The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-27
LETTER FROM ABROAD.
CeYlon.

CeYlon.
e.. PoINr DE GALE, June l, 1875.
l must make an attempt, albeit = poor
one, to describe the most curious of
natures productions, the banyan tree,
and which I now saw for the first time.
Each tree is in itself grove, and some of
them of an amazing size. as they are con.
tinually increasing, for every branch
from the main body throws out its own
roots, which, by a gradual descent, reach
es the ground, where striking in, they in.
crease to large trunk and become
parent tree, throwing out in their turn
new branches. from the top. These in
time suspend their roots, swell into
trunks and shoot forth other branches;
thus continuing SO long as the first par
ent of them all IS in healthy state;
should this be destroyed the whole grove
viii! decay; this, however, scarcely ever
happens, unless willfully destroyed, as it
is a most durable tree and usually at.
tains to great age. The leaves are
large and Of very lively green, the fruit
is small fig of a bright scarlet color, and
seems to be much relished by the mon
keys, squirrels, peacocks, and birds of
various kinds that dwell among its
branches. The Hindoos are very fond of
this tree and pay it almost divine honors.
They plant it near the "Dewals" or Hindoo
temples, that the Wahmins may mediate
in its sacred groves. had one described
to me by person who had seen it. 1t is
in the province Of Gevyzerst and is snp-
posed to be the largest in India. and I
will not venture to say how many hun
dred years old. 1t covers circumfer-
ence Of five acres, the trunks, large and
small, number nearly threee thousand.
1t has been named the ''Cwbbeer Burr"
in honor of the celebrated Hindoo saint,
and at certain seasons they hold festival
and offer sacrifices under its branches.
On one Of these occasions, seven thousand
persons reposed under its shade.
The Mahomedans consider Ceylon as
the site of the Garden Of Eden, and in
proof thereof, show you "Adam's Peak"
still bearing the impress of his feet Is he
sprang from them into the main land,
when driven out by the angel with the
flaming sword.
Also "Eve's APPLE tree, or the for.
hidden fruit; it is very beautiful to look
at, being orange on the outside and deep
crimson color within, and singular to say
it presents the appearance of having q
piece bitten out Of it. It Is deadly poi.
son.
Should you manifest any incredulity as
to the truth of these marvellous state
ments, I can only say with the celebrated
Mark Twain, "That the guide told me SO,
and he ought to know best" Unhappily
for its inhabitants, Ceylon not only pos.
sesses a most gorgeous vegetation, but an
overpowering variety, and abundance of
animal life. The mosquitoes are the
most adroit and audacious of their kind,
and a new prey is seized on ruthlessly.
Hany Of my friends wish to study nat
ural history to perfection, recommend
them to live for a few months in Ceylon.
would guarantee that they would have
liz uAACu'tJ III AuuAuS ouACAcut uaIcrlAl l.,
especially in the reptile line, to fit up
very respectable museum. and that with
out the necessity of much exertion on
their own part. Some considerate mortal
has planted the streets Of Gale with
trees, to protect the pedestrian from the
heat of the sun but they probably did
not foresee that they we're furnishing an
admirable resort for numerous specimens
Of mosquitoes, flies, bugs, grasshoppers,
catterpillars, &c, which drop down upon
the unlucky wayfarer, many of them re-
senting the contact in q most startling
manner. However, as Europeans in the
East rarely use their own feet for the
purpose of locomotion, suppose it does
not matter so much, and then again use
is said to be second nature. But to a
new conner, the fact Of collecting some
half dozen species of the insect tribe out
of the hair of the head before retiring to
rest, or upon awakening in the morning
to find that an eentepede has taken pos
session of one slipper, while . family Of
scorpions are making themselves comfort
able in the other, is, to say the least of it,
decidedly unpleasant. OF course any at
tempt to shut out the pests Of animal life
is hopeless, because, for the sake of mir,
doors and windows are formed of Vone.
tan lattices, opening to the ground, and,
taking advantage of the openings in these
slight defenses, they make free to enter
the rooms and take up their residence
I was shown one day large spider of the
tarantula species that had just been1kill-
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