The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1890-09-26
MrrAllvoRovs snrussss !.


Prof. 6chelwisch, the wcll-knnwh
hsturslist Of BAVARIA; willis travelling
with the Stanley expedition In tho heart
Of Africa, noticed plant with . pc.
culiar steel-colored foliage, aud on ex-
animation 1t was found that the shrub,
although growing like other plants
from the soil, was practically composed
Of iron. The leaves, although very
thin, were bent with great difficulty,
and the twigs and branches resisted
pressure with force about equal to the
same amount OF iron, and to secure L
leaf II was found necessary to separate
II from the bush with file,
While Prof. schelwisch was digging
ct the base Of this plant for the purpose
Of making an examination Of It's roots,
tho natives crowded around him In
great numbers gesticdlatibs Id u men.
kcihg manner. The professor desisted
from his work and the interpreter was
sent for. He explained that this was n
holy tree. aud worshipped by tho nu.
tives In their fetch religion as god
plant and that to dig one up would
bring ruin aud dcsolation upon the
whole village and surround ding coun.
try.
Prof. Schelwisch offered to buy tho
plant, and, taking out handful Of
copper coins. gave them to the saw
ages who. gladly accepted the iii6ney
Ind distributed 1t among themselves.
The professor then returned to tho
work Of digging up the unique plant,
but had not made any great progress
when the natives again SGT upon him.
Through the interpreter the professor
informed them that he had legally
bought the plant aud intended to no
move II. As soon as this message was
made known to the savages every one
who had received coin came and
dropped It In the hole at tho base Of the
shrub. Prof. Schelwisch allowed the
coins to remain in the hole and walked
away toward the mountain to hunt an-
other specimeni
Next day. rs the party were .propar.
Ing to continue the march, the profess
sor was curious to know II the coins
had remained undisturbed during the
night by the superstitious natives, and
on approaching the metal plant was
astonished to find it had changed its
color completely. Instead Of being a
beautiful steel color. the stem, leaves,
and what was exposed of the roots pre-
scented the appearance Of newly coined
copper coins, and glittered in tho morn
ing sunlight like polished gold. Upon
examination, 1t was ascertained that
during the night the strange plant had
absorbed nearly all the copper coins.
with the result Of completely changing
its color.
What was left of the coins In the
hole showed that they were more than
half eaten away or absorbed by tho
roots Of the metal plant. Not only
was the color changed, but the texture
Of the plant had undergone similar
transformation. 1t was found that the
thin ivy-shaped leaves were now easily
bent around the fingers, would retain
any shape given them. and could be
readily cut with an ordinary pair oil
scissors.
Prof. Schelwisch succeeded In sur.
reptitiously securing several branches
Of this wonderful metal eating plant,
and was also successful In obtaining
q good photograph of it. No further
trace Of the existence OF the metal
plant was found until the expedition
reached tho Uniamcsi country. whcr
ut the base OF the Nkomabakosi Noun.
tains perfect forest of this curiou,
plant was found. This being an unin
habited region. no difficulty was en-
countered in securing specimens Il
| take back to England.