OF SELBORNE 169 



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, Bohemians ; in Italian and 

 modern Greek, Zingani. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXVI 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON 



Selborne, Nov. i, 1 775. 



Dear Sir, 



" Hie taedae pingues, hie plurimus ignis 



Semper, et assidua postes fuligine nigri." 



I SHALL make no apology for troubling you with the 

 detail of a very simple piece of domestic oeconomy, 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 pre- 

 vails in many districts 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 conglomeratus, 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 



^ See Bell's Travels in China. 



