BABAR AT ATTOCK 51 



fine level platform for resting was constructed 

 on a very neat plan. At the time when the 

 arghwan flowers begin to blow, I do not know 

 that any place in the world is to be compared 

 to it. The yellow arghwan is here very abun- 

 dant, and the yellow arghwan's blossom mingles 

 with the red." 



The blossoming arghwan trees (Bauhinia 

 variegata) whose mingled reds and yellows so 

 delighted Babar, were flowering shrubs ; and must 

 not be confused with the arghwan (anemone) 

 parterres with which he was so struck in the 

 beautiful gardens he visited on his march past 

 Attock : "In different beds, the ground was 

 covered with purple and yellow arghwan flowers. 

 On the one hand were beds of yellow flowers, in 

 bloom ; on the other hand, red flowers were in 

 blossom. In many places they sprang up in the 

 same bed, mingled together as if they had been 

 flung and scattered abroad. I took my seat on a 

 rising ground near the camp, to enjoy the view of 

 all the flower-plots. On the six sides of this emin- 

 ence they were formed as into regular beds. On 

 one side were yellow flowers ; on the other purple, 

 laid out in triangular beds. On two other sides 

 there were fewer flowers ; but, as far as the eye 



