+=head2 encode_utf8_safely
+
+ $octets = encode_utf8_safely($string);
+
+Given a $string, returns the octet equivalent of $string if $string is
+in perl's internal encoding; otherwise returns $string.
+
+Silently returns REFs without encoding them. [If you want to deeply
+encode REFs, see encode_utf8_structure.]
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub encode_utf8_safely{