NATURAL THEOLOGY. 187 



watery vegetables, in peculiar variety and perfection. 

 Those plants and fruits particularly suited to prevent 

 putridity, which is one of the greatest dangers of 

 hot climates, are remarkably [abundant in such cli- 

 mates. These are the spices, the pepper, clove, 

 &c. and other aromatic vegetables which are obtain- 

 ed from the warm countries. 



" One cannot open a volume of travels, but some 

 shrub or plant is made known to us, peculiarly adapt- 

 ed to the clime. In the Brazils a cane is found, 

 which on being cut below a joint, dispenses a cool, 

 pleasant liquid, which instantly quenches the most 

 burning thirst ; and Prince Maximilian, when travel- 

 ing in America in 1816, quenched his thirst by drink- 

 ing the water found within the leaves of the bro- 

 melia." 



Mr. Elphinstone says, the water melon, the most 

 juicy of fruits, is found in profusion amid the arid 

 deserts of western Africa ; and adds, " that it is really 

 a subject of wonder to see a melon, three or four 

 feet in circumference, growing from a stalk, as slen- 

 der as that of a common melon, in the dry sand of 

 the desert." 



Mr. Barrow thus describes the curious vegetable, 

 fhe pitcher plant. " To the foot stalk of each leaf 

 J s attached a bag, girt round with a lid. Contrary to 

 the usual effect, this lid opens in wet and dewy hours, 

 and, when the pitcher is full, the 4id doses ; when 

 this store of moisture is absorbed by the plant, the 

 lid opens again," (Thoughts on Domestic Educa- 

 tion.) 



