322 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



earth, the few with which we have made acquaintance are 

 indeed like a drop in the ocean. "Whilst lost in all these 

 thoughts, our fingers have been busily at work pulling to 

 pieces one of the large white Baobab blossoms ; it certainly 

 reminds us, in many respects, of a common English Mallow, 

 a connection which surprises us no less than the discovery 

 we formerly made, that the great tropical Fig-trees and 

 Breadfruit-trees and Banyan- trees are all relations of the 

 Nettle; and we apologize mentally, but sincerely, to all 

 the English wayside Mallows and Nettles, for not having 

 respected them, as of course we should have done, if we 

 had known what noble blood was flowing in their veins ; 

 and we get quite into an allegorical train of thought, the 

 general drift of which is, that even so in the human family, 

 true nobility of nature is often indiscernible by the multi- 

 tude, when wanting the outward appliances of rank and 

 riches. But, as we wake from our reverie, our eyes are 

 still resting on the Mallow-like flower from which this 

 train of thought arose ; and from Mallows and Nettles our 

 thoughts now wander on to other English sights, and to 

 English scenes, to the green fields and meadows, wild 

 woods and wild flowers ; and there our thoughts shall rest, 

 while we give thanks that our lot has been cast in the land 

 of the Beech-tree, the Oak, and the Elm ! 



