Chapter-4
My main aim was to learn their language. My master and his children and every servant of his house were desperate to teach me. While speaking they pronounced through their noses and throats. The curiosity and impatience of my master was so great that he spent many hours of his leisure in teaching me. He was convinced that I must be a yahoo. But my civility and cleanliness astonished him because these qualities were altogether opposite to those animals. He was very confused about my clothes thought that they were a part of my body because I never pulled them off till the family was asleep.
My master was knee to know my story and so I managed to reach here. My great proficiency in learning and pronouncing their words and sentences assured my master that I would be able to narrate my story soon. In about ten weeks’ time, I was able to understand most of his questions. In three months, I could give him some answers well. He was extremely curious to know from which part of the county I came. I told them that I came across the sea from a far place with many other companions in a great hollow vessel which was known as a ship and was made from the bodies of trees. I told them that my companions forced me to land on this coast. Then they left me alone in that place.
The word Houyhnhnm in their language signified a HORSE, which meant PERFECTION OF NATURE. Several horses and mares from the neighbourhood visited our house when they heard that there was a wonderful yahoo that could speak like a Houyhnhnm.
The Houyhnhnms who came to visit my master could hardly believe me to be a right yahoo because my body had a different covering from the others of my kind. They were astonished to observe me without the usual hair or skin, except on my head, face and hands. But the secret of my clothes was somehow discovered by my master upon an accident which happened about a fortnight before.
As I had mentioned earlier, that every night when the family went to bed, I would remove my clothes and cover my body with them. It so happened that one early morning, my master sent his servant to call me. When he came to my room, I was fast asleep and my clothes had fallen off on one side and my shirt was above my waist. I was awakened at the noise he made. He went away quickly and gave my master a very confused account of what he had seen. He said, “He was not the same thing when he slept and some part of his body was white, some yellow, not so white and some brown.”
Without any delay I dressed up quickly and went to my master who asked me to give an explanation of what his servant had reported.
I had concealed the secret of my dress in order to distinguish myself as much as possible from that horrible race of yahoos. Now, there was no way out. I had to disclose the secret. Besides, I realized that my clothes and shoes were in a declining condition. Very soon, they would wear out. I therefore told my master, “In my county, all the people always covered their bodies to avoid the inclemency of air, both hot and cold. I can remove my clothes if you say so, but you will have to excuse me if I did not expose those parts that Nature taught us to conceal.”
Thereupon, my master said, “Whatever you have said is all very strange, but I could not understand the last part as to why Nature should teach you to conceal what Nature has given you. Neither I nor my family is ashamed of any parts of our bodies, so you will have to show us your body.”
I was in an awkward position but I did as I was told. First, I unbuttoned my coat and pulled it off. I did the same with my waistcoat. I drew off my shoes, stockings and breeches. I let my shirt down to my waist and drew up the bottom; fastening it like a girdle about my middle to hide my nakedness. Then, I requested my master, “Please do not reveal the secret of the false covering of my body. I also beg you that I must not be called a yahoo.”
