160 WHITE 



themselves in braving the severities of winter, and in living 

 sub dio the whole year round. Last September was as wet a 

 month as ever was known ; and yet during those deluges did 

 a young gypsy girl lie in the midst of one of our hop-gardens, 

 on the cold ground, with nothing over her but a piece of a 

 blanket extended on a few hazel-rods bent hoop-fashion, and 

 stuck into the earth at each end, in circumstances too trying 

 for a cow in the same condition ; yet within this garden there 

 was a large hop-kiln, into the chambers of which she might 

 have retired, had she thought shelter an object worthy her 

 attention. 



Europe itself, it seems, cannot set bounds to the rovings of 

 these vagabonds ; for Mr. Bell, in his return from Peking, met 

 a gang of those people on the confines of Tartary, who were 

 endeavoring to penetrate those deserts, and try their fortune 

 in China. 



Gypsies are called in French, Bohemians; in Italian and 

 modern Greek, Zingari. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXVI 



SELBORNE, Nov. ist, 1775. 

 " Hie .... taedae pingues, hie plurimus ignis 

 Semper, et assidua postes fuligine nigri." 



DEAR SIR, I shall make no apology for troubling you with 

 the detail of a very simple piece of domestic economy, being 

 satisfied that you think nothing beneath your attention that 

 tends to utility; the matter alluded to is the use of rushes 

 instead of candles, which I am well aware prevails in many dis- 

 tricts besides this ; but as I know there are countries also where 

 it does not obtain, and as I have considered the subject with 

 some degree of exactness, I shall proceed in my humble story, 

 and leave you to judge of the expediency. 



The proper species of rush for this purpose seems to be the 

 juncus effusus, or common soft rush, which is to be found in 

 most moist pastures, by the sides of streams, and under hedges. 

 These rushes are in best condition in the height of summer ; 

 but may be gathered, so as to serve the purpose well, quite on 



