Page 67 - erewhon

every ledge being planted with chestnuts, walnuts, and ap-
ple-trees from which the apples were now gathering. Goats
were abundant; also a kind of small black cattle, in the
marshes near the river, which was now fast widening, and
running between larger flats from which the hills receded
more and more. I saw a few sheep with rounded noses and
enormous tails. Dogs were there in plenty, and very Eng-
lish; but I saw no cats, nor indeed are these creatures known,
their place being supplied by a sort of small terrier.
In about four hours of walking from the time we started,
and after passing two or three more villages, we came upon
a considerable town, and my guides made many attempts to
make me understand something, but I gathered no inkling
of their meaning, except that I need be under no apprehen-
sion of danger. I will spare the reader any description of the
town, and would only bid him think of Domodossola or
Faido. Suffice it that I found myself taken before the chief
magistrate, and by his orders was placed in an apartment
with two other people, who were the first I had seen look-
ing anything but well and handsome. In fact, one of them
was plainly very much out of health, and coughed violently
from time to time in spite of manifest efforts to suppress it.
The other looked pale and ill but he was marvellously self-
contained, and it was impossible to say what was the matter
with him. Both of them appeared astonished at seeing one
who was evidently a stranger, but they were too ill to come
up to me, and form conclusions concerning me. These two
were first called out; and in about a quarter of an hour I was
made to follow them, which I did in some fear, and with

Erewhon