FIG-TREE BANIAN-TREE. 45 



To procure this principal article of their food, costs these happy 

 people no trouble or labour, except climbing up a tree : the tree 

 which produces it does not indeed grow spontaneously; but if a man 

 plants ten of them in his life time, which he may do in an hour, lie 

 will as completely fulfil his duty to his own and future generations, 

 as the native of our less temperate climate can do, by ploughing iu 

 the cold of winter, and reaping in the summer's heat, as often as 

 these seasons return : even if, after he has procured bread for his 

 present household, he should convert a surplus into money, and lay 

 it up for bis children. 



9ECTION III. 



Fig Tree. 

 Ficui. Linn. 



The species of plants that range in the sexual system under the 

 genus ficus are very numerous, and amount to nearly sixty. Of 

 these there are three that are peculiarly entitled to our present at- 

 tention : the Banian or Indian fig, ficus Indica of Linnaeus ; the 

 Sycamorus, or sycamore of the Scriptures ; and the Carica, or com,, 

 nion fig. 





Banian Tree, 

 Ficus Indica. 



This is a native of several parts of the East Indies. It has a 

 woody stem, branching to a great height, and prodigious extent, 

 with heart-shaped, entire leaves, ending in acute points. Miltou 

 has thus beautifully and correctly described it, as the plant to which 

 Adam advised to have recourse after having eaten the forbidden 

 fruit. Par. Lost, ix. 100,9. 



So counselled he ; and both together went 

 Into the thickest wood : there soon they chose 

 The fig-tree ; not that kind for fruit renown'd, 

 But such as at this day to Indians known 

 In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms, 

 Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 

 The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 



