if ( str == null ) {
            return new byte[0];
        }
        return str.getBytes(encoding);
    }


    /**
     * 
     * @param str
     * @return the string as bytes (UTF16-LE)
     */
    public static byte[] getUNIBytes ( String str ) {
        return getBytes(str, UNI_ENCODING);
    }


    /**
     * 
     * @param str
     * @return the string as bytes (ASCII)
     */

func TestDecoderNested(t *testing.T) {
	var (
		counter int
		mv      *MetaValue
		body    = `{
  "1": {
    "bio": "bada bing bada boom",
    "id": 0,
    "name": "Roberto",
    "nested1": {
      "bio": "utf16 surrogate (\ud834\udcb2)\n\u201cutf 8\u201d",
      "id": 1.5,
      "name": "Roberto*Maestro",
      "nested2": { "nested2arr": [0,1,2], "nested3": {
        "nested4": { "depth": "recursion" }}
			}
		}
  },