STYLE OF THE HOUSES. 



409 



Mr. Fraser was kind enough to give us a general 

 invitation to his house in the country. This was 

 about two and a half miles from town, near the river. 

 Like most of the country houses, it was long and 

 low, consisting of one storey only. It had one 

 principal room, in the centre of the house, opening 

 both before and behind, by two large doorways, into 

 spacious verandahs or porticos, as large as the 

 room itself, and supported by pillars. Each of the 

 wings was occupied by three good bed-rooms. It 

 stood in an enclosure of about an acre, with lawn, 

 coach-house, stable, and servants' houses and offices. 

 Such are most of the Dutch houses, varying chiefly 

 in size, with the same general arrangement. The 

 floors are tiles covered with cane matting, in the 

 principal room. As soon as it gets dusk, the cen- 

 tral saloon is lighted up with many lamps, the 

 doors and windows still remaining open, and every 

 now and then a carriage drives up, some acquaint- 

 ance drops in for an hour or two, joins the dinner 

 table if he have not dined, or smokes his cigar if 

 he have, and drives away again. The English dine 

 usually at six or seven, but the Dutch much earlier. 

 This circumstance, and some other differences in 

 their habits or manners, seems to keep their society 

 pretty distinct. They do not often mingle, except 

 on public or stated occasions. Without any 

 open expression of dislike, there does not seem 

 any great cordiality between the two nations, or 

 rather between those who are resident, for we, as 



