erewhon-第2章
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I had already written； and string them together into a book。 I was
rather fired by the idea； but as I only worked at the MS。 on
Sundays it was some months before I had completed it。
I see from my second Preface that I took the book to Messrs。
Chapman & Hall May 1； 1871； and on their rejection of it； under the
advice of one who has attained the highest rank among living
writers； I let it sleep； till I took it to Mr。 Trubner early in
1872。 As regards its rejection by Messrs。 Chapman & Hall； I
believe their reader advised them quite wisely。 They told me he
reported that it was a philosophical work； little likely to be
popular with a large circle of readers。 I hope that if I had been
their reader； and the book had been submitted to myself； I should
have advised them to the same effect。
〃Erewhon〃 appeared with the last day or two of March 1872。 I
attribute its unlooked…for success mainly to two early favourable
reviewsthe first in the Pall Mall Gazette of April 12； and the
second in the Spectator of April 20。 There was also another cause。
I was complaining once to a friend that though 〃Erewhon〃 had met
with such a warm reception； my subsequent books had been all of
them practically still…born。 He said； 〃You forget one charm that
'Erewhon' had； but which none of your other books can have。〃 I
asked what？ and was answered； 〃The sound of a new voice； and of an
unknown voice。〃
The first edition of 〃Erewhon〃 sold in about three weeks； I had not
taken moulds； and as the demand was strong； it was set up again
immediately。 I made a few unimportant alterations and additions；
and added a Preface； of which I cannot say that I am particularly
proud； but an inexperienced writer with a head somewhat turned by
unexpected success is not to be trusted with a preface。 I made a
few further very trifling alterations before moulds were taken； but
since the summer of 1872； as new editions were from time to time
wanted； they have been printed from stereos then made。
Having now； I fear； at too great length done what I was asked to
do； I should like to add a few words on my own account。 I am still
fairly well satisfied with those parts of 〃Erewhon〃 that were
repeatedly rewritten； but from those that had only a single writing
I would gladly cut out some forty or fifty pages if I could。
This； however； may not be； for the copyright will probably expire
in a little over twelve years。 It was necessary； therefore； to
revise the book throughout for literary ineleganciesof which I
found many more than I had expectedand also to make such
substantial additions as should secure a new lease of lifeat any
rate for the copyright。 If； then； instead of cutting out； say
fifty pages； I have been compelled to add about sixty invita
Minervathe blame rests neither with my publisher nor with me； but
with the copyright laws。 Nevertheless I can assure the reader
that； though I have found it an irksome task to take up work which
I thought I had got rid of thirty years ago； and much of which I am
ashamed of； I have done my best to make the new matter savour so
much of the better portions of the old； that none but the best
critics shall perceive at what places the gaps of between thirty
and forty years occur。
Lastly； if my readers note a considerable difference between the
literary technique of 〃Erewhon〃 and that of 〃Erewhon Revisited；〃 I
would remind them that； as I have just shown； 〃Erewhon〃 look
something like ten years in writing； and even so was written with
great difficulty； while 〃Erewhon Revisited〃 was written easily
between November 1900 and the end of April 1901。 There is no
central idea underlying 〃Erewhon；〃 whereas the attempt to realise
the effect of a single supposed great miracle dominates the whole
of its successor。 In 〃Erewhon〃 there was hardly any story； and
little attempt to give life and individuality to the characters； I
hope that in 〃Erewhon Revisited〃 both these defects have been in
great measure avoided。 〃Erewhon〃 was not an organic whole；
〃Erewhon Revisited〃 may fairly claim to be one。 Nevertheless；
though in literary workmanship I do not doubt that this last…named
book is an improvement on the first； I shall be agreeably surprised
if I am not told that 〃Erewhon；〃 with all its faults； is the better
reading of the two。
SAMUEL BUTLER。
August 7； 1901
CHAPTER I： WASTE LANDS
If the reader will excuse me； I will say nothing of my antecedents；
nor of the circumstances which led me to leave my native country；
the narrative would be tedious to him and painful to myself。
Suffice it； that when I left home it was with the intention of
going to some new colony； and either finding； or even perhaps
purchasing； waste crown land suitable for cattle or sheep farming；
by which means I thought that I could better my fortunes more
rapidly than in England。
It will be seen that I did not succeed in my design； and that
however much I may have met with that was new and strange； I have
been unable to reap any pecuniary advantage。
It is true； I imagine myself to have made a discovery which； if I
can be the first to profit by it； will bring me a recompense beyond
all money computation； and secure me a position such as has not
been attained by more than some fifteen or sixteen persons； since
the creation of the universe。 But to this end I must possess
myself of a considerable sum of money： neither do I know how to
get it； except by interesting the public in my story； and inducing
the charitable to come forward and assist me。 With this hope I now
publish my adventures； but I do so with great reluctance； for I
fear that my story will be doubted unless I tell the whole of it；
and yet I dare not do so； lest others with more means than mine
should get the start of me。 I prefer the risk of being doubted to
that of being anticipated； and have therefore concealed my
destination on leaving England； as also the point from which I
began my more serious and difficult journey。
My chief consolation lies in the fact that truth bears its own
impress； and that my story will carry conviction by reason of the
internal evidences for its accuracy。 No one who is himself honest
will doubt my being so。
I reached my destination in one of the last months of 1868； but I
dare not mention the season； lest the reader should gather in which
hemisphere I was。 The colony was one which had not been opened up
even to the most adventurous settlers for more than eight or nine
years； having been previously uninhabited； save by a few tribes of
savages who frequented the seaboard。 The part known to Europeans
consisted of a coast…line about eight hundred miles in length
（affording three or four good harbours）； and a tract of country
extending inland for a space varying from two to three hundred
miles； until it a reached the offshoots of an exceedingly lofty
range of mountains； which could be seen from far out upon the
plains； and were covered with perpetual snow。 The coast was
perfectly well known both north and south of the tract to which I
have alluded； but in neither direction was there a single harbour
for five hundred miles； and the mountains； which descended almost
into the sea； were covered with thick timber； so that none would
think of settling。
With this bay of land； however； the case was different。 The
harbours were sufficient； the country was timbered； but not too
heavily； it was admirably suited for agriculture； it also contained
millions on millions of acres of the most beautifully grassed
country in the world； and of the best suited for all manner of
sheep and cattle。 The climate was temperate； and very healthy；
there were no wild animals； nor were the natives dangerous； being
few in number and of an intelligent tractable disposition。
It may be readily understood that when once Europeans set foot upon
this territory they were not slow to take advantage of its
capabilities。 Sheep and cattle were introduced； and bred with
extreme rapidity； men took up their 50；000 or 100；000 acres of
country； going inland one behind the other； till in a few years
there was not an acre between the sea and the front ranges which
was not taken
