The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-07-18
People VINO HIVE IN TREES.
Facts which Seem Fsncfes About thc
Wonderful Baobnb.

fhVPLE WHO 1--WE IN GhEkbs
Facts which Seem Fancfes About the
Wonderful Baobnb.
american Aericulturist.l
We read wonderful stories OF the immense
trees one sees in California, but they sink
into insignidcauce beside the Baobab tree
which I found In many parts Of Western
Africa, principally Just sotith Of the Desert
Of Sahara. II Is not distinguished for its
extraordinary height, which rarely reaches
over one hundred feet, but IL Is the most
imposing and magnificent Of African trees,
many, II Is said, are over one bundled feet
in circumference, rising like dwarf tower
from twenty TO thirty feet, and then throw
ing out branches like miniature forest to
distance Of one hundred feet, the extremites
Of the branches bending toward the ground.
The botanical name Of this curious tree is
Adsnsonia digitata. The first, in honor Of
its discoverer, Adanson, and the second,
descriptive Of It's nve-parted leaf Theleav
are large, abundant, and Of dark-green
color, divided into FIVE radiating lanceolate
leaflets. The flowers are large and white,
hanging to peduncles Of yard In length,
which forms striking contrast TO the leaves
The fruit is a soft, pulpy, dry substance about
the size OF citron, inclosed In long, green
pod the pulp between the seeds taste like
cream Of tartar, and this pulp, as well as the
pressed Juice from the leaves, Is used by the
native Africans for favoring their food.
The juice Is greatly relished as beverage,
and is considered a remedy in putrid fevers
and many other diseases.
The Baobab Is said 10 attain much
greater age than any other tree, thousands
Of years being hazarded as the term Of life of
some specimens. II has extraordinary vital
ity: the bark, which is regularly stripped of
TO be made into ropes, nets for fishing, trap
ping and native clothing, speedily grows
again. No external injury, not even fire,
can destroy It from without nor can II be
hurt from within, as specimens have been
found in full splendor, with the inside of the
trunk followed out into chamber which
could hold score Of people. One-half OF
the trunk may be cut or burned away--even
the tree may be cut down, and while lying
on the ground, 40 long az there Is the
slightest connection with the roots II will
grow and yield fruit. II dies from very
peculiar disease--a softening of It's woody
structure, aud II falls by It's own weight, a
mass Of ruins. The native villages are gen.
orally built around one Of these immense
trees, and under its far. spreading branches,
which form an agreeable shelter from the
sun, is the kotla, or place Of assemblage,
where all the public business Of the tribe is
transacted. The circuit described by the ex.
tremities Of the lOwermost range of branches
is fenced around, so that none but those
privileged TO attend these meetings can in
trude. In thinly populated districts OF
Southern aud Central Africa, where lions
leopards, and hyenas abound, the natives
live In Auts like gigantic beehives, firmly
fixed among the large branches Of the tree
On the approach Of night they ascend to
their huts by means Of rude ladders, while
the lions roar about their camp fires unit
the approach Of day drives them TO Their
lairs.
As many as thirty families have beer
found to occupy single tree. In many in
stances, natives who till the ground at any
great distance from their tribe, build these
huts for nightly accommodation. In travel
ing through the country one frequently seei
these trees alive with babOons and othe
kinds Of the monkey tribe, busy in collect
inc the fruit and indulging in ceaseles
gambols and chatter; for this reason il i
COMMONLY called the monkey bread tree
When the tree is not occupied as a habita
| ton, the hollow trunk Is used by the native
as a sepulchre for executed criminals -th,
| law Of the people denying them the right o
burial-inside of which the bodies dry NJ
and to a great extent resemble mummies
| To European this tree is marvel; cOmin
across one inhabited by monkeys, it is ex
tremely dangerous to shoot any unless on
is with party. for, il any are wounded, tn
whole colony take up the battle, and NOR
than once found that a retreat IN shor
order was necessary.
My first experience of living III the air wa
very novel; the first night was one continue
growl, roar, etc., so much so that found
an impossibility to sleep; finally, the mos
horrible squeals broke out directly under mt
It was very dark, and being unable to see an
objects but knowing something was wrong,
threw a can containing water out of the hu
door down in the direction from where til
noise proceeded, but with little results
though the squealing became fainter; in I'll
morning small pig we had been keepin
and put in pen over night was missing
What took him nobody ever knew, as
trace remained; II only went to illustra
how we might have Jared had we been camI
ing on the ground. Having found frenil
tribe who placed their huts at our dispose
this saved us much anxiety Of MUD, and
few days later number of their men accon
panied us a considerable distance TO IL
south, not, however, going outside the pr
cincts of their country.
This wonderful tree is also found in lndi
aud is there held in great veneration by son
natives, SO much so that any one guilty
cutting the trees down is regarded by the
with great adherence.