PALMS. 135 



of large pinnate leaves radiating from the centre and 

 arching outwards, bears a remarkable resemblance to 

 the habit of the Palms. Beautiful it is at all times ; 

 but it is in the flowering season that its name of 

 Mountain-pride is felt to be appropriate ; when its 

 summit is crowned by a dense pyramid of lively pink 

 flowers, several feet in diameter and in height. In 

 districts where this tree is numerous, the effect is 

 said to be most magnificent. 



Two fine species of real Palms are found in these 

 lofty woods, though not in great numbers. The one 

 is the Long Thatch, a species of Cocos, whose long 

 pinnate fronds are used for thatching the houses of 

 the negro peasants ; the other is the Mountain Cab- 

 bage {Areca oleracea), one of the very noblest of this 

 kingly race of plants. It shoots up its verdant tuft 

 of feathery fronds to an enormous elevation, some 

 specimens even to the height (as is credibly asserted) 

 of two hundred feet. To think of a tree as high as 

 the Monument of London, with a slender branchless 

 stem, as straight as an arrow, perfectly cylindrical, 

 yet not more than a foot in diameter ! The immense 

 spike of blossom that projects in the early autumn 

 from the base of the crown, arching gracefully down- 

 wards, is a fine object. I have seen, at such times, 

 the earth beneath the tree, for a space of many 

 square yards, quite white with the scattered pollen, 

 as if a light snow shower had fallen. Bees, Beetles, 

 Fhes, and other insects, throng around it in this sea^ 

 son, attracted by the nectariferous bloom, and them- 

 selves forming an attraction for numerous Swallows, 

 which, darting by on rapid wing, snatch their selected 



