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from meI mean that they were not living beings； but statues。 I
determined that I would count fifty slowly； and was sure that the
objects were not alive if during that time I could detect no sign
of motion。
How thankful was I when I came to the end of my fifty and there had
been no movement！
I counted a second timebut again all was still。
I then advanced timidly forward； and in another moment I saw that
my surmise was correct。 I had come upon a sort of Stonehenge of
rude and barbaric figures； seated as Chowbok had sat when I
questioned him in the wool…shed； and with the same superhumanly
malevolent expression upon their faces。 They had been all seated；
but two had fallen。 They were barbarousneither Egyptian； nor
Assyrian； nor Japanesedifferent from any of these； and yet akin
to all。 They were six or seven times larger than life； of great
antiquity； worn and lichen grown。 They were ten in number。 There
was snow upon their heads and wherever snow could lodge。 Each
statue had been built of four or five enormous blocks； but how
these had been raised and put together is known to those alone who
raised them。 Each was terrible after a different kind。 One was
raging furiously； as in pain and great despair； another was lean
and cadaverous with famine； another cruel and idiotic； but with the
silliest simper that can be conceivedthis one had fallen； and
looked exquisitely ludicrous in his fallthe mouths of all were
more or less open； and as I looked at them from behind； I saw that
their heads had been hollowed。
I was sick and shivering with cold。 Solitude had unmanned me
already； and I was utterly unfit to have come upon such an assembly
of fiends in such a dreadful wilderness and without preparation。 I
would have given everything I had in the world to have been back at
my master's station； but that was not to be thought of： my head
was failing； and I felt sure that I could never get back alive。
Then came a gust of howling wind； accompanied with a moan from one
of the statues above me。 I clasped my hands in fear。 I felt like
a rat caught in a trap； as though I would have turned and bitten at
whatever thing was nearest me。 The wildness of the wind increased；
the moans grew shriller； coming from several statues； and swelling
into a chorus。 I almost immediately knew what it was； but the
sound was so unearthly that this was but little consolation。 The
inhuman beings into whose hearts the Evil One had put it to
conceive these statues； had made their heads into a sort of organ…
pipe； so that their mouths should catch the wind and sound with its
blowing。 It was horrible。 However brave a man might be； he could
never stand such a concert； from such lips； and in such a place。 I
heaped every invective upon them that my tongue could utter as I
rushed away from them into the mist； and even after I had lost
sight of them； and turning my head round could see nothing but the
storm…wraiths driving behind me； I heard their ghostly chanting；
and felt as though one of them would rush after me and grip me in
his hand and throttle me。
I may say here that； since my return to England； I heard a friend
playing some chords upon the organ which put me very forcibly in
mind of the Erewhonian statues （for Erewhon is the name of the
country upon which I was now entering）。 They rose most vividly to
my recollection the moment my friend began。 They are as follows；
and are by the greatest of all musicians：… ｛2｝
＇Music score which cannot be reproduced＇
CHAPTER VI： INTO EREWHON
And now I found myself on a narrow path which followed a small
watercourse。 I was too glad to have an easy track for my flight；
to lay hold of the full significance of its existence。 The
thought； however； soon presented itself to me that I must be in an
inhabited country； but one which was yet unknown。 What； then； was
to be my fate at the hands of its inhabitants？ Should I be taken
and offered up as a burnt…offering to those hideous guardians of
the pass？ It might be so。 I shuddered at the thought； yet the
horrors of solitude had now fairly possessed me； and so dazed was
I； and chilled； and woebegone； that I could lay hold of no idea
firmly amid the crowd of fancies that kept wandering in upon my
brain。
I hurried onwarddown； down； down。 More streams came in； then
there was a bridge； a few pine logs thrown over the water； but they
gave me comfort； for savages do not make bridges。 Then I had a
treat such as I can never convey on papera moment； perhaps； the
most striking and unexpected in my whole lifethe one I think
that； with some three or four exceptions； I would most gladly have
again； were I able to recall it。 I got below the level of the
clouds； into a burst of brilliant evening sunshine； I was facing
the north…west； and the sun was full upon me。 Oh； how its light
cheered me！ But what I saw！ It was such an expanse as was
revealed to Moses when he stood upon the summit of Mount Sinai； and
beheld that promised land which it was not to be his to enter。 The
beautiful sunset sky was crimson and gold； blue； silver； and
purple； exquisite and tranquillising； fading away therein were
plains； on which I could see many a town and city； with buildings
that had lofty steeples and rounded domes。 Nearer beneath me lay
ridge behind ridge； outline behind outline； sunlight behind shadow；
and shadow behind sunlight； gully and serrated ravine。 I saw large
pine forests； and the glitter of a noble river winding its way upon
the plains； also many villages and hamlets； some of them quite near
at hand； and it was on these that I pondered most。 I sank upon the
ground at the foot of a large tree and thought what I had best do；
but I could not collect myself。 I was quite tired out； and
presently； feeling warmed by the sun； and quieted； I fell off into
a profound sleep。
I was awoke by the sound of tinkling bells； and looking up； I saw
four or five goats feeding near me。 As soon as I moved； the
creatures turned their heads towards me with an expression of
infinite wonder。 They did not run away； but stood stock still； and
looked at me from every side； as I at them。 Then came the sound of
chattering and laughter； and there approached two lovely girls； of
about seventeen or eighteen years old； dressed each in a sort of
linen gaberdine； with a girdle round the waist。 They saw me。 I
sat quite still and looked at them； dazzled with their extreme
beauty。 For a moment they looked at me and at each other in great
amazement； then they gave a little frightened cry and ran off as
hard as they could。
〃So that's that；〃 said I to myself； as I watched them scampering。
I knew that I had better stay where I was and meet my fate；
whatever it was to be； and even if there were a better course； I
had no strength left to take it。 I must come into contact with the
inhabitants sooner or later； and it might as well be sooner。
Better not to seem afraid of them； as I should do by running away
and being caught with a hue and cry to…morrow or next day。 So I
remained quite still and waited。 In about an hour I heard distant
voices talking excitedly； and in a few minute