bluish-grey seeds are said to be used in Arabia for necklets. In the idle
days of the past the blacks were wont to enclose a single seed in a
miniature basket woven of strips of cane for the amusement of
infants--probably the first of rattles. It has seized for support some of
the branches of a rare tree (CERBERA ODOLLAM) which bears long, glossy,
lanceolate leaves, large, pink-centred, white flowers, delicately
fragrant, and compressed oval fruit, brilliantly scarlet. The tempting
appearance of the fruit is all that may be said in its favour, for it is
hard and bitter, and said to be vicious in its effects on the human
system; hence the generic title, after the three-headed dog, guardian of
the portals of the infernal regions.

Grouped here and there are pale green, big-leaved shrubs (PREMNA
OBTUSIFOLIA,) bearing flowers and fruit calling to mind the elder of the
old country. The wood is deep yellow in colour, but apparently of no
practical use.

Another small tree, suggesting in its regular and well-balanced shape the
use of the pruning-knife, is GUETTARDIA SPECIOSA, the flowers of which
are white with a tinge of pink in the centre and highly fragrant. The
fruit is a hard, woody drupe, containing small seeds. TIMONIUS RUMPHII,
belonging to the same Family, but of more frequent occurrence, bears
small white flowers and globular fruit. The white, finely grained wood is
said to resemble English sycamore. Though harsh and flaky, the surface of
the bark seems to retain moisture, making it attractive to several
species of fungi and epiphytal ferns, the most conspicuous of the latter
being the stag's-horn. Few of the trees near the beach are free from such
encumbrances.

To unaccustomed eyes the Pandanus palm is chief among the noticeable