A POPULOUS CITY. 95 



erection of solid habitations others are raising shady tents 

 upon the spots of verdure with which, above all other capitals, 

 this city abounds. Others, again, are weaving for their occu- 

 pation large silken hammocks, or are rocked within them by 

 the breeze, while they take refreshment or repose. Of these, 

 some are now issuing from their luxurious abodes ; and, as if 

 the footways (although of wood), were too rugged for their 

 tender feet, are laying down silken carpets on the ways they 

 are about to travel. Yonder, on one of the smooth green 

 areas, slowly advances a compact military-looking body, mar- 

 shalled in files, dressed in uniform, and headed by a leader. 



And now what have we here? A group, as it would seem, 

 of pantomimic players, belonging to some strolling company. 

 Truly, they are clever fellows in the art of posture-making. 

 Ye Grimaldis of Greenwich, and balancers of St. Bartholo- 

 mew ! hide your diminished heads behind your baize drop- 

 curtains ! Ye are but bunglers in your trade 1 



Look at one of the performers. He grasps with his feet an 

 upright pole, with which his body, extended horizontally, stiff 

 and motionless, forms a right angle, of which both sides, 

 instead of only one, look as if formed of wood. What pro- 

 digious strength of muscle ! He looks like a cataleptic patient 

 un&er the hands of a mesmeriser. See now one of his com- 

 panions head and feet nearly met upon the ground back 

 raised into an arch or Greek a. This strange position would 

 seem but a part of his walking-movement ; for now, stretching 



