( '57 ) 



till their weight brings them to the ground, 

 with which the extremities of many of them 

 are in contact. So that the whole tree has 

 the appearance of a woody hemifphere -, whofe 

 radius, including the thicknefs of the trunk, 

 muft be about eighty, or ninety feet. What- 

 ever may be faid for the peculiarity of fuch 

 a tree, we cannot fay much in favour of it's 

 pidlurefque form. It feems to be little more 

 than a monftrous bum. The bark of this tree 

 is of an afli-coloured tint. It's leaves are oval, 

 pointed at the end, and about five inches long. 

 Tho the boabab is a native of Africa, yet 

 a fmall one was found growing in the ifland 

 of Martinico. It is fuppofed however to 

 have been brought thither by fome negroe- 

 flave ; as it is common among thofe poor 

 people to carry about them feeds of different 

 kinds, as .charms and remedies : and it is 

 certain, that many African plants have been 

 propagated in the Weft-Indies in this ac- 

 cidental manner. 



We have lately had an account of another 

 African tree, which is equally wonderful. 

 In fome private difpatches to the chairman 

 of the Siena-Leone company, one, relating to 

 the natural hiftory of the country, flates, that 



in 



