give him only printers' wages, thirty shillings a week, how much shall I have to pay for my book?

H. (After a pause.) Nineteen pounds ten shillings.

U. O. Yes; and say about ten shillings more for paper, pens, ink, and binding, making altogether twenty pounds. So then I must give twenty pounds for a book in writing, which I obtain by printing for ten shillings. A single printing press will in a week or two give off more copies of a book than could be written in a whole year by all the scribes of Persia, who must of course, every one of them, during their work, be paid at such a rate as shall suffice for their maintenance. This it was which made books so scarce and costly in Europe before printing was invented, and which makes them still so scarce and dear in the East.

One effect of this scarcity of books is, that the readers in Persia are also, very commonly, diligent makers of common-place books; that is, they make extracts, from such books as they can procure, of the passages which interest them, or which they desire to preserve. Another effect is, that they are glad of opportunities

of hearing a person who has got a book read it aloud; and also of hearing persons repeat poetry or tales which they have learned by heart. Many Persians can repeat an astonishing quantity of poetry. Even many persons of the very humblest walk in life, who cannot even read, are able, from having heard others recite, to repeat the finest passages of the famous poets of Persia.

H. Then they have famous poets?

U. O. Yes. The Persians are a very poetical nation; and their poetry is considered the finest of the East. Their great poets are renowned even in Europe. So fond are the Persians of poetry, that they are constantly throwing in such verses as they think to the purpose, both in their writing and conversation. A person of the humblest employment,—a servant or muleteer, will often do this in his talk.

H. Sir, can many of the Persians write as well as read?

U. O. Yes. A very fair proportion of them can write; and what is more, most of them who can write at all, can write well, both as to hand-writing and spelling. I am sorry to say this is not the case in England, where I am

sure not more than one out of three of those who profess to be able to write, can do so with any readiness or decency, either as to handwriting or spelling; and very many of those who can write beautiful hands, spell most shockingly. But I hope these things will be mended soon.-I had nearly forgotten to mention one remarkable thing, which is, that the Persians do not write from the left hand to the right, as we do; but, like nearly all other eastern nations, from right to left; so that their lines begin where ours end.

F. That is writing backwards.

U. O. So we may call it, as their way is contrary to ours; but as our way is contrary to theirs, they say we write backwards.

Jane. But we don't though.

U. O. There is no other backward or forward in the matter than what custom makes; and since we speak from our respective customs, each party is in the right in saying that the other writes backwards.

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CHAPTER XVII.

THE FEMALES OF PERSIA.

Uncle Oliver. So then, we are now come to the last evening we can spare for Persia. You recollect, my dear Jane, that it is your turn to ask questions: what have you to say?

Jane. Why, Sir, I asked Henry to tell me what to say; and he said I had better ask you about the ladies.

U. O. I think he is quite in the right; not only because it is the most proper matter for you to inquire about, but because it is a subject on which very little has yet been said.

J. I suppose, Sir, the Persian women are not so pretty as English women, are they ? (Anxiously.)

U. O. Well, Jane, you manage to begin with rather a difficult question. The people of every nation think their own country the best, and their own women the prettiest on earth. And this is good for it is a wise law of Provi