io6 CANVEY ISLAND 



The wall is finished now, and a solid bit of work it is ; 

 but the area it encloses is sadly contracted, and acres 

 away over its eastern limit one may trace the old 

 Dutchman's handiwork running down to the point, 

 and see even now the remains of old fleets and 

 ditches when the tide goes down. The point itself, 

 indeed, has entirely gone to sea to the extent of half a 

 mile within the last few years. 



" The Lobster Smack," some time " The Sluice," 

 Canvey's principal inn (she has, by the way, only 

 two), lies just under the wall by Hole Haven, a little 

 creek where barges and bj.wley-boats can ride. It is 

 pleasant to lie in bed and watch the lights as the 

 great steamers feel their way down Thames. Here, 

 too, are rare chances for studying Dutch character, for 

 the light that shines from the windows of the inn is a 

 spell few Dutchmen can resist. And as the small 

 Scheldt trading-boats come up the Thames, one by 

 one they lay-to in the creek till morning light. 

 London and Amsterdam have done many a stroke of 

 business in a quiet way at this retired and convenient 

 half-way house, for a bargain is wonderfully helped by 

 a glass or two of old schiedam. This house has seen 

 some curious doings in its time, before the white 

 coastguard station put in an appearance, with its trim 



