magnificent.--The rich people pass the greater part of the day on
their sofas, in darkened rooms; but in the evening, they appear
arrayed in the most elegant costume, for they are particularly partial
to parties and brilliant assemblies.

[Illustration]

There are numerous beggars, called Leperos, who are very drunken and
dishonest; but lively, voluble, and extremely civil; though they will
pick any body's pocket. There are also innumerable Indians, who make
earthen pots very neatly, and use them instead of iron or copper
vessels.

You have heard of Canada, which is a part of North America, and all
that now remains to England of her vast American colonies.--Well, we
have an enormous canoe from Canada!--I wonder who can have sent that?
A canoe, as you know, is a kind of boat, which uncivilized people, who
live near rivers, use. The canoes of Canada are of a very thin
material, and so light, that the boatmen, in passing overland from one
river to another, generally carry them on their heads. The canoes are
mostly covered with bark, the pieces of which are sewed together with
a particular kind of grass; the bark being usually not more than a
quarter of an inch in thickness.

The people of Canada, who are called Canadians, are rather
industrious; they make very fine fans, they hunt, fish, and collect
sugar from a tree called the Sugar maple. Their houses are built of
stone, and are plastered, but seldom are higher than one story, except
in the towns, and are made very warm by means of stoves. The furniture
is usually made by the Canadians themselves, and is exceedingly