433 



have feen only thofe of the more temperate 

 climate of Europe. They are tall and ftately, 

 and contain a great proportion of timber, in 

 confequence of running up to an immenfe 

 height before they throw off their branches. 

 It is often difficult, and not unfrequently im- 

 poflible to reach their fruit, or foliage. The 

 Tonquin bean tree, when growing out of the 

 foreft, feldom attains to this ftatelinefs of form : 

 it branches off at a fhorter diftance from the 

 ground, and in its growth more refembles the 

 Englifh am ; the bark is fo me what like the 

 poplar, and the leaves like thofe of the pear. 

 The one we faw had been drawn up to an un- 

 ufual height, by growing in a crowd, and was 

 indebted to health and years for its extraordi- 

 nary bulk. The nuts containing the fragrant 

 beans are abundantly plentiful in the foreft, 

 and may be picked up in bufhels under the 

 trees, at a certain feafon of the year. While 

 we were gazing at this vegetable giant, Vandyke 

 cut on its bark the initials of our names, and 

 the date of our vifit ; and this neceflary cere- 

 mony having been duly performed, we trod 

 our way back, by the narrow path, to the re- 

 fidence of our friendly guide, and there moft 

 gladly made a refting place. But Vandyke 



VOL* II, F £ 



