THE TIG. 249 



be the parent of all tlie numerous trees of the kind now 

 growing in the island, is still flourishing there under the 

 title of " The Supreme Lord, the Sacred Bo-tree," pro- 

 bably the oldest historical tree in the world; " for," says 

 Sir Emerson Tennent, " its identity is not matter of con- 

 jecture, but of authentic record, its story being preserved 

 in continuous chronicles." JSTone have ever dared to pluck 

 so much as a single leaf from what is almost a vegetable 

 divinity, its leaves or fruit, as soon as they fall, being col- 

 lected and treasured as hallowed relics by pilgrims from 

 all parts. 



The other most notable variety of the fig is the Ficus 

 elastica* which furnishes us with caoutchouc ; indeed, 

 the possession of a milky juice is one of the character- 

 istics of the whole genus ; and Lindley is of opinion that 

 India-rubber might even be made in England from our 

 common fig-tree, the sap of which possesses like proper- 

 ties. In the ripe fruit the secretion is decomposed and 

 becomes sweet and harmless, but, if eaten unripe, the 

 milky juice makes its presence known by corroding the 

 lips and tongue, causing a burning sensation in the throat, 

 and even producing dysentery. Yet in some varieties 

 this milk is perfectly bland and wholesome, most of what 

 are called " Cow- trees " being really varieties of the fig. 

 The Ficus d&mona, however, as might be inferred from 

 its name, yields a virulent poison ; and the famous Upas- 

 tree of Java is another enfant terrible of the family, whose 

 claim to cousinship yet cannot be denied. 



The most curious specimen in the New World is the 

 Ficus nymplicefolia, or American Fig-tree, described by 

 Humboldt as encircled by ligneous excrescences or ridges, 

 which surround the trunk to a height of about 20 ft., and 

 sometimes separating from it near the base, when the tree 

 looks as if supported by flying buttresses. The larger 

 roots creep along the surface of the ground, and seem to 

 have a plethora of sap to their very extremities, for, if 

 cut 20 ft. from the trunk, their milky juice gushes out 

 immediately. 



See Plate VI., fig. 6. 



