The Zincali: an account of the gypsies of Spain

Excerpt

The greater part of it has been written under very peculiar circumstances, such as are not in general deemed at all favourable for literary composition:  at considerable intervals, during a period of nearly five years passed in Spain — in moments snatched from more important pursuits — chiefly in ventas and posadas, whilst wandering through the country in the arduous and unthankful task of distributing the Gospel among its children.