Niels Klim's Journey under the Ground

<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> <h3>THE KINGDOM OF POTU AND ITS INHABITANTS.</h3> <p>The kingdom of <i>Potu</i> is enclosed within very narrow boundaries, and occupies but a small space of the inner globe.</p> <p>The whole planet <i>Nazar</i> 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 <i>Potuans</i> distinguished among the nations of <i>Nazar</i> for their virtue and understanding.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></SPAN></span></p> <p>The roads are dotted by stone pillars, which, covered with inscriptions, denote every mile; affixed to them are hands pointing the road to every city and village;&mdash;splendid cities and prosperous villages! The country is intersected by greater and lesser canals, on which boats propelled by oars, skim with wonderful celerity. The oars are driven by self-moving machines, so quietly that very little motion is given to the water. The planet Nazar has the same motion with the earth, and all the peculiarities of the latter planet: night and day; spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The inhabitants consist of oak, lime, poplar, thorn, and pine trees, from which the months&mdash;there being six in each subterranean year&mdash;take their names.</p> <p>The chronology is peculiar, being fixed by remarkable occurrences. Their oldest tradition is, that three thousand years ago, a mighty comet appeared, immediately after which followed a flood, which swept off all the races of trees, animals, &amp;c., with the exception of one or two of each race, who saved themselves upon a high mountain, and from whom descended the present inhabitants. Corn and other grain with the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></SPAN></span> fruits common to Europe, grow here in great profusion. The waters are filled with fish, and upon the banks of the rivers are seated splendid country houses. Their drink is prepared from certain herbs, which bloom at all times of the year.</p> <p>In <i>Potu</i> is established a very useful law called the "generation law."</p> <p>This law varies the liberties and advantages of the people according to the number of children each one possesses. Thus, he who is the father of six children is exempted from all common and extraordinary taxes. Therefore generation is quite as useful and desirable in this country as on the earth it is burthensome and dangerous: below ground never was such a thing imagined as a small-pox-tax.</p> <p>No one can hold two offices at once. It is thought that each office, however small, requires the sole attention of its occupant, and that none should be employed in that which they do not understand.</p> <p>I remember to have heard the philosopher <i>Rakbasi</i> speak thus: "Every one should know his own talents, and should impartially judge of<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></SPAN></span> his own merits and faults; otherwise the actor must be considered more sensible than natural men; for he chooses, not the best part, but that which he can execute best. Shall we allow the actor to be wiser on the stage than we in life?"</p> <p>The inhabitants of this kingdom are not divided into classes; those alone being regarded who are noted for virtue and industry. The highest rank, if rank it may be called, is given to those who possess the greatest number of branches, they being enabled to do the most work.</p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/img21.jpg" width-obs="200" height-obs="200" alt="" title="" /></div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/img22.jpg" width-obs="250" height-obs="111" alt="" title="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />