“The Burman books tell us (says Dr. Mason) that the trees round 
King Wathandria’s hermitage were covered with Orchids, and that 
Vi 
whoever that worthy potentate may have bes) 
must either have been in great favour with the Nats, supposing, as is 
highly probable, that they placed the Orchids ‘there for his special 
delectation ; or, if he were his own collector, he certainly displayed very 
good taste, and an early appreciation of ‘the beautiful’ in Nature ; 
for, assuredly, out abe all Flora’s choice and bounteous store, nothing 
could have been drawn more worthy of royal regard. It is with Orchids 
still that the wealthy ae the a love to surround themselves in 
countries where these lovely flowers are strange and exotic; and this 
at a cost which would pel have astonished good King vce ela 
and which, in the aggregate, is worth a king’s ransom.”—PARIS 
