PERUVIAN HELIOTROPE. 203 



PERUVIAN HELIOTROPE. 



This evergreen trailer is a native of Peru, and bears 

 beautiful lilac-coloured flowers ; and, in the greenhouse, con- 

 tinues in bloom nearly the whole of the year. 



The Orientals say that the perfumes of the heliotrope 

 elevate their souls towards heaven ; it is true that they ex- 

 hilarate us, and produce a degree of intoxication. The sen- 

 sation produced by inhaling them, may, it is said, be renew- 

 ed by imagination, even though years have passed away 

 after the reality was experienced. 



The Countess Eleanora, natural daughter of Christian IV., 

 kmg of Denmark, who became so notorious by the misfor- 

 tunes, crimes, and exile of Count Ulfeld, her husband, offers 

 to us a striking proof of the power of perfumes on the 

 memory. This princess, at the age of thirteen, had become 

 attached to a young man to whom she was subsequently af- 

 fianced. This young man died in the castle where they 

 were making preparations for the marriage. Elenora, in 

 despair, wished to take a long last look at the object of her 

 love ; and, if alive, to bid a last adieu. She was conducted 

 into the chamber where he had just expired. The body was 

 already placed on a bier, and covered with rosemary. The 

 spectacle made such a deep impression upon the affianced 

 maiden, that though she afterwards exhibited courage equal 

 to her misfortunes, she never could breathe the perfume of 

 rosemary without falling into the most frightful convulsions. 



The celebrated Jussieu, while botanising in the Cordilleras, 

 19 



