208 ISLAND OF CEYLON. 



leaved Waringent is ripe. They alight in vaft multitudes on 

 that grotefque tree, and are caught with bird-lime by the na- 

 tives, who prepare the twigs againft their arrival. Mr. Lot en in- 

 formed me, that when he was governor in Ceylon, one morning 

 at break of day he faw fome hundreds entangled on the boughs 

 of the great JVaringen tree, before his window, and ordered one 

 of his Ceylonefe fervants to take them off. They are excellent 

 food, and are often fliot by the Europeans. They are obferved 

 never to alight on the ground, but to perch on high trees, and 

 give this the preference, on account of the fruit. It is for the 

 fame reafon the haunt of various other birds ; but notwith- 

 llanding the fvveetnefs of the fruit, it is neglc6ted by mankind. 

 This tree immediately attraded the attention of the antients. 

 Oneficritus, tlie philofopher who followed Alexander the Great 

 in his expedition into India, commanded his galley, and re- 

 corded his a6lions, firft gives us an account of this wonderful 

 tree. For this, at left, he does not merit the fevere remark 

 made on him by Strabo, lib. xv. p. 1022, who feems incredulous 

 to all he fays ; poffibly there may be other j^oints in which he 

 may be alfo defended. This tree rifes high in the air, then 

 drops its boughs, which take root, and fucceflively create new 

 Hems, till a vaft extent is covered with the arched fhade. It is 

 €ven faid to form of itfelf a foreft of arched avenues, and a 

 'labyrinth of alleys, impenetrable by the rays of the vertical 

 fun ; perhaps the extent may be exaggerated. We will con- 

 tent ourfelves with giving the dimenfions of one near Manjee, 

 Aveft of Patna ; the diameter of which was from three hundred 

 and fixty three feet, to three hundred and feventy three : the 



circum- 



