66 



the top of the capsule, from whence it proceeds in the 

 form of a ligneous fibre, till it is more than a foot 

 long ; in this state the seed hangs pendant, till by its 

 weight, added to the continual occilations to which it 

 is subject from the slightest breath of air, it is dis- 

 engaged from the capsule and falls to the ground. 

 The process which follows is common to other seeds. 



The seeds are said to fall so as to rest in a vertical 

 position ; this may easily happen where the ground 

 is continually moist and soft enough to receive any 

 impression, which is constantly the case where these 

 trees aie found. 



In China, the bark is employed to strike a black 

 dye ; it emits a very strong sulphurous exhalation 

 and the wood, which has the same odour, burns very 

 briskly and with a dazzling flame. 



In consequence of the Mangrove growing as it 

 were in the water, it becomes the resort of fishes, 

 particularly oysters; the last deposits its spawn upon 

 the stems and branches, which iri time become loaded 

 with them ; and the oysters gathered from such si- 

 tuations may readily be known by pieces of the wood, 

 which are generally attached to the shells. 



From the circumstances above related, the tree has 

 taken the common appellation of Oyster Tree. 



Rising on two green stems, are the heads or flowers 

 of Cyperus Papi/rus, the Papyrus. They are placed 

 rather to the left of the Mangrove. 



From this plant the ancient Egyptians formed their 

 books or papers. For this purpose, the thick part of 

 the stalk was cut in two ; the pellicle between the 

 pith and the bark, or perhaps the two pellicles, were 

 stript oft" and divided by an iron instrument, which 

 was probably sharp pointed, but did not cut at the 

 edges. This was squared at the sides, so as to be 



