XX Xvi PROCEEDINGS. 



some as the most beautiful on earth and with blossoms of a 

 delicately fragant odour, and fit indeed for Kamr-Devis quiver. 

 In Ceylon it is near every Buddhist temple and the flowers have 

 been said to resemble white roses,, while the shorts and buds of the 

 tree are of deep crimson. The flowers also have been described as 

 camellia-like in character and its foliage a mass of glossy green. 

 Its timber is splendid, and "Wordsworth's quotation matches it well : 

 "A silver shield with boss of gold 

 That spreads itself some fairy bold 



In fight to cover." 



It yields an aromatic oleo-resim and the dead flowers are used as 

 a fragrant adjunct for decoctions and oils. 



Pandamus fascicularis, Yern. "Kevri." Screw-pine. A 

 cactus-like shrub (there are no true indigmous cactuses in India) 

 with long sword-shaped sharply toothed spinous leaves. The 

 flowers look like innumerable filaments and grow on a spadix 3 or 

 4 inches long, inclosed in leaf -like bracts. Fruit nearly round, 

 something like a pineapple. The tender white leaves of the 

 flowers have a delightful fragrance. Roots are sent out from 

 many parts of the stem and give the idea of the tree being propped 

 up by them. It is the Kevada or Sanskrit poetry, and a perfumed 

 oil is extracted from the flowers which is called 'Kevde.' 



Mangifera Indica, Vern. "Amb." Mango tree. Smooth, 

 leaves oblong and lanceolate. Flowers, small in greenish yellow 

 panicles, fruit large and greenish and yellow, and varying some- 

 what in shape from oval to irregularly round. A fine tree which 

 grows all over 'India and has been planted everywhere. The 

 fruit is easily the finest Indian fruit and possesses a subtle and 

 delicate flavour, its only disadvantage being its immense stone. 

 It has the reputation that it must be eaten in one's bath on 

 account of its difficulty to handle, but I have not found it necessary 

 to go to such length to enjoy it. The tree when in full bloom 

 and many together, is rather pretty, though individually the flowers 

 are modest. The smell of the flowers by night when out driving 

 along the jungle roads is rather strong and some think them 

 oppressive. The best ones are the Bombay Mangoes, famous all the 

 world over. Every village temple or shrine is well planted with 



