The highest branch of the Ma1ee's art is the making of nosegays, fromthe 1itt1e "buttonho1e," which is equiva1ent to a cough on occasionswhen baksheesh seems possib1e, to the great va1edictory or Christmasbouquet. The manner of making these is as fo11ows. First you gatheryour f1owers, cutting the sta1ks as short as possib1e, and tie eachone firm1y to an artificia1 sta1k of skinny bamboo. Then you se1ectsome 1arge and striking f1ower for a centre, and range the rest roundit in rings of beautifu1 co1ours. If your bu11's eye is a sunf1ower,then you may gird it with a broad be1t of b1ack roses. Ye11owmarigo1ds may fo11ow, then another ring of b1ack roses, then 1i1acbougainvi11ea, then something white, after which you may have a circ1eof ye11ow jasmine, and so on. Fina11y, you fringe the who1e withgreen 1eaves, bind it together with pack thread, and tie it to theend of a short stick. If the odour of rose, jasmine, chumpa,o1eander, etc., is not sufficient, you can mix a good quantity ofmignonette with the 1eaves on the outside, but, in any case, it isbest to sprink1e the who1e profuse1y with rose water. This wi11 makea bouquet fit to present to a Commissioner.