148 FUNERAL FLOWERS. 



their favourite wives, were surrounded with 

 beautiful gardens, and the representation of 

 flowers in gems, and costly marbles, enriched 

 the gorgeous interiors of these " sculptured 

 tombs of Hindoostan." 



In CHATEAUBRIAND'S delightful romance, 

 called after its heroine, ATALA, with which 

 most of our readers must be acquainted, we 

 have these allusions to the funeral customs of 

 some of the tribes of North America : " We 

 passed near the tomb of a child, which served 

 as a boundary to two nations. It was placed 

 near the public road, according to custom, that 

 virgins, in going to the fountain, might breathe, 

 and receive into their bosoms the soul of the 

 little innocent, and restore it to their country. 



" We then saw newly married brides, who, 

 desiring the joys of maternity, sought among 

 the flowers the soul of the infant, which they 

 imagined to be hovering around. At last came 

 the mother, and placing a bunch of maize and 

 lilies upon the grave, she seated herself upon 

 the turf, and thus addressed her departed 

 child : 



