46 PERFUMES OF THE ROSE. 



oceans of rose-water were set afloat, for washing the courts and 

 interior surface of the walls. Rose-water is by no means so 

 generally used now, as for a few hundred years subsequent to its 

 invention. In France, during the reign of Philip Augustus, it 

 was a necessary article at court. It was formerly the custom to 

 carry large vases, filled with rose-water, to baptisms. Illustrat- 

 ing this custom, Bayle relates a story of Rousard, the French 

 poet : " It nearly happened that the day of his birth was also 

 that of his death ; for when he was carried from the Chateau de 

 La Poissoniere to the church of the place, to be baptized, the 

 nurse who carried him carelessly let him fall ; his fall, however, 

 was upon the grass and flowers, which received him softly ; it so 

 happened that a young lad\^, who carried a vase filled with rose 

 water, and a collection of flowers, in her haste to aid in helping ♦ 

 the child, overturned on his head a large part of the rose-water. 

 This incident was considered a presage of the good odor with 

 which France would one day be filled, by the flowers of his 

 learned wiitings." 



At one time rose-water was largely consumed in the prepara- 

 tion of food, and the seasoning of various dishes. In the "Pri- 

 vate life of the French," it is mentioned that in the fourteenth 

 century, the Comte d'Etampes gave a feast, in which a large 

 part of the dishes, and even the chestnuts were prepared with 

 rose-water. It is still used to flavor various dishes, but its prin- 

 cipal use is in afllections of the eyelids, or as a perfume for the 

 toilet. The principal consumption of rose-water is however in 

 the East, where the inhabitants are very fond of perfumes. In 

 Persia a very large quantity is made annually, for domestic use. 

 They deem it an excellent beverage mixed with pure water. 



The Corinth Grape, mixed with rose-water, and a slight infu- 

 sion of spices, is the nectar so much in vogue among the Greeks 

 of Morea. The Persians, according to Lebruyn, sprinkle with 

 rose-water those who visit them. They also make it an impor- 

 tant article of commerce ; large quantities are sent to different 

 parts of the East, and entire cargoes are sometimes shipped 

 to India. 



