80 RIDING. 



or receiving visits, and you invariably see them 

 as \'ou pass their houses at that time, clothed in 

 neat and decent attire. Groups of children are 

 to be seen at the doors, rising in regular gradation, 

 like the steps of a pyramid, enjoying the smiles of 

 parental affection, and eyeing the passing travel- 

 ler. When I view these scenes of domestic bliss, I 

 feel something come over my heart which draws 

 tears from my eyes. These excellent women 

 have never visited the Castle of Indolence — they 

 know not the place where 



*• Languid beauty keeps her pale fac'd court." 



And they dread those associations, 



<* Where fajr is cast the distaff, spinning wheel, and loom, 



Where the sole labor is to kill the time ; 



And labor dire it is, and weary wo, 



Or saunter forth with tottering steps and slow." 



When I render the just tribute of applause to 

 the general character of this interesting people, I 

 cannot conceal my disapprobation of some noxious 

 habits which generally prevail. In my whole 

 tour I do not think I have seen more than three 

 travellers on horseback, and those wore umbrellas 

 over their heads : It seems that a scraggy, ricket- 

 ty, one-horse waggon, has been substituted — that 

 it was introduced by a General a {ew years ago, 

 who was too fat to be an equestrian. Of all exer- 

 cises-, riding on horseback is the most healthy and 



