* @param typecode Datatype of the array
     * @return The new multiarray
     */
    public static PyMultiarray zeros(final int[] shape, final char typecode) {
        // int length = Math.max(1,
        // typeToNElements(typecode)*shapeToNItems(shape));
        final int length = PyMultiarray.typeToNElements(typecode)
                * PyMultiarray.shapeToNItems(shape);
        final Object data = Array.newInstance(
                PyMultiarray.typeToClass(typecode),
                length);
        if (typecode == 'O') {
            for (int i = 0; i < Array.getLength(data); i++) {
                Array.set(data, i, Py.Zero);
            }
        }
        final int[] strides = PyMultiarray.shapeToStrides(
                shape,
                PyMultiarray.typeToNElements(typecode));
        return new PyMultiarray(data, typecode, 0, shape, strides);
    }