26 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
popular in this country, has little claim to so 
refined an origin, as either purity or the delicacy 
of passion. We had been taught to believe 
that it served as a means of communication 
between the prisoners of the harem and their 
friends or lovers without: but how could it be 
thus used, when the emblematic nosegay must 
convey as much intelligence to the guardians 
and fellow-prisoners of one of the parties, as to 
the party herself? The truth appears to be 
that the ‘ Language of Flowers’ and other 
inanimate objects, has arisen in the idleness of 
the harem, from the desire of amusement and 
variety which the ladies shut up there, without 
employment, and without culture, must feel. 
It answers the purpose of enigmas, the solution 
of which, amuses the vacant hours of the 
Turkish ladies, and is founded on a sort of 
crambo or bout rimi, of which M. Hammer 
has given not less than an hundred specimens.” 
We quote one of the specimens given by this 
ingenious Frenchman, in the Turkish and Eng¬ 
lish languages :— 
“ Armonde—wer bana bir Ominde.” 
“ Pear—Let me not Despair.” 
