"VICTORIA JREGINA." 



143 



there is a splendid plant resembling our water- 

 lily, but of such enormous size, that people take 

 a boat and row round it in order to examine its 

 leaves and blossoms. " This beautiful and extra- 

 ordinary flower," says he, " measures more than a 

 yard in circumference, and its leaves are two 

 yards wide f The plant has been named Victoria 

 Regina, in honour of our queen. In South Ame- 

 rica it is called Water Maize, the seeds being 

 eagerly sought after in times of scarcity by the 

 natives, who use them either boiled or raw." 



