STUDY XI. 313 



afhes, and other circumftances connected with a 

 human dwelling, fo as to produce double the 

 quantity of fruit. He adds, that, for this reafon, 

 the places in India which confift of palm-planta- 

 tions, are crowded with houfes and little cabins ; 

 and that the proprietors of thofe plantations give, 

 at firft, a pecuniary premium, as an inducement to 

 come and live there, together with part of the 

 crop when it is reaped. He farther adds, that 

 though their fruits, which are very large and hard, 

 frequently fall down from the trees, when they 

 have attained a ftate of full maturity, either by the 

 gnawing of the rats, or by the violence of the 

 winds, there is not a fingle inflance known of any 

 perfon's being hurt by the fall. This appears to 

 me no lefs extraordinary than it did to him *, 



I might extend the influences of Man to feveral 

 of our fruit-trees, efpecially the apple-tree and the 

 vine. I never faw finer apple-trees in the Pais de 

 (Saux, than thofe which grow around the habita- 

 tions of the peafantry. It is true that the atten- 

 tion of the proprietor may have greatly contributed 

 to this. I have fometimes felt myfelf flopped in 

 the flreets of Paris, to contemplate with delight 

 fmall vines, the roots of which are in the fand, 



* See Voyage to the Eaft, of R.P. Philippe, a white friar 

 Book vii, chap. 5. fection. 4. 



and 



