The streets of Canton are very fascinating; they have a long row of shops on either side, with wares all displayed. Some of the streets are only about six feet wide, and many of the shops have large signs at the sides, either upright or hung like the signs of old English inns, so that there is not much space for passers-by. The signs are sometimes black, sometimes scarlet, blue or green, with characters of gold or scarlet, so the street is full of colour. The street tradesmen are picturesque, particularly the barber, who carries over his shoulders a pole from which is suspended a bright scarlet stand with a brass basin resting on it. He wears loose trousers and blouse of dark blue and a broad-brimmed straw hat. The streets are almost always crowded, night and day. At night lanterns of painted glass or horn, and sometimes paper lanterns give a touch of colour and make the streets look gay. [Illustration: _A beautiful Cantonese Girl in her Palanquin, with Maid Attendant, Canton, China_ _From Stereograph, Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, New York_] THE HANSOM CAB OF COLUMBO, CEYLON Have you ever, when out in the country, seen an ox-cart with two patient oxen drawing a load of hay or stones? Here we have a cab drawn by a little bullock, or zebu, which looks somewhat like those big oxen, but has a queer hump on his back and is very tiny. He looks gentle and kind, and no doubt trots about all day taking travellers through the streets of Columbo, in Ceylon. Do you know where that is? It is an island ever so far away in the Indian Ocean, and is the place where many pearls and precious stones are found. It is a very beautiful island, and the roads, winding along between palms of many kinds and strange plants, with bright coloured birds and butterflies fluttering in and out among the leaves, are wonderful. Little bright green lizards dart here and there over the beautiful plants, looking like rare jewels, and very pretty ferns and flowers are all around. Ceylon is such an interesting place to visit! There are ever and ever so many plantations where tea is grown, and rice, too. The labourers who work in the fields, and who draw the ’rickshaws we see in the picture, are called Tamils. The part of Columbo where they live is named Pettah and is very picturesque. Their fruit shops look tempting and there are many kinds of fruit with curious names, as “papaws,” “lovi-lovis” and “rambutans.” Would you like to taste them? [Illustration: _The Hansom Cab of Columbo, Ceylon_ _From Stereograph, copyright by Underwood & Underwood, New York_] RIDING IN A PALANQUIN IN CALCUTTA What a beautiful road this is! Wouldn’t you like to take a peep around the curve and see what is beyond? But such a queer way of travelling! These men can go very rapidly, but they have stopped here to let us look at them. The lady seems to be enjoying her ride very much in her palanquin. Isn’t that a funny thing to ride in?