th, and got into the same creek whence I
set out in the morning, choosing rather to trust myself among these
barbarians, than live with European _Yahoos_. I drew up my canoe as
close as I could to the shore, and hid myself behind a stone by the
little brook, which, as I have already said, was excellent water.

The ship came within half a league of this creek, and sent her long boat
with vessels to take in fresh water (for the place, it seems, was very
well 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 their
landing observed my canoe, and rummaging it all over, easily conjectured
that the owner could not be far off. Four of them, well armed, searched
every cranny and lurking-hole, till at last they found me flat on my face
behind the stone. They gazed awhile in admiration at my strange uncouth
dress; my coat made of skins, my wooden-soled shoes, and my furred
stockings; whence, however, they concluded, I was not a native of the
place, 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 getting
upon 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 me
answer them in their own tongue, and saw by my complexion I must be a
European; 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 in
speaking, which resembled the neighing of a horse. I trembled all the
while betwixt fear and hatred. I again desired leave to depart, and was
gently 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. I
told them "I was born in England, whence I came about five years ago, and
then their country and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they would
not 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 his
unfortunate life."

When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or saw any thing more
unnatural; for it appeared to me as monstrous as if a dog or a cow should
speak in England, or a _Yahoo_ in _Houyhnhnmland_. The honest Portuguese
were equally amazed at my strange dress, and the odd manner of delivering
my words, which, however, they understood ve