AUGUST, 161 



them for sucli a pui-pose, they are not palatable 

 to European taste. 



A handsome American plant is now equally 

 conspicuous on the parteri'e. This is the tall 

 and brilliant sunflower, (Heliatithus cmnuus,) 

 which is a native flower of Peru and Mexico, 

 as well as of Canada, and several other parts of 

 North America. In the Canadian woods it 

 grows to a great height, and the blossom is as 

 large as a dinner plate. On the prairies, Catlin 

 observes of it, that it often taunted them by 

 striking against their faces, as they made their 

 weary way through the tall grass. Dr. E. D. 

 Clarke also saw it in abu.ndance on the steppes 

 of Tahtary, growing very tall and large. The 

 ancient Peruvians, when found on their native 

 plains by the Spaniards, were worshippers of 

 the great natixral light of day. They had 

 theii- temple of the sun, and the maidens who 

 officiated in the sei-vice of their god, were 

 crowned with wreaths of sunflowers, made of 

 purest gold, while they wore on their breasts 

 similar emblems of the idol of their worship. 

 The hoher faith professed by their conquerors, 

 as yet was not accompanied by that spirit of 

 love, and truth, and justice, which we who read 

 our Bibles know to be its sure fruit, but which 

 in times of papal darkness was understood but 

 by a few, and the sight of these golden orna- 

 ments, while they aroused their hatred of idolatry, 

 appealed but too surely to their covetousness. 

 And when, at a later season, the Spaniards saw 

 the fields bright with the same golden hue, and 



