314 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



is perhaps the most wonderful part ; as reason would lead 

 us to suppose, the underground foundations are propor- 

 tioned to the size of the tree above ground, to enable it to 

 stand against the tremendous force of the hurricanes which 

 so often occur in its native land. The principal root is sup- 

 posed to descend even deeper into the earth than the trunk as- 

 cends above; and from this main root branch out other smaller 

 ones in all directions, often as much as three feet in diame- 

 ter and a hundred feet in length. When these trees attain 

 a certain size the trunk almost always begins to decay, and 

 becomes hollow ; and the caverns thus formed are so large 

 that several Negro families sometimes take up their abode 

 in them ; and they frequently make use of them as a place 

 of common resort, where they meet to smoke and chat. 



Banyan-trees are also said to be natives of West Africa, 

 which, as they are a species of Pig, must also be added to 

 the list of the Nettle's grand relations ; very little reliance 

 can, however, be placed on this assertion, as no mention is 

 made of them in Hooker's ' Niger Flora/* 



* In that part of Dr. Hooker's Introductory Essay to the ' Flora Indica ' 

 which alludes to the relation of the Indian flora to .that of tropical Africa, he 

 specifies, indeed, the tribe of Figs amongst several others which are common 

 to both, but says nothing of the Banyan (Ficus Indica} ; " few cases," he 

 adds, " of specific identity are known to us, but we confidently believe that 

 many will be found to exist." 



