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THE BANIAN. 



The Banian is a species of the fig-tree ; 

 but the fruit is small, and of little value. It 

 is, however, a tree more deserving of notice, 

 on account of the curious manner of its growth, 

 than perhaps any other that can be named. It 

 is, in fact, not a tree, but a forest. It grows 

 to a considerable height, and sends forth 

 branches, like other trees ; but these branches, 

 in time, send twigs downwards — as straight 

 as a line would hang. They lengthen until 

 they touch and enter the earth, where they 

 soon strike root ; and then the sap which had 

 descended, whilst the nourishment proceeded 

 from the branch above, ascends in greater 

 quantity, and enables the tree to make other 



