me 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.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V.

THE KINGDOM OF POTU AND ITS INHABITANTS.

The kingdom of _Potu_ is enclosed within very narrow boundaries, and
occupies but a small space of the inner globe.

The whole planet _Nazar_ is scarcely six hundred miles in circumference,
and may be travelled over its whole extent without guide or interpreter,
for there is but one language throughout. As the Europeans on our globe
take the first rank among the nations, so are the _Potuans_
distinguished among the nations of _Naz