4 THE HUNTING G.SOUNDS 



jungle arrived at an immense banian tree, where we 

 found AbduUa-ben-Ali, the Killadar, and his son, 

 waiting for us with " Saindee " (the sap of the date 

 palm, which, when fresh, is a delightful beverage) 

 and trays of fruits and sweetmeats of different 

 kinds. 



He offered us accommodation, for ourselves and 

 followers, in the fort, but we preferred encamping 

 under this magnificent banian tree, which in itself 

 was quite a grove, being of amazing size. Contrary 

 to most other vegetable productions, this tree seems 

 to be exempted from decay ; for every branch from 

 the main body throws out its own roots, at first in 

 small tender fibres several yards from the ground, 

 which continually grow thicker, until by a gradual 

 descent they reach its surface, where striking in they 

 take root, and receiving nourishment from the earth, 

 increase to large trunks, which themselves become 

 parent trees, shooting forth other branches; thus 

 continuing in a state of progression, independent of 

 the first parent of them all. A banian tree, with 

 its many trunks, forms the most beautiful walks, 

 vistas, and cool recesses that can be imagined, foi- 

 the leaves are large, soft, and of a lively green, and 

 the grateful shade it affords is infinitely preferable 

 to that of any building. The fruit is a small fig, 

 which is of a bright scarlet colour when ripe, afford- 

 ing sustenance to monkeys and birds of various 

 kinds, which dwell among the branches. We killed 

 several dozen green pigeons, besides others of dif- 



