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114 Symbolism of the East and West
sacred of South American trees; its trunk is said to have
measured ninety feet in circumference at a height of six feet
from the ground. In Europe "sacred trees" have been put
to a more practical use ;
instances innumerable could be given
in which in ancient times European courts of justice and other
public assemblies were illegal, unless held in the open air
beneath the shade of some tree, most frequently the oak.
The same idea prevails in Africa among the people of the
Congo, where the village chief and the members of his family
form the legislative council, which meets under a tree : it is
stated that the ficiis religiosa is the tree selected for this
purpose.
Many of the English Gospel oaks were planted to mark
the parish boundaries, and it was beneath their shade
that the clergyman read the Gospel on Ascension Day or
Holy Thursday, when, with the parish officials and others, he
assisted at the beating of the bounds. In fact, nearly all the
celebrated oak trees in England were boundar)' trees
—
e.g.,
the Shire Oak in Sherwood Forest, Notts. The beatingf of
the bounds is still practised in some of the Metropolitan
parishes. The procession consists of boys belonging to
various charity and parish schools, dressed in quaint uniforms
of a bygone time, and provided with long willow wands.
They are headed by the parish clerk, beadle, and other
functionaries. In some cases the procession passes through
houses and workshops, and on the different spots being
pointed out to them which divide their respective parishes,
the lads strike the ground vigorously with their canes. They
are afterwards generally regaled with buns and milk, granted
a half-holiday, and given a small coin.