428 THE MALAGASY FORESTS. 



danus utilis'), one of the Screw-Pines, is of much utility to the natives, 

 who fabricate sacks and bags out of its tenacious leaves. The manu- 

 facture of these bags is a source of comparative wealth for the poorer 

 inhabitants of Madagascar, and to a still greater extent for those of 

 Re'union and the Mauritius, whence they are exported annually by 

 millions. 



The Malagasy forests also include several resinous species ; among 

 others, the Copal-Tree, which furnishes the well-known gum used in 

 Europe as a varnish ; and the Vahea, a genus of Apocynacese, yielding 

 caoutchouc, which will hereafter figure largely in the exports from this 

 magnificent island. There are two species, namely, Vahea Mada- 

 fjascariensis the " Voua Heri" of the natives and Vahea gum- 

 mifera. Numerous lianas, and a multitude of epiphytous plants, 

 ferns, and orchids, envelop and intertangle the trunks of the great 

 trees. I shall specify only the Beaded Liana (Abrus precatorius), 

 whose small hard fruits, rounded and of a scarlet red, make graceful 

 wreaths and necklaces ; the Angrcecum sesquipedale (an orchid), with 

 bright irregular flowers ; and the Angrcecum fragrans, whose per- 

 fumed leaves supply a wholesome and savoury infusion. Finally, 

 the Heritiera argentea, a tree about as large as our lindens, which 

 certain botanists place among the Byttneriacese, and others among the 

 Sterculiaceee, is noticeable on account of its abundant foliage glittering 

 silver-white. 



CHAPTER IV. 



VEGETABLE LIFE IN THE FORESTS OF THE NEW WORLD. 



NATURE, said Linne", is admirable above all in the smallest things : 

 Natura maxime miranda in minimis. He might, perhaps, have 

 more justly said, Natura non minus miranda in minimis quam in 

 maximis: Nature is not less wonderful in the least than in the 



