CHAPTER XII.
"IN BELGIUM'S CAPITAL."
"Gand!" shouted the guard, as he walked along the step before the doors of the compartments, just as the train entered the station.
"I suppose that means Ghent," said Paul.
"Yes; Gand is the French name of the place," replied Dr. Winstock. "There are many cities in Europe which you would not recognize by their foreign appellations."
As the train stopped the whistle of the Young America's boatswain called the students together, and Mr. Lowington told them they could stay only two hours in the place.
"Ghent is situated at the junction of the River Lys with the Scheldt," said Professor Mapps, who, to the astonishment of the boys, seemed to be plumed for a lecture. "The numerous branches of these rivers, either natural or artificial, form canals which extend in all directions through the city. The town may be said to be composed of twenty-six islands, which are connected together by no less than eighty bridges. The grand canal extends from the lower Scheldt to the town, by means of which ships drawing eighteen feet can come up to the basin. All these canals are navigable for boats or vessels. It is surrounded by a wall seven or eight miles in extent, for its defence. On the grand canal, half way between the city and the West Scheldt, there are sluices, by which the whole country could be laid under water in case of invasion by an enemy.
"Ghent has been called the Manchester of Belgium, on account of its being so largely engaged in cotton manufactures. Its factories are operated by steam power. The population in 1863 was one hundred and twenty-two thousand. The cultivation of flowers is largely carried on here, there being about four hundred hot-houses in the immediate vicinity of the city.
"Ghent is a very old city, and occupies a prominent place in history. In the days of Charles the Bold it was the capital of Flanders. Charles V., Emperor of Germany, was born here. It was formerly a city of vast importance, and at one time its wealth and power had increased to such an extent, that it was regarded as the rival of Paris. 'Je mettrais Paris dans mon Gand,' Charles V. used to say, as he proudly contemplated this great city. What does it mean?"
"I could put Paris into my glove," replied one of the French scholars near the professor. "But gant is the French word for glove."