v.] 
OF SELBORNE. 
13 
IS a vast district. Those who tread the bounds are employed 
part of three days in the business, and are of opinion that the 
outline, in all its curves and indentings, does not comprise less 
than thirty miles. 
The village stands in a sheltered spot, secured by the Hanger 
from the strong westerly winds. The air is soft, but rather moist 
from the efiluvia of so many trees ; yet perfectly healthy and free 
from agues. 
The quantity of rain that falls on it is very considerable, as may 
be supposed in so woody and mountainous a district. . As my 
experience in measuring the water is but of short date, I am 
not qualified to give the mean quantity, but a very intelligent 
gentleman assures me (and he speaks from upwards of forty 
years' experience) that the mean rain of any place cannot be 
ascertained till a person has measured it for a very long period. 
I only know that 
Inch. Hund. 
From May 1, 1779, to the end of the year there fell . . 28 37 ! 
From Jan. 1, 1780, to Jan. 1, 1781 27 32 
From Jan. 1, 1781, to Jan. 1, 1782 30 71 
From Jan. 1, 1782, to Jan. 1, 1783 50 26 ! 
From Jan. 1, 1783, to Jan. 1, 1784 ........ 33 71 
From Jan. 1, 1784 to Jan. 1, 1785 38 80 
From Jan. 1, 1785 to Jan. 1, 1786 31 55 
From Jan. 1, 1786, to Jan. 1, 1787 39 57 
The village of Selborne, and the large hamlet of Oakhanger, 
with the single farms, and many scattered houses along the 
verge of the forest, contain upwards of six hundred and seventy 
inhabitants. 
We abound with poor ; many of whom are sober and indus- 
trious, and live comfortably in good stone or brick cottages, 
which are glazed, and have chambers above stairs : mud build- 
ings we have none. Besides the employment from husbandry, 
the men work in hop-gardens, of which we have many ; and 
fell and bark timber. In the spring and summer the women 
weed the corn ; and enjoy a second harvest in September by hop- 
picking. Formerly, in the dead months they availed themselves 
greatly by spinning wool, for making of barragons, a genteel 
corded stuff, nuich in vogue at that time for summer wear ; and 
