THE MULBERRY TRIBE. 93 



India, whose immense branches send down shoots 

 to the earth, which take root, and form pillars for 

 the support of the extended foliage. 



" Bring Milton's works," he said ; " look in the 

 ninth book of Paradise Lost, for some mention of 

 this method of growth in the banyan- tree." 



Henry read as follows : 



*' The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 

 About the mother-tree, a pillar'd shade 

 High over-arch'd, and echoing walks between." 



" What beautiful shady groves it must make," 

 said Mary ; " and how pleasant it must be in that 

 hot country to have such a shelter !" 



Her father replied, "The poet Southey, de- 

 scribing a banyan-tree, says : 



' So like a temple did it seem, that there 

 The pious heart's first impulse would be prayer :' 



we may, therefore, make due allowance for the poor 

 Hindoo, who in performing his devotions near this 

 tree, considers, in his ignorance, that the banyan 

 itself is an object of worship. There is something 

 very touching, to my mind, in the reverence and 

 gratitude which the heathen show to natural ob- 

 jects, such as the sun and moon, rivers, trees, and 



