258 The Natural History of Selborne 



and the East, two or three centuries ago, and so spread by degrees 

 over Europe, may not this family-name, a little corrupted, be the 

 very name they brought with them from the Levant ? It would be 

 matter of some curiosity, could one meet with an intelligent person 

 among them, to inquire whether, in their jargon, they still retain any 

 Greek words ; the Greek radicals will appear in hand, foot, head, 

 water, earth, &c. It is possible that amidst their cant and corrupted 

 dialect many mutilated remains of their native language might still 

 be discovered. 1 



With regard to those peculiar people, the gypsies, one thing is very 

 remarkable, and especially as they came from warmer climates ; and 

 that is, that while other beggars lodge in barns, stables, and cow- 

 houses, these sturdy savages seem to pride 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 

 these people on the confines of Tartary, who were endeavouring to 

 penetrate those deserts, and try their fortune in China.* 



Gypsies are called in French, Bohemiens ; in Italian and modern 

 Greek, Zingani. 



I am, &c. 



* See Bell's " Travels in China." 



1 The gypsy language is now known to be an Indian dialect, probably from 

 the Punjab. The fragments which still survive point to a Jat origin. ED. 



