;}'2 THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 



of the primitive forests, then the sounds become so 

 sad and mournful that admiration gives way to terror. 

 Of the great plants which attract the attention of 

 the traveller and impart to the vegetation of the 

 tropics an altogether foreign aspect in the eyes of the 

 foreigner, we will select the most remarkable, whether 

 from their beauty and size or from the service which 

 they are made to render to the natives. The latter 

 aspect will be of special value to us, for it will give 

 us an idea of the power 'and spontaneousness with 

 which nature here proceeds in her work supplies all 

 that is needed, and incessantly gives new beauty to 

 life. To mention only one example in direct connec- 

 tion with the descriptions which follow, we will re- 

 mind the reader that if plants and animals are the 

 natural food of man, that food must needs vary ac- 

 cording to the countries which he inhabits. Where 

 a certain mode of life is no longer possible because 

 of climate and soil, that mode of life is changed ; but 

 life itself is not suspended on that account. To 

 maintain life is the supreme aim of all the forces of 

 Nature, and her law is to manifest herself under all 

 possible forms. In northern countries the cereals, 

 and wheat and corn in particular, supply our daily 

 bread, while wine, beer, cider are the drinks accord- 

 ing to the various countries. But in order that the 

 wheat may ripen there must be frost during the win- 

 ter ; otherwise it grows rank and bears no seed. Now 

 in warm countries there is no winter; the seasons, 

 distinctly marked in northern latitudes, become ef- 

 faced in proportion as we approach the equator, and 



