The Author Arrives on 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.

My journey through the air was now over. I lay completely still for a long time, waiting for my fate as day approached. I noticed that my human needs and weaknesses, which had disappeared during my journey, had now returned. I was both sleepy and hungry. Exhausted in mind and body, I fell into a deep sleep. As far as I could judge, I had slept about two hours when a terrible roar suddenly woke me. The noise had already disturbed my sleep. I had dreamed some strange dreams. In one, I thought I was in Norway, at the church in my hometown, listening to our church clerk sing. His voice was truly unpleasant because it was so rough. So, as I woke, my first thought was that the clerk was attempting an unusually ambitious passage. But when I opened my eyes, I saw a huge bull just a few feet away. At that same moment, the bull gave a powerful roar, convincing me that I was not listening 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.

It was now daybreak, and the rising sun began to cast a golden light over green oaks and fertile fields. They stretched in every direction, astonishing me as my senses returned.

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.

I was even more surprised to see the many trees in view moving, although there was no breeze.

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 did not like being so close to the bull, so I got up and began climbing a nearby tree. As I pulled myself up by its branches, the tree gave a low but shrill scream. At the same time, I received a sharp slap on the ear that sent me headfirst to the ground. I lay there as if struck by lightning, about to die, when I heard a murmur around me. It sounded like the noise at the Exchange when the merchants gather.

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 incomprehensible to me, and of which I retained only the words: Pikel-Emi, on account of their being often repeated. I will here say, these words mean an extraordinary monkey, which creature they took me to be, from my shape and dress. All this, of course, I learned after being some months among them.

I opened my eyes and saw many trees moving around the field. Imagine my alarm when one of the trees rushed toward me and bent one of its branches. It lifted me from the ground and carried me off, despite my pitiful cries. Countless other trees of all kinds and sizes followed. The trees made speech-like sounds from their trunks, but I could not understand them at all. The only words I remembered were Pikel-Emi, because the trees repeated them so often. I should explain here that these words mean an extraordinary monkey. The trees took me for such a creature because of my shape and clothing. All this, of course, I learned after spending several months among them.

In my present condition, I was far from being able to conceive of the nature of sensible, speaking trees. In truth, so confounded was I, that I forgot I could speak myself. As little could I understand the meaning of the slow, solemn procession, and the confused murmurs which resounded in the air.

In my present state, I was far from able to understand trees that could think and speak. In fact, I was so confused that I forgot I could speak myself. Nor could I understand the slow, solemn procession or the jumbled murmurs that echoed through the air.

I fancied they were reproaching or expressing their contempt of me. I was not far from the truth: for the tree into which I had climbed to escape from the bull, was no less than the wife of the sheriff of the neighboring town, to which they were now taking me a prisoner.

I thought they were scolding me or showing their contempt for me. I was not far from the truth. For the tree I had climbed to escape the bull was none other than the local sheriff's wife. They were now taking me as a prisoner to the sheriff's town nearby.

The buildings and streets of this town were very handsome and extensive. The houses, from their height, appeared like huge towers. The streets were wide and filled with trees, which swayed about and saluted each other by lowering their branches.

The town’s buildings and streets were very beautiful and spacious. The houses were so tall they looked like huge towers. The streets were wide and filled with trees. The trees swayed and greeted one another by lowering their branches.

The greater this declination, the more expressive was it of respect and esteem.

The deeper the bow, the more respect and esteem it showed.

As we passed through a very wide street I saw a tall oak approach a distinguished house, when the trees which escorted me, stepped gracefully back, and bent their branches to the ground. I concluded this must be a more than common personage. In fact, it was the sheriff himself, the very dignitary, whose lady it was insisted I had come too near. I was carried to the hall of this officer's house, and the door was locked upon me. Several trees armed with axes kept guard over me. The axes were held in the branches, which served the same purpose as human hands. I noticed that high up in the branches each wore a head, about the size of my own, covered with leaves and tendrils instead of hair. Below were two roots or legs, very short.

As we passed through a very wide street, I saw a tall oak approach an impressive house. The trees escorting me stepped gracefully back and bent their branches to the ground. I concluded that the oak must be someone important. In fact, he was the sheriff himself, the very official whose wife I was accused of approaching too closely. I was carried into the hall of the sheriff's house, and the door was locked behind me. Several trees armed with axes stood guard over me. They held the axes in their branches, which served as human hands. I noticed that each tree had a head high up in its branches, about the size of my own. Each head was covered with leaves and tendrils instead of hair. Below were two very short roots, or legs.

These trees were much smaller than those on our earth, in fact being about the height of a man; some indeed were much shorter; but these I concluded to be children.

These trees were much smaller than those on our earth. In fact, they were about as tall as a man. Some were much shorter, but I concluded that the shorter trees were children.

While reflecting on the miserable situation in which I found myself, and weeping over the ill-luck of my adventure, my guards stepped up to me and commanded me to follow them. They led me to a splendid building in the middle of the market-place.

I was thinking about my miserable situation and weeping over the bad luck of my adventure. As I did, my guards approached and ordered me to follow them. They led me to a magnificent building in the middle of the market square.

At the door of this building stood Justice, cut out in the form of a tree, holding among the branches a pair of scales. I presumed the structure to be the court-house, nor was I deceived. I was carried into a large room, the floor of which was overlaid with glittering marble flags of various colors.

At the building’s door stood a figure of Justice carved in the shape of a tree. It held a pair of scales among its branches. I guessed the building was the courthouse, and I was right. I was carried into a large room. The floor was covered with gleaming marble tiles of various colors.

At the upper end a golden chair was raised a little above the floor, like a judge's seat; in it was seated a sedate palm tree, distinguished from the rest by the gorgeousness of his leaves; a little below him were seated twelve assessors, six on either side. About them stood twenty-four officers holding axes. I was not a little terrified when brought a prisoner before these magnates.

At the far end stood a golden chair, raised slightly above the floor like a judge's seat. A solemn palm tree sat in the chair, standing out from the others because of his magnificent leaves. Twelve court advisers sat a little below him, six on each side. Around them stood twenty-four officers holding axes. I was very frightened when I was brought as a prisoner before these powerful figures.

As I entered the hall, all the officers of the court stood up, elevated their branches and then sat down. After this ceremony I was placed at the bar between two trees, the stems of which were covered with sheep-skins. These persons I supposed to be lawyers, and so they were.

As I entered the hall, all the court officers stood up, raised their branches, and then sat down. After this ceremony, I was placed at the bar between two trees whose trunks were covered with sheepskins. I assumed these two figures were lawyers, and so they were.

Before the trial commenced, the head of the judge was wrapped up in a black blanket. The accuser then made a short speech, which he thrice repeated. The lawyer appointed to defend me, replied in the same manner. A perfect silence then ensued. In half an hour the superior judge rose from the chair, removed the blanket, raised the branches towards Heaven, and spoke with much grace, what I supposed to be my sentence. I was then carried back to my prison.

Before the trial began, the judge's head was wrapped in a black blanket. The accuser then gave a short speech and repeated it three times. The lawyer appointed to defend me replied in the same way. Complete silence followed. After half an hour, the chief judge rose from his chair and removed the blanket. He raised his branches toward Heaven and spoke very gracefully, delivering what I assumed was my sentence. I was then carried back to my prison.

While I mused on the strange things I had witnessed, a tree came into my cell, with an instrument resembling a lancet in his hand. He stripped one of my arms, and made a puncture in the median vein. When he had taken from me as much blood as he deemed sufficient, he bound up the wound with great dexterity. He then examined my blood with much attention, and departed silently, with an expression of wonder.

While I thought about the strange things I had seen, a tree entered my cell. He held an instrument resembling a lancet. He uncovered one of my arms and punctured the median vein. After drawing as much blood as he thought necessary, he skillfully bandaged the wound. He then examined my blood closely and left without a word, looking amazed.

This circumstance by no means weakened the opinion which I had for some time entertained, that these people were shallow and foolish. But my judgment proved to be too hasty. When I was better enabled to judge of what passed about me, by acquaintance with the subterranean languages, my contempt was changed to admiration.

This circumstance did nothing to weaken my long-held opinion that these people were shallow and foolish. But I had judged too quickly. As I learned the subterranean languages, I became better able to understand what was happening around me. My contempt then turned to admiration.

I will now explain the ceremonies, which to my ignorance seemed ridiculous.

I will now explain the ceremonies, which seemed ridiculous to me in my ignorance.

From my figure it was concluded that I was an inhabitant of the firmament. I was supposed to have attempted to violate the person of a chaste and virtuous lady, and for this crime I had been taken to the court-house for trial.

From my appearance, people concluded that I lived in the heavens. They believed I had attempted to rape a chaste and virtuous lady. For this crime, I had been taken to the courthouse to stand trial.

The rising of the branches towards Heaven, was a common ceremony of religion. The lawyers were clothed in sheep-skin, to remind them of the attributes of their calling—innocence, faithfulness, and sedateness. The repetition of their speeches was on account of the very slow apprehension and cautious decision of the people, by which peculiarities they were distinguished from all the inhabitants of the subterranean world. But what most excited my curiosity was the history of the supreme judge. This was a virgin, a native of the town, and appointed by the King to the office of Kaki, or judge, for her superior virtue and talent. It must be observed that this nation pay no regard to sex in appointments to office, but, after a strict examination, elect those to take charge of affairs who are proved to be the most worthy.

Raising the branches toward Heaven was a common religious ceremony. The lawyers wore sheepskin to remind them of the qualities of their profession: innocence, faithfulness, and calmness. They repeated their speeches because the people were very slow to understand and cautious in making decisions. These traits set the people apart from all other inhabitants of the subterranean world. But the story of the supreme judge interested me most. She was a virgin, born in the town. The King had appointed her to the office of Kaki, or judge, because of her exceptional virtue and talent. It should be noted that this nation pays no attention to sex when appointing people to office. Instead, after a strict examination, they choose those proved most worthy to manage public affairs.

Seminaries are established throughout the country, to teach the aspirants to public honors the duties appertaining to the direction of government. The business of the administrators of these colleges is to search closely into the brains and hearts of the young students, and when satisfied with their virtue and ability, to give to the king a list of those fully prepared to fill the public offices. The administrators are called Karatti.

Colleges are established throughout the country to teach those seeking public office the duties of government. The administrators of these colleges closely examine the young students’ minds and character. Once satisfied with the students’ virtue and ability, the administrators give the king a list of those fully prepared for public office. The administrators are called Karatti.

The young virgin of whom I have spoken, had received, four years before from the Karatti, a certificate for remarkable attainments and virtues, and had been invested with the "blanket." This blanket was wrapped about her head during my trial; this precaution, however, is taken only in trials such as mine, in which the occasionally broad nature of the testimony might have a painful effect upon the virgin judge, should her face be exposed to the public gaze.

The young virgin I mentioned had received a certificate from the Karatti four years earlier for her remarkable achievements and virtues. She had also been awarded the "blanket." This blanket was wrapped around her head during my trial. However, this precaution is taken only in trials like mine, where the testimony is sometimes explicit. Such testimony might distress the virgin judge if her face were visible to the public.

The name of this virgin was Palmka. She had officiated for three years with the greatest honor, and was considered the most learned tree in the city.

The virgin’s name was Palmka. She had served in her role with the highest distinction for three years. She was considered the most knowledgeable tree in the city.

She solved with so much discretion the knottiest questions, that her decisions had come to be regarded as oracles.

She resolved even the hardest questions with such sound judgment that her decisions had come to be trusted like oracles.

The following account was given to me of the blood-letting to which I had been subjected. When any one is proved to be guilty of a crime, he is bled, for the purpose of detecting from the color of the fluid, or blood, how far his guilt was voluntary or otherwise; whether he had sinned through malice or distemper. Should the fluid be found discolored, he is sent to the hospital to be cured; thus this process is rather a correction than a punishment. A member of the council, or any one high in office, would be removed, should it be found necessary to bleed him.

I was given the following explanation for the bloodletting I had undergone. When someone is proven guilty of a crime, some of his blood is drawn. The color of the blood is used to determine how far he acted willingly, whether from malice or illness. If the blood is discolored, he is sent to the hospital to be cured. Thus, the process is meant to correct rather than punish. A council member or anyone holding high office would be removed if he needed bloodletting.

The reason why the surgeon, who performed the operation on me, was astonished, was, on account of the redness of my blood. The inhabitants having a sort of white fluid in their veins, the purity of which is proportional to their innocence and excellence.

The surgeon who operated on me was astonished because my blood was red. The inhabitants have a kind of white fluid in their veins. The fluid’s purity is proportional to their innocence and excellence.

I was put at my ease when I observed that the trees generally possessed a large share of humanity. This was displayed in their little attentions to me. Food was brought to me twice a day. It consisted of fruit and several kinds of beans; my drink was a clear, sweet and exceedingly delicious juice.

I felt at ease when I saw that the trees were generally very kind. They showed their kindness through small acts of care for me. Food was brought to me twice a day. It consisted of fruit and several kinds of beans. I drank a clear, sweet, and extremely delicious juice.

The sheriff, in whose house I was imprisoned, had immediately given notice to the King that he had by accident got possession of a somewhat sensible animal of an uncommon figure. The description of my person excited the king's curiosity. Orders were given to the sheriff, that I should be taught the language of the country; on which I should be sent to court. A teacher was appointed for me, whose instruction enabled me in a half year to speak very comprehensibly. After this preparatory course of private study, I was sent to the seminary, where particular care was taken both of my mental and physical education. Indeed, so enthusiastic were they to naturalize me, that they actually fastened branches to my body to make me look as much as possible like themselves.

The sheriff, who held me prisoner in his house, immediately notified the King of my capture. He reported that he had accidentally captured a somewhat intelligent animal with an unusual appearance. The description of my appearance aroused the king's curiosity. The king ordered the sheriff to have me taught the country's language, after which I would be sent to court. A teacher was appointed for me, and within six months I could make myself clearly understood. After these private lessons, I was sent to the seminary, where special care was given to my mental and physical education. Indeed, they were so eager to make me one of their own that they actually attached branches to my body. They wanted me to look as much like them as possible.