21£ HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



its shape somewhat resembling the' letter V. The high 

 road passes along the neck of land ; and while we were 

 detained at the tolhuis, or petty custom-house, we had 

 an opportunity of viewing by far the largest and strongest 

 sluices which we have yet seen in Holland. The entrance 

 to Amsterdam in this direction is favourable for producing 

 effect. It is indeed impossible for a stranger not to be im- 

 pressed with admiration at the industry and enterprise 

 of a people who could establish, in the midst of a level 

 marsh, so vast a city as here opens to view, which seems 

 every moment in danger of being overwhelmed by the 

 brim-full canals and wide expanses of water which encom- 

 pass it. 



Amsterdam. 



We found the city in a bustle, the great kermis ha- 

 ving just commenced, and kraams or temporary shops be- 

 ing erected on many of the quays. We drove to the 

 Bible Inn, to which we had been recommended. The peo- 

 ple are civil enough, but the accommodation is not the best. 

 The street is one of the busiest, but very narrow, scarcely 

 any where exceeding twenty feet broad ; while the back- 

 windows look out upon a canal which, at this warm season, 

 is most offensively feculent. The most airy streets are the 

 Keyser-gragt, the Heeren-gragt, and the Cingel ; and in 

 the hotels in these, (the Doclen, Amsterdam Arms, Swan, 

 and others), much superior lodging and attendance may 

 be had. 



The Plantagie. 

 In the afternoon we walked to the Plantagie, situate to 

 the southward of the city, and the favourite promenade 



