Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1888-05-26
SIERRA COUNTY.
WONDERFUL AFRICAN TREE.
pcopio who Live In. Trces.-st:anCe LIZ
erionce o-a I ave!lsis

. We read wonderful stories OF the i'm
reuse uees enc sees In Cali ornia, Int
shey sink into nsignfcance bcsido-ahe
bsobab tree, which / founl in many
parts Of Western Africa. principally Just
south of thc Desert Of Sahara. II is not
distinguished for its soXtracrdinary height
which rarely reaches over ono hundred
feet, but it is the most imposing and
mnoni.;Ccnt OF African trees. Many, II
ia said, are over one hundred feet in cir
eumiercnce, rising like a dwarf tower
!lon twenty TO thirty feet, and then
throwing ont branches like miniature
forest 10 distance OF ono hundred feet
the exircmitics OF the branches bending
toward the ground. The lolancal name
Of This peculiar tree is Adansodia digltaa
tile first, in honor Of IFS tiiscoyerer,
hdanson, and tic second, descriptive OF
jts fye-partcd leaf. Tho leaves ere
large, abundant and OF q dark green
color, divided into tive radiatng lanceiet
leaflets. 1!ie overs are large and White,
hanging 10 peduncles OF yard in length,
which form Il striking contrast 10 the
leaves. Tic fruit is q colt, puiry, dry
substance about the G ze OF cltlon, IN
closcd in 1t long, green rod. The pun
between tho seeds tistes like cream OF
tarar, and this pulp, IS Well rs the
rrssed uice nom the leaves, is used ~
she ratiyc Africans for favoring Their
food. The Juice is greatly reiisled rs
beverage, and ia considered remedy IN
yulrid levers and many other C. ''ntagioas
diseases.
The lnolab Is said 10 fllain r much
,raftcr ago than any other tree, thou
sands OF years being hazarded rs the
fern CT life Of some specimens. lt has
extraordinary vitality, the lnrf. which
isr, guiary stripped off 10 be made into
,opee, nets !or fishing, irapp ng an,l naive
clothing, speedily grows again. eA
icrnal in ury, not even Lrr, can Gestf' y
Il from without; nor can it lac hurt lion
within. as specimens have l'een iouni ID
4 Il ,p'en, or, with the inside ol tie
twn', followed out into n claniiel
which could hold score oil p, oplc. Cr'
bali OF the trunk msy be cut ar brrnec
ewov-even the tree may be cut down.
lpl while living OIL tho ground, 60 lene
as there is tie slightest come ton With
,he roots it will gov and hear iIut. it
dies nom very peculiar disecse-a
sotening Of iis woody structure, and ii
lalls v rs own weight, a mass OF rhins.
Tie native villages are generally lri I
alor nd one OF these iInmersa trecs, ;na
uudtr its lar spreading branrhes which
sorm an alreeaIlo shelter from the sun.
Is the lo;la, or place Of rssemblare,
ghere ;ll the public bus ness oil tie lriOe
IS trarsat ted. The circuit described y
.he exiremitics OF the ioweimost rcnge ui
branches Is fenced around, so that honc
i.ut those privileged 10 attend these
meetings can intrudc. In tliinlv poru-
,a,ed d sir.eis oil Southern anu Central
Nlrica, wh'rc lions, leopards and hvc-
nes al ound, the natives live in huts like
gigantic bee hives, firmly fixed amons
lie large branches OF the tree. On ihc
approach OF night they ascend 10 ihtiT
nts Ly means OF rudc ladueTs, while
he lions roar about their campiircs unii
the approach Of day drives them 10 the.i
lars.
lsmany as thirty famili-s lave beer
found to occupy a single tree. In man!
instances. natives who ill tho ground a
INV great distance from Their ute
tulld these buts ior nightly occommoda
ton. In travelling ihronsh The eolh r.