BANIAN-TREE. 143 



the whole circumference of the internal space, and thus 

 actually became a tree turned inside out." It has sometimes 

 been known to enclose the trunks of palms or other trees 

 and has then received the name of the wedded-banian. A 

 curious fact was communicated to us by Dr. Wallich, which 

 still further illustrates its singular propensity to propel a 

 shoot into every accessible quarter. A banian-tree in the 

 Botanic Garden at Calcutta had extended a branch across 

 one of the walks, and in due time a support thrown out bv the 

 branch took root and grew into a trunk on the opposite' side 

 of the walk. The original branch, now the connectincr me- 

 dium between the two trunks, happening to decay, an order 

 was given for its removaL; but it was ascertained that the 

 offspring, finding the link between itself and its parent about 

 to give way, had actually begun to send forth a healthy 

 shoot along the centre of the decayed and yielding sub- 

 stance. It is hardly necessary to add that the order was 

 rescinded, and the two trunks are again united by what in 

 this case may be metaphorically termed reciprocal affection. 

 On the banks of the Nerbudda is a celebrated banian-tree ; 

 and though much of it has been swept away by high floods, 

 what still remains is near two thousand feet in circumfe- 

 rence, measured round the principal stems ; the overhanahig 

 branches which have not yet thrown out supports cov'er a 

 much larger space. The large trunks of this sinirle tree 

 amount to three hundred and fifty, and the smaller ones 

 exceed three thousand. Each of these is constantly sending 

 forth branches and hanging roots, to form other trunks, and 

 become the parents of a future progeny. This tree is called 

 cubbcer-burr by the Hindoos, in memory of a favourite saint, 

 and has been known, in the march of an army, to shelter 

 seven thousand men beneath its shade.* The leaves of this 

 species are broadly ovate with a very long point, and, inde- 

 pendent of the foot-stalk, not more'than five or six inches 

 in length ; the fruit very small, of a bright scarlet-colour 

 when ripe, and said to afford sustenance to monkeys, squir- 

 rels, and birds. Milton has admirably described the banian- 

 tree in its principal phenomenon ; but if it was indeed, as 

 he makes it, the fig-tree of the book of Genesis, the leaves 

 with which he invests it must have been larger in those 



* Forbes's Oriental Memoirs. 



