166 Gilpin's foeest scbneby. 



great celebrity, which flourished in Lycia, during 

 the reigns of the Roman Caesars. From a vast 

 stem it divided into several huge boughs, every 

 one of which had the consequence of a large tree, 

 and, at a distance, the whole together exhibited 

 the appearance of a grove. Its branches still 

 flourished, while its trunk decayed. This, in 

 process of time, mouldered into an immense cave, 

 at least eighty feet in circumference, around 

 the sides of which were placed seats of pumice 

 stone, cushioned softly with moss. This tree was 

 first brought into repute by Licinius Mutianus, 

 governor of Lycia. Licinius was a curious man, 

 and not unversed in natural history. Pliny, from 

 whom we have the account of the tree, has 

 thought proper to quote him frequently ; men- 

 tioning particularly his remarks on Egyptian 

 paper,* and also on that kind of wood of which 

 the statue of Diana at Bphesus was made.f 

 With the Lycian Plane Licinius was exceedingly 

 pleased, and often enjoyed the company of his 

 friends under its shade. It was great luxury, he 



* Lib. xiii. o. 13. f Lib. xvi. c. 40. 



