks of Reason in a Creature he was pleased to call a Yahoo, to which I owned my Resemblance in every Part, but could not account for their degenerate and brutal Nature...

...I owned, that the Houyhnhnms among us, whom we called Horses, were the most generous and comely Animal we had, that they excelled in Strength and Swiftness; and when they belonged to Persons of Quality, employed in Travelling, Racing, or drawing Chariots, they were treated with much Kindness and Care, till they fell into Diseases or became foundred in the Feet; and then they were sold, and used to all kind of Drudgery till they died; after which their Skins were stripped and sold for what they were worth, and their Bodies left to be devoured by Dogs and Birds of Prey. But the common Race of Horses had not so good Fortune, being kept by Farmers and Carriers and other mean People, who put them to greater Labor, and feed them worse. I described as well as I could, our way of Riding, the Shape and Use of a Bridle, a Saddle, a Spur, and a Whip, of Harness and Wheels. I added, that we fastned Plates of a certain hard Substance called Iron at the Bottom of their Feet, to preserve their Hoofs from being broken by the Stony Ways on which we often travelled.

My Master, after some Expressions of great Indignation, wondered how we dared to venture upon a Houyhnhnm's Back, for he was sure, that the weakest Servant in his House would be able to shake off the strongest Yahoo, or by lying down, and rolling on his Back, squeeze the Brute to Death. I answered, That our Horses were trained up from three or four Years old to the several uses we intended them for; That if any of them proved intolerably vicious, they were employed for Carriages; that they were severely beaten while they were young, for any mischievous Tricks: That the Males, designed for common Use of Riding or Draught, were generally castrated about two Years after their Birth, to take down their Spirits, and make them more tame and gentle...to hinder them from propagating their Kind, and to render them more servile...He desired to know whether those among whom I lived, resembled me or the Yahoos of his Country... He said, I differed indeed from other Yahoos, being much more cleanly...He observed every Animal in this Country naturally to abhor the Yahoos...

...He said the Yahoos were known to hate one another more than they did any different Species of Animals; ...If you throw among Five Yahoos as much Food as would be sufficient for Fifty, they will, instead of eating peaceably, fall together by the Ears, each single one impatient to have all to itself; and therefore a Servant was usually employed to stand by while they were feeding abroad, and those kept at home were tied at a Distance from each other: that if a Cow died of Age or Accident, before a Houyhnhnm could secure it for his own Yahoos, those in the Neighbourhood would come in Herds to seize it, and then would ensue such a Battle as I had described, with terrible Wounds made by their Claws on both Sides, although they seldom were able to kill one another, for want of such convenient Instruments of Death as we had invented. At other times the like Battles have been fought between the Yahoos of several Neighbourhoods without any visible Cause: Those of one District watching all Opportunities to surprize the next before they are prepared. But if they find their Project hath miscarried, they return home, and for want of Enemies, engage in what I call a Civil War among themselves.

That in some Fields of his Country there are certain shining Stones of several Colours, where of the Yahoos are violently fond, and when part of these Stones is fixed in the Earth, as it sometimes happeneth, they will dig with their Claws for whole Days to get them out, then carry them away, and hide them by Heaps in their Kennels; but still looking round with great Caution, for Fear their Comrades should find out their Treasure. My Master said, he could never discover the Reason of this unnatural Appetite, or how these Stones could be of any Use to a Yahoo;...that he had once, by way of Experiment, privately removed a Heap of these Stones from the Place where one of his Yahoos had buried it: Whereupon, the sordid Animal missing his Treasure, by his loud lamenting brought the whole Herd to the Place, there miserably howled, then fell to biting and tearing the rest, began to pine away, would neither eat, nor sleep, nor work, till he ordered a Servant privately to convey the Stones into the same Hole, and hide them as before; which when his Yahoo had found, he presently recovered his Spirits and good Humour, but took good Care to remove them to a better hiding-place, and hath ever since been a very serviceable Brute.

My Master farther assured me, which I also observed myself, that in the Fields where the shining Stones abound, the fiercest and most frequent Battles are fought, occasioned by perpetual inroads of the neighbouring Yahoos.

He said, it was common when two Yahoos discovered such a Stone in a Field, and were contending which of them should be the Proprietor, a third would take the Advantage, and carry it away from them both...

My Master, continuing his Discourse, said, There was nothing that rendered the Yahoos more odious, than their undistinguishing Appetite to devour every Thing that came in their way, whether Herbs, Roots, Berries, the corrupted Flesh of Animals, or all mingled together: And it was peculiar in their Temper, that they were fonder of what they could get by Rapine or Stealth at a greater Distance, than much better Food provided for them at home. If their Prey held out, they would eat till they were ready to burst, after which Nature had pointed out to them a certain Root that gave them a general Evacuation.

There was also another kind of Root very juicy, but somewhat rare and difficult to be found, which the Yahoos sought for with much Eagerness, and would suck it with great Delight; and it produced in them the same Effects that Wine hath upon us. It would make them sometimes hug, sometimes tear one another, they would howl and grin, and chatter, and tumble, and then fall asleep in the Dirt.

I did indeed observe, that the Yahoos were the only Animals in this Country subject to any Diseases; which however, were much fewer than Horses have among us, and contracted not by any ill Treatment they meet with, but by the Nastiness, and Greediness of that sordid Brute. Neither has their Language any more than a general Appellation for those Maladies, which is borrowed from the Name of the Beast, and called Hnea-Yahoo, or the Yahoo's Evil, and the Cure prescribed is a mixture of their own Dung and Urine forcibly put down the Yahoo's Throat...

My Master told me, there were some Qualities remarkable in the Yahoos...Those Animals, like other Brutes, had their Females in common; but in this they differed, that the She-Yahoo would admit the Male, while she was pregnant; and that the Hees would quarrel and fight with Females as fiercely as with each other. Both which Practices were such Degrees of Brutality, that no other sensitive Creature ever arrived at.

Another thing he wondered at in the Yahoos, was their strange Disposition to Nastiness and Dirt, whereas there appears to be a natural Love of Cleanliness in all other Animals...

My Master likewise mentioned another Quality which his Servants had discovered in several Yahoos, and to him was wholly unaccountable. He said, a Fancy would sometimes take a Yahoo, to retire into a Corner, to lie down and howl, and groan, and spurn away all that came near him, although he were young and fat, wanted neither Food nor Water; nor could the Servants imagine what could possibly ail him. And the only Remedy they found was to set him to hard Work, after which he would infallibly come to himself. To this I was silent out of Partiality to my own Kind; yet here I could plainly discover the true seeds of Spleen, which only seize on the Lazy, the Luxurious, and the Rich; who, if they were forced to undergo the same Regimen, I would undertake for the Cure...

I often begged his Favour to let me go among the Herds of Yahoos in the Neighbourhood, to which he always very graciously consented, being perfectly convinced that the Hatred I bore those Brutes, would never suffer me to be corrupted by them; and his Honour ordered one of his Servants, a strong Sorrel Nag, very honest and good-Natured, to be my Guard, without whose Protection I durst not undertake such Adventures. For I have already told the Reader how much I was pestered by those odious Animals upon my first Arrival. And I afterwards failed three or four times of very narrowly of falling into their Clutches, when I happened to stray at any Distance without my Hanger. And I have Reason to believe they had some Imagination that I was of their own Species, which I often assisted myself, by stripping up my sleeves, and shewing my naked Arms, and Breast in their sight, when my Protector was with me. At which times they would approach as near as they durst, and imitate my Actions, after the manner of Monkeys, but ever with great Signs of Hatred; as a tame Jack-Daw with Cap and Stockings, is always persecuted by the wild ones, when he happens to get among them.

They are prodigiously nimble from their Infancy; however, I once caught a young Male of three Years old, and endeavoured by all Marks of Tenderness to make it quiet; but the little Imp fell a squalling, and scratching, and biting with such Violence, that I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole Troop of old ones came about us at the Noise, but finding the Cub was safe, (for away it ran) and my Sorrel Nag being by, they durst not venture near us. I observed the young Animal's Flesh to smell very rank, and the stink was somewhat between a Weasel and a Fox, but much more disagreeable. I forgot another Circumstance (and perhaps I might have the Reader's pardon if it were wholly omitted), that while I held the odious Vermin in my Hands, it voided its filthy Excrements of a Yellow liquid Substance, all over my Cloaths; but by good Fortune there was a small Brook hard by, where I washed myself as clean as I could, although I durst not come into my Master's Presence, until I were sufficiently aired.

By what I could discover, the Yahoos appear to be the most unteachable of all Animals, their Capacities never reaching higher than to draw or carry Burthens. Yet I am of Opinion this Defect ariseth chiefly from a perverse, restive Disposition. For they are cunning, malicious, treacherous and revengeful. They are strong and hardy, but of a cowardly Spirit, and by consequence, insolent, abject, and cruel. It is observed that the Red-haired of both Sexes are more libidinous and mischievous than the rest, whom yet they much exceed in Strength and Activity...

Being one Day abroad with my Protector, the Sorrel Nag, and the Weather exceeding hot, I entreated him to let me bathe in a River that was near. He consented, and I immediately stripped myself stark naked, and went down softly into the Stream. It happened that a young Female Yahoo standing behind a Bank, saw the whole Proceeding, and enflamed by Desire, as the Nag and I conjectured, came running with all Speed, and leaped into the Water, within five Yards of the Place where I bathed. I was never in my Life so terribly frighted; the Nag was grazing at some Distance, not suspecting any Harm. She embraced me after a most fulsome Manner; I roared as loud as I could, and the Nag came galloping towards me, whereupon she quitted her Grasp, with the utmost Reluctancy, and leaped upon the opposite Bank, where she stood gazing and howling all the time I was putting on my Cloaths.

This was matter of Diversion to my Master and his Family, as well as of Mortification to myself. For now I could no longer deny, that I was a real Yahoo, in every Limb and Feature, since the Females had a natural Prophensity to me as one of their own Species. Neither was the Hair of this Brute of a Red Colour (which might have been some Excuse for an Appetite a little irregular), but Black as a Sloe, and her Countenance did not make an Appearance altogether so hideous as the rest of the Kind; for, I think, she could not be above eleven Years old...

Every fourth Year, at the Vernal Equinox, there is a Representative Council of the whole Nation, which meets in a Plain about twenty Miles from our House, and continues about five or six Days. Here they enquire into the State and Condition of the several Districts...

One of these Grand Assemblies was held in my time, about three Months before my Departure, whither my Master went as the Representative of our District. In this Council was resumed their old Debate, and indeed, the only Debate which ever happened in that Country; whereof my Master after his Return gave me a very particular Account.

The Question to be debated was whether the Yahoos should be exterminated from the Face of the Earth? One of the Members for the Affirmative offered several Arguments of great Strength, and Weight, alledging That as the Yahoos were the most filthy, noisome, and deformed Animal which Nature ever produced, so they were the most restive and indocile, mischievous and malicious: They would privately suck the Teats of the Houyhnhnms Cows, kill and devour their Cats, trample down their Oats and Grass, if they were not continually watched, and commit a thousand other Extravagancies. He took notice of a general Tradition, That Yahoos had not been always in that Country: But, that many Ages ago, two of these Brutes appeared together upon a Mountain, whether produced by the Heat of the Sun upon corrupted Mud and Slime, or from the Ooze or Froth of the Sea, was never known. That these Yahoos engendered, and their Brood in a short time grew so numerous as to over run and infest the whole Nation. That the Houyhnhnms to get rid of this Evil, made a general Hunting, and at last enclosed the whole Herd; and destroying the old Ones, every Houyhnhnm kept two young Ones in a Kennel, and brought them to such a degree of Tameness, as an Animal so savage by Nature can be capable of acquiring; using them for Draught and Carriage. That there seemed to be much Truth in this Tradition, and that those Creatures could not be Ylnhniamshy (or Aborigines of the Land), because of the violent Hatred the Houyhnhnms, as well as all other Animals, bore them; which although their evil Disposition sufficiently deserved, could never have arrived at so high a Degree, if they had been Aborigines, or else they would have long since been rooted out. That the Inhabitants taking a Fancy to use the Service of the Yahoos, had very imprudently neglected to cultivate the Breed of Asses, which were a comely Animal, easily kept, more tame and orderly, without any offensive Smell, strong enough for Labour, although they yield to the other in Agility of Body; and if their Braying be no agreeable Sound, it is far preferable to the horrible Howlings of the Yahoos.

Several others declared their Sentiments to the same Purpose, when my Master proposed an Expedient to the Assembly, whereof he had indeed borrowed the Hint from me. He approved of the Tradition, mentioned by the Honourable Member, who spoke before, and affirmed, that the Two Yahoos said to be first seen among them had been driven thither over the Sea; that coming to Land, and being forsaken by their Companions, they retired to the Mountains, and degenerating by Degrees, became in process of time, much more savage than those of their own Species in the Country from where these two Originals came. The Reason of his assertion was that he had now in his Possession a certain wonderful Yahoo, (meaning myself) which most of them had heard of, and many of them had seen. He then related to them, how he first found me; that my Body was all covered with an artificial Composure of the Skins and Hairs of other Animals: That I had a Language of my own, and had thoroughly learned theirs: That I had related to him the Accidents which brought me thither: That when he saw me without my Covering, I was an exact Yahoo in every Part, only of a whiter Colour, less hairy, and with shorter Claws. He added, how I had endeavoured to persuade him, that in my own and other Countries, the Yahoos acted as the governing, Rational Animal, and held the Houyhnhnms in Servitude: That he observed in me all the Qualities of a Yahoo, only a little more civilized by some Tincture of Reason, which however was in a degree as far inferior to the Houyhnhnm Race, as the Yahoos of their Country were to me: That among other things, I mentioned a Custom we had of Castrating Houyhnhnms when they were young, in order to render them tame: That the Operation was easy and safe; that it was no Shame to learn Wisdom from Brutes, as Industry is taught by the Ant, and Building by the Swallow. (For so I translate the Word Lyhannh, although it be a much larger Fowl.) That this Invention might be practiced upon the younger Yahoos here, which, besides rendering them tractable and fitter for Use, would in an Age put an End to the whole Species without destroying Life. That, in the mean time the Houyhnhnms should be exhorted to cultivate the Breed of Asses, which as they are in all respects more valuable Brutes, so they have this Advantage, to be fit for Service at Five Years old, which the others are not till twelve...

I know not whether it may be worth observing, that the Houyhnhnms have no Word in their Language to express any thing that is Evil, except what they borrow from the Deformities or ill Qualities of the Yahoos. Thus they denote the Folly of a Servant, an Omission of a Child, a Stone that cut their Feet, a continuance of foul or unseasonable Weather, and the like, by adding to each the Epithet of Yahoo. For Instance, Hhnm Yahoo, Whnaholm Yahoo, Ynlhmndwihlma Yahoo, and an ill-contrived House, Ynholmhnmrohlnw Yahoo...

My Master sent for me one Morning a little earlier than his usual Hour. I observed by his Countenance that he was in some Perplexity, and at a Loss how to begin what he had to speak. After a short Silence, He told me he did not know how I would take what he was going to say; that in the last general Assembly, when the Affair of the Yahoos was entered upon, the Representatives had taken offence at his keeping a Yahoo (meaning myself) in his Family more like a Houyhnhnm, than a Brute Animal. That he was known frequently to converse with me, as if he could receive some Advantage or Pleasure in my Company: That such a Practice was not agreeable to Reason or Nature, nor a Thing ever heard of before among them. The Assembly did therefore exhort him, either to employ me like the rest of my Species, or command me to swim back to the Place from where I came...

My Master...allowed me the space of two Months to finish my Boat; and ordered the Sorrel Nag, my Fellow-Servant, (for so at this Distance I may presume to call him) to follow my Instructions, because I told my Master that his Help would be sufficient, and I knew he had a Tenderness for me...

In six Weeks time, with the Help of the Sorrel Nag, who performed the Parts that required most Labour, I finished a sort of Indian Canoo, but much larger, covering it with the Skins of Yahoos well stitched together, with hempen Threads of my own making. My Sail was likewise composed of the Skins of the same Animal; but I made use of the youngest I could get, the older being too tough and thick, and I likewise provided myself with four Paddles. I laid in a Stock of boiled Flesh, of Rabbets and Fowls, and took with me two Vessels, one filled with Milk and the other with Water.

I tried my Canoo in a large Pond near my Master's House, and then corrected in it what was amiss; stopping all the Chinks with Yahoos Tallow, till I found it stanch, and able to bear me, and my Freight. And when it was as compleat as I could possibly make it, I had it drawn on a Carriage very gently by Yahoos, to the Seaside, under the Conduct of the Sorrel Nag, and another Servant.

When all was ready, and the Day came for my Departure, I took Leave of my Master and Lady, and the whole Family, mine Eyes flowing with Tears, and my Heart quite sunk with Grief. But his Honour, out of Curiosity, and perhaps (if I may speak it without Vanity) partly out of Kindness, was determined to see me in my Canoo, and got several of his neighbouring Friends to accompany him.... I paid my respects to the rest of the Houyhnhnms in his Honour's Company; then getting into my Canoo, I pushed off from Shore...

BOXER AND THE PROLES and HORSE DEATH IN ANIMAL FARM and DISPUTED TERRITORIES and 25.Prolefeed

GULLIVER'S TRAVEL TRUTHS