JASMINE 21 



"Even so," said the butler, "he was a poor 

 man. What he could do ? Though he loudly pro- 

 tested, they forced him to open his mouth, and 

 poured the medicine in." 



" And the dish-washer has recovered : and the 

 coolie is none the worse." Marvellous people ! It 

 is the custom of the country to be employed as a 

 substitute, if possible, for many things ; but to do 

 so for taking physic, is, I think, unique. 



The lovely white blossom of the jasmine grow- 

 ing over the west side of the palm-house is just 

 over. It has been delightful to gather bits of it, 

 and arrange them with clove pinks and honey- 

 suckle for my table; all sweet. The little 

 flowers came out in clusters all over the creep- 

 ing plant, and scented the whole palm-house. It 

 has such an exquisite delicate odour. There is 

 another good-sized root of it growing in the rosary, 

 where it is not noticed. I will get up early one 

 fine morning and quietly abstract it, and plant it 

 close to the west verandah; then next year we 

 shall get the delicious scent in the house. 



The rosary department belongs to the Burra 

 Sahib and the Ancient. I know nothing about 



