194 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
was a large liop-kiln, into the chambers of which she might 
liave 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 Pekin, met a 
gang of these people on the confines of Tartaiy, who were 
endeavouring to penetrate those deserts and try their fortune 
in China. ^ 
Gypsies are called in French, Bohemians ; in Italian and 
modern Greek, Zingari. 
Selborne, Oct. 2, 1775. 
LETTER LXVIIT. 
TO THE HONOURABLE UAINES BARRING TON. 
" Hic - - - - tsedcTe pingues, hie plurimus ignis 
Semper, et assidua postes fuligine nigri." 
(ViRG. Eel vii. 49, 50.) 
" Here ai-e fat torches, here abundant fire. 
Here constant smoke has black'd each side the door." 
I SHALL make no apology for troubling you with the detail of a 
very simple piece of domestic economy, 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 prevails in many districts besides this; but 
as I know there are countries also where it does not obtain, 
and as T have considered the subject with some degree of 
exactness, T 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 CGnglomeratus, or common soft rush, whicli is to be 
found in most moist pastures, by tlie sides of streams, and under 
^ See Bell's " Travels in ("hina."" 
