THE ROYAL COURT OF POTU.
At last, we entered the large and splendid capital of the kingdom of
Potu.
We were first carried to a house, where all students from the country
seminaries are received, for the purpose of refreshment. Here we
prepared for an interview with the king. In the mean time our Karatti,
or leader went before to announce us to the court. On his return, we
were all ordered to follow him. On our way to court we met several small
trees, with printed stories in their branches. These were literary
hawkers. I accidentally fixed my eye upon the title of one of these
books. It was: "A true account of an entirely new and wonderful meteor,
or flying dragon, which was seen last year in the heavens." I knew this
was myself, and therefore purchased the book, for which three
kilak--about two cents--were demanded. On the title page I found an
engraving of myself, as I appeared while hovering over the planet,
accompanied by boat-hook and rope. We now approached the castle, an
extensive series of battlements and buildings, more distinguished for
its strength and delicacy of finish than for splendor. It presented to
my view a very singular, and, I may say rural, appearance, from the vast
number of trees on the walls.
It was now noon, and the dinner hour. The king wishing to see me before
he dined, I was brought alone to the dining hall. The king received me
very graciously, uniting in a remarkable degree, while addressing me,
mildness of tone with dignity of expression.
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At my entrance into the hall, I knelt before the throne: the king
demanded the meaning of the ceremony. Having told him the reason, he
remarked, that such worship was due only to the Divinity. When I had
raised myself, he put to me several questions--demanding how I had come
down?--the reason of my journey--my name--where I came from, &c., all
which questions I answered truly. Finally, he inquired concerning my
religion, and was evidently much pleased with our creed. I was ordered
to wait till dinner was over. At the table were seated with the King,
the Queen, Prince, and Kadok, or great chancellor. At a certain sign, a
maiden tree entered, bearing in her eight branches, as many dishes,
which was the number daily served at the royal table. Another tree
entered with eight bottles, filled with as many different juices. In the
dinner conversation, frequent mention was made of myself.
After dinner, the King ordered me to show my testimony. After reading
it, he looked at my legs. "The Karatti are perfectly right!" said he;
"and their advice shall be followed." A Kiva, or secretary, was now sent
for, to enter me, among others, in the royal register of promotion. This
Kiva was a tree of remarkable external appearance; he had eleven
branches--a singular number--and was able to write eleven letters at
once. With this tree I afterwards became very intimate; he wrote all the
letters which I, as footman, carried about the country.
On receiving my appointment, I went to bed. Although I was much
fatigued, I could not get any sleep for a long while. However, I fell,
at last, into an uneasy slumber, from which I was suddenly roused by an
uncommonly large monkey, which, on opening my eyes, I found playing all
manner of tricks with me, much to the amusement of several young trees,
my companions. The king laughed heartily over the jokes of the monkeys,
when they were related to him, but at the same time, ordered me to be
clothed in the subterranean manner; that is, ornamented with branches,
as I had been at my first arrival below ground. My European clothes were
taken from me and hung up in the museum, with the following description
attached:
DRESS OF THE CREATURES ABOVE GROUND.
After my fright from the monkey, I got no more sleep. In the morning I
rose with the sun, and went to receive my charge for the day. An
innumerable number of errands were given me to perform, together with
letters and documents directed to all parts of the country.
This life I led four years; during my rambles I studied the character of
the inhabitants, and copied, as far as possible, their habits. The
people generally are distinguished for the politeness of their manners,
and the sensibleness of their notions. The citizens of the town of
_Maholki_, only, are wanting in refinement and judgment; they are thorn
trees; very obstinate and crabbed in disposition, and great gossips,
withal; let one take you by the button and you cannot get away easily.
Each province is peopled by its own race of trees; in the country each
village has one sect; but the large cities contain a mixed population.
I had a good opportunity, as courier-general, to observe the
peculiarities of these people, and I shall now describe their polity and
religion, their laws and sciences.
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