* @param typecode Datatype of the new array
     * @return The new multiarray
     */
    public static PyMultiarray asarray(final PyObject seq, final char typecode) {
        if (seq instanceof PyMultiarray
                &&
                (typecode == '\0' || ((PyMultiarray) seq)._typecode == typecode)) {
            return (PyMultiarray) seq;
        }
        
        if (seq instanceof PyArray) {
            return PyMultiarray.arrayToMultiarray((PyArray) seq, typecode);
        }
        return PyMultiarray.array(seq, typecode);
    }