256 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



leaves or branches, and having joints at a few feet distance, 

 grow from the trunk and branches of the tree in great abun- 

 dance; these shoots descend, enter the eartli, and take root, 

 and thus afford support to the tree, which might otherwise fall, 

 from the looseness of the soil, and the force of the water. 



There is another species of the same tree, called the white 

 upland mangrove, which, as it grows on firmer ground, has 

 none of these supports. 



The cassia fistula tree is between forty and fifty feet in 

 height, and is covered with uneven light brown bark. At 

 the end of the branches which arise near the top of the tree, 

 grow clusters of the flowers. These have five yellowish petals, 

 which falling off are followed by pods, about eighteen inches 

 in length, and three in circumference. The pod is partitioned 

 into cells, containing a sweet pulp, of the color of treacle. 



The tetermer tree k about fifty feet in height, and eight feet 

 in circumference; its bark is light and rough, and its branches 

 are covered by light green leaves, about four inches in length, 

 and two in breadth. The wood is very useful for a variety of 

 purposes, and is much like mahogany in appearance, but not 

 so hard. 



