第1章

Iforgetwhen，butnotverylongafterIhadpublished“Erewhon“in1872，itoccurredtometoaskmyselfwhatcourseeventsinErewhonwouldprobablytakeafterMr。Higgs，asIsupposeImaynowcallhim，hadmadehisescapeintheballoonwithArowhena。GivenapeopleintheconditionssupposedtoexistinErewhon，andgiventheapparentlymiraculousascentofaremarkablestrangerintotheheavenswithanearthlybride——whatwouldbetheeffectonthepeoplegenerally？

Therewasnouseintryingtosolvethisproblembefore，say，twentyyearsshouldhavegiventimeforErewhoniandevelopmentstoassumesomethinglikepermanentshape，andin1892IwastoobusywithbooksnowpublishedtobeabletoattendtoErewhon。Itwasnottilltheearlywinterof1900，i。e。asnearlyasmaybethirtyyearsafterthedateofHiggs’sescape，thatIfoundtimetodealwiththequestionabovestated，andtoanswerit，accordingtomylights，inthebookwhichInowlaybeforethepublic。

Ihaveconcluded，Ibelieverightly，thattheeventsdescribedinChapterXXIV。of“Erewhon“wouldgiverisetosuchacataclysmicchangeintheoldErewhonianopinionsaswouldresultinthedevelopmentofanewreligion。Nowthedevelopmentofallnewreligionsfollowsmuchthesamegeneralcourse。Inallcasesthetimesaremoreorlessoutofjoint——olderfaithsarelosingtheirholduponthemasses。Atsuchtimes，letapersonalityappear，stronginitself，andmadetoseemstillstrongerbyassociationwithsomesupposedtranscendentmiracle，anditwillbeeasytoraiseaLohere！thatwillattractmanyfollowers。Iftherebeasinglegreat，andapparentlywell-authenticated，miracle，otherswillaccreteroundit；then，inallreligionsthathavesooriginated，therewillfollowtemples，priests，rites，sincerebelievers，andunscrupulousexploitersofpubliccredulity。TochronicletheeventsthatfollowedHiggs’sballoonascentwithoutshewingthattheyweremuchastheyhavebeenunderlikeconditionsinotherplaces，wouldbetoholdthemirroruptosomethingverywideofnature。

Analogy，however，betweencoursesofeventsisonething——historicparallelismsabound；analogybetweenthemainactorsineventsisaverydifferentone，andone，moreover，ofwhichfewexamplescanbefound。ThedevelopmentofthenewideasinErewhonisafamiliarone，butthereisnomorelikenessbetweenHiggsandthefounderofanyotherreligion，thanthereisbetweenJesusChristandMahomet。

Heisatypicalmiddle-classEnglishman，deeplytaintedwithpriggishnessinhisearlieryears，butingreatpartfreedfromitbythesweetusesofadversity。

IfImaybeallowedforamomenttospeakaboutmyself，IwouldsaythatIhaveneverceasedtoprofessmyselfamemberofthemoreadvancedwingoftheEnglishBroadChurch。Whatthosewhobelongtothiswingbelieve，Ibelieve。Whattheyreject，Ireject。Notwopeoplethinkabsolutelyalikeonanysubject，butwhenI

conversewithadvancedBroadChurchmenIfindmyselfinsubstantialharmonywiththem。Ibelieve——andshouldbeverysorryifIdidnotbelieve——that，mutatismutandis，suchmenwillfindtheadvicegivenonpp。277-281and287-291ofthisbookmuchwhat，underthesupposedcircumstances，theywouldthemselvesgive。

Lastly，IshouldexpressmygreatobligationstoMr。R。A。

StreatfeildoftheBritishMuseum，who，intheabsencefromEnglandofmyfriendMr。H。FestingJones，haskindlysupervisedthecorrectionsofmybookasitpassedthroughthepress。

SAMUELBUTLER。

May1，1901。

CHAPTERI：UPSANDDOWNSOFFORTUNE——MYFATHERSTARTSFOREREWHON

Beforetellingthestoryofmyfather’ssecondvisittotheremarkablecountrywhichhediscoverednowsomethirtyyearssince，Ishouldperhapssayafewwordsabouthiscareerbetweenthepublicationofhisbookin1872，andhisdeathintheearlysummerof1891。Ishallthustouchbrieflyonthecausesthatoccasionedhisfailuretomaintainthatholdonthepublicwhichhehadapparentlysecuredatfirst。

Hisbook，asthereadermayperhapsknow，waspublishedanonymously，andmypoorfatherusedtoascribetheacclamationwithwhichitwasreceived，tothefactthatnooneknewwhoitmightnothavebeenwrittenby。Omneignotumpromagnifico，andduringitsmonthofanonymitythebookwasafrequenttopicofappreciativecommentingoodliterarycircles。Almostcoincidentlywiththediscoverythathewasamerenobody，peoplebegantofeelthattheiradmirationhadbeentoohastilybestowed，andbeforelongopinionturnedallthemoreseriouslyagainsthimforthisveryreason。Thesubscription，towhichtheLordMayorhadatfirstgivenhiscordialsupport，wascurtlyannouncedasclosedbeforeithadbeenopenedaweek；ithadmetwithsolittlesuccessthatIwillnotspecifytheamounteventuallyhandedover，notwithoutprotest，tomyfather；small，however，asitwas，henarrowlyescapedbeingprosecutedfortryingtoobtainmoneyunderfalsepretences。

TheGeographicalSociety，whichhadforafewdaysreceivedhimwithopenarms，wasamongthefirsttoturnuponhim——not，sofarasIcanascertain，onaccountofthemysteryinwhichhehadenshroudedtheexactwhereaboutsofErewhon，noryetbyreasonofitsbeingpersistentlyallegedthathewassubjecttofrequentattacksofalcoholicpoisoning——butthroughhisownwantoftact，andahighly-strungnervousstate，whichledhimtoattachtoomuchimportancetohisowndiscoveries，andnotenoughtothoseofotherpeople。This，atleast，wasmyfather’sversionofthematter，asIhearditfromhisownlipsinthelateryearsofhislife。

“Iwasstillveryyoung。”hesaidtome，“andmymindwasmoreorlessunhingedbythestrangenessandperilofmyadventures。”Bethisasitmay，Ifearthereisnodoubtthathewasinjudicious；

andanounceofjudgementisworthapoundofdiscovery。

Hence，inasurprisinglyshorttime，hefoundhimselfdroppedevenbythosewhohadtakenhimupmostwarmly，andhaddonemosttofindhimthatemploymentasawriterofreligioustractsonwhichhislivelihoodwasthendependent。Thediscredit，however，intowhichmyfatherfell，hadtheeffectofdeterringanyconsiderablenumberofpeoplefromtryingtorediscoverErewhon，andthuscausedittoremainasunknowntogeographersingeneralasthoughithadneverbeenfound。Afewshepherdsandcadetsatup-countrystationshad，indeed，triedtofollowinmyfather’sfootsteps，duringthetimewhenhisbookwasstillbeingtakenseriously；buttheyhadmostofthemreturned，unabletofacethedifficultiesthathadopposedthem。Somefew，however，hadnotreturned，andthoughsearchwasmadeforthem，theirbodieshadnotbeenfound。

WhenhereachedErewhononhissecondvisit，myfatherlearnedthatothershadattemptedtovisitthecountrymorerecently——probablyquiteindependentlyofhisownbook；andbeforehehadhimselfbeeninitmanyhourshegatheredwhatthefateofthesepoorfellowsdoubtlesswas。

AnotherreasonthatmadeitmoreeasyforErewhontoremainunknown，wasthefactthatthemoremountainousdistricts，thoughrepeatedlyprospectedforgold，hadbeenpronouncednon-auriferous，andastherewasnosheeporcattlecountry，saveafewriver-bedflatsabovetheuppergorgesofanyoftherivers，andnogametotemptthesportsman，therewasnothingtoinducepeopletopenetrateintothefastnessesofthegreatsnowyrange。Nomore，therefore，beingheardofErewhon，myfather’sbookcametoberegardedasamereworkoffiction，andIhaveheardquiterecentlyofitshavingbeenseenonasecond-handbookstall，marked“6d。

veryreadable。”

Thoughtherewasnotruthinthestoriesaboutmyfather’sbeingsubjecttoattacksofalcoholicpoisoning，yet，duringthefirstfewyearsafterhisreturntoEngland，hisoccasionalfitsofungovernableexcitementgavesomecolourtotheopinionthatmuchofwhathesaidhehadseenanddonemightbeonlysubjectivelytrue。IrefermoreparticularlytohisinterviewwithChowbokinthewool-shed，andhishighlycoloureddescriptionofthestatuesonthetopofthepassleadingintoErewhon。Theseweresoonsetdownasforgeriesofdelirium，anditwasmaliciouslyurged，thatthoughinhisbookhehadonlyadmittedhavingtaken“twoorthreebottlesofbrandy“withhim，hehadprobablytakenatleastadozen；andthatifonthenightbeforehereachedthestatueshehad“onlyfourouncesofbrandy“left，hemusthavebeendrinkingheavilyfortheprecedingfortnightorthreeweeks。Thosewhoreadthefollowingpageswill，Ithink，rejectallideathatmyfatherwasinastateofdelirium，notwithoutsurprisethatanyoneshouldhaveeverentertainedit。

ItwasChowbokwho，ifhedidnotoriginatethesecalumnies，didmuchtodisseminateandgaincredenceforthem。HeremainedinEnglandforsomeyears，andnevertiredofdoingwhathecouldtodisparagemyfather。Thecunningcreaturehadingratiatedhimselfwithourleadingreligioussocieties，especiallywiththemoreevangelicalamongthem。Whateverdoubttheremightbeabouthissincerity，therewasnoneabouthiscolour，andacolouredconvertinthosedayswasmorethanExeterHallcouldresist。Chowboksawthattherewasnoroomforhimandformyfather，anddeclaredmypoorfather’sstorytobealmostwhollyfalse。Itwastrue，hesaid，thatheandmyfatherhadexploredthehead-watersoftheriverdescribedinhisbook，buthedeniedthatmyfatherhadgoneonwithouthim，andhenamedtheriverasonedistantbymanythousandsofmilesfromtheoneitreallywas。Hesaidthatafteraboutafortnighthehadreturnedincompanywithmyfather，whobythattimehadbecomeincapacitatedforfurthertravel。Atthispointhewouldshrughisshoulders，lookmysterious，andthussay“alcoholicpoisoning“evenmoreeffectivelythanifhehadutteredthewordsthemselves。Foraman’stongueliesofteninhisshoulders。

Readersofmyfather’sbookwillrememberthatChowbokhadgivenaverydifferentversionwhenhehadreturnedtohisemployer’sstation；butTimeandDistanceaffordcoverunderwhichfalsehoodcanoftendotruthtodeathsecurely。

Ineverunderstoodwhymyfatherdidnotbringmymotherforwardtoconfirmhisstory。HemayhavedonesowhileIwastooyoungtoknowanythingaboutit。Butwhenpeoplehavemadeuptheirminds，theyareimpatientoffurtherevidence；mymother，moreover，wasofaveryretiringdisposition。TheItalianssay：-

“ChilontanovaammogliareSaraingannato，ovorraingannare。”

“Ifamangoesfarafieldforawife，hewillbedeceived——ormeansdeceiving。”Theproverbisastrueforwomenasformen，andmymotherwasneverquitehappyinhernewsurroundings。Wilfullydeceivedsheassuredlywasnot，butshecouldnotaccustomherselftoEnglishmodesofthought；indeedsheneverevennearlymasteredourlanguage；myfatheralwaystalkedwithherinErewhonian，andsodidI，forasachildshehadtaughtmetodoso，andIwasasfluentwithherlanguageaswithmyfather’s。InthisrespectsheoftentoldmeIcouldpassmyselfoffanywhereinErewhonasanative；Isharedalsoherpersonalappearance，forthoughnotwhollyunlikemyfather，Ihadtakenmorecloselyaftermymother。

Inmind，ifImayventuretosayso，IbelieveIwasmorelikemyfather。

ImayaswellhereinformthereaderthatIwasbornattheendofSeptember1871，andwaschristenedJohn，aftermygrandfather。

FromwhatIhavesaidabovehewillreadilybelievethatmyearliestexperiencesweresomewhatsqualid。MemoriesofchildhoodrushvividlyuponmewhenIpassthroughalowLondonalley，andcatchthefaintsicklysmellthatpervadesit——halfparaffin，halfblack-currants，butwhollysomethingverydifferent。IhaveafancythatwelivedinBlackmoorStreet，offDruryLane。Myfather，whenfirstIknewofhisdoinganythingatall，supportedmymotherandmyselfbydrawingpictureswithcolouredchalksuponthepavement；Iusedsometimestowatchhim，andmarvelattheskillwithwhichherepresentedfogs，floods，andfires。Thesethree“f’s。”hewouldsay，werehisthreebestfriends，fortheywereeasytodoandbroughtinhalfpencefreely。Thereturnofthedovetothearkwashisfavouritesubject。Suchalittleark，onsuchahazymorning，andsuchalittlepigeon——therestofthepicturebeingcheapsky，andstillcheapersea；nothing，Ihaveoftenheardhimsay，wasmorepopularthanthiswithhisclients。

Heheldittobehismasterpiece，butwouldaddwithsomenaivetethatheconsideredhimselfapublicbenefactorforcarryingitoutinsuchperishablefashion。“Atanyrate。”hewouldsay，“noonecanbequeathoneofmymanyreplicastothenation。”

Ineverlearnedhowmuchmyfatherearnedbyhisprofession，butitmusthavebeensomethingconsiderable，forwealwayshadenoughtoeatanddrink；Iimaginethathedidbetterthanmanyastrugglingartistwithmoreambitiousaims。HewasstrictlytemperateduringallthetimethatIknewanythingabouthim，buthewasnotateetotaler；Ineversawanyofthefitsofnervousexcitementwhichinhisearlieryearshaddonesomuchtowreckhim。Intheevenings，andondayswhenthestateofthepavementdidnotpermithimtowork，hetookgreatpainswithmyeducation，whichhecouldverywelldo，forasaboyhehadbeeninthesixthformofoneofourforemostpublicschools。Ifoundhimapatient，kindlyinstructor，whiletomymotherhewasamodelhusband。Whateverothersmayhavesaidabouthim，Icanneverthinkofhimwithoutveryaffectionaterespect。

Thingswentonquietlyenough，asaboveindicated，tillIwasaboutfourteen，whenbyafreakoffortunemyfatherbecamesuddenlyaffluent。Abrotherofhisfather’shademigratedtoAustraliain1851，andhadamassedgreatwealth。Weknewofhisexistence，buttherehadbeennointercoursebetweenhimandmyfather，andwedidnotevenknowthathewasrichandunmarried。Hediedintestatetowardstheendof1885，andmyfatherwastheonlyrelativehehad，except，ofcourse，myself，forbothmyfather’ssistershaddiedyoung，andwithoutleavingchildren。

Thesolicitorthroughwhomthenewsreacheduswas，happily，amanofthehighestintegrity，andalsoverysensibleandkind。HewasaMr。AlfredEmeryCathie，of15Clifford’sInn，E。C。，andmyfatherplacedhimselfunreservedlyinhishands。Iwasatoncesenttoafirst-rateschool，andsuchpainshadmyfathertakenwithmethatIwasplacedinahigherformthanmighthavebeenexpectedconsideringmyage。Thewayinwhichhehadtaughtmehadpreventedmyfeelinganydislikeforstudy；Ithereforestuckfairlywelltomybooks，whilenotneglectingthegameswhicharesoimportantapartofhealthyeducation。Everythingwentwellwithme，bothasregardsmastersandschool-fellows；nevertheless，Iwasdeclaredtobeofahighlynervousandimaginativetemperament，andtheschooldoctormorethanonceurgedourheadmasternottopushmeforwardtoorapidly——forwhichIhaveeversinceheldmyselfhisdebtor。

Earlyin1890，IbeingthenhomefromOxford(whereIhadbeenenteredintheprecedingyear)，mymotherdied；notsomuchfromactiveillness，asfromwhatwasinrealityakindofmaladiedupays。Allalongshehadfeltherselfanexile，andthoughshehadborneupwonderfullyduringmyfather’slongstrugglewithadversity，shebegantobreakassoonasprosperityhadremovedthenecessityforexertiononherownpart。

Myfathercouldneverdivesthimselfofthefeelingthathehadwreckedherlifebyinducinghertoshareherlotwithhisown；tosaythathewasstrickenwithremorseonlosingherisnotenough；

hehadbeensostrickenalmostfromthefirstyearofhismarriage；

onherdeathhewashauntedbythewrongheaccusedhimself——asitseemstomeveryunjustly——ofhavingdoneher，foritwasneitherhisfaultnorhers——itwasAte。

Hisunrestsoonassumedtheformofaburningdesiretorevisitthecountryinwhichheandmymotherhadbeenhappiertogetherthanperhapstheyeveragainwere。IhadoftenheardhimbetrayahankeringafterareturntoErewhon，disguisedsothatnooneshouldrecognisehim；butaslongasmymotherlivedhewouldnotleaveher。Whendeathhadtakenherfromhim，hesoevidentlystoodinneedofacompletechangeofscene，thateventhosefriendswhohadmoststronglydissuadedhimfromwhattheydeemedamadcapenterprise，thoughtitbettertoleavehimtohimself。Itwouldhavematteredlittlehowmuchtheytriedtodissuadehim，forbeforelonghispassionatelongingforthejourneybecamesoovermasteringthatnothingshortofrestraintinprisonoramadhousecouldhavestayedhisgoing；butwewerenoteasyabouthim。“Hehadbettergo。”saidMr。Cathietome，whenIwasathomefortheEastervacation，“andgetitover。Heisnotwell，butheisstillintheprimeoflife；doubtlesshewillcomebackwithrenewedhealthandwillsettledowntoaquiethomelifeagain。”

This，however，wasnotsaidtillithadbecomeplainthatinafewdaysmyfatherwouldbeonhisway。Hehadmadeanewwill，andleftanamplepowerofattorneywithMr。Cathie——or，aswealwayscalledhim，Alfred——whowastosupplymewithwhatevermoneyI

wanted；hehadputallothermattersinorderincaseanythingshouldhappentopreventhiseverreturning，andhesetoutonOctober1，1890，morecomposedandcheerfulthanIhadseenhimforsometimepast。

IhadnotrealisedhowseriousthedangertomyfatherwouldbeifhewererecognisedwhilehewasinErewhon，forIamashamedtosaythatIhadnotyetreadhisbook。Ihadheardoverandoveragainofhisflightwithmymotherintheballoon，andhadlongsincereadhisfewopeningchapters，butIhadfound，asaboynaturallywould，thatthesucceedingpageswerealittledull，andsoonputthebookaside。Myfather，indeed，repeatedlyurgedmenottoreadit，forhesaidtherewasmuchinit——moreespeciallyintheearlierchapters，whichIhadalonefoundinteresting——thathewouldgladlycancelifhecould。“Butthere！“hehadsaidwithalaugh，“whatdoesitmatter？“

Hehadhardlyleft，beforeIreadhisbookfromendtoend，and，onhavingdoneso，notonlyappreciatedtherisksthathewouldhavetorun，butwasstruckwiththewidedifferencebetweenhischaracterashehadhimselfportrayedit，andtheestimateIhadformedofitfrompersonalknowledge。When，onhisreturn，hedetailedtomehisadventures，theaccounthegaveofwhathehadsaidanddonecorrespondedwithmyownideasconcerninghim；butI

doubtnotthereaderwillseethatthetwentyyearsbetweenhisfirstandsecondvisithadmodifiedhimevenmorethansolonganintervalmightbeexpectedtodo。

Iheardfromhimrepeatedlyduringthefirsttwomonthsofhisabsence，andwassurprisedtofindthathehadstayedforaweekortendaysatmorethanoneplaceofcallonhisoutwardjourney。OnNovember26hewrotefromtheportwhencehewastostartforErewhon，seeminglyingoodhealthandspirits；andonDecember27，1891，hetelegraphedforahundredpoundstobewiredouttohimatthissameport。ThispuzzledbothMr。Cathieandmyself，fortheintervalbetweenNovember26andDecember27seemedtooshorttoadmitofhishavingpaidhisvisittoErewhonandreturned；as，moreover，hehadaddedthewords，“Cominghome。”weratherhopedthathehadabandonedhisintentionofgoingthere。

Wewerealsosurprisedathiswantingsomuchmoney，forhehadtakenahundredpoundsingold，whichfromsomefancy，hehadstowedinasmallsilverjewel-boxthathehadgivenmymothernotlongbeforeshedied。Hehadalsotakenahundredpoundsworthofgoldnuggets，whichhehadintendedtosellinErewhonsoastoprovidehimselfwithmoneywhenhegotthere。

IshouldexplainthatthesenuggetswouldbeworthinErewhonfullytentimesasmuchastheywouldinEurope，owingtothegreatscarcityofgoldinthatcountry。TheErewhoniancoinageisentirelysilver——whichisabundant，andworthmuchwhatitisinEngland——orcopper，whichisalsoplentiful；butwhatweshouldcallfivepounds’worthofsilvermoneywouldnotbuymorethanoneofourhalf-sovereignsingold。

Hehadputhisnuggetsintotenbrownhollandbags，andhehadhadsecretpocketsmadefortheoldErewhoniandresswhichhehadwornwhenheescaped，sothatheneedneverhavemorethanonebagofnuggetsaccessibleatatime。Hewasnotlikely，therefore，tohavebeenrobbed。Hispassagetotheportabovereferredtohadbeenpaidbeforehestarted，anditseemedimpossiblethatamanofhisveryinexpensivehabitsshouldhavespenttwohundredpoundsinasinglemonth——forthenuggetswouldbeimmediatelyconvertibleinanEnglishcolony。Therewasnothing，however，tobedonebuttocableoutthemoneyandwaitmyfather’sarrival。

Returningforamomenttomyfather’soldErewhoniandress，I

shouldsaythathehadpreserveditsimplyasamementoandwithoutanyideathatheshouldagainwantit。Itwasnotthecourtdressthathadbeenprovidedforhimontheoccasionofhisvisittothekingandqueen，buttheeverydayclothingthathehadbeenorderedtowearwhenhewasputinprison，thoughhisEnglishcoat，waistcoat，andtrousershadbeenallowedtoremaininhisownpossession。These，Ihadseenfromhisbook，hadbeenpresentedbyhimtothequeen(withtheexceptionoftwobuttons，whichhehadgiventoYramasakeepsake)，andhadbeenpreservedbyherdisplayeduponawoodendummy。Thedressinwhichheescapedhadbeensoiledduringthehoursthatheandmymotherhadbeeninthesea，andhadalsosufferedfromneglectduringtheyearsofhispoverty；buthewishedtopasshimselfoffasacommonpeasantorworking-man，sohepreferredtohaveitsetinorderasmightbestbedone，ratherthancopied。

SocautiouswasheinthematterofdressthathetookwithhimthebootshehadwornonleavingErewhon，lesttheforeignmakeofhisEnglishbootsshouldarousesuspicion。Theywerenearlynew，andwhenhehadhadthemsoftenedandwellgreased，hefoundhecouldstillwearthemquitecomfortably。

Buttoreturn。HereachedhomelateatnightonedayatthebeginningofFebruary，andaglancewasenoughtoshowthathewasanalteredman。“Whatisthematter？“saidI，shockedathisappearance。“DidyougotoErewhon，andwereyouill-treatedthere？“

“IwenttoErewhon。”hesaid，“andIwasnotill-treatedthere，butIhavebeensoshakenthatIfearIshallquitelosemyreason。Donotaskmemorenow。Iwilltellyouaboutitallto-morrow。Letmehavesomethingtoeat，andgotobed。”

Whenwemetatbreakfastnextmorning，hegreetedmewithallhisusualwarmthofaffection，buthewasstilltaciturn。“Iwillbegintotellyouaboutit。”hesaid，“afterbreakfast。Whereisyourdearmother？HowwasitthatIhave……“

Thenofasuddenhismemoryreturned，andheburstintotears。

Inowsaw，tomyhorror，thathismindwasgone。Whenherecovered，hesaid：“Ithasallcomebackagain，butattimesnowIamablank，andeveryweekammoreandmoreso。IdaresayI

shallbesensiblenowforseveralhours。Wewillgointothestudyafterbreakfast，andIwilltalktoyouaslongasIcandoso。”

Letthereaderspareme，andletmesparethereaderanydescriptionofwhatwebothofusfelt。

Whenwewereinthestudy，myfathersaid，“Mydearestboy，getpenandpaperandtakenotesofwhatItellyou。Itwillbealldisjointed；onedayIshallrememberthis，andanotherthat，buttherewillnotbemanymoredaysonwhichIshallrememberanythingatall。Icannotwriteacoherentpage。You，whenIamgone，canpiecewhatItellyoutogether，andtellitasIshouldhavetolditifIhadbeenstillsound。Butdonotpublishityet；itmightdoharmtothosedeargoodpeople。Takethenotesnow，andarrangethemthesoonerthebetter，foryoumaywanttoaskmequestions，andIshallnotbeheremuchlonger。Letpublishingwaittillyouareconfidentthatpublicationcandonoharm；andaboveall，saynothingtobetraythewhereaboutsofErewhon，beyondadmitting(whichIfearIhavealreadydone)thatitisintheSouthernhemisphere。”

TheseinstructionsIhavereligiouslyobeyed。Forthefirstdaysafterhisreturn，myfatherhadfewattacksoflossofmemory，andIwasinhopesthathisformerhealthofmindwouldreturnwhenhefoundhimselfinhisoldsurroundings。Duringthesedayshepouredforththestoryofhisadventuressofast，thatifIhadnothadafancyforacquiringshorthand，Ishouldnothavebeenabletokeeppacewithhim。Irepeatedlyurgedhimnottoovertaxhisstrength，buthewasoppressedbythefearthatifhedidnotspeakatonce，hemightneverbeabletotellmeallhehadtosay；Ihad，therefore，tosubmit，thoughseeingplainlyenoughthathewasonlyhasteningthecompleteparalysiswhichhesogreatlyfeared。

Sometimeshisnarrativewouldbecoherentforpagestogether，andhecouldansweranyquestionswithouthesitation；atothers，hewasnowhereandnowthere，andifItriedtokeephimtotheorderofeventshewouldsaythathehadforgottenintermediateincidents，butthattheywouldprobablycomebacktohim，andIshouldperhapsbeabletoputthemintheirproperplaces。

AfterabouttendaysheseemedsatisfiedthatIhadgotallthefacts，andthatwiththehelpofthepamphletswhichhehadbroughtwithhimIshouldbeabletomakeoutaconnectedstory。

“Remember。”hesaid，“thatIthoughtIwasquitewellsolongasI

wasinErewhon，anddonotletmeappearasanythingelse。”

Whenhehadfullydeliveredhimself，heseemedeasierinhismind，butbeforeamonthhadpassedhebecamecompletelyparalysed，andthoughhelingeredtillthebeginningofJune，hewasseldommorethandimlyconsciousofwhatwasgoingonaroundhim。

Hisdeathrobbedmeofonewhohadbeenaverykindanduprightelderbrotherratherthanafather；andsostronglyhaveIfelthisinfluencestillpresent，livingandworking，asIbelieveforbetterwithinme，thatIdidnothesitatetocopytheepitaphwhichhesawintheMusicalBankatFairmead，{1}andtohaveitinscribedontheverysimplemonumentwhichhedesiredshouldalonemarkhisgrave。

***

Theforegoingwaswritteninthesummerof1891；whatInowaddshouldbedatedDecember3，1900。If，inthecourseofmywork，I

havemisrepresentedmyfather，asIfearImayhavesometimesdone，Iwouldaskmyreaderstorememberthatnomancantellanother’sstorywithoutsomeinvoluntarymisrepresentationbothoffactsandcharacters。Theywill，ofcourse，seethat“ErewhonRevisited“iswrittenbyonewhohasfarlessliteraryskillthantheauthorof“Erewhon；“butagainIwouldaskindulgenceonthescoreofyouth，andthefactthatthisismyfirstbook。Itwaswrittennearlytenyearsago，i。e。inthemonthsfromMarchtoAugust1891，butforreasonsalreadygivenitcouldnotthenbemadepublic。Ihavenowreceivedpermission，andthereforepublishthefollowingchapters，exactly，orverynearlyexactly，astheywereleftwhenIhadfinishededitingmyfather’sdiaries，andthenotesItookdownfromhisownmouth——withtheexception，ofcourse，oftheselastfewlines，hurriedlywrittenasIamonthepointofleavingEngland，oftheadditionsImadein1892，onreturningfrommyownthreehours’stayinErewhon，andofthePostscript。

CHAPTERII：TOTHEFOOTOFTHEPASSINTOEREWHON

WhenmyfatherreachedthecolonyforwhichhehadleftEnglandsometwenty-twoyearspreviously，heboughtahorse，andstartedupcountryontheeveningofthedayafterhisarrival，whichwas，asIhavesaid，ononeofthelastdaysofNovember1890。HehadtakenanEnglishsaddlewithhim，andacoupleofroomyandstronglymadesaddle-bags。Inthesehepackedhismoney，hisnuggets，sometea，sugar，tobacco，salt，aflaskofbrandy，matches，andasmanyship’sbiscuitsashethoughthewaslikelytowant；hetooknomeat，forhecouldsupplyhimselffromsomeaccommodation-houseorsheep-station，whennearingthepointafterwhichhewouldhavetobegincampingout。HerolledhisErewhoniandressandsmalltoilettenecessariesinsideawarmredblanket，andstrappedtherollontothefrontpartofhissaddle。OntootherD’s，withwhichhissaddlewasamplyprovided，hestrappedhisErewhonianboots，atinpannikin，andabillythatwouldholdaboutaquart。Ishould，perhaps，explaintoEnglishreadersthatabillyisatincan，thenameforwhich(doubtlessofFrenchCanadianorigin)isderivedfromthewords“fairebouillir。”Healsotookwithhimapairofhobblesandasmallhatchet。

Hespentthreewholedaysinridingacrosstheplains，andwasstruckwiththeverysmallsignsofchangethathecoulddetect，butthefallinwool，andthefailure，sofar，toestablishafrozenmeattrade，hadpreventedanymaterialdevelopmentoftheresourcesofthecountry。Whenhehadgottothefrontranges，hefolloweduptherivernexttothenorthoftheonethathehadexploredyearsago，andfromtheheadwatersofwhichhehadbeenledtodiscovertheonlypracticablepassintoErewhon。Hedidthis，partlytoavoidtheterriblydangerousdescentontothebedofthemorenorthernriver，andpartlytoescapebeingseenbyshepherdsorbullock-driverswhomightrememberhim。

Ifhehadattemptedtogetthroughthegorgeofthisriverin1870，hewouldhavefounditimpassable；butafewriver-bedflatshadbeendiscoveredabovethegorge，onwhichtherewasnowashepherd’shut，andonthediscoveryoftheseflatsanarrowhorsetrackhadbeenmadefromoneendofthegorgetotheother。

Hewashospitablyentertainedattheshepherd’shutjustmentioned，whichhereachedonMonday，December1。Hetoldtheshepherdinchargeofitthathehadcometoseeifhecouldfindtracesofalargewinglessbird，whoseexistencehadbeenreportedashavingbeendiscoveredamongtheextremeheadwatersoftheriver。

“Becareful，sir，saidtheshepherd；“theriverisverydangerous；

severalpeople——oneonlyaboutayearago——haveleftthishut，andthoughtheirhorsesandtheircampshavebeenfound，theirbodieshavenot。Whenagreatfreshcomesdown，itwouldcarryabodyouttoseaintwenty-fourhours。”

Heevidentlyhadnoideathattherewasapassthroughtherangesuptheriver，whichmightexplainthedisappearanceofanexplorer。

Nextdaymyfatherbegantoascendtheriver。Therewassomuchtangledgrowthstillunburntwherevertherewasroomforittogrow，andsomuchswamp，thatmyfatherhadtokeepalmostentirelytotheriver-bed——andheretherewasagooddealofquicksand。Thestonesalsowereoftenlargeforsomedistancetogether，andhehadtocrossandrecrossstreamsoftherivermorethanonce，sothatthoughhetravelledalldaywiththeexceptionofacoupleofhoursfordinner，hehadnotmademorethansomefiveandtwentymileswhenhereachedasuitablecampingground，whereheunsaddledhishorse，hobbledhim，andturnedhimouttofeed。Thegrasswasbeginningtoseed，sothatthoughitwasnonetooplentiful，whattherewasofitmadeexcellentfeed。

Helithisfire，madehimselfsometea，atehiscoldmuttonandbiscuits，andlithispipe，exactlyashehaddonetwentyyearsbefore。Therewastheclearstarlitsky，therushingriver，andthestuntedtreesonthemountain-side；thewoodhenscried，andthe“more-pork“hootedouthertwomonotonousnotesexactlyastheyhaddoneyearssince；onemoment，andtimehadsoflownbackwardsthatyouthcameboundingbacktohimwiththereturnofhisyouth’ssurroundings；thenext，andtheinterveningtwentyyears——mostofthemgrimones——roseupmockinglybeforehim，andthebuoyancyofhopeyieldedtothedespondencyofadmittedfailure。Byandbybuoyancyreasserteditself，and，soothedbythepeaceandbeautyofthenight，hewrappedhimselfupinhisblanketanddroppedoffintoadreamlessslumber。

Nextmorning，i。e。December3，herosesoonafterdawn，bathedinabackwateroftheriver，gothisbreakfast，foundhishorseontheriver-bed，andstartedassoonashehaddulypackedandloaded。

Hehadnowtocrossstreamsoftheriverandrecrossthemmoreoftenthanontheprecedingday，andthis，thoughhishorsetookwelltothewater，requiredcare；forhewasanxiousnottowethissaddle-bags，anditwasonlybycrossingatthewide，smooth，waterabovearapid，andbypickingplaceswheretheriverranintwoorthreestreams，thathecouldfindfordswherehispractisedeyetoldhimthatthewaterwouldnotbeabovehishorse’sbelly——fortheriverwasofgreatvolume。Fortunately，therehadbeenalatefallofsnowonthehigherranges，andtheriverwas，forthesummerseason，low。

Towardsevening，havingtravelled，sofarashecouldguess，sometwentyorfiveandtwentymiles(forhehadmadeanothermiddayhalt)，hereachedtheplace，whichheeasilyrecognised，asthatwherehehadcampedbeforecrossingtothepassthatledintoErewhon。Itwasthelastpieceofgroundthatcouldbecalledaflat(thoughitwasinrealityonlytheslopingdeltaofastreamthatdescendedfromthepass)beforereachingalargeglacierthathadencroachedontheriver-bed，whichittraversedatrightanglesforaconsiderabledistance。

Hereheagaincamped，hobbledhishorse，andturnedhimadrift，hopingthathemightagainfindhimsometwoorthreemonthshence，fortherewasagooddealofsweetgrasshereandthere，withsow-

thistleandanise；andthecoarsetussockgrasswouldbeinfullseedshortly，whichalonewouldkeephimgoingforaslongatimeasmyfatherexpectedtobeaway。Littledidhethinkthatheshouldwanthimagainsoshortly。

Havingattendedtohishorse，hegothissupper，andwhilesmokinghispipecongratulatedhimselfonthewayinwhichsomethinghadsmoothedawayalltheobstaclesthathadsonearlybaffledhimonhisearlierjourney。Washebeingluredontohisdestructionbysomemaliciousfiend，orbefriendedbyonewhohadcompassiononhimandwishedhimwell？Hisnaturallysanguinetemperamentinclinedhimtoadoptthefriendlyspirittheory，inthepeaceofwhichheagainlaidhimselfdowntorest，andsleptsoundlyfromdarktilldawn。

Inthemorning，thoughthewaterwassomewhaticy，heagainbathed，andthenputonhisErewhonianbootsanddress。HestowedhisEuropeanclothes，withsomedifficulty，intohissaddle-bags。

HereinalsohelefthiscasefullofEnglishsovereigns，hissparepipes，hispurse，whichcontainedtwopoundsingoldandsevenoreightshillings，partofhisstockoftobacco，andwhateverprovisionwaslefthim，exceptthemeat——whichheleftforsundryhawksandparrotsthatwereeyeinghisproceedingsapparentlywithoutfearofman。HisnuggetsheconcealedinthesecretpocketsofwhichIhavealreadyspoken，keepingonebagaloneaccessible。

Hehadhadhishairandbeardcutshortonshipboardthedaybeforehelanded。ThesehenowdyedwithadyethathehadbroughtfromEngland，andwhichinafewminutesturnedthemverynearlyblack。

Healsostainedhisfaceandhandsdeepbrown。Hehunghissaddleandbridle，hisEnglishboots，andhissaddle-bagsonthehighestboughthathecouldreach，andmadethemfairlyfastwithstripsofflaxleaf，fortherewassomestuntedflaxgrowingonthegroundwherehehadcamped。Hefearedthat，dowhathemight，theywouldnotescapetheinquisitivethievishnessoftheparrots，whosestrongbeakscouldeasilycutleather；buthecoulddonothingmore。Itoccurstome，thoughmyfathernevertoldmeso，thatitwasperhapswithaviewtothesebirdsthathehadchosentoputhisEnglishsovereignsintoametalbox，withaclasptoitwhichwoulddefythem。

Hemadearollofhisblanket，andslungitoverhisshoulder；healsotookhispipe，tobacco，alittletea，afewship’sbiscuits，andhisbillyandpannikin；matchesandsaltgowithoutsaying。

Whenhehadthusorderedeverythingasnearlytohissatisfactionashecould，helookedathiswatchforthelasttime，ashebelieved，tillmanyweeksshouldhavegoneby，andfoundittobeaboutseveno’clock。Rememberingwhattroubleithadgothimintoyearsbefore，hetookdownhissaddle-bags，reopenedthem，andputthewatchinside。Hethensethimselftoclimbthemountainside，towardsthesaddleonwhichhehadseenthestatues。

CHAPTERIII：MYFATHERWHILECAMPINGISACCOSTEDBYPROFESSORS

HANKYANDPANKY

Myfatherfoundtheascentmorefatiguingthanherememberedittohavebeen。Theclimb，hesaid，wassteady，andtookhimbetweenfourandfivehours，asnearashecouldguess，nowthathehadnowatch；butitofferednothingthatcouldbecalledadifficulty，andthewatercoursethatcamedownfromthesaddlewasasufficientguide；onceortwicetherewerewaterfalls，buttheydidnotseriouslydelayhim。

Afterhehadclimbedsomethreethousandfeet，hebegantobeonthealertforsomesoundofghostlychantingfromthestatues；butheheardnothing，andtoiledontillhecametoasprinklingoffreshsnow——partofthefallwhichhehadobservedontheprecedingdayashavingwhitenedthehighermountains；heknew，therefore，thathemustnowbenearingthesaddle。Thesnowgrewrapidlydeeper，andbythetimehereachedthestatuesthegroundwascoveredtoadepthoftwoorthreeinches。

Hefoundthestatuessmallerthanhehadexpected。Hehadsaidinhisbook——writtenmanymonthsafterhehadseenthem——thattheywereaboutsixtimesthesizeoflife，buthenowthoughtthatfourorfivetimeswouldhavebeenenoughtosay。Theirmouthsweremuchcloggedwithsnow，sothateventhoughtherehadbeenastrongwind(whichtherewasnot)theywouldnothavechanted。Inotherrespectshefoundthemnotlessmysteriouslyimpressivethanatfirst。Hewalkedtwoorthreetimesallroundthem，andthenwenton。

Thesnowdidnotcontinuefardown，butbeforelongmyfatherenteredathickbankofcloud，andhadtofeelhiswaycautiouslyalongthestreamthatdescendedfromthepass。Itwassometwohoursbeforeheemergedintoclearair，andfoundhimselfonthelevelbedofanoldlakenowgrassedover。Hehadquiteforgottenthisfeatureofthedescent——perhapsthecloudshadhungoverit；

hewasoverjoyed，however，tofindthattheflatgroundaboundedwithakindofquail，largerthanours，andhardly，ifatall，smallerthanapartridge。Theabundanceofthesequailssurprisedhim，forhedidnotrememberthemasplentifulanywhereontheErewhoniansideofthemountains。

TheErewhonianquail，likeitsnownearly，ifnotquite，extinctNewZealandcongener，cantakethreesuccessiveflightsofafewyardseach，butthenbecomesexhausted；hencequailsareonlyfoundongroundthatisneverburned，andwheretherearenowildanimalstomolestthem；thecatsanddogsthataccompanyEuropeancivilisationsoonexterminatethem；myfather，therefore，feltsafeinconcludingthathewasstillfarfromanyvillage。Moreoverhecouldseenosheeporgoat’sdung；andthissurprisedhim，forhethoughthehadfoundsignsofpasturagemuchhigherthanthis。

Doubtless，hesaidtohimself，whenhewrotehisbookhehadforgottenhowlongthedescenthadbeen。Butitwasodd，forthegrasswasgoodfeedenough，andought，heconsidered，tohavebeenwellstocked。

Tiredwithhisclimb，duringwhichhehadnotrestedtotakefood，buthadeatenbiscuits，ashewalked，hegavehimselfagoodlongrest，andwhenrefreshed，herandownacoupleofdozenquails，someofwhichhemeanttoeatwhenhecampedforthenight，whiletheotherswouldhelphimoutofadifficultywhichhadbeentroublinghimforsometime。

Whatwashetosaywhenpeopleaskedhim，astheyweresuretodo，howhewasliving？AndhowwashetogetenoughErewhonianmoneytokeephimgoingtillhecouldfindsomesafemeansofsellingafewofhisnuggets？HehadhadalittleErewhonianmoneywhenhewentupintheballoon，buthadthrownitover，witheverythingelseexcepttheclothesheworeandhisMSS。，whentheballoonwasnearingthewater。Hehadnothingwithhimthathedaredofferforsale，andthoughhehadplentyofgold，wasinrealitypenniless。

When，therefore，hesawthequails，heagainfeltasthoughsomefriendlyspiritwassmoothinghiswaybeforehim。WhatmoreeasythantosellthematColdharbour(forsothenameofthetowninwhichhehadbeenimprisonedshouldbetranslated)，whereheknewtheywereadelicacy，andwouldfetchhimthevalueofanEnglishshillingapiece？

Ittookhimbetweentwoandthreehourstocatchtwodozen。Whenhehadthusgotwhatheconsideredasufficientstock，hetiedtheirlegstogetherwithrushes，andranastoutstickthroughthewholelot。Soonafterwardshecameuponawoodofstuntedpines，which，thoughtherewasnotmuchundergrowth，neverthelessaffordedconsiderableshelterandenabledhimtogatherwoodenoughtomakehimselfagoodfire。Thiswasacceptable，forthoughthedayswerelong，itwasnowevening，andassoonasthesunhadgonetheairbecamecrispandfrosty。

Hereheresolvedtopassthenight。Hechoseapartwherethetreeswerethickest，lithisfire，pluckedandcleanedfourquails，filledhisbillywithwaterfromthestreamhardby，madeteainhispannikin，grilledtwoofhisbirdsontheembers，atethem，andwhenhehaddoneallthis，helithispipeandbegantothinkthingsover。“Sofarsogood。”saidhetohimself；buthardlyhadthewordspassedthroughhismindbeforehewasstartledbythesoundofvoices，stillatsomedistance，butevidentlydrawingtowardshim。

Heinstantlygathereduphisbilly，pannikin，tea，biscuits，andblanket，allofwhichhehaddeterminedtodiscardandhideonthefollowingmorning；everythingthatcouldbetrayhimhecarriedfullhasteintothewoodsomefewyardsoff，inthedirectionoppositetothatfromwhichthevoiceswerecoming，buthelethisquailsliewheretheywere，andputhispipeandtobaccoinhispocket。

Thevoicesdrewnearerandnearer，anditwasallmyfathercoulddotogetbackandsitdowninnocentlybyhisfire，beforehecouldhearwhatwasbeingsaid。

“Thankgoodness。”saidoneofthespeakers(ofcourseintheErewhonianlanguage)，“weseemtobefindingsomebodyatlast。I

hopeitisnotsomepoacher；wehadbetterbecareful。”

“Nonsense！“saidtheother。“Itmustbeoneoftherangers。NoonewoulddaretolightafirewhilepoachingontheKing’spreserves。Whato’clockdoyoumakeit？“

“Halfafternine。”Andthewatchwasstillinthespeaker’shandasheemergedfromdarknessintotheglowinglightofthefire。Myfatherglancedatit，andsawthatitwasexactlyliketheonehehadwornonenteringErewhonnearlytwentyyearspreviously。

Thewatch，however，wasaverysmallmatter；thedressofthesetwomen(fortherewereonlytwo)wasfarmoredisconcerting。TheywerenotintheErewhoniancostume。TheonewasdressedlikeanEnglishmanorwould-beEnglishman，whiletheotherwaswearingthesamekindofclothesbutturnedthewrongwayround，sothatwhenhisfacewastowardsmyfatherhisbodyseemedtohaveitsbacktowardshim，andviceverso。Theman’shead，infact，appearedtohavebeenscrewedrightround；andyetitwasplainthatifhewerestrippedhewouldbefoundbuiltlikeotherpeople。

Whatcoulditallmean？Themenwereaboutfiftyyearsold。Theywerewell-to-dopeople，wellclad，wellfed，andwerefeltinstinctivelybymyfathertobelongtotheacademicclasses。ThatoneofthemshouldbedressedlikeasensibleEnglishmandismayedmyfatherasmuchasthattheothershouldhaveawatch，andlookasifhehadjustbrokenoutofBedlam，orasKingDagobertmusthavelookedifhehadwornallhisclothesasheissaidtohavewornhisbreeches。Bothworetheirclothessoeasily——forhewhoworethemreversedhadevidentlybeenmeasuredwithaviewtothisabsurdfashion——thatitwasplaintheirdresswashabitual。

Myfatherwasalarmedaswellasastounded，forhesawthatwhatlittleplanofacampaignhehadformedmustbereconstructed，andhehadnoideainwhatdirectionhisnextmoveshouldbetaken；buthewasareadyman，andknewthatwhenpeoplehavetakenanyideaintotheirheads，alittleconfirmationwillfixit。Afirstideaislikeastrongseedling；itwillgrowifitcan。

Inlesstimethanitwillhavetakenthereadertogetthroughthelastforegoingparagraphs，myfathertookupthecuefurnishedhimbythesecondspeaker。

“Yes。”saidhe，goingboldlyuptothisgentleman，“Iamoneoftherangers，anditismydutytoaskyouwhatyouaredoinghereupontheKing’spreserves。”

“Quiteso，myman。”wastherejoinder。“Wehavebeentoseethestatuesattheheadofthepass，andhaveapermitfromtheMayorofSunch’stontoenteruponthepreserves。Welostourselvesinthethickfog，bothgoingandcomingback。”

Myfatherinwardlyblessedthefog。Hedidnotcatchthenameofthetown，butpresentlyfoundthatitwascommonlypronouncedasI

havewrittenit。

“Bepleasedtoshowitme。”saidmyfatherinhispolitestmanner。

Onthisadocumentwashandedtohim。

IwillhereexplainthatIshalltranslatethenamesofmenandplaces，aswellasthesubstanceofthedocument；andIshalltranslateallnamesinfuture。IndeedIhavejustdonesointhecaseofSunch’ston。Asanexample，letmeexplainthatthetrueErewhoniannamesforHankyandPanky，towhomthereaderwillbeimmediatelyintroduced，areSukohandSukop——namestoocacophonoustobereadwithpleasurebytheEnglishpublic。ImustaskthereadertobelievethatinallcasesIamdoingmybesttogivethespiritoftheoriginalname。

IwouldalsoexpressmyregretthatmyfatherdidnoteitheruniformlykeeptothetrueErewhoniannames，asinthecasesofSenojNosnibor，Ydgrun，Thims，&c——nameswhichoccurconstantlyinErewhon——orelseinvariablyinventaname，ashedidwheneverheconsideredthetruenameimpossible。Mypoormother’sname，forexample，wasreallyNnaHaras，andMahaina’sEnajYsteb，whichhedarednotface。He，therefore，gavethesecharactersthefirstnamesthateuphonysuggested，withoutanyattemptattranslation。

Rightlyorwrongly，Ihavedeterminedtokeepconsistentlytotranslationforallnamesnotusedinmyfather’sbook；andthroughout，whetherasregardsnamesorconversations，Ishalltranslatewiththefreedomwithoutwhichnotranslationrisesaboveconstruelevel。

Letmenowreturntothepermit。Theearlierpartofthedocumentwasprinted，andranasfollows：-

ExtractsfromtheActfortheafforestingofcertainlandslyingbetweenthetownofSunchildston，formerlycalledColdharbour，andthemountainswhichboundthekingdomofErewhon，passedintheyearThree，beingtheeighthyearofthereignofhisMostGraciousMajestyKingWell-belovedtheTwenty-Second。

“WhereasitisexpedienttopreventanyofhisMajesty’ssubjectsfromtryingtocrossoverintounknownlandsbeyondthemountains，andinlikemannertoprotecthisMajesty’skingdomfromintrusiononthepartofforeigndevils，itisherebyenactedthatcertainlands，moreparticularlydescribedhereafter，shallbeafforestedandsetapartasahunting-groundforhisMajesty’sprivateuse。

“ItisalsoenactedthattheRangersandUnder-rangersshallberequiredtoimmediatelykillwithoutparleyanyforeigndevilwhomtheymayencountercomingfromtheothersideofthemountains。

Theyaretoweightthebody，andthrowitintotheBluePoolunderthewaterfallshownontheplanheretoannexed；butonpainofimprisonmentforlifetheyshallnotreservetotheirownuseanyarticlebelongingtothedeceased。NeithershalltheydivulgewhattheyhavedonetoanyonesavetheHeadRanger，whoshallreportthecircumstancesofthecasefullyandminutelytohisMajesty。

“AsregardsanyofhisMajesty’ssubjectswhomaybetakenwhiletrespassingonhisMajesty’spreserveswithoutaspecialpermitsignedbytheMayorofSunchildston，oranywhomaybeconvictedofpoachingonthesaidpreserves，theRangersshallforthwitharrestthemandbringthembeforetheMayorofSunchildston，whoshallenquireintotheirantecedents，andpunishthemwithsuchtermofimprisonment，withhardlabour，ashemaythinkfit，providedthatnosuchtermbeoflessdurationthantwelvecalendarmonths。

“ForthefurtherprovisionsofthesaidAct，thosewhomitmayconcernarereferredtotheActinfull，acopyofwhichmaybeseenattheofficialresidenceoftheMayorofSunchildston。”

ThenfollowedinMS。“XIX。xii。29。PermitProfessorHanky，RoyalProfessorofWorldlyWisdomatBridgeford，seatoflearning，cityofthepeoplewhoareabovesuspicion，andProfessorPanky，RoyalProfessorofUnworldlyWisdominthesaidcity，oreitherofthem“[heretheMS。ended，therestofthepermitbeinginprint]

“topassfreelyduringthespaceofforty-eighthoursfromthedatehereof，overtheKing’spreserves，provided，underpainofimprisonmentwithhardlabourfortwelvemonths，thattheydonotkill，norcausetobekilled，noreat，ifanotherhavekilled，anyoneormoreofhisMajesty’squails。”

Thesignaturewassuchascrawlthatmyfathercouldnotreadit，butunderneathwasprinted，“MayorofSunchildston，formerlycalledColdharbour。”

Whatamassofinformationdidnotmyfathergatherasheread，butwhatafargreatermassdidhenotseethathemustgetholdoferehecouldreconstructhisplansintelligently。

“Theyearthree。”indeed；andXIX。xii。29，inRomanandArabiccharacters！TherewerenosuchcharacterswhenhewasinErewhonbefore。ItflasheduponhimthathehadrepeatedlyshewnthemtotheNosnibors，andhadonceevenwrittenthemdown。Itcouldnotbethat……No，itwasimpossible；andyettherewastheEuropeandress，aimedatbytheoneProfessor，andattainedbytheother。

Again“XIX。”whatwasthat？“xii。”mightdoforDecember，butitwasnowthe4thofDecembernotthe29th。“Afforested“too？Thenthatwaswhyhehadseennosheeptracks。Andhowaboutthequailshehadsoinnocentlykilled？WhatwouldhavehappenedifhehadtriedtoselltheminColdharbour？Whatotherlikefatalerrormighthenotignorantlycommit？AndwhyhadColdharbourbecomeSunchildston？

Thesethoughtsracedthroughmypoorfather’sbrainasheslowlyperusedthepaperhandedtohimbytheProfessors。Togivehimselftimehefeignedtobeapoorscholar，butwhenhehaddelayedaslongashedared，hereturnedittotheonewhohadgivenithim。

Withoutchangingamusclehesaid-

“Yourpermit，sir，isquiteregular。YoucaneitherstayherethenightorgoontoSunchildstonasyouthinkfit。MayIaskwhichofyoutwogentlemenisProfessorHanky，andwhichProfessorPanky？“

“MynameisPanky。”saidtheonewhohadthewatch，whoworehisclothesreversed，andwhohadthoughtmyfathermightbeapoacher。

“AndmineHanky。”saidtheother。

“Whatdoyouthink，Panky。”headded，turningtohisbrotherProfessor，“hadwenotbetterstayheretillsunrise？Wearebothofustired，andthisfellowcanmakeusagoodfire。Itisverydark，andtherewillbenomoonthistwohours。Wearehungry，butwecanholdouttillwegettoSunchildston；itcannotbemorethaneightorninemilesfurtherdown。”

Pankyassented，butthen，turningsharplytomyfather，hesaid，“Myman，whatareyoudoingintheforbiddendress？Whyareyounotinranger’suniform，andwhatisthemeaningofallthosequails？“Forhisseedlingideathatmyfatherwasinrealityapoacherwasdoingitsbesttogrow。

Quickasthoughtmyfatheranswered，“TheHeadRangersentmeamessagethismorningtodeliverhimthreedozenquailsatSunchildstonbyto-morrowafternoon。Asforthedress，wecanrunthequailsdownquickerinit，andhesaysnothingtoussolongasweonlywearoutoldclothesandputonouruniformsbeforewenearthetown。Myuniformisintheranger’sshelteranhourandahalfhigherupthevalley。”

“Seewhatcomes。”saidPanky，“ofhavingawhippersnappernotyettwentyyearsoldintheresponsiblepostofHeadRanger。Asforthisfellow，hemaybespeakingthetruth，butIdistrusthim。”

“Themanisallright，Panky。”saidHanky，“andseemstobeadecentfellowenough。”Thentomyfather，“Howmanybracehaveyougot？“Andhelookedatthemalittlewistfully。

“Ihavebeenatitallday，sir，andIhaveonlygoteightbrace。

Imustrundowntenmorebraceto-morrow。”

“Isee，Isee。”Then，turningtoPanky，hesaid，“Ofcourse，theyarewantedfortheMayor’sbanquetonSunday。Bytheway，wehavenotyetreceivedourinvitation；IsupposeweshallfinditwhenwegetbacktoSunchildston。”

“Sunday，Sunday，Sunday！“groanedmyfatherinwardly；buthechangednotamuscleofhisface，andsaidstolidlytoProfessorHanky，“Ithinkyoumustberight，sir；buttherewasnothingsaidaboutittome，Iwasonlytoldtobringthebirds。”

ThustenderlydidhewatertheProfessor’ssecondseedling。ButPankyhadhisseedlingtoo，and，Cain-like，wasjealousthatHanky’sshouldflourishwhilehisownwaswithering。

“Andwhat，pray，myman。”hesaidsomewhatperemptorilytomyfather，“arethosetwopluckedquailsdoing？Wereyoutodeliverthemplucked？AndwhatbirddidthosebonesbelongtowhichIseelyingbythefirewiththefleshalleatenoffthem？Aretheunder-rangersallowednotonlytoweartheforbiddendressbuttoeattheKing’squailsaswell？“

Theforminwhichthequestionwasaskedgavemyfatherhiscue。

Helaughedheartily，andsaid，“Why，sir，thosepluckedbirdsarelandrails，notquails，andthosebonesarelandrailbones。Lookatthisthigh-bone；wasthereeveraquailwithsuchaboneasthat？“

IcannotsaywhetherornoProfessorPankywasreallydeceivedbythesweeteffronterywithwhichmyfatherprofferedhimthebone。

Ifhewastakenin，hisanswerwasdictatedsimplybyadonnishunwillingnesstoallowanyonetobebetterinformedonanysubjectthanhewashimself。

Myfather，whenIsuggestedthistohim，wouldnothearofit。“Ohno。”hesaid；“themanknewwellenoughthatIwaslying。”Howeverthismaybe，theProfessor’smannerchanged。

“Youareright。”hesaid，“Ithoughttheywerelandrailbones，butwasnotsuretillIhadoneinmyhand。Isee，too，thatthepluckedbirdsarelandrails，butthereislittlelight，andIhavenotoftenseenthemwithouttheirfeathers。”

“Ithink。”saidmyfathertome，“thatHankyknewwhathisfriendmeant，forhesaid，’Panky，Iamveryhungry。’“

“Oh，Hanky，Hanky。”saidtheother，modulatinghisharshvoicetillitwasquitepleasant。“Don’tcorruptthepoorman。”

“Panky，dropthat；wearenotatBridgefordnow；Iamveryhungry，andIbelievehalfthosebirdsarenotquailsbutlandrails。”

Myfathersawhewassafe。Hesaid，“Perhapssomeofthemmightprovetobeso，sir，undercertaincircumstances。Iamapoorman，sir。”

“Come，come。”saidHanky；andheslippedasumequaltoabouthalf-

a-crownintomyfather’shand。

“Idonotknowwhatyoumean，sir。”saidmyfather，“andifIdid，half-a-crownwouldnotbenearlyenough。”

“Hanky。”saidPanky，“youmustgetthisfellowtogiveyoulessons。”

CHAPTERIV：MYFATHEROVERHEARSMOREOFHANKYANDPANKY’S

CONVERSATION

Myfather，schooledunderadversity，knewthatitwasneverwelltopressadvantagetoofar。Hetooktheequivalentoffiveshillingsforthreebrace，whichwassomewhatlessthanthebirdswouldhavebeenworthwhenthingswereashehadknownthem。Moreover，heconsentedtotakeashilling’sworthofMusicalBankmoney，which(ashehasexplainedinhisbook)hasnoappreciablevalueoutsidethesebanks。HedidthisbecauseheknewthatitwouldberespectabletobeseencarryingalittleMusicalBankmoney，andalsobecausehewishedtogivesomeofittotheBritishMuseum，whereheknewthatthiscuriouscoinagewasunrepresented。Butthecoinsstruckhimasbeingmuchthinnerandsmallerthanhehadrememberedthem。

ItwasPanky，notHanky，whohadgivenhimtheMusicalBankmoney。

Pankywasthegreaterhumbugofthetwo，forhewouldhumbugevenhimself——athing，bytheway，notveryhardtodo；andyethewasthelesssuccessfulhumbug，forhecouldhumbugnoonewhowasworthhumbugging——notforlong。Hanky’soccasionalfranknessputpeopleofftheirguard。Hewasthemerecommon，superficial，perfunctoryProfessor，who，beingaProfessor，wouldofcourseprofess，butwouldnotliemorethanwasinthebond；hewaslog-

rolledandlog-rolling，butstill，inarobustwolfishfashion，human。

Panky，ontheotherhand，washardlyhuman；hehadthrownhimselfsoearnestlyintohiswork，thathehadbecomealivinglie。IfhehadhadtoplaythepartofOthellohewouldhaveblackedhimselfallover，andverylikelysmotheredhisDesdemonaingoodearnest。

Hankywouldhardlyhaveblackedhimselfbehindtheears，andhisDesdemonawouldhavebeenquitesafe。

Philosophersarelikequailsintherespectthattheycantaketwoorthreeflightsofimagination，butrarelymorewithoutanintervalofrepose。TheProfessorshadimaginedmyfathertobeapoacherandaranger；theyhadimaginedthequailstobewantedforSunday’sbanquet；theyhadimaginedthattheyimagined(atleastPankyhad)thattheywereabouttoeatlandrails；theywerenowexhausted，andcowereddownintothegrassoftheirordinaryconversation，payingnomoreattentiontomyfatherthanifhehadbeenalog。He，poorman，drankineverywordtheysaid，whileseeminglyintentonnothingbuthisquails，eachoneofwhichhecutupwithaknifeborrowedfromHanky。Twohadbeenpluckedalready，sohelaidtheseatonceupontheclearembers。

“Idonotknowwhatwearetodowithourselves。”saidHanky，“tillSunday。To-dayisThursday——itisthetwenty-ninth，isitnot？

Yes，ofcourseitis——Sundayisthefirst。Besides，itisonourpermit。To-morrowwecanrest；what，Iwonder，canwedoonSaturday？Buttheotherswillbeherethen，andwecantellthemaboutthestatues。”

“Yes，butmindyoudonotblurtoutanythingaboutthelandrails。”

“IthinkwemaytellDr。Downie。”

“Tellnobody。”saidPanky。