"will,"
and signifies wild, "Vilden Visk; Vilden Visk," the wild or moving wisp.
I can adduce another instance of the corruption of the Danish "vild" into
"will." The rustics of this part of England are in the habit of saying
"they are led will" (vild or wild), when from intoxication or some other
cause they are bewildered at night and cannot find their way home. This
expression is clearly from the old Norse or Danish. I am not at all
certain that "Bil" in Bilinger may not be this same "will" or "Vild," and
that the word may not be a corruption of Vilden, old or elder, wild or
flying fire.

It has likewise occurred to me that Bilinger may be derived from
"Volundr," the worship of the blacksmith or Northern Vulcan.

[GEORGE BORROW.]

LETTER III.
_To_ MARY BORROW.

Constantinople.
_September_ 16_th_, 1844.

MY DARLING CARRETA,

I am about to leave Constantinople and to return home. I have given up
the idea of going to Russia. I find that if I go to Odessa I shall have
to remain in quarantine for fourteen days, which I have no inclination to
do; I am moreover anxious to get home, being quite tired of wandering,
and desirous of being once more with my loved ones.

This is a most interesting place, but unfortunately it is extremely dear.
The Turks have no inns, and I am here at an English one, at which, though
everything is comfortable, the prices are very high. To-day is Monday,
and next Friday I purpose starting for Salonica, in a steamboat--Salonica
is in Albania. I shall then cross Albania, a journey of about three
hundred miles, and get to Corfu, from which I can either get to England
across Italy and down the Rhine, or by way of Marseilles and across
France. I shall not make any stay in Italy if I go there, as I have
nothing to see there.

I shall be so glad to be at home with you once again, and to see my dear
mother and Hen. Tell Hen that I picked up for her in one of the bazaars
a curious Armenian coin; it is silver, small, but thick, with a most
curious inscription upon it. I gave fifteen piasters for it. I hope it
and the rest will get safe to England. I have bought a chest, which I
intend to send by sea, and I have picked up a great many books and other
things, and I wish to travel light; I shall, therefore, only take a ba