THE FOREST. 15 



midst of the arches springs the stem, clothed with 

 branches and gay with flowers. 



All among the arches, and in the damp black 

 mud out of which they spring, millions of insects, 

 and crabs, and living creatures sport in safety. 



Man cannot approach them, for the air is fatal 

 to him, though harmless to them. 



There is a special provision made by Nature for 

 the mangrove. The seed drops, at the proper 

 season, and is in danger of being carried away, by 

 the stream, from the muddy bank on which alone 

 it could grow. But it is possessed of a small 

 rootlet, by which it can attach itself at once to the 

 swampy ground, and remain there in security. 

 These rootlets are put forth, and the stem gradu- 

 ally rises up from the midst, and another man- 

 grove is added to the great belt of trees that lines 

 the bank. 



At times the mighty river becomes swollen by 

 the rains. Then, huge waves rise and march 

 rapidly onward. It overflows its banks, and 

 rushes through the forest with a terrible roar and 

 crash. 



