54 LILIES. 



lar to the above, although much less in size, is the 

 Lotus, or the famed Egyptian Water Lily, which was 

 formerly adored as a deity by the idolatrous inhabit- 

 ants of that country. It also grows in the river Gan- 

 ges as well as the Nile, and is held in the same vene- 

 ration by the natives of Hindostan and Nepal. One 

 of the latter, upon entering the study of Sir William 

 Jones, prostrated himself before some specimens 

 which happened to lie there for examination. The 

 Egyptians prepare a kind of bread from its seeds, 

 and sometimes feed upon its tuberous roots. 



Pond Lily. 



The Lotus resembles very closely our own White 

 Pond Lily, except that the flowers and leaves, instead 

 of resting upon the surface of the water, rise some 

 distance above it. 



Some authors believe the Lotus to be the Lily of 

 the Old Testament, as very frequently, in Canticles, 

 Solomon speaks of his beloved " feeding among 

 lilies;" and the root, stalks, and seeds being common 

 articles of Egyptian diet, would naturally lead to such 

 a conclusion, especially as it is supposed that the 



