voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第46节
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toppled the Hanging Stone off its perch。 But in Popsipetel history the story
was handed down （and it is firmly believed to this day） that when King
Jong sat upon the throne； so great was his mighty weight； that the very
island itself sank down to do him honor and never moved again。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART SIX
THE FIRST CHAPTER
NEW POPSIPETEL
JONG THINKALOT had not ruled over his new kingdom for more
than a couple of days before my notions about kings and the kind of lives
they led changed very considerably。 I had thought that all that kings had to
do was to sit on a throne and have people bow down before them several
times a day。 I now saw that a king can be the hardest…working man in the
world if he attends properly to his business。
From the moment that he got up； early in the morning； till the time he
went to bed； late at nightseven days in the weekJohn Dolittle was busy；
busy； busy。 First of all there was the new town to be built。 The village of
Popsipetel had disappeared： the City of New Popsipetel must be made。
With great care a place was chosen for it and a very beautiful position it
was； at the mouth of a large river。 The shores of the island at this point
formed a lovely wide bay where canoes and ships too； if they should
ever comecould lie peacefully at anchor without danger from storms。
In building this town the Doctor gave the Indians a lot of new ideas。
He showed them what town…sewers were； and how garbage should be
collected each day and burnt。 High up in the hills he made a large lake by
damming a stream。 This was the water…supply for the town。 None of these
things had the Indians ever seen； and many of the sicknesses which they
had suffered from before were now entirely prevented by proper drainage
and pure drinking…water。
Peoples who don't use fire do not of course have metals either； because
without fire it is almost impossible to shape iron and steel。 One of the first
things that John Dolittle did was to search the mountains till he found iron
and copper mines。 Then he set to work to teach the Indians how these
metals could be melted and made into knives and plows and water…pipes
and all manner of things。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
In his kingdom the Doctor tried his hardest to do away with most of
the old…fashioned pomp and grandeur of a royal court。 As he said to
Bumpo and me； if he must be a king he meant to be a thoroughly
democratic one； that is a king who is chummy and friendly with his
subjects and doesn't put on airs。 And when he drew up the plans for the
City of New Popsipetel he had no palace shown of any kind。 A little
cottage in a back street was all that he had provided for himself。
But this the Indians would not permit on any account。 They had been
used to having their kings rule in a truly grand and kingly manner； and
they insisted that he have built for himself the most magnificent palace
ever seen。 In all else they let him have his own way absolutely； but they
wouldn't allow him to wriggle out of any of the ceremony or show that
goes with being a king。 A thousand servants he had to keep in his palace；
night and day； to wait on him。 The Royal Canoe had to be kept upa
gorgeous； polished mahogany boat； seventy feet long； inlaid with mother…
o'…pearl and paddled by the hundred strongest men in the island。 The
palace…gardens covered a square mile and employed a hundred and sixty
gardeners。
Even in his dress the poor man was compelled always to be grand and
elegant and uncomfortable。 The beloved and battered high hat was put
away in a closet and only looked at secretly。 State robes had to be worn on
all occasions。 And when the Doctor did once in a while manage to sneak
off for a short； natural…history expedition he never dared to wear his old
clothes； but had to chase his butterflies with a crown upon his head and a
scarlet cloak flying behind him in the wind。
There was no end to the kinds of duties the Doctor had to perform and
the questions he had to decide uponeverything； from settling disputes
about lands and boundaries； to making peace between husband and wife
who had been throwing shoes at one another。 In the east wing of the Royal
Palace was the Hall of Justice。 And here King Jong sat every morning
from nine to eleven passing judgment on all cases that were brought
before him。
Then in the afternoon he taught school。 The sort of things he taught
were not always those you find in ordinary schools。 Grown…ups as well as
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
children came to learn。 You see； these Indians were ignorant of many of
the things that quite small white children knowthough it is also true that
they knew a lot that white grown…ups never dreamed of。
Bumpo and I helped with the teaching as far as we could simple
arithmetic； and easy things like that。 But the classes in astronomy； farming
science； the proper care of babies； with a host of other subjects； the Doctor
had to teach himself。 The Indians were tremendously keen about the
schooling and they came in droves and crowds； so that even with the
open…air classes （a school…house was impossible of course） the Doctor had
to take them in relays and batches of five or six thousand at a time and
used a big megaphone or trumpet to make himself heard。
The rest of his day was more than filled with road…making； building
water…mills； attending the sick and a million other things。
In spite of his being so unwilling to become a king； John Dolittle made
a very good oneonce he got started。 He may not have been as dignified
as many kings in history who were always running off to war and getting
themselves into romantic situations； but since I have grown up and seen
something of foreign lands and governments I have often thought that
Popsipetel under the reign of Jong Thinkalot was perhaps the best ruled
state in the history of the world。
The Doctor's birthday came round after we had been on the island six
months and a half。 The people made a great public holiday of it and there
was much feasting； dancing； fireworks； speech…making and jollification。
Towards the close of the day the chief men of the two tribes formed a
procession and passed through the streets of the town； carrying a very
gorgeously painted tablet of ebony wood； ten feet high。 This was a picture…
history； such as they preserved for each of the ancient kings of Popsipetel
to record their deeds。
With great and solemn ceremony it was set up over the door of the
new palace： and everybody then clustered round to look at it。 It had six
pictures on it commemorating the six great events in the life of King Jong
and beneath were written the verses that explained them。 They were
composed by the Court Poet； and this is a translation： I
（His Landing on The Island） Heaven…sent； In his dolphin…drawn canoe
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
From worlds unknown He landed on our shores。 The very palms Bowed
down their heads In welcome to the coming King。
II
（His Meeting With The Beetle） By moonlight in the mountains He
communed with beasts。 The shy Jabizri brings him picture…words Of great
distress。
（He liberates The Lost Families） Big was his heart with pity； Big were
his hands with strength。 See how he tears the mountain like a yam！ See
how the lost ones Dance forth to greet the day！
IV
（He Makes Fire） Our land was cold and dying。 He waved his hand and
lo！ Lightning leapt from cloudless skies； The sun leant down； And Fire
was born！ Then while we crowded round The grateful glow； pushed he
Our wayward； floating land Back to peaceful anchorage In sunny seas。
