 Assembly of the Houyhnhnms; and how it was
determined. The Learning of the Houyhnhnms. Their Buildings. Their Manner of
Burials. The Defectiveness of their Language.
 
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 that ever
happened in their 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 indocible, 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 their 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 and 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 inclosed
the whole Herd; and destroying the Older, 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
