30 WONDERS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS. 
forming tree ;^ and most of the mn mm y coffins are made 
of its incorruptible wood. 
No baobab rears its monstffona trunk on the banks of 
the Ganges J no dragon-tree of patriarchal age here 
reminds the wanderer of centuries long past; but the 
beautiful and stately Banyan gives him but little reason 
to regret their absence. Each tree is in itself a grove, 
and some of thera are of an astonishing size, as they are 
continually increasing, and, contrary to most other animal 
and vegetable productions, seem to be exempted from 
decay ; for every branch from the main body throws ont 
its own roots, at 6rst in small tender fibres, several yards 
from the ground, which continually grow thicker, nntil, 
by a gradual descent, they reach its surface, where, strik- 
ing in, they increase to a large trunk and become a 
parent-tree, throwing ont new branches from the top. 
These in time suspend their roots, and, receiving nourish- 
ment from the earth, swell into trunks and send forth 
other branches, thus continuing in a state of progression 
so long as the first parent of them all supplies her 
sustenance. 
" The beiitleti twigs take root, &nd daughter* grow 
About the niotlttr troo ; n jiilLirM shade 
High overjircli'd, find uchciiii'^ walks luitween. 
There oft the Imiinn herdsnmnp ehunnlns heat, 
Shelters in c<xi1, nnd ttuils Ills pasturing- herds 
At Uxipholeg cut through thickest shadf." 
These beautiful lines of Jlilton are by no means over- 
drawn ; as a banyan tree, with many trunks, forms the 
most beautiful walks and cool recesses that can be 
imagined, Ttie leaves are large, soft, and of a lively 
green ; the fruit is a small fig (when ripe of a briglit 
scarlet), affording sustenanco to monkeys, squimds, pea- 
cocks^ and birds of various kinds, which dwell among 
the branches. 
The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of this tree; they 
oonsidar its long duration, its outstretching arras, and 
