AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
177 
a tree. Many writers have made mention of this famous 
tree, some in such a manner as to make it appear miraculous; 
others again positively deny its existence; among whom is 
Feyjoo, a modern Spanish critic. But he, and those who 
agree with him in this matter, are as much mistaken, as 
those who would make it appear miraculous., 
“ The author of the £ History of the Discovery and Con- 
quest of the Canaries,’ has given a particular account of this 
remarkable vegetable, which I shall here insert at large: 
The district in which this tree stands, is called Tigulahe; 
near to which, and in the steep rocky ascent that sur- 
rounds the whole island, there is a narrow gutter, com- 
mencing at the sea, and continuing to the summit of the 
cliff, where it is joined with a valley that is terminated by 
the steep front of a rock. On the top of this rock grows a 
tree, called in the language of the ancient inhabitants, garse, 
or ‘ sacred tree,’ which for many years has been preserved 
sound, fresh, and entire. Its leaves constantly distil such 
a quantity of water, as is sufficient to furnish drink to every 
living creature in Hiero; nature having provided this 
remedy for the drought of the island. Nobody knows of 
what species this tree is, only that it is called till, and 
stands by itself at the distance of a league and a half from 
the sea. The circumference is about twelve spans, the 
diameter four, and its height from the ground to the top 
of the highest branch forty spans. The branches are thick 
and extended; the lowest commence about an ell from the 
ground; and the circumference of the whole of them is 
about a hundred and twenty feet. The fruit resembles an 
acorn, and tastes somewhat like the kernel of a pine-apple, 
but is softer and more aromatic. The leaves appear like 
those of the laurel, but are larger, wider, and more curved: 
they come forth in a perpetual succession, so that the tree 
always remains green. 
“ On the north side of this tree are two large tanks, or cis- 
terns, of rough stone; or rather, one cistern divided, each 
half being twenty feet square, and sixteen spans in breadth. 
One of these contains water for the drinking of the inhabi- 
tants; and the other that which they use for their cattle and 
domestic purposes. 
“ Every morning, near this part of the-island, a cloud or 
mist rises from the sea, which the south and east winds 
force against the above-mentioned steep cliff; so that the 
cloud having no vent but by the gutter, gradually ascends 
it, and from thence advances slowly^to the extremity of the 
valley, where it is checked by the front of the rock which 
terminates the valley. It then rests upon the thick leaves 
and wide spreading branches of the tree, from whence it 
distils in drops during the remainder of the day, until it is 
at length exhausted; in the same manner that we see water 
drip from the leaves of trees after a heavy shower of rain. 
Y y 
This distillation is not peculiar to the garse or till, for 
some bresos which grow near it, also drop water; but their 
leaves being few and narrow, the quantity is so trifling, 
that though the natives catch some of it, yet they make 
little account of any but what distils from the garse; which, 
together with the water of some fountains, and what is saved 
in the winter season, is sufficient to serve them and their 
flocks. The tree yields most water in those years when 
the easterly winds have prevailed for a continuance; for, by 
these winds only, the clouds, or mists, are drawn hither 
from the sea. 
“ A person lives on the spot near which this curious tree 
grows, who is appointed to take care of it and its water, 
and is allowed a house to live in, together with a certain 
salary. He every day distributes to each family in the 
district, seven pots of water, besides what he gives to the 
principal people of the island.” 
Whether the tree which yields water at the present time, 
be the same as that mentioned in the above description, we 
cannot determine; but it is probable there has been a suc- 
cession of them; for Pliny, describing the Fortunate 
Islands, says, “ In the mountains of Ambrion are trees 
resembling the plant ferula, from which water may be pro- 
cured by pressure. What comes from the black kind is 
bitter, but that which the white yields is sweet and 
potable. ” 
Trees yielding water, however, are “ not peculiar to the 
island of Hiero; for travellers inform us of one of the same 
kind on the island of St. Thomas, in the Gulf of Guinea; 
and in “Cockburn’s Voyages,” we find the following 
account of a dropping tree, near the mountains of Fera Paz, 
in America: — 
“ On the morning of the fourth day, we came out on a 
large plain, in the middle of which stood a tree of unusual 
size, spreading its branches over a vast compass of ground. 
Curiosity led us up to it. We had perceived at some dis- 
tance, the ground about it to be wet, at which we were 
rather surprised, as well knowing there had no rain fallen 
for near six months past, according to the certain course of 
the season in that latitude; and that it was impossible to be 
occasioned by a fall of dew, we were convinced by the sun’s 
having power to exhale all moisture of that nature a few 
minutes after its rising. At length, to our great amaze- 
ment, we saw water dropping, or, as it were distilling, 
pretty fast from the end of every leaf of this tree, which 
might not improperly be termed miraculous ; at least it 
was so with respect to us, who had been labouring four 
days through extreme heat, without receiving the least 
moisture, and were now almost expiring for want of it. 
We could not help looking on this as water sent from 
heaven to comfort us under great extremity, and, having 
