Dr. Noehdjsn's Account of the Banyan-Tree. 129 



India) says this author, « spread to an immense extent, shaded with lofty 



" and gigantic trees. Most of the branches being, Hke great stems, bent 



" into the ground, again rose upwards, at the place of curvature, so as to 



" afford the appearance, not of a branch that had sent forth fresh shoots, 



" but of a tree produced from its own root." Tliis description, though 



far from accurate, cannot be applied to any other tree, than the Banyan. 



It was evidently derived from a superficial observer. Nor does the account 



given by Strabo, to which we now proceed, although more in detail, differ 



much in character. Strabo was a writer of great learning, and dilio-ent 



research ; but he has drawn his information, in this instance, not from the 



best source. We can hardly suppose him to have been unacquainted with 



the writings of Theophrastus, and it may be wondered that, upon such a 



subject, he should not have had recourse to this authority. The passage 



alluded to is in the fifteenth book of his Geography, and to this purpose :* 



" Among other things, India produces also many extraordinary trees, of 



" which there is one species that has branches bending downwards, and 



" leaves not less than a siiield. Onesicritus, in detailing the natural pro- 



" ductions of Musicania, which, he says, is the most southern part of 



" India, relates, that there are certain large trees of India, the branches 



" of which grow to the length of twelve cubits, then take the remainder of 



" their growth downwards, as if they were bent, till they reach the ground; 



" and having penetrated into the earth, they strike root, like layers. After 



a n 



* Lib. XV. p. 694. ed. Casaub. (p. 1016. ed. Almelov.) Howi yi,p li, ««; li^^^ ■napiU^. .. 

 "IvJiXfl TfkpEt, m In K^t TO Kara nionoi l^fiv roi; K>^hu;, -ra ie (p{,X!,a airmhi om JX^ttu . 'Qvna'iKfnoi 

 n »%<. iTEfiEjJVOTfpov xi h T« UomiHaiou Jifliiy, a ipwi voTt^Tara hvm -r^s 'IvJ-.k^;, S,„yih.x, fiiya>a 

 f^J^a E.vai Tivi, Jv Toi,; x^^Sii/j au^„Si„ai Inl mx^n ii^ma, fWtiTa -n, ^ow^ii, Su^Aaiv Hazc^^ipi, 

 Xa^eivsiv, u; m Karaxa^TC-rot/ivov',, ebj av a^uvrai tH; y?; • Irara Kara y^j JiaJbSfVTai pt^oio-^ai, 

 oiMWi-raTi Kxrciipuiiv, It avaMvTUi ri>.exoSa(oii ■ H Iv wa\iv o/^oia; rr, m^^ctb, KaTaitafifSivras aM„'v 

 Kari^uxa TTonTv, e7t a>:>.r,v ■ xai iuTu; ip-l;^;, ^,-- i^' J^Jj J^'^J^^ ^^,^5.,^^, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^<^^ mXurip^ 

 (Tiirm oixoi'.v . A'r/u Je ,:m i^^yih ycv^pav, irB ttLti mSpiTCoa ImTTtpl^nTrta hvai ra roix^i ■ Kari Si 

 Tov 'AxEcnVw W^ t;,v <ru/^So}.m tw Trpk 'Ta^Tiv, „m •Ap.roSovXo; slpms Tr.p] rSv ^TccHz/XTTTOi^iivovi 

 ixov'rt^v Tok x>Aoovi, «a. ■^,p\ to; /^.yiioui, S>ag l(p'm JevJ^o. ^E<7„/x,3f /^eiv n>aioiA.ivoui !vTBa, Trivrmona ■ 

 ojTOi Je TirpoKoirmf .— Awavroi Je bTrEp^EBxnvTai, 7np\ toS ^.tyiSou; t^v Jev3>wv, ol pnaavri^ lu,pa<76zt 

 Wipav ToC 'Taf wti?o? oivi^ov ■nonm axikv taX; /iftrn/^Sf/aij ^TEvTaraJiov • So tliis passage ought to be 

 connected : but in the text of the editions (wliich, generally speaking, is very corrupt) the follow- 

 ing sentence is interposed, between the words T£T{>aKoa-(i,V{ and ' ATrajTa;, being evidently out of 

 its place: Aeve, ik 'Ap:ro'i?ouM; (wi aWio 3ei/Jj.ov— xapwois e^ov if Kmm Jexa Jo'fTwAouf to |ui;*o{, 

 5r>.»fEi{ |^t£^lT05• Toti; Je ^ayo'vTaj o'« (JaJitij Tu^KrSai . 



Vol I. S 



