ENORMOUS CREEPERS 33 
ance of a large mass of dark-green foliage, and on land- 
ing I found that there were two separate plants growing 
just above the high-level water mark of the river, and 
in such a position that the bases of the trunks would 
be submerged during floods. These plants formed a 
truly remarkable sight, the stems being much larger 
round than a man’s body, and growing in a slanting 
direction; branches are thrown out all round, and creep 
over a clump of bamboos which support them from the 
ground, some of the branches reaching to a height of over 
sixty feet from the surface. They cover a considerable 
area—not less, in my estimation, than half an acre each. 
After a diligent search I found a few seeds among the 
dead leaves on the ground, and one seed pod. As this 
was not its flowering season, I paid another visit when 
it was in bloom, and found the blossoms were papilio- 
naceous, about the size round of a florin, and produced 
in bunches about a foot long from the main stem and 
principal branches. They were of a deep maroon 
colour and waxy appearance, the interior being covered 
with stiff hairs, and are much sought after by hymenop- 
terous insects ; so much so, indeed, that their buzzing is 
almost sufficiently loud to drown ordinary conversation 
beneath. The seeds are the size of large broad beans, 
and are contained in pods about six inches long. This 
remarkable plant is evergreen, and the branches are 
D 
