coffee or wine, or smoking, chatting, or playing at cards. We met several carriages with ladies in them in full dress, passed over numerous wooden bridges, and were much struck with the brilliant fire-flies which were flitting about among the trees. On re-entering the town, we passed large arched gateways leading to particular quarters, and remarked in that inhabited by the Chinese, the grotesque-looking houses, lit up with large paper lanterns, of gaudy colours, and Chinese inscriptions or monsters on them, and the long rows of Chinese characters up and down the door posts, or over the windows. After the quiet of the sea, our senses were confused by the strange cries, and the Babel of languages which resounded in our ears from the crowds of people who swarmed along the streets in every variety of Eastern dress. There was the half naked Coolie; the well-clothed Chinese, in a loose white coat, like a dressing gown; the Arab merchant, in his flowing robes; and the Javanese gentlemen, in smart jackets and trousers, sash and sarong, or petticoat, a curious penthouse-like hat or shade, and a strange-handled kriss stuck in his girdle. We could scarcely help laughing, when in our drive we met a corpulent Chinese gentleman, in a white dressing-gown-looking affair, smooth head, and long pigtail, weighing down one side of a very English-looking little pony gig, driven by a smart Javanese boy, with the usual china punch-bowl worn by postilions on his head. The Chinese flock here, as they do everywhere in the East, where money is to be made, in spite of all obstacles; and numbers of Coolies, or porters, are to be found ready to carry any thing or to go any where. The lower class of Chinese frequently act as pedlars, and we met several of them

with two wicker-cases slung on a bamboo yoke, selling drapery, or cutlery, or fruit and other eatables ; some times with a portable stove to cook them, or keep them hot.

On the following day, I stopped one of these pedlars, who had, besides his cutlery, a display of ordinary jewels and female ornaments to sell. I was induced to do so as I wished to purchase some trifle to give to little Maria as a parting gift. While I was looking over his stores my eye fell on a brooch which was evidently of English workmanship. It struck me that it would answer my purpose by serving to fasten my young friend's shawl, so I took it up to examine it more carefully. As I held it in my hand, I could not help fancying that I had seen it before. The idea grew stronger as I dwelt on it-my memory rushed back in an instant to the days of my childhood, and scenes long forgotten rose up before my eyes-my feelings grew intense—my heart beat quick-I gasped for breath. Yes, I was certain that very brooch which I held in my hand I had remembered since my infancy. Often had I gazed at it with delight. It was a cameo of exquisite workmanship, representing the three graces, and had belonged to my kind friend, Mrs. Clayton. I used to call one of the figures Mrs. Clayton, another Ellen Barrow, and the third I said must be my mother. The pedlar's eyes opened wider than any Chinese eyes were opened before, as he gazed at me with astonishment. He began to fancy that the jewel was some charm which had bewitched me, or that I was going into a fit. He, of course, could not guess the cause of my agitation, and I recovered my presence of mind in sufficient time to avoid telling him. I found that he set but slight

value on the ornament, and infinitely preferred to it some glittering stores with gay tints. I looked over the remainder of his stores, keeping my eye constantly on the brooch to see that he did not remove it; but I did not find anything else which I could recognize. I then bought a bracelet for Maria, and a ring of trifling value, and next asked him carelessly for how much he would sell the brooch in case I wished to buy it. My coolness made him lower the price from what, when he first discovered the curiosity with which I regarded it, he intended to ask. He demanded a very moderate sum, which I paid him, and calmly put the jewel in my pocket. Had our conversation been carried on in a language I spoke fluently, I should certainly have betrayed the secret of my agitation by some hasty exclamation, but having to stop and consider the meaning of each word before I used it gave me time to grow calm. The time had now come for me to put the inquiries I longed to make,

"By-the-by, my friend, that jewel looks as if it were made in a country I have visited; how did you obtain it?" I asked with an unconcerned manner.

He looked at me with his keen eyes as he replied, "I bought it with others to stock my cases.”

"Were there many others of the same description?" I enquired.

"Why do you ask?" he said, eyeing me sharply.

"Because it is an unusual ornament to see in this part of the world," I replied.

"Yes, I bought a few other things, rings and other ornaments, and some European cutlery and arms, made in the land you come from," he answered; "your countrymen are very great in arms, and knives, and