An instance of tree worship amongst the Santals or hill tribes of Beerbhoom is recorded in Hunter's "Annals of Rural Bengal," as follows--"Adjoining the Santal village is a grove of their natural tree, the Sal (Shorea Robusta), which they believe to be the favourite resort of all the family gods of the little community. From its silent gloom the bygone generations watch their children and children's children playing their several parts in life, not altogether with an unfriendly eye. Nevertheless the ghastly inhabitants of the grove are sharp critics, and deal out crooked limbs, cramps and leprosy, unless duly appeased. Several times a year the whole hamlet, dressed out in its showiest, repairs to the grove to do honour to the _Lares Rurales_ with music and sacrifice. Men and women join hands, and, dancing in a large circle, chant songs in remembrance of the original founder of the community who is venerated as the head of the village Pantheon. Goats, red cocks, and chickens are sacrificed; and while some of the worshippers are told off to cook the flesh for the common festival at great fires, the rest separate into families and dance round the particular trees which they fancy their domestic Lares chiefly inhabit. Among the more superstitious tribes, it is customary for each family to dance round every single tree, in order that they may not by any chance omit the one in which their gods may be residing." CHAPTER II. _The Bael Tree--Worship of the Left Hand--Trees of the Sun and Moon--The Arbre Sec or Dry Tree--The Holy Tree of Bostam--The Bygas of the Eastern Sathpuras--Tree Worship in Mysore--The Palm Tree--Worship of the Palm at Najrau--The Tree of Ten Thousand Images--Tree Worship in Persia--Sacred Old Testament Trees--The Classics--Forests and Groves, favourite Places of Worship--Origin of Groves--Votive Offerings to Trees._