278 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



the world altogether we mean (in spite of the heat), when 

 we reach the Philippine Islands, to land for a little while 

 in Luzon. Here again we are struck with the beauty of 

 the Tree-ferns, so universal within the tropics ; the slender 

 stems of the different kinds of one genus, called Cyatliea, 

 we here find growing side by side with the glossy shafts of 

 the Arrow-root plant (Maranta), from the tubers of which 

 the Arrow-root of commerce is obtained. The burning sun 

 indeed beats on us still, go where we will ; but the excite- 

 ment of the new sensations we experience keeps us up, 

 whilst we gaze with wonder at the bright green foliage of 

 the forests. Nature here looks altogether different to what 

 she does shrouded under a haze, as we generally see her at 

 home ; so we gaze until we can gaze no longer, and then, 

 covering our eyes with our hands from the glare and heat, 

 we plunge for shelter within the impenetrable shade of the 

 forest. 



Wejneed not go through a long description of the appear- 

 ance of this forest, as the general character of what we meet 

 with there has so often been sketched ; still, there are a few 

 things we must especially look after; so having amused 

 ourselves for a time with watching the apes and tiger-cats 

 whilst they practise tight-rope dancing on the slanting 



