THE CONVENT, 
239 
in the very midst of the miasma, and the sisters 
as well as the children suffer much from fever. 
One pretty young sister has just died from it. 
On$ cannot help admiring their noble self-denial 
and courage in performing duty under such dis- 
piriting influences. Their dress must cause them 
extreme discomfort. They wear the identical 
stuff robes imperative in a temperate climate, 
with the close hoods and heavy veils ; and since 
their life is one of constant toil, cooking, wash- 
ing, teaching in crowded rooms, it is difficult to 
understand how they are able to endure the 
strain. The building is so neat and well-ordered, 
and the large company of girls, from about four- 
teen to infants just walking, owe everything to 
their care. Some are very intractable, and long 
ever, like caged birds, for their homes far inland 
and their old free life. Some are indeed sur- 
prisingly clever. One child had just finished a 
beautiful piece of work, raised flowers in coloured 
silks on white satin, for a priest's robe; and 
some lace for the altar, as well as some exquisite 
embroideries for church use, were shown to us, 
all done by the children. 
There is no school besides these ; but the want 
is not greatly felt, for there are very few Euro- 
peans except officials, and because of the climate 
