8 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
In India, which may he regarded as the cradle 
of poetry, we are informed that it is customary 
to express, by the combination of flowers, those 
sentiments of the heart which are regarded as 
too refined and sacred to be communicated 
through the common medium of Avords. The 
young females of Amboyna are singularly inge¬ 
nious in the art of conversing in the language 
of flowers and fruits. Yet this language, like 
that employed in Turkey and in other parts of 
the East, bears no resemblance to that with 
which we have hitherto been acquainted in Eu¬ 
rope ; though, according to the received notion, 
Ave Avere indebted for our first knowledge of this 
language to the Crusaders and to pilgrims who 
visited the Holy Land. 
In early times it was customary in Europe to 
employ particular colours for the purpose of ex¬ 
pressing certain ideas and feelings. The ena¬ 
moured knight indicated his passion by Avearing 
a red and violet scarf—if he made choice of a 
reddish grey colour, it was to denote that love 
had urged him to the combat—on the other 
hand, the combination of yellow, green, and 
violet, proclaimed that the knight returned tri- 
