THE WHITE GARDEN 257 



flowering shrubs, shine clear in the starlight. 

 The raised chabutras, or pavilions, where the main 

 paths cross have each their tank or fountain 

 basin, and can be easily flooded with water and 

 cooled ; the little baradaris at the angles of the 

 walls are open on every side to the evening breeze ; 

 and the flowers themselves in an Indian garden 

 are chosen to look their best and smell their 

 sweetest under the soft radiance of the moon. 



An evening garden, naturally, means a white 

 garden, all other flowers being lost in the dusk of 

 their leaves. So, many of the favourite Hindu 

 flowers are white, like the champaka and double 

 jasmine buds used for wreaths. Among others are 

 white poppies, tuberose, datura, white petunia, 

 stephanotis, magnolias, and gardenias of various 

 kinds as well as the night opening flowers, the white 

 scented cactus (Cereus grandiflora), the moon- 

 creeper convolvulus called soma-vel (Calonyction 

 speciosum), which when in bloom makes such a 

 magical effect, and the white lotus beloved of 

 Hindu poets. " Every one has his friend and 

 confidant ; the sun which opens the pink lotus, 

 closes the petals of the white," is one of their 

 sayings ; and Hindu heroes and heroines declare 

 their love for each other as " like that of the sun 



