4 The Hunting Grounds 



At daybreak the next morning we were again 

 in the saddle, and after a pleasant ride through 

 low jungle arrived at an immense banian tree, 

 where we found Abdulla-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. Con- 

 trary 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, for the 

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

 the grateful shade it affords is infinitely preferable 



