CHAP. III.] PLANTS OF THE HILLS. 91 



theria, Symploci, Goughia, and Gomphandra, establish the 

 affinity between the vegetation of this region and that of 

 the Malabar ranges, the Khasia and Lower Himalaya. 1 



Generally speaking, the timber on the high mountains 

 is of little value for ceconomic purposes. Though of 

 considerable dimensions, it is too unsubstantial to be 

 serviceable for building or domestic uses ; and perhaps, 

 it may be regarded as an evidence of its perishable 

 nature, that dead timber is rarely to be seen in any 

 quantity encumbering the ground, in the heart of the 

 deepest forests. It seems to go to dust almost imme- 

 diately after its fall, and although the process of de- 

 struction is infinitely accelerated by the ravages of 

 insects, especially the white ants (termites) and beetles, 

 which instantly seize on every fallen branch : still, one 

 would expect that the harder woods would, more or 

 less, resist their attacks till natural decomposition should 

 have facilitated their operations and thus exhibit more 

 leisurely the progress of decay. But here decay is 

 comparatively instantaneous, and it is seldom that fallen 

 timber is to be found, except in the last stage of con- 

 version into dust. 



Some of the trees in the higher ranges are remarkable 

 for the prodigious height to which they struggle up- 

 wards from the dense jungle towards the air and light ; 

 and one of the most curious of nature's devices, is the 

 singular expedient by which some families of these very 

 tall and top-heavy trees throw out buttresses like walls 

 of wood, to support themselves from beneath. Five or 

 six of these buttresses project like rays from all sides 

 of the trunk : they are from six to twelve inches thick, 

 and advance from five to fifteen feet outward ; and as 

 they ascend, gradually sink into the bole and disappear 

 at the height of from ten to twenty feet from the ground. 

 By the firm resistance which they offer below, the trees 



1 Introduction to the Flora Inilica of Dr. HOOKER and Dr. THOMSON, p. 

 120. London, 1855. 



