OF SELBORNE 15 



themselves greatly by spinning wool, for making of 

 barragons, 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 circumstances 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 productions, 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 



^ 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. 



2 See his Hist, of Staffordshire. 



