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beautiful of nature's productions in that genial climate, where she 
sports with the greatest profusion and variety. Each tree is in it- 
self a grove, and some of them are of an amazing 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 out its own roots, at first in 
small tender fibres, several yards front the ground, which conti- 
nually grow thicker; until, by a gradual descent they reach its 
surface; where striking in, they increase to a large trunk, and be- 
come a parent tree, throwing out new branches from the top. 
These in time suspend their roots, and, receiving nourishment from 
the earth, swell into trunks, and shoot forth other branches; thus 
continuing in a state of progression so long as the first parent of 
them all supplies her sustenance. 
A banian tree, with many trunks, forms the most beautiful 
walks, vistas, and cool recesses, that can be imagined. The 
leaves are large, soft, and of a lively green; the fruit is a small fig, 
when ripe of a bright scarlet; affording sustenance to monkeys, 
squirrels, peacocks, and birds of various kinds, which dwell among 
the branches. 
The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of this tree; they consider its 
long duration, its out-stretching arms, and over-shadowing benefi- 
cence, as emblems of the Deity, and almost pay it divine honours. 
The Brahmins, who thus 44 find a fane in every sacred grove,” 
spend much of their time in religious solitude under the shade of 
the banian-tree; they plant it near the dewals, or Hindoo temples, 
improperly called Pagodas; and in those villages where there is 
no structure for public worship, they place an image under one 
E 
