THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. a7 T 
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 Pekin, met 
a gang of these people on the confines of Tartary, who were 
endeavoring to penetrate those deserts, and try their fortune 
in China. 
Gypsies are called in French Bohemians; in Italian and 
modern Greek, Zingari. 
LETTER XXVI. 
SELBORNE, JWVov. rst, 1775. 
“ Here are greasy torches, here ever abundant fire, 
And with constant soot the posts of the door are blackened.” 
ViRGIL, ci, vii. 
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 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 
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 the height of summer; but may be gathered, 
so as to serve the purpose well, quite on to autumn. It would 
