Chapter 6.
The Author's Dangerous Voyage Home.
I began this desperate voyage at nine o'clock on the morning of the 15th of February 1714.
The wind was quite favorable.
With the help of the tide, I made good speed.
In half an hour, my master and his friends were almost out of sight.
I often heard the sorrel nag crying out, or take care of yourself, gentle Yahu.
My plan was to find a small, deserted island that could supply me with the necessities of life.
In such solitude, I could at least enjoy my own thoughts and think with delight on the virtues of the Hohenems.
There would be no opportunity to return to the corrupt behavior of my own people.
In about two days' time, I had arrived at the southeast point of New Zealand.
I saw no natives in the place where I landed but, being unarmed, was afraid of going too far into the country.
I found some shellfish on the shore and ate them raw, not daring to light a fire for fear of being discovered.
I continued like this for three days.
On the fourth day I ventured out a little too far and saw 20 or 30 natives at some height not more than 500 yards away.
One of them spied me and five of them chased after me.
I quickly ran to the shore and back to my canoe.
Before I could get far enough out to sea, the natives fired arrows at me, one of which wounded me just inside my left knee.
I was afraid this arrow might be poisoned, and after rowing safely away, I sucked the wound clean as best as I could and bandaged it.
I was at a loss for what to do next.
I dared not return to the same landing place, but the wind was blowing against me and I could not paddle very far.
As I was looking for a secure landing place.
I saw a sail to the north-northeast, which appeared more visible with each passing minute.
I was in some doubt as to whether I should wait for them.
My hatred of the yahoo race prevailed and I turned my canoe paddling back to the same creek from which I had escaped earlier.
I would rather trust myself among these natives than live with European yahoos.
I drew my canoe as close as I could to the shore and hid myself behind a stone.
The ship came within half a league before sending her longboat out to take in fresh water from the brook.
The seamen found my canoe and then quickly found me as well, flat on my face behind the stone.
They gazed in amazement at my strange dress, my coat made of skins and my wood-soled shoes.
Speaking in Portuguese, they bid me rise and asked me who I was.
Speaking that language.
Well enough, I got to my feet and said that I was a poor Yahu banished from the Hohenems, and wished that they would let me go.
They were impressed to hear me answer in their language, but were at a loss as to what I meant by Yahu and Hohenems.
They said they were sure that their captain would take me to Lisbon.
From there I could return to my own country.
They were curious to know my story, but I told them very little and they decided that my misfortunes had injured my ability to reason.
The captain turned out to be a kind and generous man.
He brought me to his cabin, urged me to give some account of myself and asked me what I would like to eat or drink.
I was amazed to hear a yahoo speak in such a civil tone, but I kept silent.
The captain ordered a chicken and some water and then ordered that I be put to bed in a clean cabin.
I would not undress, but lay on top of the sheets.
After I thought the crew would be at dinner, I stole out of my cabin and tried to leap from the ship and swim for my life.
One of the seamen caught me, though, and I was chained to my cabin.
Later the captain came to me and asked why I had attempted such a desperate act.
He assured me that he meant to do well by me, and his tone was so moving that I decided to tell him my story.
Afterward, though, he looked upon the words I had spoken as some kind of dream.
I took great offense at this, forgetting the idea of lying and insisted that I would never say the thing that was not.
After examining my story more carefully, the captain began to believe me.
He asked for my word that I would not try to escape again, saying that otherwise I would have to be kept as a prisoner.
I gave him this promise, protesting at the same time, that I would suffer great hardships rather than live among the yahoos.
The rest of our voyage passed without any major events.
We arrived at Lisbon on the 5th of November, 1715.
The captain took me to his house, where I stayed with him for several days.
He was so well-mannered and kind that, in time, I actually began to like his company.
He continued to try and convince me to return to my home to live with my wife and children.
Finally, seeing I could do no better, I left Lisbon on the 24th day of November.
My wife and family received me with great surprise and joy, but I must confess that the sight of them filled me with disgust.
I had forced myself to tolerate the company of yahoos.
Yet my imagination was full of the virtues and ideas of those wonderful hoikhanims and the life I had enjoyed there.
At the time of my writing, it is five years since my return to England.
Slowly I have learned to endure, and in some cases even enjoy the company of my yahoo family.
The first money I made upon my return was laid out to buy two young stallions which I keep in a good stable.
I feel my spirits revived by their company.
My horses understand me fairly well, and I speak with them at least four hours every day.
They are strangers to bridle and saddle, and they live in great friendship with me and each other.
