Chap. 21.] THE COTTON TREE. 117 



CHAP. 20. TKEES OF PEKSIS. 



Adjoining the countries which we have previously mentioned 

 is Persis, lying along the shores of the Bed Sea, which, when 

 describing 67 it, we have mentioned as the Persian Sea, the tides 

 of which peDetrate far into the land. The trees in these 

 regions are of a marvellous nature ; for, corroded by the action 

 of the salt, and bearing a considerable resemblance to vegeta- 

 ble substances that have been thrown up and abandoned by 

 the tide, they are seen to embrace the arid sands of the sea- 

 shore with their naked roots, just like so many polypi. "When 

 the tide rises, buffeted by the waves, there they stand, fixed 

 and immoveable ; nay, more, at high water they are completely 

 covered ; a fact which proves to conviction, that they derive 

 their nutriment from the salt contained in the water. The 

 size of these trees is quite marvellous; in appearance they 

 strongly resemble the arbute ; the fruit, which on the outside 

 is very similar to the almond, has a spiral kernel within. 68 



CHAP. 21. (10.) TKEES OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PEBS1AN SEA. 



THE COTTON TREE. 



In the same gulf, there is the island of Tylos, 69 covered with 

 a forest 70 on the side which looks towards the East, where it 

 is washed also by the sea at high tides. Each of the trees 

 is in size as large as the fig ; the blossoms are of an indescri- 

 bable sweetness, and the fruit is similar in shape to a lupine, 

 but so rough and prickly, that it is never touched by any ani- 

 mal. On a more elevated plateau of the same island, we find 

 trees that bear wool, but of a different nature from those of the 

 Seres ; 71 as in these trees the leaves produce nothing at all, 

 and, indeed, might very readily be taken for those of the vine. 



e? B. vi. c. 28. 



68 -It is supposed that the Rhizophora Mangle of Linnams is the tree 

 that is here described. It grows on all the coasts of India, from Siam to 

 the entrance of the Persian Gulf. It takes root on spots which have been 

 inundated by the sea, and its boughs bend downwards, and taking root in 

 the earth, advance gradually towards the sea. The leaf and fruit have the 

 characteristics of those of the arbute and almond as here mentioned. 



69 B. vi. c. 32. 



70 Fee suggests that some kind of mangrove is probably alluded to, of 

 the kind known as avicennia, or bruguiera. 



7i See B. vi. c. 20. 



