3forier, in the account of his Journey (i. p. 230), nentions that close to the tomb of a Persian saint vas a small bush on which were fastened variotus -age and shreds of garments, which were gener illy fancied to have acquired, from their vicinity tho saint, virtues peculiarly efficacious against dckness. In Palestine also sacred trees are covered with rag,s. These mg trees are to be seen in every Dart of British India. The Japanese hang offer ngs on the enski tree, chiefly pictures of a man Lod woman with their backs turned to one another. A. decoction of its wood is given as a, love philter.
Travellers from Point de Galle to Colombo, in driving through the long succession of gardens Ind plantations of cocoanut trees, will observe Fruit trees of different kinds, round the stems of which a band of leaves has been fastened by the Dwner. This is to denote that the tree has been devoted to a deity or demon, and sometimes to Vishnu or to the Kattregam temple. Qccasionally these dedications are made to the temples of Buddha, and even to the Roman Catholic altars, as to that of St. Anne of Calpentyn. This ceremony is called Gok-band'hna, the tying of the tender leaf,' and its operation is to protect the fruit frona pillage till ripe enough to be plucked and sent as an offering to the divinity to whom it has thus been consecrated. It is similar to the taboo of Polynesia. After applying a few of the finest as an offering to the spirit, the remainder is appropriated to the use of the owner. When cocoanut palms are so preserved, the fruit is sometimes converted into oil, and burned before the shrine of the demon.
Rain,Hunzedity.—Dr. Priestley,St.Pierre, Studies of Nature, and Humboldt in his Personal Narrative, directed attention to the importance of protecting the forests of a country, alike as fuel preserves, and as a means of regulating the available rain supply. They were followed in the early part of the 19th century by 3f. Boussingault, who, while residing in South America, had opportunities for ascertaining the climatic influence exercised by trees. In India, the subject was followed up, in 1840 by Assistant-Surgeon Balfour, in 1846 by Surgeon Gibson. In the .year 1847 the Court of Directors of the E. I. Company requested the Government of India to investigate the effect of trees on the climate and productiveness of a country, and the results of extensive clearances of timber,' and the British Association referred this subject to a sub-committee. Since then,
General Cullen, Surgeon Smith of the 3fadras Presidency, Mr. Dalzell, the forest conservator of the Bombay Presidency, have continued the in quiry, one of the latest writers being Dr. Ilmndis, conservator of the Bengal forests. The literature on tho subject has become extensive, but has been summarized by 3fr. N. A. Daniell (1663), by Surgeon-General Balfour (1878), largely by Pm fessor Rolleston (1880), who wrote on the modi fications in the external aspects of nature produced by man's interference. Dr. 1Vellington Gray of Bombay also wrote ; and now it may be said that all scientific men recognise that in a forest-clad region tho air is more moist and cooler, the rain fall is more equal, the soil is preserved, springs and rivulets arc regulated, and birds, the destroyers of insects, are protected.
The rainfall in British India fluctuates from year to year as much as 50 per cent. on either side of the average, but on the coast the annual average has not diminished. If the quanti.ty falling in the monsoon months in Bombay city for the 60 years 1817 to 1876, averaging 76.1 inches, be arranged in four periods, the result is as follows :— 1817 to 1831 = 81.55 in. 1847 to 1861= 77.44 in.
1832 to 1846 = 70.14 „ I 1862 to 1876 = 79.37 „ The range extending from 33.97 inches in 1824 to 121.98 inches in 1828.
If the Madras rainfall for 64 years be examined in four periods, we find 1813 to 1828 = 51'53 in. I 1845 to 1860 =-- 50.61 in. 1829 to 1844 = 44.88 „ I 1861 to 1876 =- 46.61 „ Or if in three periods 1813 to 1833 47.63 in. I 1855 to 1875 = 47-04 in.
1834 to 1854 = 50.71 „ I Mr. Marsh says (p. 300), The forest's general effect is to equilibrate caloric influences, and moderate extremes of temperature.' Bondin says (Geographic et Statistique Medi cales, vi. p. 229), Enfin le deboisement doit etre considere conitne equivalent h la destruction d'un nombro de paratonnerres egal au notnbre d'arbres qu'on abat ; c'est la modification de l'etat electrique de tout un pays ; c'est l'accumu lation d'un des elements indispensable h la for mation de grele dansun localit6 ou d'abord cet element se dissipait inevitablement par l'action silencieuse et incessante des arbres.' Trees break the force and fall of raindrops, and prevent the over-rapid flowing off of (Bolles ton, p. 31) rain-water, and the over-violent washing away of soil.