Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 6.djvu/336

310 them both; which my master would needs contend to have some kind of resemblance with our suits at law; wherein I thought it for our credit not to undeceive him; since the decision he mentioned, was much more equitable, than many decrees among us: because the plaintiff and defendant there, lost nothing beside the stone they contended for, whereas our courts of equity would never have dismissed the cause, while either of them had any thing left.

My master continuing his discourse said, there was nothing that rendered the yahoos more odious, than their undistinguishing appetite to devour every thing that came in their way, whether herbs, roots, berries, the corrupted flesh of animals, or all mingled together: and it was peculiar in their temper, that they were fonder of what they could get by rapine or stealth, at a greater distance, than much better food, provided for them at home. If their prey held out, they would eat till they were ready to burst, after which, nature had pointed out to them a certain root, that gave them a general evacuation.

There was also another kind of root, very juicy, but somewhat rare and difficult to be found, which the yahoos sought for with much eagerness, and would suck it with great delight; it produced in them the same effects, that wine has upon us. It would make them sometimes hug, and sometimes tear one another; they would howl and grin, and chatter, and reel, and tumble, and then fall asleep in the mud.

I did indeed observe, that the yahoos were the only animals in this country, subject to any diseases; which, however, were much fewer than horses have among us, and contracted not by any ill treatment they