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HERLAND
HERLAND
by Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman 1860…1935
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HERLAND
CHAPTER 1
A Not Unnatural Enterprise
This is written from memory； unfortunately。 If I could have brought
with me the material I so carefully prepared； this would be a very different
story。 Whole books full of notes； carefully copied records； firsthand
descriptions； and the picturesthat's the worst loss。 We had some bird's…
eyes of the cities and parks； a lot of lovely views of streets； of buildings；
outside and in； and some of those gorgeous gardens； and； most important
of all； of the women themselves。
Nobody will ever believe how they looked。 Descriptions aren't
any good when it comes to women； and I never was good at descriptions
anyhow。 But it's got to be done somehow； the rest of the world needs to
know about that country。
I haven't said where it was for fear some self…appointed
missionaries； or traders； or land…greedy expansionists； will take it upon
themselves to push in。 They will not be wanted； I can tell them that； and
will fare worse than we did if they do find it。
It began this way。 There were three of us； classmates and
friendsTerry O。 Nicholson （we used to call him the Old Nick； with good
reason）； Jeff Margrave； and I； Vandyck Jennings。
We had known each other years and years； and in spite of our
differences we had a good deal in common。 All of us were interested in
science。
Terry was rich enough to do as he pleased。 His great aim was
exploration。 He used to make all kinds of a row because there was
nothing left to explore now； only patchwork and filling in； he said。 He
filled in well enoughhe had a lot of talentsgreat on mechanics and
electricity。 Had all kinds of boats and motorcars； and was one of the best
of our airmen。
We never could have done the thing at all without Terry。
Jeff Margrave was born to be a poet； a botanistor bothbut his
folks persuaded him to be a doctor instead。 He was a good one； for his
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HERLAND
age； but his real interest was in what he loved to call 〃the wonders of
science。〃
As for me； sociology's my major。 You have to back that up
with a lot of other sciences； of course。 I'm interested in them all。
Terry was strong on factsgeography and meteorology and
those； Jeff could beat him any time on biology； and I didn't care what it
was they talked about； so long as it connected with human life； somehow。
There are few things that don't。
We three had a chance to join a big scientific expedition。 They
needed a doctor； and that gave Jeff an excuse for dropping his just opening
practice； they needed Terry's experience； his machine； and his money； and
as for me； I got in through Terry's influence。
The expedition was up among the thousand tributaries and
enormous hinterland of a great river； up where the maps had to be made；
savage dialects studied； and all manner of strange flora and fauna
expected。
But this story is not about that expedition。 That was only the
merest starter for ours。
My interest was first roused by talk among our guides。 I'm quick at
languages； know a good many； and pick them up readily。 What with that
and a really good interpreter we took with us； I made out quite a few
legends and folk myths of these scattered tribes。
And as we got farther and farther upstream； in a dark tangle of
rivers； lakes； morasses； and dense forests； with here and there an
unexpected long spur running out from the big mountains beyond； I
noticed that more and more of these savages had a story about a strange
and terrible Woman Land in the high distance。
〃Up yonder；〃 〃Over there；〃 〃Way up〃was all the direction they
could offer； but their legends all agreed on the main point that there was
this strange country where no men livedonly women and girl children。
None of them had ever seen it。 It was dangerous； deadly； they
said； for any man to go there。 But there were tales of long ago； when
some brave investigator had seen ita Big Country； Big Houses； Plenty
PeopleAll Women。
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HERLAND
Had no one else gone？ Yesa good manybut they never
came back。 It was no place for menof that they seemed sure。
I told the boys about these stories； and they laughed at them。
Naturally I did myself。 I knew the stuff that savage dreams are made of。
But when we had reached our farthest point； just the day before
we all had to turn around and start for home again； as the best of
expeditions must in time； we three made a discovery。
The main encampment was on a spit of land running out into the
main stream； or what we thought was the main stream。 It had the same
muddy color we had been seeing for weeks past； the same taste。
I happened to speak of that river to our last guide； a rather
superior fellow with quick； bright eyes。
He told me that there was another river〃over there； short river；
sweet water； red and blue。〃
I was interested in this and anxious to see if I had understood； so
I showed him a red and blue pencil I carried； and asked again。
Yes； he pointed to the river； and then to the southwestward。
〃Rivergood waterred and blue。〃
Terry was close by and interested in the fellow's pointing。
〃What does he say； Van？〃
I told him。
Terry blazed up at once。
〃Ask him how far it is。〃
The man indicated a short journey； I judged about two hours；
maybe three。
〃Let's go；〃 urged Terry。 〃Just us three。 Maybe we can really
find something。 May be cinnabar in it。〃
〃May be indigo；〃 Jeff suggested； with his lazy smile。
It was early yet； we had just breakfasted； and leaving word that
we'd be back before night； we got away quietly； not wishing to be thought
too gullible if we failed； and secretly hoping to have some nice little
discovery all to ourselves。
It was a long two hours； nearer three。 I fancy the savage could
have done it alone much quicker。 There was a desperate tangle of wood
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and water and a swampy patch we never should have found our way
across alone。 But there was one； and I could see Terry； with compass and
notebook； marking directions and trying to place landmarks。
We came after a while to a sort of marshy lake； very big； so that
the circling forest looked quite low and dim across it。 Our guide told us
that boats could go from there to our campbut 〃long wayall day。〃
This water was somewhat clearer than that we had left； but we
could not judge well from the margin。 We skirted it for another half hour
or so； the ground growing firmer as we advanced； and presently we turned
the corner of a wooded promontory and saw a quite different countrya
sudden view of mountains； steep and bare。
〃One of those long easterly spurs；〃 Terry said appraisingly。
〃May be hundreds of miles from the range。 They crop out like that。〃
Suddenly we left the lake and struck directly toward the cliffs。
We heard running water before we reached it； and the guide pointed
proudly to his river。
It was short。 We could see where it poured down a narrow
vertical cataract from