Two happy years in Ceylon . eneral effect of a great expanse of palmyras is certainly dulland monotonous, but when seen near, nothing can be more pictur-esque than a group of these, especially when, as is so frequently thecase, overgrown by some parasitic tree. During its prolonged youth,the palmyra retains its great fan-shaped leaves, set spirally round the^teln like a huge corkscrew. When, with advancing years, these dieoff, the solid leaf-stalk and coarse net-like fibre remain,giving thebla :k trunk a rugged, untidy appearance, but also affording supportto a great variety of delicate climbi
Two happy years in Ceylon . eneral effect of a great expanse of palmyras is certainly dulland monotonous, but when seen near, nothing can be more pictur-esque than a group of these, especially when, as is so frequently thecase, overgrown by some parasitic tree. During its prolonged youth,the palmyra retains its great fan-shaped leaves, set spirally round the^teln like a huge corkscrew. When, with advancing years, these dieoff, the solid leaf-stalk and coarse net-like fibre remain,giving thebla :k trunk a rugged, untidy appearance, but also affording supportto a great variety of delicate climbing plants, and offering a cradlewherein many seeds lodge and germinate, especially those of thebanyan, which take root so effectually that ere long the parent stemis completely enfolded, often strangled, by the too close embraces ofthe long white arms and roots which twine around it in everydirection. Such marriages of the sacred banyan and palm-tree, though by nomeans uncommon, are regarded by the natives, whether Tamil or. TRIXCOMALEE—SAAMI ROCK 421 Singhalese, with extreme reverence, and great was the interestevinced by some who found me sketching a very remarkable groveon the shore about a couple of miles from Trincomalee, where scoresof black palmyras were each thus enfolded by white banyans twistingaround them like contorted snakes. Sooner or later the ungrate-ful parasite strangles the protector of its infancy, and is left standingalone, twisted into e\ery conceivable fiintastic form. In this particular instance the scene was absolutely fairy-like byreason of the exquisite undergrowth of tall white lilies, like our lovelyvirgin lily, but streaked with most delicate pink—truly a vision ofdelight. These were growing luxuriantly all along the shore, which,moreover, was richly carpeted by the goats-foot, Ipomea, a largelilac convolvulus, whose glossy green foliage, with profusion of deli-cate blossoms, mats the sands to the very brink of the sea, affordingshelter to thou
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectsrilank, bookyear1901
