BENDING a little northwards, the country commenced raising itself from the marsh and mud, and the salt efflorescence on the sun-baked crust of earth began to be succeeded by grass as the road became firmer and our progress accelerated; while the light-green foliage of the graceful willow interposed itself between us and the sun at short intervals, and here and there formed diminutive avenues of shade, as refreshing to the sight as they were grateful to the feelings.

Farm-houses, from being isolated and scarce, began to congregate in gradually increasing numbers on the most favoured situations, and to exchange the millet-stalk and poverty-stricken earthen structures for those of brick and wood; and the fields put forth their improving aspects in the same manner, showing how eagerly the inhabitants seized on the slightest approach of amendment in the soil to bring it under the sway of cultivation. The ditches were cut with more skill; attempts had been made to raise the general level, and where this had not succeeded, the land was banked round with wide ridges to keep out the water; —in short, the desolate country was being rapidly redeemed by the efforts of scrupulous industry.

The gardens displayed a little more vitality, and some of them a fair amount of taste in the matter of flowers and vegetable beds, and every one had its two or three vines neatly trellised over the little square bower that served for their support, as well as a cool shady recess for the inmates of the houses.