UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 63 



I told you before, I believe, that my uncle, 

 and my aunt too, though she does not say 

 much, are not pleased, if we are not punctual 

 and must I confess it ? yes, I must acknow- 

 ledge, that several mornings I have been rather 

 late for breakfast ; my uncle has been very pa- 

 tient however, and says he will make allowance 

 a little while for the indolent habits I have ac- 

 quired by living in a warm climate, and with 

 " too indulgent a mother/ 3 



So good night ; I have been writing when I 

 ought to have been in bed. 



26th. There was a good deal of conversation 

 about salt and salt mines to-day. My uncle 

 asked me, if there were many such salt marshes 

 in Brazil as abound in North America, and of 

 which cattle are so fond. I forgot at first, and 

 said very foolishly, that I could not tell I was 

 in a silly fit, till at last I recollected myself, and 

 told him I had heard that there were some, 

 though they are obliged to import a great deal 

 of salt. What an extraordinary appearance a 

 salt plain must have, where the salt is open 

 and uncovered ! When we went up stairs, Mary 

 showed me Mr, Salt's description of one in 

 Abyssinia. 



He says, that some of his party and Mr. Cof- 

 fin " stopped at the edge of an extensive salt 

 plain to refresh themselves, under the shade of 



