Erewhon

As shearing time approaches, when the workers gather the wool from the sheep, the narrator notes that Chowbok, whose real name is Kahabuka, is a kind of “chief” in a local Indigenous group. Chowbok seems to have an alcohol addiction, and the narrator uses that addiction to try to get Chowbok to tell him about the more distant ranges of mountains. Though Chowbok is willing to discuss the closer ranges happily, he becomes uneasy when the topic shifts to the more distant mountains.

One night, the narrator refuses to give Chowbok any alcohol until he reveals what he knows about those farther mountain ranges. Chowbok arranges some hay bales, sits on them in a fixed position, and hums. Then, he puts up the fingers of his hands, seeming like a kind of physical performance to communicate something that the narrator does not understand. Chowbok is frightened after the performance and runs out into the night, disappearing until dinner the next day. The narrator concludes that Chowbok can help him reach the more distant ranges, and he secures a leave of absence from his job after shearing season. Promising Chowbok nightly servings of alcohol, the narrator intends to trick the man into the closer mountain ranges, at which point he will reveal his intention to push farther into the mountains.

The narrator and Chowbok make their journey up the river and into the mountains over the course of three weeks. The weather is generally pleasant, and the narrator reflects on how beautiful the scenery is. Chowbok is not nervous, and the two make good progress exploring different branches of the river. The narrator comments that the river likely swells seasonally, but it is manageable at this time of year. One river branch is left at the end of three weeks, and Chowbok claims that he already checked the path, discovering impassable terrain. The narrator acknowledges that all the other river branches have led to an impassable glacier, but he doubts Chowbok’s word, knowing that the guide is nervous about going into the main mountain range. Checking the last river branch himself, the narrator finds a saddle, or a low point between two mountain summits, which seems to be a path farther into the main range. Looking back, the narrator sees that Chowbok is fleeing back down the range.

The narrator briefly attempts to catch up with Chowbok but realizes that he cannot overtake him. If the narrator tries to hike back to the sheep station, he will suffer embarrassment, but if he tries to climb farther into the mountains alone, he risks getting lost or injured alone in the wilderness. In either case, the narrator worries about minor injuries and situations that might kill him. Nonetheless, he resolves to push forward into the saddle, and he quickly finds himself at a ridge that looks over a river and a path down to it. A cloud covers the passage, and he doubts for a moment that he saw the path at all, but a brief glimpse reassures him. All the while, he consistently assures himself that he will turn back if the situation becomes too dangerous.

Working his way down to the river, the narrator sees that the water has corroded a path in the rock, which allows him to continue his journey. In the cavern, the space is immense, and he falls multiple times, bruising himself on the rocks. At one point, he must jump into water, and because of the weight of his pack, this decision nearly kills him. Eventually, he comes out to a grassy area and camps for the night, wrapping up his goods near a fire to dry them. As he sleeps, he dreams that an organ is being played in the wool-shed at the sheep station. In his dream, someone tells him that the man playing the organ is Handel, a famous composer from the 18th century in England. The organ grows larger and larger until it is like a mountain. The narrator tries to climb up to Handel, but he wakes up. He thinks he hears music on the wind coming from the other side of the mountains, and he realizes that it is the same sound that Chowbok made in the wool-shed earlier. Waking in the morning, the narrator makes breakfast and prepares for the day, recommending to other Europeans that they remain in Europe rather than exploring unknown areas.

That day, the narrator makes it down to the riverbed that he spotted from the precipice earlier. He notes that the ground is muddy, and the river is large and swift. After spending some time pacing the river, he decides to make camp early, waking up the next morning refreshed and at ease because he did not hear the music from the previous night. He makes a raft out of plants, but while attempting the crossing, he gets swept down the river for about a mile before making it to the opposite riverbank. Once there, he gathers some food and reflects on how much more difficult the hike has been without Chowbok, noting that he hoped to convert Chowbok to Christianity. He notes that he baptized Chowbok earlier in the hike, but the fact that Chowbok still tried to steal the narrator’s alcohol makes him doubt whether the baptism was effective. Pushing forward, the narrator feels alone, missing Chowbok’s company even if the guide might never become a Christian.

In a misty clearing, the narrator finds what looks like tracks of goats and a dog, implying that there is a shepherd nearby. Following the tracks, the narrator finds 10 large statues of people in various states of pain or anger. The sight of the statues causes him to faint, and he wakes up some time later, examining the statues further. Each one is huge, and they hold the same position that Chowbok assumed while acting out his impression of the main mountain range. The backs of the statues’ heads are hollow, and the narrator comments that they are both like and unlike other “barbarous” statues and art that he has seen. When the wind blows, the statues act like an organ, playing a horrifying tune that causes the narrator to flee into the mist. Years later, a friend playing the organ reminds the narrator of these organ-statues, and he reveals that at this point in his journey, he has just entered Erewhon. The narrator includes a transcription of the notes of music that the statues played, referring to the Erewhonians as the best musicians in the world.

The narrator comes upon a clearing, and he finds a bridge across a river. The presence of the bridge reassures him that the people in this area are not “savages,” and he falls asleep. Goats grazing nearby wake him up after a time, and he sees two women, who leave quickly. The narrator remains in place to avoid drawing suspicion, and the women return with a group of men. The narrator describes the people as attractive, with brown skin and limited clothing. Though they cannot communicate with each other, the narrator maintains his composure to neither seem like a threat nor like an inferior. Both the narrator and the men laugh about the statues in the pass, and they take the narrator back to their village.

In the village, the narrator remarks that the mannerisms of the people remind him of Italians, noting how they gesticulate frequently, and the homes and scenery remind him distinctly of Europe, though he comments that they appear to be a few hundred years behind European technological development. The narrator is treated well and brought to a bunk to sleep, and in the morning, he is given food and water. The narrator speculates that this society might consist of the 10 lost tribes of Israel, referring to the 10 tribes of Jewish history that assimilated into other cultures and countries following the Assyrian invasion of 721 BCE. This prospect makes the narrator think that he can become a missionary, converting this group to Christianity and making a good deal of money in the process. After eating, the men indicate that they are bringing the narrator down into a valley where their main center of civilization lies, and he goes along with them willingly. As they leave, the narrator thinks that this civilization is likely not of religious significance, and he speculates that they have already developed their natural resources, which implies that European colonization of the region would be difficult or pointless.