212 SPOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



tree was surrounded by a masonry platform, built right up to the 

 trunk. This platform was three or four feet high, and as many 

 wide, so that in measuring the tree, Tennent's informant must 

 have included the platform. 



There is no doubt that the tree still existing is the tree referred 

 to by Baldaeus and Tennent. It is situated about 300 yards from 

 the seashore, and was evidently at one time fully visible from the 

 landing place. The whole intervening space has since been built 

 over with the high stone-walled houses, godowns, and temples that 

 are characteristic of Point Pedro, but the top of the tree can still 

 be seen from the Customs, and the tree is a conspicuous landmark 

 for vessels approaching the harbour. It is, I think, the tallest 

 tamarind tree I have ever seen. 1 have ascertained from the oldest 

 inhabitants that there were never any old tamarind trees of any 

 size in the neighourhood, but that this tree was always said to be 

 a very old one. I should think it might easily be 300 years old. 

 The tamarind is a slow growing tree. Opposite it used to stand, 

 until they were removed by Mr. Dyke to the present sites, the 

 Police Magistrate's house and the Police Court, and near them the 

 Dutch church. There is no trace of any of these buildings now. 

 The square open space behind the tree is now occupied by the 

 market. A good many years ago, but within living memory, the 

 tree and the adjoining Police Court were frequented by monkeys 

 (the wandura). These have long since disappeared. 



Baldaeus alludes to the grateful shade of the tree. There is a 

 Tamil proverb that a " widow's son should not sleep in the shade 

 of a tamarind tree." It is supposed to be more pleasant than that 

 of any other tree, and, therefore, calculated to make any one, who 

 lies down in its shade, disinclined to move or to bestir himself as 

 is necessary in the case of the son of a widow. 



Christian Frederick Schwarz, the well-known Missionary of 

 Tanjore, whose monument by Flaxman is in Schwarz's Church at 

 Tanjore, visited Point Pedro on 5th September, 1760, for the ex- 

 press purpose of seeing this tree (see " List of Monumental In- 

 scriptions of Madras, by J. J. Cotton). In any case it deserves the 

 title of " a historical tree." 



As to the age to which tamarind trees attain, I think there can 

 be no doubt that like the oak they live for some hundreds of years. 

 I have seen a tamarind tree at Kachchilaniadu in the Mullaittivu 

 District, which is still known as "Pandara's tree." Pandara was 

 aVanni chieftain, who entered into a league with the Sinhalese 

 chiefs of Nuwarakalawiya who were hostile to the British, and was 

 defeated here by Captain Driberg on 31st October, 1803. (See 



