The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-07
EBENSBURG, PA. FRIDAY. JUNE 7. 1885,
WONDERFUL AFRICAN TREE.
People Who Live In Trees--stranse tx
Perienee of n Traveller.

We read wonderful stories OF the i'm
mense trees one sees in California but
they sink into insignificance beside the
baobab tree, which i found in many
parts of Western Africa, principally lust
south OF the Desert of Sahara IL is not
distinguished Tor ITS extraordinary height.
which rarely reaches over one hundred
feet, but il is the most imposing and
magnificent of African trees. Many, it
is said, are over one hundred feet in cir
cumference, rising like a dwarf tower
from twenty TO thirty feet and then
throwing ont branches like n miniatur.
forest TO a distance of one hundred feet,
the extreInlties of the branches bending
toward the ground. The botanical name
Of this peculiar tree is Adansodia diyiia,a
the first, in honor of its discoverer
Adanson, and tie second, descriptive of
its fivs-parted leaf. Tho leaves are
large, abundant and OF n dark green
color, divided into five radiating lanrelet
leaflets. The ( towers are large and white,
hanging TO pcduncles of q ward in length,
which form striking contrast to the
leaves. The fruit is soft, PUPPY, dry
substance about the SIZE of n citron, in
closed in long, green pod. The pulp
between the seeds tastes like cream of
tartar, and this pulp, as we'll as the
pressed iuiCe from the leaves is used by
food. The Juice is greatly relished rs n
Leverage, and is considered a remedy in
puirid levers and many other contagious
diseases.
The baobab is said to attain a much
greater age than any other tree, thou
sands OF years being hazarded rs the
term OF life OF some specimens. 1t has
extraordinary vitality: the bark, which
is regularly stripped off to be made into
ropes, nets for fishing, trapping and native
clothing, speedily grows again. No ex-
ternal injury, not even Err, can destroy
IT from without; nor can il lac hurt from
within, rs specimens have been found in
full splcndor, with the inside of the
trunk followed out into chamber
which could hold 4 score OF people. One
hall of the trunk may be cut or burned
away-even the tree may be cut down,
and while lying on the ground. So long
a. there Is the slightest come. ton with
the roots II VIII glow and bear fruit. II
dies from very peculiar disease
Soitening OF its woody structure, and il
falls Ly It's own weight, mass OF ruins
The native villages are generally built
around one OF these immense trees. and
under it's far spreading branches, which
form an agreeable shelter from the sun.
- the kotiA, or place OF asscmblace,
where all the public business oi tire tribe
IS transacted. The circuit described by
the eNtremIties OF the lowermost range OF
branches IS fenced around, so that none
lut those pnvil, ged to attend these
meetings can lntrude- In tliinly popu-
lated districts of Southern and Central
Africa. whrrc lions, leopards and hive
mas abound, the natives live in huts like
gigantic bee s-hivcs, firmly fixed among
the large branches OF the tree. On the
approach OF night they ascend TO then
huts by means of rude ladders, while
the lions roar about their campfires until
the approach OF day drives them TO their
lars.
As many as thirty .famili. have beer
found TO occupy single tree. In MANY
instances natives who I'LL the ground at
any great distance from their tribe.
luild these huts !or nightly acCommoda-
ton In travelling through the country
one frequently sees the Trees alive with
baLoo and other kinds OF the monkey
tribe, busy in collecting the fruit and in
dulging IN ceaseless gambols and chatter;
for tins reason II is commonly called the
monkey bread tree. When the tree Is
not occupied as a habitation, the hollow
trunk Is used by the natives as n
sepulchre ior executed criminals-the
law of the people denying them the
right of burial-inside of which the
bodies dry up, and, 10 great extent. re-
tree is marvel. Coming across one IN
labited by monkeys, 1t is extremely
dangerous 10 shoot any unless one Is
with party, for, if any are wounded,
the whole colony take up the battle, and
more than once / found that retreat In
short order was very necessary.
Ny first experience of living in .he air
was very novel The first night wss one
continual growl roar, etc, 30 much so
that ! found II an impossibility TO sleep.
Finally the most horrible squeals broke
out directly under me Ii WAS very
dark, and, being unable TO see any OBJ
Ject, but knowing something Was wron-,
/ threw can containing water out OF
the hut door down in the direction from
where the noise proceeded. but with
little result, though the squealing became
iainter; III the morning small pig we
had been keeping and put in a pen over
night was missing. " hat took him no.
body ever knew, rs no trace remained;
il only went 10 show how we might have
Jared had we been camping on the
ground. Having found friendly tribe
Who placed their huts at our disposal.
this saved US much anxiety of mind and
a few days later n number of their men
accompsn ed us ! considerable distance
to the .outh, not, however, going outside
the precincts of their country.
This wonderful tree is also found in
India, and is there held in great venera-
{ ION by some natives, 70 much SO that
any one guilty of cutting the trees down
is regarded by them with great a5hor-
renee.