Personal Narrative Of Travels To The Equinoctial Regions Of America During The Years 1799-1804 - Volume 1 - By Alexander Von Humboldt And Aime Bonpland.
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The Place Where The Tree Is Found Is Called
El Guayre.) Which Is Found On The Road From Turmero To Maracay, Is
Only Sixty Feet High, And Nine Thick; But Its Real Beauty Consists
In The Form Of Its Head.
The branches extend like an immense
umbrella, and bend toward the ground, from which they remain at a
uniform distance of twelve or fifteen feet.
The circumference of
this head is so regular, that, having traced different diameters, I
found them one hundred and ninety-two and one hundred and
eighty-six feet. One side of the tree was entirely stripped of its
foliage, owing to the drought; but on the other side there remained
both leaves and flowers. Tillandsias, lorantheae, Cactus Pitahaya,
and other parasite plants, cover its branches, and crack the bark.
The inhabitants of these villages, but particularly the Indians,
hold in veneration the zamang del Guayre, which the first
conquerors found almost in the same state in which it now remains.
Since it has been observed with attention, no change has appeared
in its thickness or height. This zamang must be at least as old as
the Orotava dragon-tree. There is something solemn and majestic in
the aspect of aged trees; and the violation of these monuments of
nature is severely punished in countries destitute of monuments of
art. We heard with satisfaction that the present proprietor of the
zamang had brought an action against a cultivator who had been
guilty of cutting off a branch.
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