. The Philippine Islands . y. Take any of the roads that run outward from the city. Say,starting from the Malecon promenade : one passes throughstretches of country verdant with groves of graceful bamboos,lofty cocoanut palms, flowing-leaved plantains, and all the won-derful variety and luxuriance of tropical vegetation. Upon itthe eye gazes nnsated, the leaves and flowers alike being richand gorgeous in tint and form. Often have I wandered, entranced,up the eddying Pasig, enraptured h\ the beauty of its scencrv andthe charm of its coloring, viewing, also from its leafy banks 154 The Pliilippi
. The Philippine Islands . y. Take any of the roads that run outward from the city. Say,starting from the Malecon promenade : one passes throughstretches of country verdant with groves of graceful bamboos,lofty cocoanut palms, flowing-leaved plantains, and all the won-derful variety and luxuriance of tropical vegetation. Upon itthe eye gazes nnsated, the leaves and flowers alike being richand gorgeous in tint and form. Often have I wandered, entranced,up the eddying Pasig, enraptured h\ the beauty of its scencrv andthe charm of its coloring, viewing, also from its leafy banks 154 The Pliilippine Islands. the splendors of sunset skies, grand and glowing to a degree seldom seen in temperate zones. Further inland the mountain scenery never fails to charm, with the varied pictures presented by its forest-growth. A grotesque- ness of form is often assumed by the trunks and limbs of tropical trees, and this, with the glossy green foliage, the rich hues and attractive shapes of the blossoms, the novel forms and colors. MALKCUX PKOMENADK, ALONG MANILA liAY. of the fruits, the dash and sparkle of mountain streams, hereand there breaking into lovely cascades, all co-ordinated to theeye, compose a spectacle of beauty seldom Of all those plants, the tall and graceful bamboo ranks amongthe most beautiful. Everywhere it is found, growing in groupsand clusters, scattered with great profusion and variety over hilland plain, along the streams, and around the native huts and the sliglitest breeze its fleecy tops and supple branches wavegracefully in the air, giving to the foliage the charm of perpetualmotion. In addition, too, to its almost endless variety of uses, ithas a mission beyond that of utility,—the mission of beauty, and it Xatural Beauty of the Archipelago. 155 may justly be viewed as one of the choicest decorations of theisland scenery. The bamboo never grows monotonous. It presents forms andcolors of wonderful attractiveness and variety, and so f
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectphilippinesdescripti
