Fanny Parkes

"We have been occupied in planting a small avenue of neem trees in front of the house; unlike the air around the tamarind, that near a neem tree is reckoned wholesome – according to the Gujerati proverb, we had made no advance on our heavenward road until the avenue was planted, which carried us on one-third of the journey. No sooner were the trees in the ground, than the servants requested to be allowed to marry a neem to a young peepal tree (Ficus religiosa), which marriage was accordingly celebrated by planting a peepal and neem together, and entwining their branches. Some pooja was performed at the same time which, with the ceremony of the marriage, was sure to bring good fortune to the newly-planted avenue."