144 TRAVELS IN 
Mortified at my own ignoi-ance, which al- 
lowed me nothing more than a vague admi- 
ration tending to no end, I was obliged to con- 
tent myfelf, as I have already faid, with draw- 
ing fuch flowers as appeared to me the moft 
fcarce and beautiful. Of fuch as were ripe I 
colleded the feeds: and I attempted to dry fe- 
veral plants and preferve them in paper, after 
the manner of botanids. The laft procefs was 
the leaft employed by me, Befide that it is 
imprafiicable with the oily plants, I was foon 
weary of the many tedious, minute, and ufe- 
lefs cares it required. I fay ufelefs ; for can it 
be called preferving a plant, to fpoil its fhape 
in every part by crufhing it flat between two 
leaves of paper ? Is it poflTefling a flower, to 
gather it of a purple hue in Africa, and bring 
it to Europe of the colour of fnufF or the peel 
of a dried Onion ? In fine, can we know their 
nature by ftudying it on dead and difcoloured 
leaves ? 
Since fafhion has fo greatly multiplied thofe 
artificial flowers with which the drefs of wo- 
men is adorned, the makers of them have begun 
to employ their Ikill in the fervices of botany, 
and aftonlfiiing performance in this way may 
