peculiar. The leaves of one species are of the most lively and beautiful green, while those of the other are 
dark green on the upper surface, and a very pale green on the under. The one species has long, slender, 
drooping branches, adorned with elegant foliage, refreshing even to look upon ; from its majestic appearance 
this kind is commonly planted before the palaces of the Indian princes ; its larger branches puts forth 
facicles of roots, which, instead of descending as they commonly do to the earth, have crept along the aged 
trunk, wrapped their strong arms around it, and have ultimately blended themselves with its substance. 
The other species, less graceful in growth, has shorter, more rugged, and lustier branches, and by these and 
the colour of its leaves was readily distinguished from its twin sister. Below, both were as it were, fused 
into one vast mass, mingling its juices and fibres together. The trees both belong to the natural family 
Moracece, a race of trees which has given birth to some of the giants of the vegetable world, they are of the 
genus Ficus. This genus is held very sacred in Java, for it is believed the spirits of the departed delight to 
make their habitation in the grateful shadows of its branches. 
It was in the latter part of the year 1818, that the author of the “Flora Javoe” made his visit to this 
celebrated wonder. The visiting party determined on setting out on the expedition before sunrise, which is 
the pleasantest period for travelling, impelled not merely by the idle curiosity excited by the thousand fables 
current relative to this marvel-doing, marvellously-great tree, but instigated by the more praiseworthy desire 
of ascertaining its scientific character and standing. Since, however, the natives regarded the tree with a su- 
perstitious awe of no common intensity, and considered it a heinous degree of sacrilege for a European so much 
as to break off the smallest branch, it was probable they would resist all botanising attempts upon its sacred 
boughs, and it became expedient, therefore, to get the authority of the Indian prince then having power in the 
island to sanction the meditated investigation. This was readily granted, and with it the assistance of a military 
convoy ; and so all started before day-dawn. The route lay for the most part along the military road ;and 
after passing long rows of the huts of the natives, the party at length emerged upon the plain on which the 
tree stands. Immediately to the right was the vast object of attraction, its aspect imposing in the extreme, 
which was heightened by the dim shadows of a departing night, still covering hill, valley, mountain, and 
plain in a dusky mantle of vapour, through which the first beams of the sun were now struggling. Even at 
this early hour, the belief of the wonderful blessings which were bestowed upon the worshippers who made 
the proper offerings to the leafy god, had drawn a considerable number of them together, some of whom were 
lost in contemplation of the green idol, while others were humbly kneeling before the pieces of stone, and 
the giant’s footmark in the bit of rock in the chapel. On perceiving their occupation, the expedition halted, 
not wishing to disturb their devotions; but these were instantly stopped when the visitors were descried, the 
devotees rising from their knees, and quitting the chapel. The priests then approached, and stood near the 
entrance of the chapel, waiting to learn the purpose of the invaders. They were addressed by an Indian 
interpreter, who, after saluting the venerable fathers in the oriental fashion, gave vent to a long harangue, 
which stated in a good many words what we may express by a very few. The principal visitor had recently 
arrived in Java, from the most distant regions of the earth, to examine the plants of the island, and more 
particularly to make himself acquainted with this venerable and most sacred tree. Their lord the prince, 
himself a real lineal descendant of the most noble and ancient race of Padjajarian kings, having therefore a 
hereditary right over the tree, on being acquainted with the visitor’s intentions, had been pleased to vouch- 
safe his consent to the expedition, and had given orders that the visitor might cut with his own hand a few 
of the smallest branches of the sacred tree. It was also intimated that nothing would please the prince 
more than if the departed spirits who dwelt in the tree would suffer the visitor to remove a few of the 
precious flowers growing upon it. 
This rather startling proposition was attentively listened to by the priests, who seemed puzzled to com- 
prehend its entire import. They held an earnest conference together, and commenced pronouncing in a 
gentle whisper certain mysterious verses; after which kindling some rice chaff, they threw upon it a quantity 
of incense, the smoke of which went up in a dense cloud, and filled the tree with its sweet odours. Every 
eye was fixed upon the curling wreaths rolling from branch to branch ; and when at length the whole mass 
of the foliage was enveloped in the cloud, the chief-priest, an aged, awful-looking person, stood forth, and 
after bidding the stranger welcome, proceeded to inform him of the result of their sacrifice. Never had the 
priests of this most holy tree beheld a better omen in the rise of the sweet-smelling vapours, and their dis- 
persion through its branches, than on this happy occasion. The visit of the illustrious stranger was most 
agreeable to the spirits of the departed ; they were most willing to grant his requests, and to give him many 
additional blessings ; while those who with sacrilegious hands should presume to desecrate this holy tree, 
disease and evil should fall upon and utterly destroy. The great difficulty was thus removed: the full per- 
mission of the priests being gained, and the customary offering made at the shrine, the visitor proceeded to 
scramble in a most irreverent manner up the aged sides and lateral branches of the tree, the priests them- 
selves urging several peasants who were at hand to ascend also, and assist the stranger in collecting what 
he required. On ascending, words can scarcely describe the scene which presented itself. The tree was 
clothed all over with elegant flowers and parasitic plants. Orchids, in a multitude of species; crawled up its 
withered branches, and flung down flowers, and roots, and leaves, in one waving mass of fantastic fragrance 
and elegance. Lichens scaled up the wooden cliffs, and ferns of many species grew up from the dark hollows, 
w hile loranths sucked the vital juices, and scrophulariads covered the branches in a patchwork of brilliant 
hues. The tree was, in fact, a garden in the air; the rain of ages had washed down into its cavities, dead 
leaves and decaying material, and thus a rich vegetable mould existed in them, which was highly fitted for, and 
gave exuberant nourishment to the host of plants which, in some inexplicable manner, had found their w r ay 
thither. After remaining in the tree for some time, and fearing to exhaust the patience of the priests, the 
visitor descended, together with his delighted coadjutors, bringing down with them a large collection of 
flowers from this parterre of nature — if the phrase is not too violent — and even then perceiving, to their 
regret, that fully half the species had not been gathered by them. 
