THE FALL OF THE CYPRESS LEAF 163 



with, and every detail of them to be inquired minutely 

 into, for the purposes of telling the tale of their 

 various individualities. 



This falling away of these extremity leaves and 

 ultimate branchlets, sometimes after two, sometimes 

 after three and four years' growth, sheds light upon 

 the story told of a curious Mohammedan superstition, 

 existent among the natives of Ceylon. The idea 

 prevalent there is that he w^ho eats of a Cypress leaf, 

 which he chances to see fall in natural and by time- 

 expired process to the ground, has restored to him 

 the priceless boon of rejuvenated youth and vigour. 



Whittier, the American poet, depicts the venerable 

 jogees, or saints, as sitting patiently, expectantly, in 

 silence and motionless, under the shadow of a Cypress 

 tree in Ceylon, awaiting in optimistic endurance the 

 falling of this much-prized leaf. These are two of 

 his descriptive stanzas on the subject : 



They sat in silent watchfulness. 



The sacred Cypress tree about. 

 And from beneath old ^\Tinkled brows 



Their failing eyes looked out. 



They waited for that falling leaf. 



Of which the wandering jogees sing ; 

 Which lends once more to wintry age 

 The greenness of its spring. 



As, and as we have said, there is a triennial persistency 

 about these leaves, this process must, then, have 

 often entailed a long sitting, and one that may have 

 called for an equivalent persistency of a patient and 

 pathetic nature on the part of these holy men, which 

 invites sympathy even among those who regard 

 their problematical reward as doubtful and distant. 



Leaves and their Position 



In some cases the leaves are, from head to base, 

 wound round tightly to the stem, so to speak, for the 

 12 



