第十五章[第5页/共6页]

“我们不记录它们，”地理学家说，“因为花草是长久的。”

"And towns, and rivers, and deserts""I couldn't tell you that, either.""But you are a geographer!"

“因为喝醉了酒的人把一个当作两个，那么，地理学家就会把只要一座山的处所写成两座山。”

"Your planet is very beautiful," he said. "Has it any oceans""I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.

"No. That would be too complicated. But one requires the explorer to furnish proofs. For example, if the discovery in question is that of a large mountain, one requires that large stones be brought back from it."The geographer was suddenly stirred to excitement.

"But you― you come from far away! You are an explorer! You shall describe your planet to me!"And, having opened his big register, the geographer sharpened his pencil. The recitals of explorers are put down first in pencil. One waits until the explorer has furnished proofs, before putting them down in ink.