affords--that sort of Galium commonly called
'cleavers' or 'cliver,' and the wild madder (_Rubia pelegrina_), are
instances of this--then there are others which send out simple
tendrils from the point of each leaf. There is also a plant called the
'heartseed' or 'balloon vine,' from its inflated membraneous capsule,
in which the tendrils grow from the flower-stalks; and another, one of
the custard-apple tribe (_Annona hexapetala_), of which Smith tells
us--'the flower-stalk of this tree forms a hook, and grasps the
neighbouring branch, serving to suspend the fruit, which is very
heavy, resembling a bunch of grapes.' The pea and vetch tribe, the
pompion and cucumber, and various other plants, afford instances of
provisions of these and similar kinds. But as I hope I may have
succeeded in leading some of my readers to see what abundant subjects
of interest may be found in the contemplation of even the appendages
of plants, I shall now take my leave, only strongly advising all who
wish to find a country life profitable and agreeable, to endeavour to
supply themselves with some simple natural pursuit, such as gardening
or botany, either of which may lead to investigations that will well
repay their trouble, even should they refer to nothing more than the
structure of the leaves or tendrils of the trees and shrubs which grow
around their dwelling.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] See 'Mrs Grimshawe's Garden,' No. 413.

A DAY'S PLEASURING IN INDIA.

Parell[4] was full of guests; and in order to afford them a greater
diversity of amusement than the daily routine of a monotonous Eastern
life affords, our excellent host resolved on a day's excursion to the
island of Salsette, accepting an invitation to rest for an hour on his
return at the house of a wealthy Parsee, whose liberality and zeal for
the interests of the Company had won him the favour of the merchant
princes' representative. In order to be ready for our departure at
daybreak, we were called at three o'clock. In this country, such an
hour sounds uncomfortable; we are all inclined to sympathise with the
writer of the old Scotch ballad, and declare--

'Up in the morning's no for me,
Up in the morning early;'

but in India, it is a luxurious theft from sleep; and even now the
remembrance of my starlit bath of that Indian morning comes pleasantly
across my mind. The bath was literally taken by starlight; for the
tumbler of oil, with its floating wick--which is