VEGETATIOX. 



155 



' Yellow and black, and pale and bectic red,' 



shadowed swirling pools, where the current swept 

 oyer the growth of intertwisted fibres. The stunt- 

 ed Mkindu, brab or wild date (Phoenix sylvestris), 

 much used for mats, contrasted with the Xakhl 

 el Shaytan, or Devil's Date (Raphia Yinifera), 

 Avhich, eccentric in form and frondage, curved 

 arms sometimes 30 and even 35 feet long, over 

 the dancing wave : this dwarf- giant of the palms 

 has no trunk to speak of, but each midrib is 

 thick as a man's thigh, and the vegetable king- 

 dom cannot show such length of foliage. Xot a 

 few of the trees were so distinguished by opposi- 

 tions of tall and stm^dy trunk supporting frail and 

 tender belongings, that they seemed to bear leaves 

 and blossoms not their own. Upon the watery 

 margin large lilies of snowy robe, some sealed by 

 day, others wide expanded and basking in light 

 and au^ gleamed beautifully against the black- 

 green growth and the clear bitumen-brown of the 

 bank-water. In scattered spots were inhuman 

 traces of human presence ; tall arecas and cocoas 

 waving over a now impenetrable jungle ; whilst 

 plantains, sugar-canes, limes, and bitter oranges, 

 choked with wild verdure, still lingered about the 

 broken homestead and around the falHng walls, 

 blackened by the murderer's fire. And above all 



