 I must be a Yahoo, but my Teachableness, Civility and Cleanliness
astonished him; which were Qualities altogether so opposite to those Animals. He
was most perplexed about my Cloaths, reasoning sometimes with himself, whether
they were a Part of my Body; for I never pulled them off till the Family were
asleep, and got them on before they waked in the Morning. My Master was eager to
learn from whence I came; how I acquired those Appearances of Reason, which I
discovered in all my Actions; and to know my Story from my own Mouth, which he
hoped he should soon do by the great Proficiency I made in learning and
pronouncing their Words and Sentences. To help my Memory, I formed all I learned
into the English Alphabet, and writ the Words down with the Translations. This
last, after some time, I ventured to do in my Master's Presence. It cost me much
Trouble to explain to him what I was doing; for the Inhabitants have not the
least Idea of Books or Literature.
    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 Falshood.) 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, or 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
