he light, as I have already said, comes from the firmament or internal
shell of our earth, half of it being brightened at one time like our
moon. The only difference between night and day is that the absence of
the sun makes the weather a little colder.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER II.

THE AUTHOR'S ARRIVAL AT THE PLANET NAZAR.

My voyage through the air was now ended. I lay for a long time entirely
immovable, awaiting my fate with the approach of day. I now observed
that the wants and weaknesses of humanity, which, during my passage had
ceased, now returned. I was both sleepy and hungry. Fatigued in mind and
body I fell into a deep slumber. I had slept, as far as I could judge,
about two hours, when a terrible roar, which had previously disturbed my
slumbers, suddenly waked me. I had dreamed some curious dreams; in one,
I thought myself to be in Norway, at the church in my native town,
listening to the singing of our clerk, whose voice was really unpleasant
from its roughness. My first impression therefore, on recovering myself
was, that this man was indulging in an extraordinarily ambitious strain.
In fact, on opening my eyes, I saw a huge bull within a few feet of me.
At the same moment, a vigorous roar from this animal convinced me that I
did not listen to church music.

It was now day-break, and the rising sun began to gild the green oaks
and fruitful fields, which, spreading abroad in every direction,
astonished my recovered sense.

How much greater was my surprise when I saw the trees, of which there
were great numbers in my view, move, although not a breeze stirred.

The vicinity of the bull not being pleasing to me, I arose and began to
ascend a tree which stood near. As I raised myself by its limbs, it gave
a low, yet shrill scream, and I got at the same time a lively slap on my
ear, which propelled me headlong to the ground. Here I lay as if struck
by lightning, about to give up my spirit, when I heard around me a
murmuring noise, such as is heard on the Exchange when the merchants are
assembled.

I opened my eyes and saw many trees moving about the field. Imagine my
agitation, when one of the trees swept towards me, bent one of its
branches, and, lifting me from the ground, carried me off, in spite of
my woful cries, followed by an innumerable number of its companions of
all kinds and sizes. From their trunks issued certain articulated
sounds, which were entirely incomprehensib