was just excluded by the limit of 271 years。 Then came the
reactionary civil wars which nearly ruined the country； but which
it would be beyond my present scope to describe。
CHAPTER XXVI： THE VIEWS OF AN EREWHONIAN PROPHET CONCERNING THE
RIGHTS OF ANIMALS
It will be seen from the foregoing chapters that the Erewhonians
are a meek and long…suffering people； easily led by the nose； and
quick to offer up common sense at the shrine of logic； when a
philosopher arises among them； who carries them away through his
reputation for especial learning； or by convincing them that their
existing institutions are not based on the strictest principles of
morality。
The series of revolutions on which I shall now briefly touch shows
this even more plainly than the way （already dealt with） in which
at a later date they cut their throats in the matter of machinery；
for if the second of the two reformers of whom I am about to speak
had had his wayor rather the way that he professed to havethe
whole race would have died of starvation within a twelve…month。
Happily common sense； though she is by nature the gentlest creature
living； when she feels the knife at her throat； is apt to develop
unexpected powers of resistance； and to send doctrinaires flying；
even when they have bound her down and think they have her at their
mercy。 What happened； so far as I could collect it from the best
authorities； was as follows：…
Some two thousand five hundred years ago the Erewhonians were still
uncivilised； and lived by hunting； fishing； a rude system of
agriculture； and plundering such few other nations as they had not
yet completely conquered。 They had no schools or systems of
philosophy； but by a kind of dog…knowledge did that which was right
in their own eyes and in those of their neighbours； the common
sense； therefore； of the public being as yet unvitiated； crime and
disease were looked upon much as they are in other countries。
But with the gradual advance of civilisation and increase in
material prosperity； people began to ask questions about things
that they had hitherto taken as matters of course； and one old
gentleman； who had great influence over them by reason of the
sanctity of his life； and his supposed inspiration by an unseen
power； whose existence was now beginning to be felt； took it into
his head to disquiet himself about the rights of animalsa
question that so far had disturbed nobody。
All prophets are more or less fussy； and this old gentleman seems
to have been one of the more fussy ones。 Being maintained at the
public expense； he had ample leisure； and not content with limiting
his attention to the rights of animals； he wanted to reduce right
and wrong to rules； to consider the foundations of duty and of good
and evil； and otherwise to put all sorts of matters on a logical
basis； which people whose time is money are content to accept on no
basis at all。
As a matter of course； the basis on which he decided that duty
could alone rest was one that afforded no standing…room for many of
the old…established habits of the people。 These； he assured them；
were all wrong； and whenever any one ventured to differ from him；
he referred the matter to the unseen power with which he alone was
in direct communication； and the unseen power invariably assured
him that he was right。 As regards the rights of animals he taught
as follows：…
〃You know； he said； 〃how wicked it is of you to kill one another。
Once upon a time your fore…fathers made no scruple about not only
killing； but also eating their relations。 No one would now go back
to such detestable practices； for it is notorious that we have
lived much more happily since they were abandoned。 From this
increased prosperity we may confidently deduce the maxim that we
should not kill and eat our fellow…creatures。 I have consulted the
higher power by whom you know that I am inspired； and he has
assured me that this conclusion is irrefragable。
〃Now it cannot be denied that sheep； cattle； deer； birds； and
fishes are our fellow…creatures。 They differ from us in some
respects； but those in which they differ are few and secondary；
while those that they have in common with us are many and
essential。 My friends； if it was wrong of you to kill and eat your
fellow…men； it is wrong also to kill and eat fish； flesh； and fowl。
Birds； beasts； and fishes； have as full a right to live as long as
they can unmolested by man； as man has to live unmolested by his
neighbours。 These words； let me again assure you； are not mine；
but those of the higher power which inspires me。
〃I grant；〃 he continued； 〃that animals molest one another； and that
some of them go so far as to molest man； but I have yet to learn
that we should model our conduct on that of the lower animals。 We
should endeavour； rather； to instruct them； and bring them to a
better mind。 To kill a tiger； for example； who has lived on the
flesh of men and women whom he has killed； is to reduce ourselves
to the level of the tiger； and is unworthy of people who seek to be
guided by the highest principles in all； both their thoughts and
actions。
〃The unseen power who has revealed himself to me alone among you；
has told me to tell you that you ought by this time to have
outgrown the barbarous habits of your ancestors。 If； as you
believe； you know better than they； you should do better。 He
commands you； therefore； to refrain from killing any living being
for the sake of eating it。 The only animal food that you may eat；
is the flesh of any birds； beasts； or fishes that you may come upon
as having died a natural death； or any that may have been born
prematurely； or so deformed that it is a mercy to put them out of
their pain； you may also eat all such animals as have committed
suicide。 As regards vegetables you may eat all those that will let
you eat them with impunity。〃
So wisely and so well did the old prophet argue； and so terrible
were the threats he hurled at those who should disobey him； that in
the end he carried the more highly educated part of the people with
him； and presently the poorer classes followed suit； or professed
to do so。 Having seen the triumph of his principles； he was
gathered to his fathers； and no doubt entered at once into full
communion with that unseen power whose favour he had already so
pre…eminently enjoyed。
He had not； however； been dead very long； before some of his more
ardent disciples took it upon them to better the instruction of
their master。 The old prophet had allowed the use of eggs and
milk； but his disciples decided that to eat a fresh egg was to
destroy a potential chicken； and that this came to much the same as
murdering a live one。 Stale eggs； if it was quite certain that
they were too far gone to be able to be hatched； were grudgingly
permitted； but all eggs offered for sale had to be submitted to an
inspector； who； on being satisfied that they were addled； would
label them 〃Laid not less than three months〃 from the date；
whatever it might happen to be。 These eggs； I need hardly say；
were only used in puddings； and as a medicine in certain cases
where an emetic was urgently required。 Milk was forbidden inasmuch
as it could not be obtained without robbing some calf of its
natural sustenance； and thus endangering its life。
It will be easily believed that at first there were many who gave
the new rules outward observance； but embraced every opportunity of
indulging secretly in those flesh…pots to which they had been
accustomed。 It was found that animals were continually dying
natural deaths under more or less suspicious circumstances。
Suicidal mania； again； which had hitherto been confined exclusively
to donkeys； became alarmingly prevalent even among such for the
most part self…respecting creatures as sheep and cattle。 It was
astonishing how some of these unfortunate animals would scent out a
butcher's knife if there was one within a mile of them； and run
right up against it if the butcher did not get it out of their way
in time。
Dogs； again； that had been quite law…abiding as regards domestic
poultry； tame rabbits； sucking pigs； or sheep and lambs； suddenly
took to breaking beyond the control of their masters； and killing
anything that they were told not to touch。 It was held that any
animal killed by a dog had died a natural death； for it was the
dog's nature to kill things； and he had only refrained from
molesting farmyard creatures hitherto because his nature had been
tampered with。 Unfortunately the more these unruly tendencies
became developed； the more the common people seemed to delight in
breeding the very animals that would put temptation in the dog's
way。 There is little doubt； in fact； that they were deliberately
evading the law； but whether this was so or no they sold or ate
everything their dogs had killed。
Evasion was more difficult in the case of the larger animals； for
the magistrates could not wink at all the pretended suicides of
pigs； sheep； and cattle that were brought before them。 Sometimes
they had to convict； and a few convictions had a very terrorising
effectwhereas in the case of animals killed by a dog； the marks
of the dog's teeth could be seen； and it was practically impossible
to prove malice on the part of the owner of the dog。
Another fertile source of disobedience to the law was furnished by
a decision of one of the judges that raised a great outcry among
the more fervent disciples of the old prophet。 The judge held that
it was lawful to kill any animal in self…defence； and that such
conduct was so natural on the part of a man who found himself
attacked； that the attacking creature should be held to have died a
natural death。 The High Vegetarians had indeed good reason to be
alarmed； for hardly had this decision become generally known before
a number of animals； hitherto harmless； took to attacking their
owners with such ferocity； that it became necessary to put them to
a natural death。 Again； it was quite common at that time to see
the carcase of a calf； lamb； or kid exposed for sale with a label
from the inspector certifying that it had been killed in self…
defence。 Sometimes even t