DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN KEBA.
During the course of my education, my landlord frequently carried me
about the town, and pointed out the most remarkable things. Keba is the
town next in size and importance to the capital of the kingdom of Potu.
The inhabitants are distinguished for their sedateness and moderation;
old age is more respected by them than by any other community. They are
strangely addicted to the pitting of animals against each other; or, as
they call it, "play fight." I wondered that so moral a people could
enjoy these brutal sports. My landlord noticed my surprise, and said,
that throughout the kingdom it was the custom to vary their lives with a
due mixture of earnest duties and amusing pleasures. Theatrical plays
are very much in vogue with them. I was vexed, however, to hear that
disputations are reckoned suitable for the stage, while with us they are
confined to the universities.
At certain times in the year, disputants are set against each other, as
we pit dogs and game cocks. High bets are made in favor of one or the
other, and a premium is given to the winner.
Beside these disputants, who are called Masbakki, or boxers, various
quadrupeds, wild as well as tame, are trained to fight as on our globe.
In this town a gymnasium is established, in which the liberal arts are
taught with much success.
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My landlord carried me, on a high festival day, to this academy. On this
occasion a Madic, or teacher in philosophy, was elected. The candidate
made a very prosy speech on some philosophical question, after which,
without farther ceremony, he was entered, by the administrators, on
the list of the public teachers.
On our way home from the academy, we met a criminal, led by three
watchmen. By sentence of the kaki, he had been bled, and was now on his
way to the city hospital. I inquired concerning his crime, and was
answered, that he had publicly lectured on the being and qualities of
God--a subject entirely forbidden in this country. Disputants on these
matters are regarded as insane, and are always sent to the mad-house,
where they are doctored, until they recover their sound reason. I
exclaimed: Heaven and Earth! how would such laws operate on our globe,
where thousands of priests quarrel every day about the divine
attributes, the nature of spirits, and other secrets of the same
character? Truly, here they would all be sent straight-way to the
mad-house. These, among many other singular customs, I observed during
my college life. Finally, the time came when, furnished with appropriate
testimonies from the teachers, I was ordered to court. Here is my
certificate. How angry and confused, was I, when I read it:--
"In accordance with your royal order, we hereby send the
animal, which sometime since came down to us from the
firmament; which animal calls itself man. We have, with
sedulous care and patient industry, taught this singular
creature in our school, and after a very severe examination,
pronounce it to be very quick in its perceptions and very
docile in its manners. Nevertheless, from its obtuse and
miserable judgment--which we believe arises from its too
hasty inferences--its ridiculous scepticism on
unquestionable points, and its no less ridiculous credulity
on doubtful ones, we may scarcely number it among sensible
beings. However, as it is far quicker on its legs than any
of our race, we humbly suggest, that it is very well adapted
for the situation of a running-camp-footman. Written at our
Seminary at Keba by your Highness' most humble servants.
NEHEK, JOKTAN, RAPASI, KILAK."
I returned sorrowfully to my landlord, and begged of him with tears in
my eyes, to use his influence to alter the nature of my certificate from
the Karatti, and to show them my testimony from the academy of
Copenhagen, in which I was represented as a remarkable student. He
replied to me, "that this diploma might be well enough in Copenhagen,
where probably the shadow was regarded more than the substance: the bark
more than the sap; but here, where the kernel was more important than
aught else, it was of no use."
He counselled me to bear my fate with patience, and assured me, in the
politest manner, of his friendship. Having nothing more to say, I made
ready, without delay, for the journey. There travelled in company with
me several small trees, which had been educated with me in the seminary,
and were now destined to the capital for preferment.
Our leader was an old Karatti, who rode on an ox, because from his age
he could not walk. Our progress was very slow, so that three days were
occupied in our passage. We had a quick and comfortable jaunt, if I
except the meeting with some wild monkeys, that would spring towards me,
and pester me now and then. They evidently supposed me to be one of
their race. I could not suppress my anger, however, when I observed that
the trees seemed to perceive this mistake of the monkeys, which gave the
saplings food for laughter at my expense. I must remark that I was
carried to court in the same dress which I wore on my descent to the
planet, with the boat-hook in my hand and the rope dragging after me.
This was by order of the king, who wished to see me in my own bark.
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