The Portland daily press., 1897-08-12
A TREE OF TREES.
The Forest Monarch that Still Recalls the
Forgotten Glories of Japanese ROYALTY.

has ever seen is the giant tree in the is-
land of Java This monarch of the East-
ern forest on the site of what in ancient
times was the city of Padajarain. the
plories of which, now long since departed.
were of SO magnificent character as to
have been extoiled in the songs of con-
temporary poets who fourished in those
remote days. who never tired of telling of
it's grand buildings, its magnificent pal
aces and, above all, of its wonderful
tree. Earthquake and time, says the
London Standard, have long swept the
city and its people away into a common
oblivion, and have left little save the
surviving poetry to tell of the existence of
this beautiful city. But the great tree
still remains, which the devastating
earthquake shook but could not destroy.
This veritable vegetable giant, which
spreads out it's great branches over
large area of ground, formerly overshad-
owed the great palace of the native prince
who ruled in times long anterior to the
Dutch sway, and was ever the wonder,
not only of the whole city and island, but
also of the East Indian continent general
". 1t still stands as recording monu-
ment, linking the past with the present,
and commands not only the wonder and
admiration of visitors from distant parts,
but the alteration of the Indian natives,
who worship at its shrine.
The place where this great wonder of
nature stands is called Batutulico. Con-
tiguous to it's base is small wooden
house where several Mohammedan priests
and attendants reside. who perform daily
native religious ceremonies and services
To their especial care is committed the
conservancy of this monarch OF the forest,
and also the custody Of a. number of much
priced and venerated relics OF the departed
city, and upon the fees received from the
exhibition of these, and showing the won
derful tree, they manage to derive a fair
income for the tree enjoys an odOr of
sanctity much beyond all else in the is
land, and attracts not only the faithful
to it's shrine, but also the curious from
far and near. Misfortune invariably, it
is said, attends those of the people who,
ON departing for market or other jour-
neys, neglect first to pay their alteration
and also their money offerings, at the
foot OF the giant tree. All pilgrims, too,
who come to behold and wonder are ex-
pected to contribute their pecuniary
quota, though in their case they need not
necessarily worship the local deity.
1t stands contiguous to the wayside,
and forms an imposing and striking feat
ure in landscape by no means otherwise
deficient in natural grandeur. on an ele-
waited plan, freely visible from all sides,
attracting the attention of all corners,
even in the far distance. So notable is its
appearance, SO majestic it's port, that once
beheld it can never be forgotten. Numer-
Gus coffee plantations lie around, Offering
by their attenuated growth a striking
contrast to the colossal giant. Shining
cereals, woods and mountains, together
with a live volcano in the background,
complete picture which may truly be
termed unique. Its trunk is of such
great girth and dimensions SO vast that a
score of men joining their outstretched
hands cannot completely embrace it
Botanical data are not forthcoming for
the determination of it's age, for it is
deemed too sacred subject to allow of d
proper expert examination being made.
Perhaps the greatest marvel, though, is
that it is in reality two trees blended as
it were and welded into one, and still
moro curious to relate, two trees of the
same genus but of different species
Both have grown together and form an
indivisible common trunk of enormous
size.
The distinctive features of each species
appear Enthusiastically in the branches, and
reveal the very remarkable difference in
the color ofsthe foliage. At little dis
tance off, this presents truly strange
spectacle.e The leaves of one are of lively
and beautiful green, while those of the
other are of a much deeper shade on the
upper surface and pale on the under.
ho1 C1a drnn
branches adorned with elegant foliage,
refreshing to look upon. From it's majes-
tic appearance this kind used to be plant
ed in front of the palaces of the native
rulers. Its larger branches put forth
fascicles of roots, which, instead of de-
scending as is common among plants to
the earth, have crept along the old trunk,
ultimately blended themselves with it.
The other species, less graceful. perhaps
in growth, has shorter, more rugged, and
lustier branches, and by these ana the
color of its leaves is readily distinguished
from it's twin relative. Below, both be-
came, so to say, fused into one mass
mingled sap and fibre together. The trees
both belong to the natural family Nora
ceau, race which has given birth to sew
eral other giants of the vegetable world;
they are of the genus Ficus. This genus
has been ever held in deep respect by the
natives of Java, for they religiously be-
Iieve that the spirits of their departed an
cestors inhabit the branches and that in
this tree, above all others, the names Of the
dead dwell. holding spiritual intercourse
with one another, watching events that
go on in the world, together with the
conduct of their descendants, and being
pleased or exasperated in turn, according
as they fall out or are in accord with
their wishes, and th manner in which
their descendants act.
On arriving at the base or entrance Of
the tree the visitor of today who has come
to inspect It's wonders is met by the
priests in charge, who proceed to perform
forthwith some slight religious ceremony,
at the termination of which an invitation
is given to ascend its aged sides, which is
done by means of the countless lateral
branches and the aid of peasants, who are
at hand to render assistance to all who
require it in the journey aloft On arriv-
ing at the horticultural plateau or table,
land at the summmit, words fail to at all
adequately describe the lovely scene
which meets the eye in all directions.
1t is literally clothed all over with elegant
flowers and parasitic plants. Orchis and
multitude of species have crawled up