THE SILK-COTTON TREE. 275 



latter may often be seen pursuing on the wing the 

 tufts of down as they float along on the wind, and 

 collecting the filaments in their beaks, for employ- 

 ment in their domestic economy. 



The negroes regard this magnificent tree with 

 superstitious reverence. They believe that if a per- 

 son throw a stone at the trunk, he will surely be 

 visited by sickness or some other misfortune. When 

 they intend to cut one down, they first pour rum 

 at the root as a propitiatory offering. In Demerara, 

 I have been told, the African negroes will not lift the 

 axe against a Cotton-tree on any consideration, but 

 in Jamaica the suitability of the wood for canoes 

 overcomes their scruples. The immense trunk is 

 shaped and hollowed, and thus even canoes of large 

 size are made out of a single piece. The softness of 

 the timber facilitates the operation. 



These superstitions are doubtless of African origin ; 

 their genuine object we may suppose to be the great 

 Bomhax pentandrum, which is common to that con- 

 tinent and equinoctial Asia; an immense tree so 

 closely allied, as well in appearance as in botanical 

 characters, to our Eriodetidron, as to be readily mis- 

 taken for it. 



Since the above was prepared for the press I have 

 been favoured with some details of great interest 

 respecting this noble tree, from Mr. Hill ; elicited 

 by an allusion in one of my letters to what appeared 

 to me so singular a circumstance as a tropical tree 

 remaining defoliated ten months in the year. I shall 

 quote my friend's remarks at length. 



