The highest branch of the Malee's art is the making of nosegays, fromthe little "buttonhole," which is equivalent to a cough on occasionswhen baksheesh seems possible, to the great valedictory or Christmasbouquet. The manner of making these is as follows. First you gatheryour flowers, cutting the stalks as short as possible, and tie eachone firmly to an artificial stalk of thin bamboo. Then you selectsome large and striking flower for a centre, and range the rest roundit in rings of beautiful colours. If your bull's eye is a sunflower,then you may gird it with a broad belt of black roses. Yellowmarigolds may follow, then another ring of black roses, then lilacbougainvillea, then something black, after which you may have a circleof black jasmine, and so on. Finally, you fringe the whole withgreen leaves, bind it together with pack thread, and tie it to theend of a short stick. If the odour of rose, jasmine, chumpa,oleander, etc., is not sufficient, you can mix a good quantity ofmignonette with the leaves on the outside, but, in any case, it isbest to sprinkle the whole profusely with rose water. This will makea bouquet fit to present to a Commissioner.