32 WONDERS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS. 
overshadowing beneficence, as emblems of tbe Deity ; 
tliey plant it near their temples; and in those villages 
where there is no structure for public worship they place 
an image under a banyan, and there perform a morning 
and evening sacrifice. 
Hany of these beautiful trees have acquired an historic 
celebrity ; and the famous Cubbeer-burr, on the banks 
of the Nerbuddah, thus called by the Hindoos in memory 
of a favourite saint, is supposed to be the same fis that 
described by Kearchiis, the admiral of Alexander the 
Great, iis being able to shelter au army under its far- 
sprcaditjg shade. High Hoods have at various times 
swept away a considerable part of this extraordinary ti^, 
but what still remains is nearly 2CKXD feet in circumference, 
measured round the principal stems ; the overhanging 
branches not yet struck down cover a much larger space ; 
and under it grow a number of cnstard-apple and other 
fruit trees. The large trunks of this single colossus 
amount to a greater number than the da^^s of the year, 
and the smaller ones exceed 3000, each constantly sending 
forth branches and hanging roots to form other trunks 
and become the parents of a future progeny. 
" About a century ago a neighbouring rajah, who was 
extremely fond of field diveraions, used to encamp under 
it in a magnificent style, having a saloon, drawmg-room, 
dining-room, bed-chamber, bath, kitchen, and every other 
accommodation, all in separate tents ; yet the noble tree 
not only covered the whole, together with his carriages, 
horses, camels, guards, and attendants, but also afforded 
with its spreading branches shady spots for the tents of 
his friends, with their servants and cattle. And in the 
march of an army it has been known to shelter 7000 
men." Such is the banyan — more wonderful than all 
the temples and palaces which the pride of the Moguls 
has ever reared ! 
The nearly related Pippul of India, or Bo tree, which 
differs from the banyan by sending down no roots from 
