The chief article of food is peas soup, with a small piece of pork boiled in it, and a dish of thick sour milk. The women and children scarcely ever drink other than milk and water, but the men are particularly fond of rum. Winter lasts six months, during which time the greater part of the day is devoted to amusement, principally dancing. Most of the women can read and write, but the men can hardly do either; and the manners of both are very gay and light. There are a few lead mines in Canada, in which silver is also found. Their exports are timber, furs, potash, grain, and pearl-ash. [Illustration] Australia has also sent her contributions to the Exhibition. Among them are specimens of the skins of animals, dried plants, fine woods, and other things. In Australia, there are scarcely any extensive manufactures, but the natives make some useful things, from the various and curious trees which abound. For instance, they form the most durable furniture and weapons from the casuarina or club tree; they make cloth from the finest bark of the paper-mulberry tree, and cord from a peculiar kind of flax. There are sago and cocoa trees, which grow to the height of one hundred and fifty feet, and are thirty feet round. Figs, lemons, oranges, sugar-canes, gum-trees, bread-fruit, and a kind of pepper, from which a drink, called ava, is made, are very useful to the natives. There are mines of a very rich quality, but they are as yet scarcely attended to. The original natives are very idle, and not very well off; those who live near the sea shore, catch fish; and those in the woods, eat such animals as they can get; or climb up trees, for honey, squirrels, and opussums. [Illustration] The settlers, who are the people who have gone out from England and other countries, to dwell there, live in a very comfortable manner; they have large farms, with flocks of sheep and herds cattle, fields of waving corn, rice, and wheat; pretty huts, or shanties, as they are called, and a profusion of the most beautiful plants and creepers. In some parts of the country there are thriving towns, with good streets, elegant shops, and fine houses, such as there are in London. [Illustration] From the West Indies, specimens of industry have also come. Rice, fruits, sugar, metals, and plants, are among the contributions. The West Indians send us sugar rice, currants, raisins, cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon, allspice, and mace, for puddings; nice nuts, for our little boys and girls; coffee, cocoa, and chocolate, for our breakfast and tea; and fine silk, and cotton, for our dresses.