190 CONCLUSION. 



and by every spring, in some of those dreary 

 and burning plains, 



" Where herb, nor shrub, nor tree takes root," 

 does its presence announce from afar the oasis, 

 and manifest the proximity of water, ■while its 

 shelter affords a screen for a tuft of verdure 

 amid surrounding desolation. So in India, also, 

 the sugar palm (^Phoenuv sylvestris) derives its 

 rich, and luscious, and abundant juice, from 

 spots so barren that they can scarcely support 

 any other plant. The amazingly various and 

 important uses of the palm tribe are perhaps 

 unequalled, as a •whole, by any other single 

 section of the vegetable kingdom ; and the pro- 

 vision of such abundant means of support for 

 man in regions too hot for the greater part of 

 the corn tribe, is one of those countless instances 

 of the Divine benevolence and providence Avhich 

 the observant mind is continually meeting ■with. 

 All the absolute necessities of life (except medi- 

 cine) are provided for in the products of these 

 remarkable trees, — food, clothing, shelter, and 

 materials wherewith to manufacture an abun- 

 dance of the most useful implements. SiU'ely, in 

 the review of the many facts of this kind which 

 we have noticed, we may find abundant reason to 

 praise Him who causeth the herb to grow " for 

 the service of man : that he. may bring forth 



