INDIA N FLO] VERS. 523 



5 Jasminum arborascens, variety Lailfolium (Kusari or Madhavi)- This 

 and the following are wild in our jungles and hedges. 



6 Jasminum hirsufiim (Sjn. J. pubesceus), Hoxb. (Kund). 



7 Jasminum angustifoliu ?n(Ran Mogra). 



8 Jasminum glandulos'im (Van Jai). This is a climbing shrub culti- 

 vated in gardens from the wild variety. Faintly odourous ; flowers showy. 



All these eight varieties are white. There are two other fragrant varieties 

 which are yellow, viz.: — 9. Jasminum aureum (Don.) ( Piwli Jooi ), and 

 10. Jasminum revoluhtm (Piwli chambeli). 



All these varieties of Jasmin, except the last two which are not very common, 

 are great favourites with our ladies. To the Hindu mind the flowers of 

 Jasmin represent all that is the sweetest and loveliest in a Hindu home. See 

 the little girl, the darling of her mother, decked from head to foot with costly 

 ornaments of silver, gold and pearl — borrowed, if not possessed — not on any 

 holiday or special occasion, but in the seasons when the Mogra, the Jai, the 

 Jooi or the Chambeli is plentiful: the little darling's head is cohered with 

 a skilfully woven cap-like wreath of these flowers, of Sajdi particularly ; her hair 

 let down on the back in a solitary plait, which is tastefully decorated with 

 rosettes and stars of artistically woven flowers of Mogra or Jooi interspersed 

 with petals of the scarlet pomegranate flower. To a mind that would look at 

 this decoration with the eye of love, it gives satisfaction. The child thus 

 adorned, sweet in its child-like simplicity, is made sweeter still — nay, more — 

 it looks happy and contented from this special mark of parental regard ! Are 

 you thinking of the young bride and bridegroom about to be united — not of 

 their own seeking — in the indissoluble tie of Hindu wedlock ? Even there the 

 Jasmines lend enchantment to the scene. Long wreaths or garlands of 

 thickly studded Jasmines, falling in rich profusion from head to foot, and circling 

 round the head, fidorn the marrying couple as they stand before each other 

 about to be made one in body and soul ! While the priests are chanting the 

 bridal hymns and solemnly invoking the blessings of their household gods and 

 goddesses, fragrance fills the air. Wearing the same garlands the bridegroom 

 leads his young wife to his parental home. Could the couple be old enough 

 to appreciate these sweet yet simple decorations at a time of the utmost 

 happiness in human life, they would look upon the Jasmines with the same 

 devout sentiment which naturally attaches — perhaps in a more appreciable 

 manner — 'to the bridal orange-blossoms of our more advanced Western sisters. 

 " More advanced " I say deliberately, for they are decidedly so in age and 

 culture, and in consequence more advanced in the appreciation of the respon- 

 sibilities of a wedded life. Turn again to the custom of the Hindu ladies of 

 honouring their lady-visitors (barring the unfortunate widows) with the 

 present of a veni (wreath) of flowers on marringe occasions, and oven on 

 ordinary friendly visits. The hostess with her own hands puts on the veni 

 over and around the back hair-knot of her lady-giiest. Not to do this is 

 understood as tantamount to disregard, if not actual disrespect; and there is 



