A journey to the world under-ground
examine me anew, and as accurately as possibly. During this Trial, the
Prince stept aside to read some other Testimonials. The Prince having
withdrawn himself, the _Karatti_ proposed a new Set of Questions to be
solv’d by me. I answer’d them with my usual Readiness; upon which he
spake thus to me: _You take a Thing presently, but not entirely; for
your Solutions shew that the Question is readily perceiv’d, but not
intimately understood_.
The Examination being finish’d, the Prince went into the
Council-Chamber, and soon return’d with a final Sentence to this
Purpose: That I had acted imprudently in calling in Question the
Judgment of _Karatti_, and that therefore I had incurr’d the Penalty
which the _third lesser Space of the fourth greater Space_ inflicts
upon Slanderers (by the greater and lesser Spaces, or _Skibal_ and
_Kibal_, they mean Books and Chapters) and that I deserv’d to undergo
the _Venæ-section_ in both my Branches, and also to be imprison’d.
The Words of the Law, _lib._ 4. _cap._ 3. concerning Defamation are
these, _Spik. antri. Flak. Shak. mak. Tabu Mihalatti Silac_. But tho’
the Sense of the Words was very clear and evident, and the Law too
sacred to be evaded, yet his most Serene Highness, by a Stretch of his
Prerogative, thought fit to pardon this Offence of mine, occasioned
through an Immaturity of Judgment, as well as Ignorance of the Law,
which could hardly be said to be infring’d by this Indulgence to me,
inasmuch as I was a Stranger and a Foreigner. And to give me a more
ample Testimony of his most gracious Favour, he appointed me one of
his Messengers in Ordinary, an Honour I ought to hold myself highly
satisfy’d with.
Immediately the _Kiva_, or Secretary, was sent for, who enroll’d my
Name in the Book of Promotions, together with the Names of several
other Candidates. This Secretary was a most extraordinary Person; for
he had eleven Pair of Branches, and could consequently write eleven
Letters all at the same Time, and with the same Ease and Expedition
that we can one; yet he had a very indifferent Judgment, upon which
Account he never could expect any farther Promotion, and so he grew old
in the same Post which he had fill’d for thirty Years. I contracted a
close Friendship with him, and indeed I could not help cultivating an
Affection for him, because all the Edicts and Letters of State, which
he wrote, I, as Messenger in Ordinary, dispers’d over the Province.
I was often astonish’d to see him execute Business with so much
Dexterity; for it was a common Thing with him to write eleven Letters
at once, and afterward seal them all in the same Instant. Among the
Blessings therefore of a Family, a large Number of Branches is reckon’d
one. And hence the Women in Child-Bed, immediately after the Birth of
the Infant, are wont to signify to the Neighbours how many Branches it
has brought into the World with it. It was reported, that the Father of
our Secretary was born with twelve, and that his Family had long been
famous for a Plurality of Branches.
The Diploma, which constituted me in my Office, being order’d to
be drawn out, I now retir’d to my Repose. But tho’ my Limbs were
excessively tir’d, yet was I not able to compose myself to Sleep.
That ignoble Employment, to which I was condemn’d, run continually in
my Head, and I thought it the greatest Debasement imaginable for one
who was a Candidate for Holy Orders, and a Bachelor of Arts in the
Upper World, to be chang’d into a vile Subterranean Court-Messenger.
With these mortifying Thoughts did I waste a great Part of the
Night, and during this Agitation, I several Times perus’d my
University-Testimonium, which I had brought with me; (for as I observ’d
above, the Night is almost as light as the Day.) At length quite jaded
with thinking, I sunk into the Arms of Sleep. But what a Variety of
Scenes presented themselves to my disturb’d Imagination! I thought I
was return’d to my own Country, and relating aloud to vast Numbers of
People all that had befel me in my subterranean Tour; presently I was
sailing in the Air again, and engag’d with the Griffin once more, who
gave me so warm a Reception, as that it wak’d me out of my Sleep. But
how was I shock’d when I beheld by my Bedside a Monkey of the largest
Size, which, by Reason of the Doors being left open, had got into my
Chamber. This unlook’d for Spectacle chill’d all my Blood, and made me
alarm the House with my Cries for Assistance. Some Trees, which lay in
the adjacent Chambers, immediately entering, disengag’d me from the
Struggle, and drove the beastly Creature away. I understood afterwards,
that this Accident afforded the Prince plentiful Matter for Laughter.
But that I might run no such Risque for the future, he gave Command
that I should be habited after the subterranean Fashion, and adorn’d
with artificial Branches. As for my _European_ Garments, they were
taken from me, and for their Novelty hung up in the Prince’s Wardrobe,
with this Inscription: “_The Dress of a superterranean Animal_.” Bless
me! said I to myself, if Master _Andrews_, the Taylor at _Bergen_, who
made this Suit, should know that his Workmanship was preserv’d among
the Curiosities of a subterranean Prince, without Doubt he would grow
vain, and think himself as great a Man as any in the City.
After this Misfortune Sleep quite forsook me. In the Morning my Diploma
was brought me, which gave me the full Powers to execute my Office.
A Multiplicity of Business pour’d in upon me soon, and carrying the
Royal Edicts and Letters to every City of his Dominions, I was the
_perpetual Motion_ itself. In these Expeditions I explor’d the Genius
of the Country, and in many Places discover’d an uncommon Measure of
Politeness and Understanding. Only the Inhabitants of the City of
_Maholki_, which were all _Brambles_, seem’d to me something rude and
uncultivated. Every Province has its peculiar Trees, or Natives of
the Place, particularly the Province of Husbandmen. Tho’ in the great
Cities, and especially in the Capital, there is a Mixture of all Sorts.
The high Sentiments I had entertain’d of the Wisdom of this People
encreased, as fast as I had fresh Opportunities of inspecting into
them. Those very Laws and Customs, which I had disapprov’d, upon mature
Reflection, extorted all my Admiration. I could easily bring a Cloud of
Instances of certain Manners and Usages, which upon a transient View
appear’d absurd, but which to the curious Enquirer, would be full of
Solidity and Wisdom. Out of a thousand I shall produce but this one,
which gives you a perfect Idea of this People. A certain Student in
Humanity stood Candidate for the vacant Mastership of a School. His
Pretensions were strengthen’d in this Manner, to wit, the Inhabitants
of the City of _Nahami_ certify’d, that the Candidate had liv’d very
quietly for four Years together with a wanton and unfaithful Wife,
and wore his Horns very patiently. The Certificate was couch’d in the
following Style: “Whereas the learned and venerable _Jocthan Hu_ has
requir’d of his Neighbours a Testimonial of his Life and Morals, We the
Citizens living in that Street or Portion of the City call’d _Posko_,
do testify, that the said _Jocthan Hu_ has liv’d in Wedlock for full
four Years with a disloyal Wife, and that without the least Noise or
Disturbance; that he has wore his Horns with a laudable Patience, and
with such Meekness, has bore this Misfortune, that we judge him highly
worthy to succeed to the vacant Mastership, if his Learning be but
equal to his Morals. Given under our Hands this 10th Day of the Month
_Palm_, in the 3000ndth Year after the great Deluge.”
To this Recommendation was annex’d a Testimonial from the Seminary of
the _Karatti_, of his Learning and Studies, which seem’d to be more
to the Purpose. For what great Merit Cuckoldom had to bear the Bell
from all other Doctors, I could not readily apprehend. But here lay
the Sense and Meaning of this strange Testimonial, _viz._ Among the
Virtues that principally recommend a Teacher, Moderation is one. For
with all his Pomp of Learning, unless he has an invincible Patience,
he must be but indifferently qualify’d for the Scholastick Employment,
which should be exercised without Severity or Passion, lest by untimely
Corrections the Minds of the Youths should be harden’d. And since a
greater Instance of Moderation could hardly be given, than this of the
Candidate, therefore his Neighbours insisted chiefly on this Argument,
as every Thing was to be hop’d for from a Teacher so renown’d for this
necessary Virtue. It is said his Majesty laugh’d immoderately at so
unusual a Recommendation, but since it was far from being absurd, he
conferr’d the vacant Mastership upon the Petitioner. And in Effect, he
understood and discharg’d his Duty with such Address, and so engag’d
his Pupils by his Mildness and Clemency, that they regarded him rather
as a Parent than a Tutor, and such was their Passion for Learning under
such soft and gentle Government, that thro’ the whole Dominions there
were few Schools that annually sent out such eminent, learned and
civiliz’d Trees.
As during the several Years of my Employment, I had frequent
Opportunities of inspecting into the Nature of the Soil, into the
Genius and Manners of the People, into their Policy, Religion, Laws and
Studies, I hope it will not be unacceptable to the Reader, if I collect
into one View what he will meet with separately throughout the whole
Book.
CHAP. V.
_Of the Nature of the Country, and the
Manners of the People._
The _Potuan_ Empire is of no very great Extent. The whole Globe
is call’d _Nazar_, and is about two hundred _German_ Miles in
Circumference. A Traveller may easily go round it without a Guide,
for the same Language obtains every where, tho’ the _Potuans_ differ
greatly in their Customs and Manners from the other States and
Principalities. And as in our World the _Europeans_ excel the rest of
Mankind, so the _Potuans_ are distinguished by their superior Virtue
and Wisdom from the rest of the Globe. The high Roads, at proper
Distances, are adorn’d with Stones, that mark the Miles, and abound
with Directing-Posts, which shew the Ways and Turnings to every City
and Village. It is indeed a very memorable Circumstance, and worthy of
Admiration, that the same Language is spoke every where, altho’ the
several Kingdoms differ so widely in other Respects, namely, in their
Manners, Understanding, Customs, and Condition, that we see here all
that Variety which Nature delights in, and which does not only simply
move or affect the Traveller, but even throws him into an Extasy of
Wonder.
There are also Seas and Rivers which bear Vessels, whose Oars seem to
be mov’d by a Kind of magick Impulse, for they are not work’d by the
Labour of the Arm, but by Machines like our Clock-work. The Nature of
this Device I cannot explain, as being not well vers’d in Mechanicks;
and besides, these Trees contrive every Thing with such Subtilty, that
no Mortal without the Eyes of _Argus_, or the Power of Divination, can
arrive at the Secret. This Globe, like ours, has a triple Motion,
so that the Seasons here, namely, those of Day and Night, Winter and
Summer, Spring and Autumn, are distinguish’d like ours; also towards
the Poles it grows colder. As to Light, here is little Difference
between Day and Night, for the Reasons before assign’d. Nay, the Night
may be thought more grateful than the Day; for nothing can be conceiv’d
more bright and splendid, than that Light which the solid Firmament
receives from the Sun, and reflects back upon the Planet, insomuch that
it looks, (if I may be allow’d the Expression) like one universal Moon.
The Inhabitants consist of various Species of Trees, as Oaks, Limes,