Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-09-25
NATURAL PAviLioNs.
Mammoth Trees Wits Many Trunks-The
Banian Described by Noarchus ss

mammoth Treos Wits Many Trunks-ThO
Bantam Described by Nearchus.
Ihe bantam tree OF India grows to q
marvellous size, sometimes covering
circumference OF five acres, and capa-
BILE OF sheltering ten thousand men un-
der its branches. Bantam trees are
continually increasing in size. and.
contrary to most other animal and veg
etable productions, seem TO be exempt
ed from decay; for every branch from
the main body throws out it's own
roots, at first in small, tender fibers,
several yards from the ground, which
continually grow thicker. until. by
gradual descent, they reach the ground,
whore, striking in, they increase to
large trunk, and become parent tree,
throwing out new branches from the
top. These i'll time suspend their roots,
and, receiving nourishment from the
earth, swell into now trunks
A bantam tree, with many trunks,
forms the most beautiful walks. vistas
and cool recesses that can be imagined.
have spent many delightful days,
with large parties on rural excursions,
under one tree supposed by some per-
sons to be that described by Nearchus.
the Admiral of Alexander the Great.
High floods have at various times swept
away considerable part of this extra
ordinary tree; but what still remains is
nearly two thousand feet in circumfer-
ence, measured round the principal
stems; the overhanging branches, not
yet struck down, covered much larger
space; and under 1t grow a mum Dor of
custard-apple and other fruit trees.
The large trunks of this single tree
amount to three hundred and fifty, and
the smaller ones exceed three thou
sand; each OF these is constantly send
ing forth branches and hanging roots,
to form other trunks, and become the
parents of future progeny.
This magnificent pavilion affords a
shelter to all travellers, particularly to
the religious tribes of Hindoos, and il.
generally filed with a variety OF birds,
snakes and Monkeys; the latter have
often diverted me with their antic
tricks. especially in their paternal af-
fiction for their young offspring, by
teaching them to select their food, and
to leap from bough to bough. On a
shooting party under this tree, one OF
my friends killed female monkey,
and carried it to his tent, which was
soon surrounded by forty or fifty of the
tribe. who, making a great noise. ad-
vanced to it in menacing posture.
On presenting his fowling-piece, they
retreated. and appeared irresolute; but
one. who. from his age and station
in the van, seemed the head of the
troop, stood his ground, chattering and
menacing in a furious manner; nor
could any effort less cruel than firing
drive him off, He at length approached
the tent door, when, finding his threat
enings were of no avail, he began a
lamentable moaning. and, by every
token of grief and supplication. seemed
to beg the body of the deceased. On
this. it was given him. With tender
sorrow he took it up in his arms. en-
braced it with conjugal affection, and
carried it off with a sort of triumph to
his expecting comrades. The artless
behavior of this poor animal wrought
so powerfully on the sportsmen that
they resolved never again to level gur
at one OF the monkey race.-N. Y.
Lel1per