THE FIENNA PLANT 
i8i 
beauty of these gardens may be constantly maintained at 
the expense of comparatively little trouble. 
It is not infrequent that these spots, which nature and 
art have combined to embellish, are distinguished by some 
appellation that conveys an idea of the value attached to 
them by their owners. The royal garden of an Eastern 
prince is often called the Garden of God, a name which 
is supposed by some to refer to the Garden of Eden; and 
a promise adapted to the idea of enjoyment which the 
imagination of an Oriental would form, is given by the 
Koran to the faithful follower of the Prophet : “ Good 
tidings unto you this day, gardens through which rivers 
flow, ye shall remain therein for ever.’’ 
But it would not be enough that these enclosures should 
exhibit plants remarkable for beauty only. The inhabit- 
ants of those countries whose flowers distil sweet odours, 
and whose trees drop aromatic gums, are fond of a great 
degree of fragrance. It enters into every reference of 
their poets; and a poem which, like the Song of Solomon, 
should abound in such allusions, would be w'ell adapted 
to the taste of the people of the East; for there are still 
prized the “ spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, 
with all trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all 
the chief spices : a fountain of waters, a well of living- 
waters, and streams from Lebanon.” 
Throughout Egypt, India, Persia, Arabia, and Greece, 
the henna or al’hinna plant (Lawsonia in^rmis) is a shrub 
in universal estimation for its beauty, and the sweet per- 
fume it exhales. Its leaves, which are oval, are of a 
remarkably bright green, and the flowers of a purplish 
or lilac colour. “ The Egyptian privet or henna, ’ ’ says 
Mr. Lane, “ is pronounced more excellent than the rose. 
Mohammed, speaking of this flow^er, said, ‘ The chief of 
the sweet-scented flowers of this world, and of the next, 
is the faghiyeh, and this was his favourite flower.’ ” “I 
approve of his taste,” adds that gentleman; “for this 
flower, which grow-s in clusters, somewhat like the lilac, 
has most delicious fragrance.” 
The henna generally constitutes a considerable portion 
of the hedges which surround the favourite garden; while 
over it, with many other flowers, creeps the lovely Arabian 
jessamine, the long stems of which are perforated to make 
