LOTUS OF THE ANCIENTS. 17 



been originally introduced to Egypt, and cultivated 

 there. The ancient Egyptians had a highly curious 

 mode of sowing the seeds of this plant, and the gar- 

 deners of the present day may perhaps take a lesson 

 from them. The seeds were planted in balls of mud 

 or clay, mixed with chaff', and when thus cast upon 

 the waters, sunk immediately to the bottom into a 

 bed suitable for their germination. Dr Royle men- 

 tions that this mode of sowing is to the present day 

 practised by certain tribes in the Indian Peninsula; 

 and it has been instanced as a beautiful illustration 

 of the passage in the sacred writings Cast thy bread 

 upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many 

 days. 



The TsTelumbium is that " holy and beautiful plant 

 often met with in the religious ceremonies of the 

 Hindoos, under the Sanscrit name Padma." It has 

 long been considered one of the most splendid Aqua- 

 tics which inhabit the Eastern waters. Its lovely 

 pea-green leaves, when in a young state, float upon 

 the water; but at a more advanced stage, and when 

 the plant is in flower, they are raised upon the stalks 

 above the surface. The leaves measure nearly two 

 feet in diameter, and afford resting-places for various 

 members of the animal kingdom. " Snakes slum- 

 ber on the floating leaves of Nelumbium specio- 

 sum, and aquatic birds, especially the long-toed 

 Chinese Jacaua, trip gracefully over them, and some- 

 times build their nests in the cavities." In the 



