CHAPTER XXIV

Bruges,—Arras.—Ghent,—Antwerp,

This city of Bruges^ is a large and very wealthy city,
and one of the greateft markets of the world. It is
said that two cities compete with each other for com¬
mercial supremacy, Bruges in Flanders in the Weft,
and Venice in the Eaft. It seems to me, however, and
many agree with my opinion, that there is much more
commercial activity in Bruges than in Venice. The
reason is as follows. In the whole of the Weft there
is no other great mercantile centre except Bruges,
although England does some trade, and thither repair
all the nations of the world, and they say that at times
the number of ships sailing from the harbour of Bruges
exceeds seven hundred a day. In Venice, on the
contrary, be it never so rich, the only persons engaged
in trade are the inhabitants. The city of Bruges is in
the territory of the Count of Flanders, and is the chief
city. It is well peopled, with fine houses and ftreets,
which are all inhabited by work people, very beautiful
churches and monafteries, and excellent inns. It is
very striftly governed, both in respeft of juftice as in
other matters. Goods are brought there from England,
Germany, Brabant, Holland, Zeeland, Burgundy,
Picardy, and the greater part of France, and it appears
to be the port for all these countries, and the market
to which they bring their goods in order to sell them to
others, as if they had plenty at home.

The inhabitants are extraordinarily induftrious,
possibly on account of the barrenness of the soil, since
very little corn is grown, and no wine, nor is there
water fit for drinking, nor any fruit. On this account
the produfts of the whole world are brought here, so

198