The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

166
TEE BRITISH ISLES.
London has often been likened to a province covered with houses. If we but
enter this labyrinth of streets, we feel as if steam-power alone were able to extri-
cate us. Even the hardiest pedestrian yields to fatigue when traversing this
interminable city. Street follows street, and the chance of obtaining a glimpse
of the horizon appears to be a remote one. Houses without end, factories, railway
stations, villas, gardens, and blind brick walls succeed each other in this huge hive
of humanity. Even in the midst of the fields or in the outlying parks we
feel that London still surrounds us, for on all sides the houses line the great
Fig. SS.—AjraiTAL Increase of Population in Thiktt-one Cities of Europe.
According to Bunant.
highways which join the metropolis to its more remote suburbs. Starting
from the western extremity of the metropolis, we can walk successively through
Hammersmith, Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, and Twickenham without ever
leaving the houses behind us. A road, parallel to the former, connects Shepherd's
Bush with Acton and Ealing. The northern suburbs, Hampstead, Highgate,
Hornsey, Tottenham, and Edmonton, advance far into the open country like the
arms of a gigantic polype. Similarly, when travelling south or south-westward,
we reach Dulwich after we have passed through Brixton ; then follow Sydenham,
Korwood, and Croydon, and though we extend our walk for a distance of 12 miles.