AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



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a tree. Many writers have made mention of this famous 

 tree, some in such a manner as to make it appear miraculous; 

 others again positively deny its existence; among whom is 

 Feyjoo, a modern Spanish critic. But he, and those who 

 agree with him in this matter, are as much mistaken, as 

 those who would make it appear miraculous. 



" The author of the ' History of the Discovery and Con- 

 quest of the Canaries,' has given a particular account of this 

 remarkable vegetable, which I shall here insert at large: 

 The district in which this tree stands, is called Tigulahe; 

 near to which, and in the steep rocky ascent that sur- 

 rounds the whole island, there is a narrow gutter, com- 

 mencing at the sea, and continuing to the summit of the 

 cliff, where it is joined with a valley that is terminated by 

 the steep front of a rock. On the top of this rock grows a 

 tree, called in the language of the ancient inhabitants, ^ar^e, 

 or ' sacred tree,' which for many years has been preserved 

 sound, fresh, and entire. Its leaves constantly distil such 

 a quantity of water, as is sufficient to furnish drink to every 

 living creature in Hiero; nature having provided this 

 remedy for the drought of the island. Nobody knows of 

 what species this tree is, only that it is called till, and 

 stands by itself at the distance of a league and a half from 

 the sea. The circumference is about twelve spans, the 

 diameter four, and its height from the ground to the top 

 of the highest branch forty spans. The branches are thick 

 and extended; the lowest commence about an ell from the 

 ground; and the circumference of the whole of them is 

 about a hundred and twenty feet. The fruit resembles an 

 acorn, and tastes somewhat like the kernel of a pine-apple, 

 but is softer and more aromatic. The leaves appear like 

 those of the laurel, but are larger, wider, and more curved: 

 they come forth in a perpetual succession, so that the tree 

 always remains green. 



" On the north side of this tree are two large tanks, or cis- 

 terns, of rough stone; or rather, one cistern divided, each 

 half being twenty feet square, and sixteen spans in breadth. 

 One of these contains water for the drinking of the inhabi- 

 tants; and the other that which they use for their cattle and 

 domestic purposes. 



" Every morning, near this part of the island, a cloud or 

 mist rises from the sea, which the south and east winds 

 force against the above-mentioned steep cliff; so that the 

 cloud having no vent but by the gutter, gradually ascends 

 it, and from thence advances slowly to the extremity of the 

 valley, where it is checked by the front of the rock which 

 terminates the valley. It then rests upon the thick leaves 

 and wide spreading branches of the tree, from whence it 

 distils in drops during the remainder of the day, until it is 

 at length exhausted; in the same manner that we see water 

 drip from the leaves of trees after a heavy shower of rain. 



This distillation is not peculiar to the garse or till, for 

 some bresos which grow near it, also drop water; but their 

 leaves being few and narrow, the quantity is so trifling, 

 that though the natives catch some of it, yet they make 

 little account of any but what distils from the garse; which, 

 together with the water of some fountains, and what is saved 

 in the winter season, is sufficient to serve them and their 

 flocks. The tree yields most water in those years when 

 the easterly winds have prevailed for a continuance; for, by 

 these winds only, the clouds, or mists, are drawn hither 

 from the sea. 



" A person lives on the spot near which this curious tree 

 grows, who is appointed to take care of it and its water, 

 and is allowed a house to live in, together with a certain 

 salary. He every day distributes to each family in the 

 district, seven pots of water, besides what he gives to the 

 principal people of the island." 



Whether the tree which yields water at the present time, 

 be the same as that mentioned in the above description, we 

 cannot determine; but it is probable there has been a suc- 

 cession of them; for Pliny, describing the Fortunate 

 Islands, says, "In the mountains of Ambrion are trees 

 resembling the plant ferula, from which water may be pro- 

 cured by pressure. What comes from the black kind is 

 bitter, but that which the white yields is sweet and 

 potable. " 



Trees yielding water, however, are " not peculiar to the 

 island of Hiero; for travellers inform us of one of the same 

 kind on the island of St. Thomas, in the Gulf of Guinea; 

 and in "Cockburn's Voyages," we find the following 

 account of a dropping tree, near the mountains of Fera Paz, 

 in America: — 



" On the morning of the fourth day, we came out on a 

 large plain, in the middle of which stood a tree of unusual 

 size, spreading its branches over a vast compass of ground. 

 Curiosity led us up to it. We had perceived at some dis- 

 tance, the ground about it to be wet, at which we were 

 rather surprised, as well knowing there had no rain fallen 

 for near six months past, according to the certain course of 

 the season in that latitude; and that it was impossible to be 

 occasioned by a fall of dew, we were convinced by the sun's 

 having power to exhale all moisture of that nature a few 

 minutes after its rising. At length, to our great amaze- 

 ment, we saw water dropping, or, as it were distilling, 

 pretty fast from the end of every leaf of this tree, which 

 might not improperly be termed miraculous ; at least it 

 was so with respect to us, who had been labouring four 

 days through extreme heat, without receiving the least 

 moisture, and were now almost expiring for want of it. 

 We could not help looking on this as water sent from 

 heaven to comfort us under great extremity, and, having 



