268 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



work. Their employment within doors, befides their 

 family duties, is chiefly in fpinning wool. 



What has been repeatedly aflferted of the Welfh 

 people, that they are naturally inquifitive and curious 

 refpefting flrangers is certainly true, but it is a cir- 

 cumflance by no means peculiar to this countr)'. la 

 all wild and unfrequented parts of the world it is 

 the fame, and it is in fuch parts of Wales that tfiis 

 difpofition is chiefly obfervable. It is eafily accounted 

 for when we confider their manners of life, and ge^ 

 neral ignorance. Surprize on the appearance of 

 ftrangers, where in their limited ideas there could 

 feem no inducement to repay the trouble or expence 

 of a journey, would naturally excite their wonder, 

 and this as naturally leads to the queftions " Where 

 do you come from ?" — " Why do you come here ?" 

 — and, " Where do you go to from hence ?" — 

 Unfatisfied with my anfwers, that I was an Englifh- 

 man come to vifit the mountains and waterfalls, I 

 have often and often been afl^ed with the utmofl 

 fimplicity, " Are there then no rocks nor rivers in 

 England ?" In all accounts of travels through un- 

 frequented countries we find this difpofition to curi- 

 olity very common, and a flight acquaintance with 

 the nature of the human mind is fuflicient to allay 

 any furprize that may be excited in difcoyering that 

 it is prevalent in Wales> 



They are much inclined to fuperfl:ition, but in all 

 ipountries we find that there are multitudes of weak 



and 



