HISTORY OF

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those multitudes of inhabitants which they formerly contained, andthe advancement of that commerce for which they were soon distin-guished. The free fairs, the origin of which is very ancient, andof which, though they are now of less utility, the remains are stillto be found here, are suppoled to have been strst established in thiscountry.

The canals of Holland are generally sixty feet wide, and six feet deep ;they are cleansed from time to time; the mud for manure producesa great prosit. The canals are generally upon a level, of course locks orsluices are not necessary. From Rotterdam to Delft, the Hague, andLeyden, the canal is absolutely level; but is liable to, and sometimesaffected by, strong winds. For the most part the canals are more ele-vated than the fields or country, to the end that they may be able tocarry off the water which every winter inundates the land. To drainthe water from Delftland, a province not more than sixty miles long, theyemploy two hundred wind-mills in spring time. All the canals of Hollandare bordered with dams or banks, and on these depends the security of thecountry from inundation : of course it is of great moment to keep themin constant repair; to effect which there is established a kind of militia,and in every village there are magazines of proper stores, and men wholebusiness it is to convey stones and rubbish in carts to the damaged place :when a certain bell rings, or the water is at a fixed height, every manrepairs to his post. To every house or family there is assigned a cer-tain part or portion of the bank, in which they are to assist the repairs;they cover the bank with cloth and stones, all over towards Spareudam,when a breach is apprehended.

CHAP.