ISLAND OF CEYLON, 047 



Nothing- can equ:\l the beauty of the plantations. The trees 

 are placed thinhv ^'^^<'^ between them is planted that charming 

 flirLib the TLrythrina Cbrallodendron^ with its rich fcarlet flowers, 

 defigned to protect the delicate coffee from the intenfe heat of 

 the almoft vertical fun *. 



ScaftdenSi — vi. tab. 32, and the Fkxitofa of the fame plate, are OpmocLossuM. 

 long climbing plants^ and when fplit are of vafl ufe as thongs, 

 and for the making of bafkets. 



^lercifoliuni is a fingular fpecies, engraven by old CIuJius in Polypodr-m, 

 his Exotics, and by Rwnphius^ vi. tab. 36. It is ufed in Am- 

 boina againgft the dangerous poifon of the Gckka, 



Palms. 



The lail clafs, the FalniSy fuddenly appear, fuperior in fub- 

 limity to the reft of the vegetable kingdom. 



Nucifera^ Calappa, or Trnga^ Rumph. Amboin. i. tab. i, 2, is Cocos. 

 the nobleft and moft ufeful tree of this clafs. 1 have fpoken 

 of it at page 138 ; fo fliall proceed to the following, as next to it 

 in importance, whether we regard its magnificence or utility. 



FlabelliformiSy Rujnph, Amboin. i. tab. 10. The leaves are Borassus. 

 large and palmated, the edges of the ftalks ferrated ; the leaves- 

 are four feet long, divided into feventy or eighty rays, like the 

 flicks of a fan, and may be folded up in the fame manner. In 

 Macajfar they are made into umbrellas, but are fo highly 

 efteemed there, that they are carried by none but by a few per- 

 fons of the firft rank. The fruit grows in clufters, and each is 

 about the fize of a child's head. Within is a very eatable pulp, 



* Thunberg'i Voy. iv. 153. 



and 



