it was a large room with a smooth clay floor, and a
rack and manger, extending the whole length on one side. There were
three nags and two mares, not eating, but some of them sitting down upon
their hams, which I very much wondered at; but wondered more to see the
rest employed in domestic business; these seemed but ordinary cattle.
However, this confirmed my first opinion, that a people who could so far
civilise brute animals, must needs excel in wisdom all the nations of the
world. The gray came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill
treatment which the others might have given me. He neighed to them
several times in a style of authority, and received answers.

Beyond this room there were three others, reaching the length of the
house, to which you passed through three doors, opposite to each other,
in the manner of a vista. We went through the second room towards the
third. Here the gray walked in first, beckoning me to attend: I waited
in the second room, and got ready my presents for the master and mistress
of the house; they were two knives, three bracelets of false pearls, a
small looking-glass, and a bead necklace. The horse neighed three or
four times, and I waited to hear some answers in a human voice, but I
heard no other returns than in the same dialect, only one or two a little
shriller than his. I began to think that this house must belong to some
person of great note among them, because there appeared so much ceremony
before I could gain admittance. But, that a man of quality should be
served all by horses, was beyond my comprehension. I feared my brain was
disturbed by my sufferings and misfortunes. I roused myself, and looked
about me in the room where I was left alone: this was furnished like the
first, only after a more elegant manner. I rubbed my eyes often, but the
same objects still occurred. I pinched my arms and sides to awake
myself, hoping I might be in a dream. I then absolutely concluded, that
all these appearances could be nothing else but necromancy and magic.
But I had no time to pursue these reflections; for the gray horse came to
the door, and made me a sign to follow him into the third room where I
saw a very comely mare, together with a colt and foal, sitting on their
haunches upon mats of straw, not unartfully made, and perfectly neat and
clean.

The mare soon after my entrance rose from her mat, and coming up close,
after having nicely observed my hands and face, ga