FIG TREE. 
313 
men and women, that come to pray in the pagod, 
with a kind of vermilion, wherewith he also be- 
smears the idol ; for, being thus marked, they believe 
the evil spirit cannot hurt them, as being then un- 
der the protection of their god.” 
A remarkable large tree of this kind is said to 
grow on an island in the river Nerbedda, ten miles 
from the city of Baroche, in the province of Gu- 
zerat. It is distinguished by the name of Cubbeer 
Burr , which was given it in honour of a famous 
saint. It was once much larger than at present ; 
but high floods have carried away the banks of the 
island where it grows, and with them such parts of 
the tree as had thus far extended their roots ; yet 
what remains is about two thousand feet in circum- 
ference, measured round the principal stems ; the 
overhanging branches not yet struck down, cover a 
much larger space. The chief trunks of this single 
tree (which in size greatly exceed our English elms 
and oaks) amount to three hundred and fifty ; the 
smaller stems are more than three thousand ; and 
every one of these is casting out new branches, and 
hanging roots, in time to form trunks, and become 
the parents of a future progeny. Cubbeer Burr is 
famed throughout Hindostan for its great extent 
and beautiful appearance. The Indian armies ge- 
nerally encamp around it ; and, at stated seasons, 
solemn jatarras, or Hindoo festivals, are held there, 
to which thousands of votaries repair from various 
parts of the Mogul empire. It is said that seven 
thousand persons find ample room to repose under 
