lNTROnrcTlON. xix 



says the Abbe* Clavigcro, have, from time 

 immemorial, studied the cultivation of flowers 

 and odoriferous plants, which they employed 

 in the worship of the gods. And flowers 

 have ever been the favourite embellishment 

 of the fair in all ages and countries ; and 

 that they have also afforded popular subjects 

 to the poets, our copious extracts will prove. 



In all countries flowers have been made the 

 happy accompaniment of bridal parties, as we 

 have stated in the body of this work : they 

 have likewise been made the representatives 

 of regard to deceased friends — thus ornament- 

 ing alike the joyous altar and the silent tomb. 

 The Brahma women, who burn themselves 

 on their husbands' funeral piles, adorn their 

 persons with chaplets and garlands of sweet* 

 scented flowers ; and it is also the custom for 

 them to present garlands of flowers to the 

 young women who attend them at this terrible 

 sacrifice. 



Flowers formed a principal feature in sym- 

 bolical language, which is the most ancient as 

 well as the most natural of all written lan- 

 guages. We have therefore given their em- 



