NICOLAS KLIM’S UNDERGROUND JOURNEY
by Ludvig Holbergtranslation © Dennis List, 2000
CHAPTER 5
In which certain descriptive facts about the Potuan Empire are given.
On the nature of the country, and the manners of the people
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The Potuan Empire is of no great size. The whole globe is called Nazar, and is about two hundred miles in circumference. A traveller could easily go around it without a guide, for the same language is spoken everywhere, though the Potuans differ greatly in their customs from the other states.
In our world, the Europeans are superior, and here the Potuans are distinguished by their superior wisdom from the rest of Nazar. The main roads, at regular intervals are marked by milestones and signposts that show the way to every city and village. It's worthy of admiration that the same language is spoken everywhere, though the kingdoms of Nazar differ so widely in other ways their manners, understanding, customs, and conditions. So here we see all the variety that Nature delights in; it not only affects the traveller, but throws him into an ecstasy of wonder.
There are also seas and rivers, on which float vessels whose oars seem to be moved by a kind of magic impulse. They are not worked by the labour of the arm, but by machines resembling our clockwork. Not being well versed in mechanics, I cannot explain the nature of this device. Besides, these trees contrive everything so subtly that no man lacking the eyes of Argus or the power of divination can arrive at the secret. This globe, like ours has a triple motion, so the seasons here (day and night, winter and summer, spring and autumn) are distinguished as are ours. Also, towards the poles it grows colder.
As to light, there is little difference here between day and night, for treasons already stated. In fact, the night could be considered more pleasant than the day, for nothing more splendid could be imagined than the light which the sky receives from the sun. It looks like one universal moon.
The inhabitants consist of various types of trees - oaks, limes, poplars, palms, brambles, and so forth. From these, the 16 months into which the subterranean year is divided take their names. Every 16th month, the planet Nazar returns to its first station - but not on the same day, because of the inequality of its motion.
Just like our moon, its many phases perplex the literati of the firmament. They have various dates or eras of time. They base these on notable events, particularly from the great comet which appeared 3,000 years ago, and is said to have caused a universal flood, in which the whole race of trees and other animals perished - except for a few on mountain tops who escaped the disaster, and from whom the present inhabitants are descended.
The soil abounds with corn, herbs, and pulses, and produces all the fruits of Europe - except oats, which are not missed, because there are no horses here. The seas and lakes afford delicious fish, and their banks are adorned with an entertaining variety of villages - some adjoining, and some divided.
The liquor they drink is extracted from certain herbs, which flower all year. The vendors of this liquor are called Minhalpi (herb-dressers). In every city their numbers are limited, and they alone have the privilege of preparing liquor. Those who enjoy this advantage must abstain from all other employment. In particular, those who hold any public office or have government salaries must never concern themselves with this branch of trade - because by their power they might monopolize the liquor business, and be able to undersell the others, given the privileges they already enjoy. This is an artifice often practised by the courtiers and great men of our world, who, as merchants or traders, become immensely rich.
Their population is increased by a useful law on procreation. According to the number of children, their privileges are increased or reduced. Fathers of children are exempted from all taxes. Therefore to have many children is as much an advantage here as it is a disadvantage in our world, where head taxes are often imposed. Nobody here has two jobs at once, because they believe than any employment requires wholehearted concentration.
Therefore, begging the permission of my fellow creatures, I might say that they do business better than we do. So sacred is the observance of this law that a doctor does not study the whole of medicine, but concentrates on the nature and cure of only one disease. A musician plays only one instrument - quite different from our earth, where, with the variety of our pretensions, bitterness increases, and duty is neglected. By aiming at everything, we do nothing well. A physician, trying to cure the disorders of the state as well as the body, performs neither well. And if another tries to be both a senator and a musician, we can expect only discord. We tend to admire such daring spirits, who attempt all sorts of things and believe there is nothing that they are unfit for.
But it is all rashness, presumption, and a total lack of sense of their own strengths, that we blindly admire. If only they knew the burden of public office and the shortness of their own abilities, they'd reject the offered honours, and tremble at the sound. Nobody here undertakes the least employment "invita Minerva". I remember hearing a famous philosopher, named Rakhasi, expounding on this subject, and saying "Every one of us should know his own abilities, and be the strictest judge of his own virtues and vices. Otherwise, actors will appear to be wiser than the rest of us - they do not choose the finest parts, but the parts that are fittest for them. And can an actor see on a stage what a wise man cannot see in life?"
The natives of this kingdom are divided into nobles and commoners. In fact, formerly this distinction existed. But when the rulers saw that this created the seeds of discord, they wisely removed all privileges due to birth. Now, virtue is the only measure of honour; this will be clearer further on. The only advantage of birth is having a lot of branches. The offspring are regarded as noble or ignoble based on the number or lack of branches - because the more branches they have, the fitter they are for manual work.
Enough has been said already in this work about the genius and manners of the people. Therefore, referring the reader to those pages, I'll consider some other details.