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always held in such high value, that at length 

 it has become regarded as sacred, it is called 

 Lien-wha. Puzza, a Chinese divinity, is re- 

 presented as seated on the flowers of the lotus. 

 The gods of Japan, which are exhibited of a 

 gigantic figure, are also seated on the blossoms 

 of this plant. The ponds in China are gene- 

 rally covered with this beautiful aquatic blos- 

 som, which is also grown in large vases in 

 the houses of the Mandarins. The roots and 

 seeds are served up on ice at their break- 

 fasts as a delicacy, mixed with the kernels of 

 fruits. 



The Romans made repeated efforts to raise 

 this plant, without success, which the ancients 

 have celebrated iu their writings. Homer Men- 

 tions it with other flowers, as composing the 

 genial bed of Jupiter and Juno; and the lotus- 

 herb is said to have formed the green food of 

 Achilles's horses. 



Antiquarians assure tts, that they recognise 

 this flower oil the head of Harpocrates. 



Pliny describes the Egyptian lotus as a 

 plant which grows in the marshes of that 

 country, and which came up io ttae flats 

 whfca the waters of the Nile je&tf ned to theft 

 iratural channel. " They foave heads," says 

 he, "like those of the poppy, within which 

 are seeds resembling millet, of which the 



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