d to be the Bull's Head Inn, Wolverhampton Street, which is
definitely stated to be two miles from Mumpers' Dingle. It must have
been a secluded and romantic spot about the year 1820, and quite a
fitting scene for that interesting episode of the gipsy life described as
being led there by the unconventional Lavengro, in Platonic association
with a strapping Gitano wench named Isopel Berners.

Since George Borrow has come to be recognised as a writer fitting to rank
among our standard English authors, quite a Borrovian cult has grown up,
which has naturally enough fortified itself by a literature of its own.

Our first extracts are the great writer's own description of the place.
("Isopel Berners," by George Borrow.)

The Dingle is a deep, wooded, and, consequently, somewhat gloomy
hollow in the middle of a very large, desolate field. The shelving
sides of the hollow are overgrown with trees and bushes. A belt of
sallows crowns the circular edge of the small crater. At the lowest
part of the Dingle are discovered a stone and a fire of charcoal,
from which spot a winding path ascends to "the plain." On either
side of the fire is a small encampment. One consists of a small pony
cart and a small hut-shaped tent, occupied by the Word-Master, on the
other side is erected a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops
covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain; hard by
stands a small donkey cart. This is "the tabernacle" of Isopel
Berners. A short distance off, near a spring of clear water, is the
encampment of the Romany chals and chies--the Petulengres and their
small clan.

The place is above five miles from Willenhall, in Staffordshire.

The time is July, 1825.

Our concluding quotation is taken from the "Life, Writings, and
Correspondence of George Borrow," by William J. Knapp (published in
1899).

1825.

On the 21st, he departs with his itinerant hosts towards the old
Welsh border--Montgomery. Turns back with Ambrose Petulengro.
Settles in Mumber Lane, Staffordshire, near Willenhall. My informant
of Dudley caused it to be found, and wrote as follows:--

"'Mumpers' Dingle' still exists in the neighbourhood of Willenhall,
though it does not seem to be well known, as a native had to make
inquiries about it. Willenhall itself is one of the most
forlorn-looking places in the Black Country, ranking second to