of Selborne \ 17 



in the dead months they availed themselves greatly 

 spinning wool, for making of barragofis, a genteel corded 

 stuff, much in vogue at that time for summer wear ; and 

 chiefly manufactured at Alton, a neighbouring town, by 

 some of the people called Quakers : but from circum- 

 stances this trade. is at an end.^ The inhabitants enjoy 

 a good share of health and longevity : and the parish 

 swarms with children. 



LETTER VI 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE 



Should I omit to describe with some exactness the 

 forest of Wolmer, of which three-fifths perhaps lie in this 

 parish, my account of Selborne would be very imperfect, 

 as it is a district abounding with many curious produc- 

 tions, both animal and vegetable ; and has often afforded 

 me much entertainment both as a sportsman and as a 

 naturalist. 



The royal forest of Wolmer is a tract of land of about 

 seven miles in length, by two and a half in breadth, run- 

 ning nearly from north to south, and is abutted on, to 

 begin to the south, and so to proceed eastward, by the 

 parishes of Greatham, Lysse, Rogate, and Trotton, in the 

 county of Sussex ; by Bramshot, Hedleigh, and Kingsley. 

 This royalty consists entirely of sand covered with heath 

 and fern ; but is somewhat diversified with hills and dales, 

 without having one standing tree in the whole extent. In 

 the bottoms, where the waters stagnate, are many bogs, 

 which formerly abounded with subterraneous trees; though 

 Dr. Plot says positively,^ that* 'there never were any 

 fallen trees hidden in the mosses of the southern counties." 

 But he was mistaken : for I myself have seen cottages on 

 the verge of this wild district, whose timbers consisted of 



^ Since the passage above was written, I am happy in being able 

 to say that the spinning employment is a little revived, to the no 

 small comfort of the industrious housewife. 



^ See his Hist, of Staffordshire, 



B 



