le 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.
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.
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.
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 greater this declination, the more expressive was it of respect and
esteem.
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.
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.
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.
At the door of this building stood Justice, cut out in the form of a
tree, holding among the branches a pair
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