SUMMARY :  The Author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his House. The House described. The Author's Reception. The Food of the Houyhnhnms. The Author in Distress for Want of Meat, is at last relieved. His Manner of feeding in this Country.

 HAVING traveled about three Miles, we came to a long kind of Building, made of Timber, stuck in the Ground, and
wattled a-cross; the Roof was low, and covered with Straw. I now began to be a little comforted, and took out some Toys,
which Travellers usually carry for Presents to the Savage Indians of America and other Parts, in hopes the People of the
House would be thereby encouraged to receive me kindly. The Horse made me a Sign to go in first; it was a large Room with a
smooth Clay Floor, and a Rack and Manger extending the whole Length on one side. There were three Nags, and two Mares,
not eating, but some of them sitting down upon their Hams, which I very much wondered at; but wondered more to see the rest
employed in domestick Business. These seemed but ordinary Cattle, however this confirmed my first Opinion, that a People
who could so far civilize brute Animals, must needs excel in Wisdom all the Nations of the World. The Gray came in just after,
and thereby prevented any ill Treatment, which the others might have given me. He neighed to them several times in a style of
Authority, and received Answers.

 Beyond this Room there were three others, reaching the Length of the House, to which you passed through three Doors,
opposite to each other, in the manner of a Vista; we went through the second Room towards the third, here the Gray walked in
first, beckoning me to attend: I waited in the second Room, and got ready my Presents, for the Master and Mistress of the
House: They were two Knives, three Bracelets of false Pearl, a small Looking-glass and a Bead Necklace. The Horse neighed
three or four times, and I waited to hear some Answers in a human Voice, but I heard no other Returns, than in the same
Dialect, only one or two a little shriller than his. I began to think that this House must belong to some Person of great Note
among them, because there appeared so much Ceremony before I could gain Admittance. But, that a Man of Quality should be
served all by Horses, was beyond my Comprehension. I feared my Brain was disturbed by my Sufferings and Misfortunes: I
roused my self, and looked about me in the Room where I was left alone; this was furnished like the first, only after a more
elegant Manner. I rubbed my Eyes often, but the same Objects still occurred. I pinched my Arms and Sides to awake myself,
hoping I might be in a Dream. I then absolutely concluded, that all these Appearances could be nothing else but Necromancy
and Magick. But I had no time to pursue these Reflections; for the Gray Horse came to the Door, and made me a Sign to
follow him into the third Room, where I saw a very comely Mare, together with a Colt and Fole, sitting on their Haunches,
upon Matts of Straw, not unartfully made, and perfectly neat and clean.

 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; but I could not return him such an Answer as he was able to
apprehend; and if he had understood me, I did not see how it was possible to contrive any way for finding my self
Nourishment. While we were thus engaged, I observed a Cow passing by, whereupon I pointed to her, and expressed a Desire
to let me go and milk her. This had its Effect; for he led me back into the House, and ordered a Mare-Servant to open a Room,
where a good store of Milk lay in Earthen and Wooden Vessels, after a very orderly and cleanly Manner. She gave me a large
Bowl full, of which I drank very heartily, and found my self well refreshed.

 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. They dined in the best Room, and had Oats
boiled in Milk for the second Course, which the old Horse ate warm, but the rest cold. Their Mangers were placed circular in
the middle of the Room, and divided into several Partitions, round which they sate on their Haunches upon Bosses of Straw. In
the Middle was a large Rack with Angles answering to every Partition of the Manger. So that each Horse and Mare eat their
own Hay, and their own Mash of Oats and Milk, with much Decency and Regularity. The Behaviour of the young Colt and
Fole appeared very modest, and that of the Master and Mistress extremely cheerful and complaisant to their Guest. 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.

 I happened to wear my Gloves, which the Master-Gray observing, seemed perplexed, discovering Signs of Wonder what I
had done to my Fore- feet; he put his Hoof three or four times to them, as if he would signify, that I should reduce them to their
former Shape, which I presently did, pulling off both my Gloves, and putting them into my Pocket. This occasioned farther
Talk, and I saw the Company was pleased with my Behaviour, whereof I soon found the good Effects. I was ordered to speak
the few Words I understood, and while they were at Dinner, the Master taught me the Names for Oats, Milk, Fire, Water, and
some others; which I could readily pronounce after him, having from my Youth a great Facility in learning Languages.

 When Dinner was done, the Master Horse took me aside, and by Signs and Words made me understand the Concern that he
was in, that I had nothing to eat. Oats in their Tongue are called hlunnh. This Word I pronounced two or three times; for
although I had refused them at first, yet upon second Thoughts I considered that I could contrive to make of them a kind of
Bread, which might be sufficient with Milk to keep me alive, till I could make my Escape to some other Country, and to
Creatures of my own Species. The Horse immediately ordered a White Mare-servant of his Family to bring me a good
Quantity of Oats in a sort of Wooden Tray. These I heated before the Fire as well as I could, and rubbed them till the Husks
came off, which I made a shift to winnow from the Grain; I ground and beat them between two Stones, then took Water, and
made them into a Paste or Cake, which I toasted at the Fire, and eat warm with Milk. It was at first a very insipid Diet, though
common enough in many Parts of Europe, but grew tolerable by Time; and having been often reduced to hard Fare in my Life,
this was not the first Experiment I had made how easily Nature is satisfied. And I cannot but observe, that I never had one
Hour's Sickness, while I staid in this Island. 'Tis true, I sometimes made a shift to catch a Rabbet, or Bird, by Springes made of
Yahoos Hair, and I often gathered wholesome Herbs, which I boiled, or eat as Salades with my Bread, and now and then, for
a Rarity, I made a little Butter, and drank the Whey. I was at first at a great loss for Salt; but Custom soon reconciled the Want
of it; and I am confident that the frequent use of Salt among us is an Effect of Luxury, and was first introduced only as a
Provocative to Drink; except where it is necessary for preserving of Flesh in long Voyages, or in Places remote from great
Markets. For we observe no Animal to be fond of it but Man: And as to myself, when I left this Country, it was a great while
before I could endure the Taste of it in anything that I eat.

 This is enough to say upon the Subject of my Dyet, wherewith other Travellers fill their Books, as if the Readers were
personally concerned, whether we fared well or ill. However, it necessary to mention this Matter, lest the World should think it
impossible that I could find Sustenance for three Years in such a Country, and among such Inhabitants.

 When it grew towards Evening, the Master Horse ordered a Place for me to lodge in: it was but Six Yards from the House,
and separated from the Stable of the Yahoos. Here I got some Straw, and covering myself with my own Cloaths, slept very
sound. But I was in a short time better accommodated, as the Reader shall know hereafter, when I come to treat more