IKDIAN" EUBBER TREE. SIXGIXG TREE. 95 



It has been utilized for man's benefit in so many ways that it has 

 become almost a factor in the problem of civilized existence. As 

 a representative tree, filled with juices of such great practical 

 value to the whole civilized world, we approached it with a feel- 

 ing of reverence and of gratitude. Like all true merit it was 

 unostentatious and modest, and put on no airs. It flaunted no 

 gaudy colors, while looking down from its giddy elevation upon its 

 less gifted neig-hbors. It was perhaps as large as a medium sized 

 maple, and its leaves were thick and leathery, resembling some- 

 what those of the magnolia grandi flora, but of a darker shade, 

 and less glossy and waxy. When Mr. Burnside's boys desire 

 rubber balls they, hy tapping the tree, quickly secure an abundance 

 of sap, which hardens into rubber upon being exposed to the air 

 and sunlight. Uj^on the banks of the Amazon, where it abounds, 

 man is satisfied to simply live and propagate his lazy and indo- 

 lent race, but the stimulus of the crisp and frozen airs of north- 

 ern climes, thousands of miles away from the source of supply, 

 causes a demand that essentially aids in tlie development of com- 

 mercial enterprise — as Creative AV'isdom intended it should. 



Several kinds of trees in Nassau mature their seeds like the 

 bean, in pods. One of these has upon its branches in the winter 

 season a large number of delicate light-colored, silvery, translu- 

 cent pods, about eight inches long, which, being swayed and 

 shaken by the wind, so fill the air with soft, soothing music, that 

 the tree has been called the "singing tree." Some sour, cross, 

 crusty and ungallant individual has had the temerity to name it 

 "woman's tongue" — because it is never still! 



This tree is of a large size, and loses its leaves some time after 

 it has flowered. Its blossoms have been described as particularly 

 beautiful but odorless, resembling the finest floss silk. Before 

 the tree leaves out, the blossoms hang, crescent shaped, from the 

 top of long stems. We arrived too late for its flowers, but in 

 season for its soft murmuring music. 



