xported to England, for the use of our
steel manufactories. The extensive forests supply numerous pine trees,
which are cut down and sent to foreign countries, for ship and house
building; while pitch and tar are made from the sap,--a preparation
which gives employment to many of the inhabitants.

The Swedes contrive to make things from materials we should throw away
as good for nothing; they twist rope from hogs'-bristles, horses'
manes, and the bark of trees; and form bridles of eel-skins. The
coarse cloth they wear they make themselves, for the women are
continually busy spinning or weaving. Sweden is the birth-place of the
famous botanist, Linnaeus, and the charming singer, Jenny Lind.

Norway is united to Sweden, but it is still colder in winter and
hotter in summer. The people live very simply, mostly on milk, cheese,
and dried fish; and sometimes they have slices of meat, sprinkled with
salt and dried in the wind. In some parts of the country, the people
make bread of the bark of the pine tree; and in winter, for want of
hay, they are obliged to feed their cattle on dried fish. The houses
are built of wood, and many of the roads are made of the same
material; while wooden fences are used instead of hedges. The
Norwegians send metals, minerals, salt, butter, dried fish, and furs,
to other countries.

Denmark is a very fine country, perfectly level, except a single ridge
of mountains. Its chief products are grain, tobacco, flax, madder, and
hops. There are a great many mines, but few manufactures carried on;
though the Danish gloves are much esteemed. The climate is generally
rather warm, but very wet. The Danes are mostly well-educated; they
are like the Swedes in their manners and customs. They have sent many
specimens of their industry to the Great Exhibition.

[Illustration]

Why, who would have thought of seeing Persian and Egyptian
contributions at the Exhibition?

And such splendid articles as they are! Persia, you know, is a rich
and fertile country, near Russia, in Asia; but although it has many
beautiful flowers and fruits, yet is there very little timber; owing
to which they have no shipping. The Persians delight in fine clothes
on which they lavish the greater part of their money, and they are
fonder of scarlet, or crimson, than of any other colour. They are very
skilful in dyeing, in making silks, shagreen, morocco, gold and silver
ornaments; and they form excellent swords and weapons. Their com