TH E ZI N C A L I

A N ACCOUNT O F THE

GY PS I ES OF SPA IN

I3'

Y’

AUTH O R O F

‘THE B I B LE I N S PA I N

’

‘LAV EN U RO

’

ETC.

‘F or tl mt ionic/z 1'

s un clean by n ature,

titan can st cn fertain n o nope n o was/ting

will turn the Gypsy win’

te.

'—FERDOUSI

NEW IM PRE S S IO N

G . P . PUTNAM’

S SONS ,NEWYORK

J O HN MURRAY , LONDON

1 9 0 1

Edinburgh : T. and A. CONSTAB LE , (late) Prin ters to HerMajesty

THE R IGHT HONOURAB LE

THE EARL OF CLARENDON , G.C . B .

KEEPER or an MAJESTY’S PRIW SEAL

ETC” are” arc .

M Y LORD ,

I f eel it n ot on ly a gratification but an hon our to

bepermitted to dedicate these volumes 1 toyourLordship, the more particularly as they are con n ected

with Spain , a coun try in which it was so f requen tly

myf ortu n e to experien ce such prompt an d salutary

aid f rom your Lordship in the high capacity ofrepresen tative of our Gracious B m

'

tish Sovereig'

n .

The remembran ce of the many obligation s u n der

which your Lordship has placed me, by your

en ergetic an d eff ectual in terf eren ce in time of n eed ,

will ever in heartf eltgratitude cause me to remain ,

with u nf eign ed sen timen ts of respect,

My Lord,

Yourmost devoted Servan t,

GEORGE BORROW.

1 Although the presen t edition is on ly in on evo lume, Borrow’

s origin alreferen ces to the two volumes in the above Dedication an d the Preface

have been retain ed .

PR E F A C E

wi th some diffiden ce that the author venturesPer the present work to the publ ic.

it has been written under

uliar mstan ces, such as are not i n

M“deem all favourable for l iterary com

ma c rable i ntervals, duri ng a period

M y passed i n Spai n— in moments

med important pursuits— chiefly i n

B an d posadas, Whi lst wanderi ng through the

by in the arduous an d unthankful task Of

huting the Gospel among its chi ldren .

ling to the causes above stated , he is aware

his not unfrequently appear some

d . unconnected , an d the style

he has, nevertheless, per

ain Where he fel led it, having,enjoyed too l ittle leisure to

Iteration .

he flatters h imself that the

n o t destitute of certai n qual ifications to

to approbation . The author’s acquai nt

in general dates from a

vi i i THE Z INCAL I

very early period Of his l i fe , which considerably

fac i l i tated his i ntercourse with the Pen i nsular por

tion , to the elucidation of whose histo ry an d char

acte r the present volumes are more particu larly

devoted . Whatever he has asserted , is less the

result of readi ng than of close observation , hehaving long since come to the conclusion that the

Gypsies are not a people to be stud ied i n books , o r

at least i n such books as he bel ieves have hitherto

been wri tten concern i ng them .

Throughout he has dealt more i n facts than i n

theo ries , of which he is i n general no friend . True

i t is , that no race i n the world affords , i n many

points , a more extensive field for theory an d con

jecture than the Gypsies , who are certai n ly a very

mysterious peop le come from some d istant land , no

mortal knows why , an d who made the i r first appearance i n Europe at a dark period , when events were

not so accu rately recorded as at the present time.

But if he has avoided as much as possible touch

i ng upon subjects which must always , to a certain

extent, remai n shrouded in Obscuri ty ; for example ,the origi nal state and condition of the Gypsies ,and the causes which first brought them into

Europe ; he has stated what they are at the pre

sent day, what he knows them to be from a close

scruti ny of thei r ways an d habits, for wh ich ,perhaps, no one ever enjoyed better opportun itiesan d he has , moreover, given— not a few wordscul led expressly for the purpose of supporting a

PREFACE ix

theory , but one enti re d ialect of thei r lan guage ,col lected with much trouble an d difiicu lty ; an d

to th is he humbly cal ls the atten tion of the learned ,who , by compari ng it with certai n languages , maydecide as to the countries i n which the Gypsies

have l ived or travel led .

With respect to the Gypsy rhymes i n the second

volume , he wishes to make one observatio n which

cannot be too frequently repeated , and which he

entreats the reader to bear i n m ind : they are Gypsycomposition s , an d have l ittle merit save so far as

they throw l ight on the manner of th in ki ng an d

speaki ng of the Gypsy people, or rather a portion

of them , an d as to what they are capable of effect

i ng i n the way of poetry. I t wi l l , doubtless , be

said that the rhymes are trash — even were it so ,they are origi na l , and on that account, i n a phi lo

soph ic poi nt of view, are more valuable than the

most bri l l iant compositions pretend ing to describe

Gypsy l ife, but wri tten by persons who are not

of the Gypsy sect. Such compositions , however

replete with fiery sentiments , and al lusions to free

dom and i ndependence,are ce rtai n to be tai nted

wi th afiectatio n . Now i n the Gypsy rhymes there

is no affectation , an d on that very account they aredifferent i n every respect from the poetry of those

i nteresti ng personages who figure , under the names

of Gyps ies , Gitanos , Bohemians, etc. , i n novels

an d on the boards of the theatre .

I t wil l , perhaps, be objected to the present work,

THE Z INCAL I

that i t contai ns l ittle that is ed ifyi ng i n a moral o r

Christian point of view : to such an Objection the

author would reply , that the Gypsies are not a

Christian people, an d that thei r moral i ty is of a

pecul iar ki nd , not calculated to afford much edifi

cation to what is general ly termed the respectable

portion of society. Should i t be urged that certa i n

i nd ividuals have fou nd them very d ifferent from

what they are represented i n these vol umes , he

would frankly say that he yields no credi t to the

presumed fact, an d at the same time he would

refer to the vocabulary contai n ed i n the second

volume , whence it wi l l appear that the words hoax

an d hocus have been immediately derived from the

language Of the Gypsies , who , there is good reason

to bel ieve , first i ntroduced the system into Europe ,to which those words belong.

The author entertai ns no i l l-wi l l towards the

Gypsies ; why should he , were he a mere carnal

reasoner ? He has known them for upwards of

twenty years, i n various countries , an d they never

i nj ured a hai r Of his head , or deprived h im of a

shred Of h is raiment ; but he is not decei ved as to

the motive of thei r forbearance : they thought h im

a Rom, an d on this supposition they hurt h im

not, thei r love of‘ the blood ’ being thei r most

d isti nguish ing characteristic. He derived consider

able assistance from them in Spain , as in various

instances they ofliciated as col porteu rs i n the dis

tributio n of the Gospel : but on that accou nt he is

PREFACE xi

not prepared to say that they entertai ned any love

for the Gospel or that they circulated it for the

honour of Tebleque the Saviour. Whatever they

d id for the Gospel i n Spai n , was done i n the hope

that he whom they conce ived to be thei r brother

had some purpose i n view which was to con tribu te

to the profit of the Calés, o rGypsies, an d to term i

nate i n the confusion an d plunder of the B usn é ,or Genti les . Convinced of this , he is too l ittle of

an en thusiast to rear, on such a foundation , any

fantastic edifice of hope which would soon tumble

to the ground .

The cause of truth can scarcely be forwarded by

en thusiasm,wh i ch is almost invariably the ch i ld

of ignorance and error The author is anxious

to di rect the attention Of the publ ic towards the

Gypsies but he hopes to be able to do so without

an y romantic appeals i n the i r behalf, by conceal i ng

the tru th , or by warping the truth unti l i t becomes

falsehood . I n the fol lowing pages he has depicted

the Gypsies as he has found them , nei ther aggra

vatin g their crimes nor gi ld ing them with ima

ginary virtues . He has not expatiated on ‘ thei r

gratitude towards good people, who treat them

ki ndly an d take an i nterest i n their welfare ’ ; for

he bel ieves that of all bei ngs i n the world they are

the least susceptible of such a feel ing. Nor has he

ever done them injustice by attributi ng to theml icen tious habits

,from which they are, perhaps ,

more free than any race i n the creation .

THE Z INCA L I

PR E F A C E T O T H E

S E C O N D E D I T I O N

I CANNOT perm it the second edi tion of th is work togo to press withou t prem ising it with a few words .

When some two years ago I first gave The Zin

cali to the world , i t was , as I stated at the time ,with considerable hesi tation and difiiden ce : the

composition Of i t an d the col lecting Of Gypsy words

had served as a kind of relaxation to me whi lst

engaged i n the ci rcu lation of the Gospel i n Spai n .

After the completion of the work, I had not the

sl ightest idea that i t possessed any pecul iar merit ,or was calculated to make the sl ightest impression

upon the reading world . Nevertheless , as every

one who wri tes feels a ki nd of afl'

ec tio n , greater or

less , for the productions of h is pen , l was averse ,si nce the book was written , to suffer i t to perish

Of damp in a lumber closet, or by friction in my

travel l ing wal let. I committed it therefore to the

press, wi th a friendly ‘ Farewel l , l i ttle book ; I

have done for you all I can , an d much more than

you deserve. ’

My expectations at th is time were widely different

from those Of my namesake George i n the Vicar ofWakgield when he publ ished his paradoxes . I

PREFACE TO THE SECOND ED ITION xi i i

took it as a matter of course that the world , whether

l earned or un learned , would say to my book what

they said to his paradoxes , as the event showed ,noth ing at all. To my utter aston ishment, how

ever, I had no sooner returned to my humble

retreat, where I hoped to find the repose of which

I was very much in need , than I was fol lowed by

the voice not on ly of England but of the greater

part of Europe , i nform ing me that I had achieved

a feat— a work i n the n ineteen th centu ry with some

pretensions to origi nal i ty . The book was speedi ly

repri n ted i n America, portions Of i t were trans

lated i nto French and Russian , an d a fresh edition

deman ded .

I n the m idst of al l this there sounded upon my

cars a voice wh ich I recogn ised as that Of the

Maecenas of Bri tish l i te rature :‘ Borromeo , don

’t

bel ieve al l you hear, nor th i nk that you have

accomp lished anyth i ng so very extrao rd i nary : a

great portion of you r book is very sorry trash in

deed— Gypsy poetry , dry laws, and compi lations

from dull Span ish authors : i t has good points ,however, which show that you are capable of some

thing much better : try your hand agai n— avoid

your besetti ng sins ; an d when you have accom

plished somethi ng which w i l l real ly do cred it to

Street, i t wi l l be time enough to thi nk of

an other del ivery Of these Gypsies .

’

Mistos amande : ‘ I am content ,’

I repl ied ; an d

si tti ng down I commenced the B ible in Spain . At

xiv THE Z INCAL I

fi rst I proceeded slowly— sickness was i n the land,

an d the face of nature was overcast— heavy rai n

clouds swam in the heavens ,— the blast howled

amid the pi nes wh ich nearly surround my lonely

dwel l ing , an d the waters of the lake wh ich l ies

before it, so qu iet i n general and tranqu i l , were

fearfully agitated . Bri ng l ights h ither, O Hayim

Ben Attar, son Of the m iracle ! ’ And the Jew of

Fez brought i n the l ights , for though it was mid

day I could scarcely see i n the l i ttle room whereI was wri ti ng.

A dreary summer an d autumn passed by , an d

were succeeded by as gloomy a wi nter. I sti l l

proceeded with the B ible in Spain . The winter

passed , an d spri ng came with cold dry winds an d

occasiona l sunsh ine , whereupon I arose , shouted ,an d mounting my horse , even Sid i Habismilk, I

scoured all the surrounding district, an d thought

but l ittle of the s le in Spain .

So I rode about the country , over the heaths ,an d th rough the green lanes of my native land ,occasional ly v isiti ng friends at a distance, and

sometimes , for variety’s sake, I stayed at home and

amused myself by catch i ng huge pike , which lie

perdue i n certain deep ponds ski rted with lofty

reeds , upon my land , and to which there is a

commun ication from the lagoon by a deep and

narrow watercourse — I had almost forgotten the

Then came the summer with much heat and

PREFACE TO THE SECOND ED ITION xv

sunsh i ne, an d then I would l ie for hours i n the

su n and recal l the sunny days I had spent in

Andal usia, an d my thoughts were continual ly

reverti ng to Spai n , an d at last I remembered that

the s le in Spain was stil l unfin ished whereuponI arose an d said Th is loiteri ng profiteth noth ing— an d I hastened to my summer-house by the side

of the lake , an d there I thought and wrote, an d

every day I repai red to the same place, an d thought

an d wrote unti l I had fin ished the s le in Spain .

And at the proper season the B ible in Spain wasgiven to the world ; an d the world , both learned

an d u n learned , was del ighted with the.

B ible in

Spain , an d the highest authori ty ‘ said , ‘ This is a

much better book than the Gypsies’

; an d the next

great authori ty 3 said , someth ing betwixt Le Sage

an d Bunyan .

’ ‘ A farmore entertai n i ng work than

D on Quixote,’ exclaimed a l iterary lady. Another

Gil B las ,’ said the cleverest wri ter i n Europe. 8

‘ Yes ,’ exclaimed the cool sensible Spectator.

‘ ‘ a

Gil B las i n water-colours. ’

And when I heard the last sentence , I laughed ,an d shouted ,

‘Kosho pen n ese, pal !’ 5 I t pleased me

better than al l the rest. I s there not a text i n a

certai n Old book which says : Woe unto you when

all men shal l speak wel l of you ! Those are awful

words , brothers ; woe is me !

1Quarterly Review, Dec. 1842.

2 Edinburgh Review,Feb. 1843.

Examin er , Dec. 17 , 1842 . Spectator, Dec . 17 , 1842 .

Thou speakest wel l , brother !

THE Z INCAL I

Revenons a nos Bohém iens l Now the B ible

in Spain i s o ff my hands , I return to ‘ theseWsiés’

an d here you have , most ki nd , len ient, an d cour

teo us publ ic , a fresh del ivery Of them . I n the

present edition , I have attended as much as pos

sible to the suggestions of certai n i ndividuals , for

whose opin ion I cannot but entertai n the h ighest

respect. I have omitted various passages from

Span ish authors , which the world has objected to

as being quite out of place , an d se rv i ng for no

other purpose than to swel l out the work. I n l ieu

thereof, I have i ntroduced some original matter

re lative to the Gypsies , which is , perhaps , more

calculated to fl i ng l ight over thei r pecul iar habits

than anythi ng which has yet appeared . To re

model the work, however, I have neither time nor

i ncl i nation , an d must therefore agai n commend it,with all the imperfections which sti l l cl i ng to it, to

the generosity Of the publ ic.

A few words i n conclusion . Since the publ ica

tion of the fi rst ed ition , I have received more than

one letter, i n wh ich the writers complai n that I ,who seem to know so much of what has been

written concern ing the Gypsies , 1 should have taken

no notice of a theory entertai ned by many, namely ,that they are Of Jewish origi n , an d that they are

neither more nor less than the descendants of the

1 This is quite a mistake : I kn ow very l ittle o f what has beenwritten con cern ing these people even the work o f Grellman n had n o t

come ben eath my perusal at the time o f the publication o f the first

PREFACE TO THE SECOND ED ITION xvu

two lost tribes of Israel . Now I am not going to

enter i nto a discussion upon th is poin t, for I know

by experience , that the publ ic’

cares noth ing for

d iscussions, however learned and ed ifying, but

wil l take the present opportun ity to relate a l i ttle

adventure of m ine, which bears not a l i ttle upon

th is matter.

SO i t came to pass , that one day I was scamper

i ng over a heath , at some distance from my present

home : I was mounted upon the good horse Sid i

Habismilk, and the Jew Of Fez , swifter than the

wi nd , ran by the side of the good horse Habismilk,when what should I see at a corner of the heath

but the encampment of certai n friends Of mine ;an d the ch ief of that camp, even M r. Petu lengro ,

stood before the encampment, and his adopted

daughter, Miss P i nfold , stood beside h im .

Mysel —‘ Kosko divvus ‘ , Mr. Petu lengro ! 1

am glad to see you how are you getting on

M r. Petu lengro. How am I getti ng on ? as wel l

as I can . What wi l l you have for that n okengrog?

Thereupon I dismounted , and del iveri ng the reins

of the good horse to M iss P i nfold , I took the Jew

of Fez , even Hayim Ben Attar, by the hand , an d

wen t up to Mr. Petu lengro , exclaim ing,‘ Sure ye

are two brothers. ’ Anon the Gypsy passed his

edi tio n of The Zin cali, which I certain ly do n ot regret : for though Ibelieve the learned German to be quite right in his theory with respec tto the origin o f the Gypsies, his acquain tan ce with their character,habits, an d peculiarities, seems to have been extremely limited .

Good day. Glan dered horse.

xvi i i THE Z INCAL I

hand over the Jew’s face , and stared h im i n the

eyes : then tu rn ing to me he said ,‘We are not

du i palor ‘ ; th is man is no Roman I bel ieve h im

to be a Jew he has the face of one besides, i f he

were a Rom , even from Jericho , he could rOkra a

few words i n Rommany.

’

Now the Gypsy had been i n the habit of see ing

German an d Engl ish Jews , who must have been

separated from their Af rican breth ren for a term of

at least 1700 years ; yet he recogn ised the Jew Of

Fez for what he was— a Jew , an d without hesitation

declared that he was no Roman .

’

The Jews, there

fore,an d the Gypsies have each thei r pecul iar an d

disti nctive countenance , which , to say noth ing of

the difference Of language , precludes the possibi l ity

of thei r havi ng ever been the same peop le.

M arch 1 , 1843.

NOTICE TO THE FOURTH ED ITION

Tms ed i tion has been carefully revised by the author, an dsome few in sertion s have been made. In order, however, togive to the work a more popular character, the elaboratevocabulary of the Gypsy ton gue, an d other parts relatin g tothe Gypsy lan guage an d l i terature, have been omi tted . Thosewho take an in terest in these subjects are referred to the largered ition in two vols.

“

Two brothers.3 The edition here referred to has long sin ce been out of prin t .

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xx THE Z INCAL I

CHAPTER I I I

Excesses o f the Gitan os— The B ooksel ler of Logroiio ,

CHAPTER IV

Gypsy Colon ies in various Town s o f Spain ,

CHAPTER V

Can n ibalism— The Forest— An ecdotes— Food of the

Gypsies— Child—stealin g— Con n ection of the Gitan oswith the Moors o f Barbary,

CHAPTER V I

Barbary an d its Tribes— B en i Arcs— S idi Hamed au

Muza— The Children o f the Dar-Bushi-Fal, a Secto f Thieves an d Sorcerers, probably o f Gypsy Origin ,

CHAPTER V I I

Chiroman cy Torreblan ca Gitan as The Gitan a o f

Sevi l le— La B uen aVen tura—The Dan ce—The Son gTricks of the Gitan as — The Widow— Occult

Powers,

CHAPTER V I I I

The Evi l Eye— Credulity o f Eastern Nation s on thissubject—Remedies for the Evi l Eye— The Talmud—Superstition s of the North ,

CHAPTER IX

Exodus of the Jews : that of the Gypsies— In differen ceo f the Gitan os with respect to Rel igion—EzekielTale of Egyptian Descen t— Quinon es—Melchior of

CONTENTS

Guelama— Rel igious Toleran ce—The In quisi tor o f

Cordova—Gitan os an d Moriscos,

CHAPTER X

The Expulsion of the Gitan os a D iscourse addressedby Dr. San cho de Mon cada to Philip the Third,

CHAPTER XI

Vari ous Laws issued again st the Span ish Gypsies, fromthe time of Ferdinan d an d Isabel la to the latter parto f the E ighteen th Cen tury, embracin g a period o f

n early Three Hun dred Years,

CHAPTER XI I

Carlos Tercero—His Law respect in g the Gitan os,

P A RT H

CHAPTER I

B adajo z— The Gypsies—TheWithered Arm— Gypsy Law— Trimmin g an d Shearin g— Metempsychosis—Pacoan d An ton io— An ton io an d the Magyar—The Chai— Pharaoh—The Steeds of the Egyptian s,

CHAPTER I I

Madrid— Gypsy Women — Gran ada— Gypsy SmithsPepe Con de— Sevi lle— Trian a— Cordova— Horses— The Esquilador

— Characterist ic Epistle— Catal on ia, etc. ,

xxi

PAC.

xxu THE Z INCAL I

CHAPTER I I I

Gen eral Remarks on the Presen t State o f the Gitan osIn efiicien cy of the Old Laws— Prospects o f the

Gitan os Partial Reformation -Declin e o f the

Gypsy Sect—Fair of Leon— Love of Race—Gypsyexecuted—Numerical Decrease,

CHAPTER IV

I llustration s o f Gypsy Character— The Gypsy I n n keepero f Tarifa—The Gypsy Soldierof Valdepenas,

CHAPTER V

Various Poin ts con n ected with the Gitan os—DressPhysical Characteristics— The Gypsy Glan ce— Extracts from a Span ish work,

CHAPTER V I

Certain Tricks an d Practices o f the Gypsy Females—TheBahi—Hokkan o Baro—UstilarPastésas— Shoplift in g— Drao —The Loadston e— The Root of the GoodBaron

,

CHAPTER V I I

The Marriage Festival—Eastern Jews— TheirWedd in gs,

CHAPTER V I I I

At tempts made to en l ighten the Gitan os—The In wardMon i tor— The On e-eyed Gitan a— Pepa an d ChicharOn a— The Gypsy Con gregat ion ,

PAGE

266

CONTENTS

P A RT ” I

CHAPTER I

The Poetry o f the Gitan os,

CHAPTER I ISpurious Gypsy Poetry of An dalusia,B rijin dope.

—The Deluge,The Pestilen ce,On the Lan guage o f the Gitan os,RobberLan guage,The Term B usn o,’

Specimen s o f Gypsy D ialects,Vocabulary of theirLan guage,

APPEND IX

M iscel lan ies in the Gitan o Lan guage,The E n gl ish D ialec t o f the Romman y,

xxi i i

PAGE

L I S T O F I L LU S TRA T I O N S

Gypsy’s Marriage Dan ce (photogravure),

The Rearguard of the Marchin g Gypsies,

Travellers at tacked by the Gitan os,A Son g o f Egypt ,

The Gypsy Smi th of Gran ada,The Murderof Pin damon as by Pepe Con de,Roastin g Chestn uts by the side of the Guadalquiver,

A Gypsy Fami ly,

Fron til-piece

Tof acepage 50

TH E GY PS IE S

INTRODUCTION

THROUGHOUT my l ife the Gypsy race has alwayshad a pecul iar i nterest for me. I ndeed I can

remember no period when the mere mention Of thename of Gypsy did not awaken with in me feel ingshard to be described . I cannot account for th is— I

merely state a fact.Some Of the Gypsies, to whom I have stated th iscircumstance, have accounted for i t on the supposition that the soul wh ich at present an imates mybody has at some former period tenanted that Ofo n e of thei r people ; for many among them are

bel ievers i n metempsychosis , an d, l ike the fol lowersOf Bouddha, imagine that their souls, by passingthrough an i nfin ite number Of bodies , attai n at

length sufficient purity to be adm itted to a stateOf perfect rest an d qu ietude , which is the on ly ideaof heaven they can form .

Havi ng i n various an d distant countries l ivedin habits of i ntimacy with these people, I havecome to the fol lowing conclusions respecting themthat wherever they are found , thei r manners an dcustoms are virtual ly the same, though somewhatmodified by ci rcumstances, an d that the language

A

2 THE GYPS IES [ INTROD .

they speak amongst themselves, an d Of whichthey are particularly anxious to keep others i nignorance, is i n all countries o n e an d the same ,but has been subjected more or less to modification ; an d lastly , that thei r countenances exhibi ta decided fami ly resemblance, but are darker orfai rer according to the temperatu re of the cl imate,but invariably darker, at least i n Europe, thanthose of the natives of the countries in whichthey dwel l , for example , England an d Russia,Germany an d Spai n .

The names by wh ich they are known differ withthe country , though , with o n e or two exceptions ,not material ly ; for example, they are styled inRussia, Zigan i ; i n Turkey an d Persia, Zin garri;and in Germany , Zigeuner ; all which wordsapparently spring from the same etymon , whichthere is no improbabi l ity i n supposing to beZi ncal i ,

’

a term by which these people , especial lythose Of Spai n , sometimes designate themselves,an d the mean ing of which is bel ieved to be, Theblack men of Zen d or I n d . I n England an d Spainthey are commonly known as Gypsies and Gitanos,from a general bel ief that they were original lyEgyptians , to which the two words are tantamount ; an d i n France as Bohemians, from theci rcumstance that Bohemia was one of the firstcountries i n civi l ised Europe where they madethei r appearance.But they general ly style themselves an d thelanguage which they speak, Rommany. Thisword

,of which I shal l u ltimately have more to

say,is of Sanscri t origin , an d sign ifies , The

Husbands,or that which pertai neth unto them .

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4 THE GYPS IES [ 1NrRo n .

heaths of Braz i l an d the ridges of the H imalayanh i l ls, an d thei r language is heard at Moscow an d

Madrid , i n the streets Of London an d Stamboul .

rmz ZIGAN I , OR RUSS IAN v suss

They are found in all parts Of Russia, with theexception Of the government of St. Petersburg ,from which they have been ban ished . I n mostof the provincial towns they are to be found i na state of hal f-c ivi l i sation , supporting themselvesby trafficking in horses , or by curi ng the d isordersi ncidental to those an imals ; but the vast majori tyreject th is manner of l ife , an d traverse the countryi n bands , l ike the ancient Hamaxobioi; the immense grassy plai ns of Russia afford i ng pas turagefor their herds of cattle

,on which , and the produce

Of the chase , they ch iefly depend for subsistence .

They are , however, not destitute of money , whichthey Obtai n by various means , but principal ly bycuri ng diseases amongst the cattle Of the mujiksor peasantry , an d by tel l i ng fortunes

,and not

unfrequently by theft an d brigandage.

Their power of res isting cold is truly wonderfu l ,as i t is not uncommon to find them encamped i nthe m idst of the snow , i n sl ight canvas tents ,when the temperature is twenty-five or th i rtydegrees below the freezi ng-point accord ing toReaumur ; but i n the winter they general ly seekthe shelter Of the forests , which afford fuel fortheir fires , an d abound in game .

The race of the Rommany is by nature perhapsthe most beautifu l i n the world ; and amongst thech i ldren of the Russian Zigan i are frequently to

INTROD . ] THE RUSS IAN GYPS IES 5

be found countenances to do justice to whichwould requi re the penci l Of a second Muri l lo ; butexposure to the rays Of the burn ing sun , thebiti ng Of the frost, an d the pelting Of the piti lesssleet an d snow , destroys their beauty at a veryearly age ; an d if i n i nfancy their personal advantages are remarkable , their ugl i ness at an advancedage i s no less so , for then it is loathsome, an d

even appal l i ng.

A hundred years, could I l ive SO long, wouldnot efface from my mind the appearance Of an

aged Zigan skie A ttaman , or Captai n Of Zigan i ,an d h is grandson , who approached me on the

meadow before NOVO Gorod , where stood the en

campmen t Of a numerous horde. The boy wasOf a form an d face which might have entitled h imto represent Astyanax , an d Hector of Troy mighthave pressed h im to his bosom , an d cal led himhis pride ; but the Old man was , perhaps, sucha Shape as Milton has al luded to , but cou ld on lydescribe as execrable— he wanted but the dart an dkingly crown to have represented the monsterwhoopposed the progress of Lucifer, whi lst careeri ngi n burn i ng arms an d i nfernal glory to the ou tletof h is hel l ish prison .

B ut i n speaking Of the Russian Gypsies , thoseof Moscow must not be passed over i n si lence.

The station to which they have attai ned i n societyin that most remarkable Of cities is so far abovethe sphere i n which the remai nder Of thei r racepass the i r l ives , that it may be considered as a

phenomenon i n Gypsy history , an d on that accountis enti tled to particular notice.Those who have been accustomed to consider

6 THE GYPS IES [ 1NrROD .

the Gypsy as a wanderi ng outcast, i ncapable ofappreciating the blessings of a settled an d civi l isedl ife, or— if abandon i ng vagabond propensities , an dbecoming stationary— as o n e who never ascendsh igher than the condi tion Of a low trafficker, wi l lbe su rpri sed to learn , that amongst the Gypsiesof Moscow there are not a few who inhabit statelyhouses , go abroad i n elegant equipages , and are

beh ind the h igher orders Of the Russians neitheri n appearance n o r mental acq ui rements . To the

power Of song alone th is phenomenon is to beattributed . From time immemorial the femaleGypsies Of Moscow have been much addicted tothe vocal art , an d bands or qu ires Of them havesung for pay in the hal ls of the nobi l i ty or uponthe boards of the theatre. Some first-rate songstershave been produced among them , whose meri tshave been acknowledged , not on ly by the Russianpubl ic

,but by the most fastid ious fore ign cri tics .

Perhaps the h ighest compl iment ever paid to asongster was paid by Catalan i herself to one ofthese daughters of Roma. I t is wel l knownthroughout Russia that the celebrated I tal ian wasso enchanted with the voice of a Moscow Gypsy

(who , after the former had displayed her nobletalent before a splend id audience in the old Russiancapital , stepped forward an d poured forth o n e ofher national strai ns) , that she tore from her ownshoulders a shawl of cashmire, which had beenpresen ted to her by the Pope , and , embracing theGypsy , i nsisted on her acceptance of the splendidgift

,saying, that it had been i ntended for the

matchless songster, which she now perce ived sheherself was not.

INTROD . ] THE RUSS IAN GYPS IES 7

The sums obtai ned by many of these females bythe exercise of thei r art enable them to supportthe i r relatives i n affl uence and luxury : some aremarried to Russians , an d no one who has v isi tedRussia can but be aware that a lovely and aecom

plished countess , o f the noble an d numerousfamily of Tolstoy , is by bi rth a Zigana, an d wasorigi nal ly o n e of the pri ncipal attractions of a

Rommany choi r at Moscow.

B ut i t is not to be supposed that the whole ofthe Gypsy femal es at Moscow are of th is h igh andtalented descri ption ; the majori ty of them are offar lower qual ity , an d obtai n thei r l ivel ihood bysingi ng and dancing at taverns , whi lst their husbands in general fol low the occupation of horsedeal i ng.

Thei r favouri te place o f resort i n the summertime is Mari na Rotze , a species of sylvan gardenabout two versts from Moscow

,and th ither,

tempted by curiosity , I drove o n e fine even ing.

On my arrival the Zigan as came flocking out fromthei r l i ttle tents , an d from the tractir or i n n whichhas been erected for the accommodation of thepubl ic. Standing on the seat of the calash

,I

addressed them in a loud voice i n the Engl ishdialect of the Rommany , of which I have someknowledge. A shri l l scream of wonder was

i nstantly raised , an d welcomes an d blessings werepoured forth i n floods of musical Rommany

,above

all of wh ich predom inated the cry of Kak comean atute prala— or, How we love you , brother l— fo r at

first they m istook me for one of the i r wanderi ngbrethren from the distant lands , come over the

great pan ee or ocean to visi t them .

8 THE GYPS IES [ INTROD.

Afte r some conversation they commenced singing

, an d favoured me with many songs , both i nRuss ian and Rommany : the former were modernpopular pieces , such as are accustomed to besung on the boards of the theatre ; but the latterwere evidently of great antiquity , exh ibiti ng thestrongest marks of origi nal ity , the metaphors boldand subl ime, and the metre d ifferi ng from anyth i ngof the ki nd which it has been my fortu ne to observein Oriental or European prosody .

O n e of the most remarkable , an d which commenees thus

Zamateia rosherroro odolata

B ravin tata,’

(or, Her head is achi ng with grief, as if she hadtasted wine) describes the anguish of a maidenseparated from her lover, an d who cal ls for hersteed

Tedjav man ga gurraoro

that she may depart i n quest of the lord of herbosom , and share h is joys and pleasu res .A col lection of these songs , with a translation

an d vocabulary , wou ld be no sl ight accession tol i teratu re, and would probably throw more l ight onthe h istory of this race than anyth i ng which hasyet appeared an d , as there is no want of zeal an dtalent i n Russia amongst the cultivato rs of everybranch of l i terature

,an d espec ial ly ph i lology , i t is

on ly surprisi ng that such a col lection sti l l remainsa desideratum .

The rel igion which these singular females external ly professed was the Greek, an d they mostlywore crosses of copper or gold ; but when I ques

1m m ] HUNGAR IAN GYPS IES 9

tio n ed them on th is subject i n thei r nativelanguage , they laughed , and said it was on ly to

pl ease the Russians. Thei r names for God an d

h is adversary are Deval an d Bengel , which differl i ttle from the Span ish U n -debel an d Bengi , wh ichsign i fy the same. I wi l l now say someth i ng of

THE HUNGAR IAN GYPS IES , OR CZIGANY

Hungary , though a country not a tenth part soextensive as the huge colossus of the Russianempi re , whose tzar reigns Over a hundred lands ,contai ns perhaps as many Gyps ies , i t not beinguncommon to find whole vi l lages i nhabited by th israce ; they l ikewise abound in the suburbs of thetowns. I n Hungary the feudal system sti l l ex istsi n all i ts pristine barbarity ; i n no country doesthe hard hand of this oppression bear so heavyupon the lower classes— not even i n Russia. Thepeasants of Russia are serfs, i t is true, but theircondition is enviable compared with that of thesame class i n the other cou ntry they have certai nrights an d privi leges, an d are , upon the whole ,happy an d contented , whi lst the Hungarians areground to powder. Two classes are free i nHungary to do almost what they please— thenobi l ity an d— the Gypsies ; the former are abovethe law— the latter below it : a tol l is wru ng fromthe han ds of the hard-worki ng labourers , that mostmeri torious class , i n pass i ng over a bridge, forexample at Pesth , which is not demanded from awel l-dressed person— nor from the Czigany , whohave freq uen tly no dress at all— an d whose in so uciance stands i n striking contrast with the trembl ing

10 THE GYPS IES [ INTRO D .

submission of the peasants . The Gypsy,wher

ever you find h im , i s an i ncomprehensible being,but nowhere more than i n Hungary , where , i n them idst of slavery , he is free , though apparentlyo n e step lower than the lowest s lave. The habitsof the Hungarian Gypsies are abominable ; theirhovels appear sinks of the vi lest poverty an d fi l th

,

the ir dress is at best rags , thei r food frequently thevi lest carrion , an d occasional ly , if report be true,sti l l worse— o n which point , when speaking of theSpan ish Gitanos, we shal l have subsequently moreto say : thus they l ive in fi l th , i n rags , i n nakedness, an d i n merri ness of heart , for nowhere isthere more of song and dance than in an HungarianGypsy vi l lage. They are very fond of music , an dsome of them are heard to touch the viol i n i n a

manner wi ld , but of pecul iar excel lence. Partiesof them have been known to exh ibi t even at Paris.I n Hungary , as i n all parts , they are addictedto horse-deal i ng ; they are l ikewise tinkers , an d

sm i ths in a smal l way. The women are fortunetel lers , of course— both sexes th ieves Of the fi rstwate r. They roam where they l ist— in a countrywhere all other people are held under strict surveillan ce, no o n e seems to care about these Parias .The most remarkable featu re , however, connectedwi th the habits of the Czigany , consists in thei rforeign excursions , having plunder i n view , whichfrequently endure for th ree or four years, when , i fno mischance has befal len them , they return tothei r native land— rich ; where they squander theproceeds of thei r dexterity in mad festivals. Theywan der in bands of twelve and fou rteen throughFrance , even to Rome. Once, duri ng my own

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12 THE GYPS IES [ INTROD .

the same th ing is appl icable to the Gitanos ofSpai n when speaking Span ish . I n no part of theworld is the Gypsy language preserved better thani n Hungary.

The fol lowing Short prayer to the Virgin , whichI have frequently heard amongst the Gypsies ofHungary and Transylvan ia , wil l serve as a specimen o f thei r language

Gula Devla, do. me machipo. Sweet Goddess, give me heal th .

Swun tuna Devla, da me bacht t’ Holy Goddess, give me luck an d

aldaschis cari me jay ; te ferin gracewherever ! go ; an d help me,man , Devla, si la ta niapaschiata, Goddess, powerfu l and immacu o

chungalé man uschen dar, ke mo late, from ugly men , that I mayjav an dé drom ca hin man traba ; go in the road to the place I purferin man , Devla ; ma mek man pose : help me , Goddess ; forsakeDevla, ke manga man Ire Devles me no t, Goddess, for I pray forkey. God’s sake.

WALLACH IA AND MOLDAV IA

I n Wal lachia an d Moldavia, two of the easternmost regions o f Europe , are to be found sevenm i l l ions of people cal l i ng themselves Roumou n i,and speaking a d ialect of the Latin tongue muchcorrupted by barbarous terms , so cal led . Theyare supposed to be i n part descendants of Romansoldiers , Rome in the days of her grandeur havingestabl ished immense m i l i tary colon ies i n these parts .I n the m idst of these people exist vast numbersof Gypsies, amounting, I am disposed to th ink ,to at least two hundred thousand . The land ofthe Roumou n i, i ndeed , seems to have been the

h ive from which the West of Eu rope derived theGypsy part of its population . Far be it from meto say that the Gypsies sprang original ly from

m uc u ] WALLACH IA AND MOLDAV IA 13

Ro umo u n i-land . Al l I mean is , that it was thei rgrand restin g place after crossing the Danube .They entered Ro umoun i-land from Bulgaria, crossing the great river, an d from thence some went tothe north-east , overrunn ing Russia, others to thewest of Europe , as far as Spain an d England .

That the early Gypsies of the West, an d also thoseof Russia, came from Ro umoun i-land , is easi lyproved , as i n all the western Gypsy dial ects , andal so i n the Russian , are to be found words helonging to the Roumou n i speech ; for example ,primavera , spri ng ; cheros, heaven chorah , stocking ; chismey, boots — Roum— primivari, chern l,

chorapu l, ch isme . One might almost be temptedto suppose that the term Rommany , by whichthe Gypsies of Russia an d the West cal l themselves , was derived from Ro umo u n i, were i t notfor one fact , which is , that Romanus i n the Lati ntongu e merely mea ns a native of Rome , whi lstthe specific mean ing of Rome sti l l remai ns i n thedark ; whereas in Gypsy Rom means a husband ,Rommany the sect of the husbands ; Romanestiif married . Whether both words were derivedoriginal ly from the same source , as I bel ieve somepeople have supposed , i s a question which , withmy present l ights , I cannot pretend to determ ine.

THE ENGL ISH GYPS IES

No country appears less adapted for that wandering life , which seems so natural to these people,than England . Those wildern esses and forests ,which they are so attached to , are not to be foundthere ; every inch of land is cultivated , an d i ts

’

14 THE GYPS IES [m'

rao n .

produce watched with a jealous eye ; an d as thelaws agai nst trampers , without the visible meansof supporting themselves , are exceedingly severe,the possibi l ity of the Gypsies existi ng as a disti nctrace, an d retai n ing the i r original free an d i ndependent habi ts , might natural ly be cal led in questionby those who had not satisfactori ly verified the fact.Y et i t is a truth that, amidst all these seemingdisadvantages, they not on ly exist there , but i n nopart of the world is their l i fe more i n accordancewith the general idea that the Gypsy is l ike Cain ,a wandererof the earth for i n England the coveredcart an d the l itt le tent are the houses of the Gypsy ,an d he seldom remai ns more than three days i n thesame place.

At present they are considered in some degree asa privi leged people for, though thei r wayof l ife isun lawfu l , i t is conn ived at ; the law of Englandhaving discovered by experience , that i ts utmost fu ryis i nefficient to reclaim them from the i r i nveteratehabi ts .Shortly after thei r fi rst arrival in England , whichis upwards of three centuries si nce , a dreadful persecutio n was raised agai nst them , the aim of whichwas their utter exterm ination the be i ng a Gypsywas esteemed a crime worthy of death , an d thegibbets of England groaned an d creaked beneaththe weight of Gypsy carcases , an d the miserablesurvivors were l iteral ly obl iged to creep into the

earth i n order to preserve thei r l ives . But thesedays passed by their persecutors became weary ofpursui ng them they showed the i r heads from theholes an d caves where they had hidden themselves ,they ventu red forth , i ncreased i n numbers, an d ,

INTROD . ] ENGLISH GYPSIES 15

each tribe or fami ly choosi ng a particular ci rcu it,

they fai rly div ided the land amongst them .

I n England , the male Gypsies are all dealers inhorses , an d sometimes employ thei r idle time i nmending the ti n an d copper utensi ls of the peasantrythe females tel l fortunes. They general ly pitchthe i r tents i n the v ici n ity of a v i l lage or smal l townby the road side, u nder the shelter of the hedgesan d trees. The cl imate of England is wel l knownto be favourable to beauty , an d i n no part of theworld is the appearance of the Gypsies so prepossessing as i n that co untry ; thei r complexionis dark , bu t not d isagreeably so ; their faces areoval , thei r features regular, thei r foreheads ratherlow , an d thei r hands an d feet smal l . The men are

tal ler than the Engl ish peasantry , an d far moreactive. They all speak the Engl ish language withfluency , an d i n thei r gai t an d demeanour are easyan d graceful ; i n both points standing in strikingcontrast with the peasantry , who in speech are

slow an d u ncouth , an d i n manner dogged an d

brutal .The dialect of the Rommany , which they speak ,though m ixed with Engl ish words, may be considered as tolerably pure, from the fact that it isintel l igible to the Gypsy race i n the heart ofRu ssia. Whatever crimes they may commit, thei rv ices are few , for the men are not drunkards , norare the women harlots there are no two characterswhich they hold i n so much abhorrence, nor doanywords when appl ied by them convey so muchexecration as these two .

The crimes of which these people were original lyaccused were various , but the principal were theft ,

16 THE GYPSIES [ INTROD .

sorcery , an d causing d isease among the cattle andthere is every reason for supposing that i n none ofthese points they were al together gu i l tless .With respect to sorcery , a thi ng in i tself impossible , not on ly the Engl ish Gypsies , but thewhole race , have ever professed it ; therefore , whatever m isery they may have suffered on thataccount, they may be considered as having cal ledi t down upon thei r own heads.Dabbl ing in sorcery is i n some degree theprovince of the female Gypsy . She affects to tel lthe futu re , and to prepare phi l tres by means ofwhich love can be awakened i n any i nd ividualtowards any particular object ; an d such is thecredul ity of the human race , even in the mosten l ightened countries , that the profits arisi ng fromthese practices are great. The fol lowing is a casei n point : two females , neighbours and friends , weretried some years si nce , i n England , for the murderof thei r husbands . I t appeared that they were i nlove with the same ind ividual , and had conjointly ,at various times , paid sums of money to a Gypsywoman to work charms to captivate h is affections .Whatever l i ttle effect the charms m ight produce ,they were successfu l i n thei r pri ncipal object , forthe person i n question carried on for some time acrim inal i ntercourse with both . The matter cameto the knowledge of the husbands , who , takingmeans to break o ff th is connection , were respec tivelypoisoned by theirwives . Ti l l the moment of co nvictio n these wretched females betrayed neitheremotion nor fear, but then thei r conste rnation wasi ndescribable ; an d they afterwards confessed thatthe Gypsy , who had visited them in prison , had

ENGLISH GYPSIES 17

prom ised to shield them from conviction by meansof her art. I t is therefore not surprisi ng that i nthe fifteen th an d sixteenth centu ries , when a bel iefin sorce ry was supported by the laws of all Europe

,

these people were regarded as practisers of sorcery ,an d pun ished as such , when , even in the n ineteenth ,they still find people weak enough to place co n fidence i n thei r claims to supernatu ral power.The accusation of producing disease an d death

amongst the cattle was far from groundless.I ndeed , however strange an d i ncred ible it maysound i n the present day to those who are u n

acqua i nted with th is caste , an d the pecul iar habitsof the Romman ees , the practice i s sti l l occasional ly pursued in England and many other countrieswhere they are found . From th is practice

,when

they are not detected , they derive considerableadvantage. Poison ing cattle is exercised by themin two ways : by o n e, they merely cause diseasein the an imals , with the v iew of receiving moneyfor curing them u pon offeri ng the i r serv ices ;the poison is general ly admin istered by powderscast at n ight i nto the mangers of the an imals :th is way is on ly practi sed upon the larger cattle ,such as horses an d cows . By the other, whichthey practise ch iefly on swine , speedy death isalmost i nvariably produced , the drug admin is

tered be i ng of a h ighly i ntoxicating natu re , an d

affecti ng the brai n . They then apply at the houseor farm where the disaster has occurred for thecarcase of the an imal , which is general ly giventhem without suspicion , an d then they feast on theflesh

,which is not i njured by the poison , which

on ly affects the head .

t8 THE GYPS IES {m am} .

The Engl ish Gypsies are constant attendan ts atthe racecourse ; what jockey is not ? Perhapsjockeyi sm origi nated with them , and even racing,at least i n England . Jockeyism properly impl iesthe managemen t of a whip, an d the word jockeyis neither more nor less than the term sl ightlymodified , by which they designate the form idablewhips which they usual ly carry , and which are atpresent i n general use amongst horse-traffickers ,under the title of jockey whips. They are l ikewisefond of resorting to the prize-ri ng, and haveoccasional ly even atta i ned some em inence

,as

pri ncipals, i n those d isgraceful and brutal isingexhibitions cal led pugi l istic combats . I bel ievea great deal has been written on the subject ofthe Engl ish Gypsies , but the writers have dwelttoo much in general i ties ; they have been afraidto take the Gypsy by the hand , lead h im forthfrom the crowd , an d exh ibit h im in the area ; heis wel l worth observing. When a boy of fou rteen ,I was present at a prize-fight ; why should I h idethe truth ? I t took place on a green meadow

,

beside a runn ing stream , close by the old churchof E an d with in a league of the ancient townof N the capital of one of the eastern counties.The terrible Thurtell was present, lord of the

concou rse for wherever he moved he was master,an d whenever he spoke , even when i n chai ns ,every other voice was si lent. He stood on themead , grim and pale as usual , with his bru isersaround . He it was , i ndeed , who got up the fight,as he had previously done twen ty others it beinghis frequent boast that he had first i ntroducedbru ising an d bloodshed amidst ru ral scenes , and

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20 THE GYPSI ES

was seen , i f that can be cal led a glance which is astrange stare , l i ke noth ing else i n th is world . H iscomplexion was a beautifu l ol ive ; an d his teethwere of a bri l l iancy uncommon even amongst thesepeople , who have al l fine teeth . He was dressedi n a coarse waggoner’s slop , which , however, wasunable to conceal altogether the proportions of h isnoble and Herculean figu re . He might be abouttwenty-eight. His compan ion an d h is captai n

,

Gypsy Wil l , was, I th ink , fifty when he washanged , ten years subsequently (for I never afterwards lost sight of h im) , i n the front of the jai lof Bury St. Edmunds. I have sti l l present beforeme his bushy black hai r, h is black face, an d h isbig black eyes fixed an d stari ng. His dress consisted of a loose blue jockey coat, jockey bootsand breeches ; i n h is hand was a huge jockeywhip, an d on h is head (i t struck me at the timefor i ts singu lari ty) a broad-brimmed , h igh-peakedAndal usian hat, or at l east o n e very much re

sembl ing those general ly worn i n that province.

I n stature he was shorter than his more youthful compan ion , yet he must have measured sixfeet at least, an d was stronger bui lt, i f possible.

What brawn l— what bone l— what legs l— whatth ighs ! The thi rd Gypsy , who remai ned onhorseback, looked more l i ke a phantom than anyth ing human . His complexion was the colourof pale dust, an d of that same colou r was all thatpertained to h im , hat an d clothes . His boots weredusty of course , for it was midsummer, an d hisvery horse was of a dusty du n . His featu res werewhimsical ly ugly , most of h is teeth were gone,an d as to h is age, he might be th i rty or sixty .

INTROD . ] ENGL ISH GYPSIES 2 1

He was somewhat lame an d hal t, but an u n

equal led rider when once upon h is steed , whichhe was natural ly not very sol icitous to quit. I

subsequently discovered that he was consideredthe wizard of the gang.

I have been already prol ix with respect to theseGypsies , but I wi l l not leave them quite yet. Thei ntended combatants at length arrived ; i t wasnecessary to clear the ri ng,— always a troublesomean d di fficul t task. Thurtell went up to the twoGypsies , with whom he seemed to be acquai nted ,an d with h is surly sm i le , said two or th ree words ,wh ich I , who was standing by , d id not understand .

The Gypsies sm iled i n retu rn , an d giv i ng there i ns of thei r an imals to thei r mounted compan ion ,immediately set about the task which the king ofthe flash-men had, as I conjecture , imposed uponthem ; th is they soon accompl ished . Who couldstand agai nst such fel lows an d such wh ips ? Thefight was soon over— then there was a pause .Once more Thurtell came up to the Gypsies an dsaid someth ing— the Gypsies looked at each otheran d conversed but thei r words then had no meani ng for my ears. The tal l Gypsy shook h is headVery wel l ,

’ said the other, i n Engl ish , ‘ I wi l l— that ’5 all. ’

Then pushing the people aside , he strode tothe ropes , over which he bounded i nto the ring,fl i nging his Span ish hat h igh into the air.

Gj ybsy Wz'

ll . The best man i n England fo rtwenty pou nds 17 7mrteZL I am backerTwenty pounds is a tempting sum , an d therewere men that day upon the green meadow who

22 THE GYPSIES [rurao rx

would have shed the blood of thei r own fathers forthe fifth of the price. But the Gypsy was not anunknown man , h is prowess and strength werenotorious , an d no o n e cared to encounter h im .

Some of the Jews looked eager for a moment ; butthei r sharp eyes quai led quickly before his savageglances , as he towered in the ri ng, his huge formdi lating, an d h is black featu res convul sed withexcitement. The Westm inster bravoes eyed theGypsy askance ; bu t the comparison , i f they madeany, seemed by no means favourable to themse lves . ‘ Gypsyl rum chap .

— Ugly customer,always i n trai n i ng.

’ Such were the exclamationswhich I heard , some of which at that period of myl ife I did not understand .

No man would fight the Gypsy .— Yes ! a strong

country fel low wished to win the stakes , an d wasabout to fl i ng up his hat i n defiance , but he wasprevented by h is friends , with— ‘ Pool i he ’l l kil lyou ! ’

As the Gypsies were mounting thei r horses , Iheard the dusty phantom exclaim

‘ Brother, you are an arrant ri ng-maker an d a

horse-breaker ; you’l l make a hempen ri ng to

break your own neck of a horse o n e of these days . ’

They pressed thei r horses’ flanks , agai n leapedover the di tches , and speedi van ished , amidst thewhirlwinds of dust which they raised upon theroad .

The words of the phantom Gypsy were om inous.Gypsy Wil l was eventual ly executed for a mu rdercommitted i n his early youth , i n company withtwo Engl ish labourers, one of whom confessedthe fact on h is death-bed . He was the head of

INTROD . ] GYPSY GLANS 23

the c lan Young, which , with the clan Smith , sti l lhaunts two of the eastern counties .

SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE

ENGLISH GYPS IES

I t is diflicu lt to say at what period the Gypsies orRommany made their fi rst appearance in England .

They had become , however, such a nuisance i nthe time of Henry the Eighth , Phi l ip an d Mary ,an d El izabeth , that Gypsyism was denounced byvarious royal statutes , an d, i f persisted in , was tobe pun ished as felony without benefi t of clergy ;i t is probable, however, that they had overru nEngland long before the period of the earl iest ofthese monarchs . The Gypsies penetrate i nto all

countries , save poor ones , an d i t is hardly to besupposed that a few l eagues of in terven i ng sal twater would have kept a race so enterprising anyco nsiderable length of time , after thei r arrival onthe conti nent of Eu rope , from obtai n i ng a footi ngin the fai rest and richest country of the West.I t is easy enough to conceive the manner i nwhich the Gypsies l ived i n England for a longtime subsequent to thei r arrival : doubtless i n a

half-savage state , wanderi ng about from place toplace, encamping on the u n inhabited spots , ofwhich there were then so many in England

,feared

and hated by the population , who looked uponthem as th ieves an d fore ign sorcerers , occasional lycommitti ng acts of brigandage , but dependi ngchiefly for subsistence on the practice of the ‘

artsof Egypt,

’ i n which cunn ing an d dexterity were farmore necessary than courage or strength of hand .

24 THE GY PS IES [ 1m ao o .

I t would appear that they were always d ividedi nto clans or tribes, each beari ng a particular name,and to wh ich a particular d istrict more especial lybelonged , though occasional ly they would exchangedistricts for a period

,an d , i ncited by thei r charac

teristic love of wanderi ng, would travel far an d

wide. Of these famil ies each had a sher-en gro ,

or head man , but that they were ever un ited underone Rommany Kral l is, or Gypsy King, as somepeople have i nsisted , there is not the sl ightest groundfor supposing.

I t is possible that many of the original Gypsytribes are no longer i n existence : d isease or thelaw may have made sad havoc among them , an d

the few survivors have incorporated themselveswith other fami l ies

,whose name they have adopted .

Two or three i nstances of th is descri ption haveoccurred with i n the sphere of my own knowledgethe heads of smal l famil ies have been cut 03 , an dthe subordinate members , too young an d in ex

perien ced to conti nue Gypsying as i ndependentwanderers , have been adopted by other tribes .The pri ncipal Gypsy tri bes at present i n existence

are the Stan leys , whose grand haunt is the NewForest ; the Lovel ls , who are fond of London an d

i ts vici n ity ; the Coopers , who cal l Windso rCastle thei r home the Hernes , to whom the northcountry , more especial ly Yorksh i re , belongeth ;an d lastly , my brethren , the Smiths, to whomEast Angl ia appears to have been al lotted fromthe begi nn ing.

Al l these famil ies have Gypsy names , which seem ,

however, to be l i ttle more than attempts at translation of the Engl ish ones — thus the Stan leys are

1NTRo o . ] GYPSY CLANS 25

cal l ed Bar-en gres‘, which means stony-fel lows , or

stony-hearts ; the Coopers , Wardo-en gres , or wheelwrights ; the Lovel ls, Camo-mescres , or amorousfel lows ; the Hern es (German Haaren) Balors,hai rs , or hai ry men ; whi le the Smiths are cal ledPetu l-en gres, sign ify i ng horseshoe fel lows, or blacksmiths.It i s not very easy to determ i ne how the Gypsiesbecame possessed of some of these names : the

reader, however, wi l l have observed that two ofthem , Stan ley and Lovel l , are the names of twohigh ly ari stocratic Engl ish fami l ies ; the Gypsieswho hear them perhaps adopted them from having,at thei r fi rst arrival , establ ished themselves on theestates of those great people ; or it is possible thatthey translated thei r origi nal Gypsy appel lationsby these n ames ,

‘

which they deemed synonymous .Much the same may be said with respect to Herne,an ancient Engl ish name ; they probably sometimes ofl‘iciated as coopers or wheelwrights , whencethe cognomination . Of the term Petu l-engro , or

Smith , however, I wish to say someth ing in particu lar.

There is every reason for bel ieving that th is lastis a genuine Gypsy name , brought with them fromthe country from which they original ly came it iscompounded of two words , sign ifying, as has been

I t may n ot be amiss to give the etymology o f the word en gro ,

which so frequen tly occurs in compoun d words in the En g lish Gypsytongue — the an properly belon gs to the precedin g n oun , being o n e o f

the forms o f the gen itive case ; for example, E l ik-m boro congry, thegreat Church orCathedral o f Ely the gro, orgrim (Span ish gum ),is the Sanscri t bar, a particle much used in that language in the formation o f compoun ds ; I n eed scarcely add that manger in the Engl ishwords Costermon ger, Ironmonger, etc. , is derived from the same root.

26 THE GYPSIES [mrao u

al ready observed , horseshoe fel lows , or peoplewhose trade i s to manufac ture horseshoes , a tradewhich the Gypsies ply in various parts of the world ,—for example , i n Russia an d Hungary , and moreparticularly about Granada in Spain , as wi l l subsequently be shown . True i t is , that at presentthere are none amongst the Engl ish Gypsies whomanufacture horseshoes ; all the men , however,are ti nkers more or less , an d the word Fetu l-en groi s appl ied to the ti nker also , though the propermean ing of it is u ndoubtedly what I have al readystated above . I n other d ialects of the Gypsytongue, th is cognomen exists , though not exactlywith the same sign ification ; for example, i n the

Hungarian d ialect, Pr'

n doro , which is evidently a

modification of Fetu l-en gro , is appl ied to a Gypsyi n general , whi lst i n Span ish Pepin dorio i s theGypsy word for Anton io . I n some parts of NorthernAsia, the Gypsies cal l themselvesWattu l ‘, wh ichseems to be one and the same as Petu l.Besides the above-named Gypsy clans , there areother smal ler ones , some of which do not comprisemore than a dozen ind ividuals , ch i ld ren included .

For example, the B o sviles , the Browns , the Chi lcotts , the Grays , Lees, Taylors , an d Whites ; ofthese the pri ncipal is the B osvile tribe.

After the days of the great persecution i n Englandagai nst the Gypsies , there can be l i ttle doubt thatthey l ived a right merry an d tranqu i l l ife , wanderi ng about an d pitch ing thei r tents wherever i ncl i nation led them : i ndeed , I can scarcely conceive any

1 For the kn owledge of this fact I am in debted to the wel l-kn ownan d en terprising travel ler, M r. V ign e, whose highly in terestin g workon Cashmire an d the Pan jab requires n o recommen dation fromme.

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28 THE GYPS IES [mraou

By the first sec tion the Rom or Gypsy is enjoi nedto l ive wi th h is breth ren , the husbands , and notwi th the gorgios

l or genti les ; he is to l ive i n a

tent, as is befitti ng a Rom an d a wanderer, an d noti n a house , which ties h im to o n e spot i n a word ,he is i n every respect to conform to the ways of h isown people , an d to eschew those of gorgios, withwhom he is not to m ix , save to tel l them Izoquepen es

(l ies) , an d to chore them .

The second section , i n which fidel ity is enjoi ned ,was more particularly intended for the women befaithful to the Rams , ye j uwas , an d take not upwith the gorgios , whether they be rar

’

or or batter

(gentlemen or fel lows). This was a very importanti njunction , so much so , i ndeed , that upon theobservance of it depended the very existence of theRommany sect

,— fo r if the female Gypsy adm itted

the gorgio to the privi lege of the Rom , the race ofthe Rommany would quickly d isappear. How wel lth is i njunction has been observed needs scarcely besaid ; for the Rommany have been rovi ng aboutEngland for th ree centuries at l east, an d are sti l l tobe distingu ished from the gorgios i n feature an d

complexion , which assured ly would not have beenthe case if the juwas had not been faithfu l to theRoms . The gorgio says that the j uwa is at h isd isposal i n all th i ngs, because she tel ls h im fortunesan d endures h is free discourse ; but the Rom , whenhe hears the boast, laughs with in h is sleeve , an dwhispers to h imself, Let him try.

The th i rd section , which relates to the paying of

Gorgio (Span ish get-ho ), a man who is n ot a Gypsy : the Span ishGypsies term the Gen tiles B usn e, the mean in g of which word wi l l beexplain ed farther on .

INTROD . ] THE AZORRHUS 29

debts , is h ighly cu rious. In the Gypsy language,

the state of bei ng i n debt is cal led Pasorrhus , an dthe Rom who did not seek to extricate h imself fromthat state was deemed in famous , an d eventual lytu rned out of the society. I t has been asserted , Ibel ieve, by various gorgio wri ters , that the Romshave everyth ing in common , and that there i s a

common stock out of which every one takes what heneeds ; th is is qu i te a mistake , however : a Gypsytribe is an epitome of the world ; every one keepsh is own purse an d maintai ns himse lf an d chi ldrento the best of h is abi l i ty , an d every tent is independent o f the other. True it is that one Gypsywi l l lend to another i n the expectation of beingrepaid , and u nti l that happen the borrower is

paz orrhus, or indebted . Even at the present time,

a Gypsy wi l l make the greatest sacrifices ratherthan remain paz orrhus to one of his breth ren , eventhough he be of another clan though perhaps thefeel i ng is not so strong as of old , for time modifieseveryth ing ; even Jews an d Gypsies are aflected byit. I n the old time , i ndeed , the Gypsy law was sostrong agai nst the debtor, that provided he couldnot repay his brother husband , he was del iveredover to h im as h is slave for a year an d a day, an d

compel led to serve h im as a hewer of wood, a

drawer of water, or a beast of burden ; but thosetimes are past, the Gypsies are no longer theindependent people they were of yore, — dark,mysterious, an d dreaded wanderers , l iving aparti n the deserts an d heaths with which England at

on e time abounded . Gypsy law has given place tocommon law ; but the pri nciple of honour is sti l lrecogn ised amongst them , an d base i ndeed must

30 THE GY PS IES [mrao u

the Gypsy be who would conti nue paz orrhus

because Gypsy law has become too weak toforce h im to l iqu idate a debt by money or byservice.

Such was Gypsy law i n England , an d there isevery probabi l i ty that i t is much the same i n all

parts of the world where the Gypsy race is tobe found . Abou t the pecul iar practices of theGypsies I need not say much here ; the reader w i l lfind in the account of the Span ish Gypsies muchthat wi l l afl

'

ord h im an idea of Gypsy arts i nEngland . I have al ready al luded to chz

'

m'

ng draw,or poison ing, which is sti l l much practised by theEngl ish Gypsies , though it has almost entirelyceased in Spai n then there is chz

'

m'

ng [warm adrey

paw , o r putti ng money with in the earth , a trickby which the females deceive the gorgios , andwhich wi l l be more particu larly described i n theaffai rs of Spai n : the men are adepts at cheati ngthe gorgios by means o f n ok-engroer an d poggadobaveng

‘ mes (glandered an d broken-winded horses) .B ut, leaving the subject of thei r tricks andRommany arts , by no means an agreeable one ,I wi l l take the present opportun ity of saying a fewwords about a practice of thei rs , h ighly characteristic of a wanderi ng people, an d which is on lyextant amongst those of the race who sti l l conti nueto wander much ; for example, the Russian Gypsiesan d those of the Hungarian fami ly , who strol lthrough I taly on plunderi ng expeditions : I al l udeto thepatterzm or trail.I t i s very possible that the reader during h iscountry walks or rides has observed , on com ing tofour cross-roads , two or three handfu ls of grass

1511 110 11 ] THE PATTERAN 3 1

ly i ng at a smal l d istance from each other down oneof these roads ; perhaps he may have supposed thatth is grass was recently plucked from the roadsideby frol icsome chi ldren , an d flung upon the groundi n sport , an d th is may possibly have been the case ;i t is ten chan ces to o n e, however, that no ch i ldren

’shands plucked them , but that they were strewed inthis manner by Gypsies , for the pu rpose of informi ng an y of thei r compan ions , who might be straggl i ng behind , the route wh ich they had taken ; th isis one form of the patteran or trai l . I t is l ikely ,too , that the gorgio readermay have seen a crossdrawn at the entrance of a road , the long part orstem of i t poi nti ng down that particu lar road , andhe may have thought noth ing of it , or have supposed that some saunteri ng i nd iv idual l ike h imselfhad made the mark with h is stick : not so , courteo us gorgio ; ley ti ro so lloho lomus opre

'

lesti ,youmay take your oath upon it that i t was drawn bya Gypsy finger, for that mark is another of theRommany trai ls ; there i s no mistake i n th is .Once in the south of France , when I was weary ,hungry , an d penn i less , I observed one of these last

patteran s, an d fol lowi ng the direction pointed ou t,arrived at the resting-place of certai n Bohemians ,

’

by whom I was received with ki ndness an d hospital i ty , on the fai th of no otherword of recommendation than patteran . There is also another kindof patteran , which is more particu larly adapted forthe n ight it is a cleft stick stuck at the side of theroad

,close by the hedge, with a l i ttle arm i n the

cleft po i n ting down the road which the band havetaken ,

i n the man ner of a signpost any stragglerswho may arrive at n ight where cross-roads occur

32 THE GYPSIES [mrao u

search for th is patteran on the left-hand side, andspeedi ly rejoi n their compan ions.By fol lowing these patteran s , or trai ls , the fi rstGypsies on thei r way to Europe never lost eachother, though wanderi ng amidst horrid wi ldernesses an d dreary defiles. Rommany matters havealways had a pecul iar i nterest for me ; noth ing,however, connected with Gypsy l ife ever morecaptivated my imagi nation than th is patteran

system : many thanks to the Gypsies for i t ; i t hasmore than once been of service to me.The Engl ish Gypsies at the present dayare farfrom being a numerous race ; I consider thei raggregate number, from the opportun i ties which Ihave had of judging, to be considerably under tenthousand : i t is probable that , ere the conclusionof the present century , they wi l l have enti rely d isappeared . They are i n general qu ite strangers tothe commonest rudiments of education ; few evenof the most wealthy can either read or wri te. Withrespect to rel igion , they cal l themselves membersof the Establ ished Church , an d are general lyanxious to have thei r ch i ldren baptiz ed

, an d toobtai n a copy of the register. Some of thei rbaptismal papers , which they carry about wi ththem , are h ighly curious , going back for a periodof upwards of two hundred years . With respectto the essential poin ts of rel igion , they are qu itecareless and ignorant ; i f they bel ieve i n a futurestate they dread it not, and if they man ifest whendying any anxiety , i t is not for the soul , but thebody : a handsome coflin

, and a grave i n a qu ietcountry churchyard , are i nvariably the objects ofthei r last thoughts and it is probable that, i n thei r

1141 11011 ] THE ZINGARR I 33

observance of the ri te of baptism , theyprincipal ly influenced by a desi re to enjoy the

privi lege of burial i n consecrated grouhd . AGypsy fami ly never speak of thei r dead save withregret an d aff ection , an d any request of the dyingi ndividual is attended to, especial ly wi th regard toi nterment so much so , that I have known a corpseconveyed a d istance of nearly one hundred m i les

,

because the deceased expressed a wish to be buriedi n a particu lar spot.Of the language of the Engl ish Gypsies

,some

specimens wi l l be given i n the sequel ; it is muchmore pure and copious than the Span ish dialect.I t has been asserted that the Engl ish Gypsies arenot possessed of any poetry i n thei r own tongue ;but this is a gross error ; they possess a great manysongs and bal lads upon ordi nary subjects , withoutany particular merit

,however

,an d seem ingly of a

very modern date.

THE GYPS IES OF THE EAST, OR ZINGARR I

What has been said of the Gypsies of Europe is ,to a considerable extent, appl icable to thei r brethreni n the East, or, as they are cal led , Zin garri; theyare either found wanderi ng amongst the deserts ormountai ns , or settled i n towns, supporting themselves by horse-deal i ng or j ugglery , by music an dsong. I n no part of the East are they morenumerous than in Turkey , especial ly i n Constantin ople, where the females frequently enter theharems of the great, pretend i ng to cure ch i ldren of‘ the evi l eye,

’ and to i nterpret the dreams of thewomen . They are not unfrequently seen i n the

c

34 THE GY PS IES [ INTROD .

coffee-houses , exh ibiting thei r figures in lasc iv iousdances to the tune of various instruments ; yetthese females are by no means unchaste , howeverthe i r manners an d appearance may denote the contrary, an d either Turk or Christian who , stimulatedby the i r songs an d voluptuous movements , shouldaddress them with proposals of a dishonou rablenature

,would , i n al l probabi l i ty , meet with a

dec ided repulse.Among the Zin garri are not a few who deal i nprecious stones , an d some who vend poisons ; an dthe most remarkable i nd ividual whom it has beenmy fortune to encounter amongst the Gypsies

,

whether of the Eastern or Western world , was a

person who dealt i n both these articles. He was anative of Constantinople , an d i n the pursu it of h istrade had visited the most remote and remarkableportions of the world . He had traversed alone an don foot the greatest part of I nd ia he spoke severald ialects of the Malay , an d understood the origi nallanguage of Java, that isle more fertile i n poisonsthan even ‘ far Io lchos an d Spain .

’ From what Icould learn from him , it appeared that h is jewelswere i n less request than h is d rugs , though heassured me that there was scarcely a Bey or Satrapi n Persia or Turkey whom he had not suppl ied withboth . I have seen th is i nd ividual i n more countriesthan one, for he flits over the world l i ke the shadowof a cloud ; the last time at Granada in Spai n ,whither he had come after paying a visit to h isGitano breth ren i n the presid io of Ceuta.

Few Eastern authors have spoken of the Zingarri , notwithstanding they have been knownin the East for many centuri es ; amongst the

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36 THE GYPS IES [1141 110 11

excesses , an d th is they repeated no less than threetimes , an d he at length laid a plan for thei r utterexterm ination , and it was the fol lowing — He

commenced bui ld ing a wal l , an d he summonedunto him the peop le smal l an d great, an d heal lotted to every man h is place , an d to every workman h is duty , and he stationed the Zin garri andthei r ch ieftains apart ; an d i n o n e particu lar spothe placed a band of soldiers , an d he commandedthem to ki l l whomsoever he should send to themand having done so , he cal led to h im the headsof the people, and he fi l led the cup for them andclothed them in splendid vests ; and when the turncame to the Zin garri, he l ikewise pledged one ofthem , an d bestowed a vest upon him , an d sent h imwith a message to the sold iers , who, as soon as hearrived , tore from him h is vest, and stabbed h im ,

pouring forth the gold of h is heart i nto the pan ofdestruction , ‘ an d i n th is way they conti nued unti lthe last of them was destroyed ; an d by that blowhe exterm inated thei r race , and their traces , andfrom that time forward there were no more rebell ions in Samarcand .

’

I t has of late years been o n e of the favouritetheories of the learned , that Timour

’

s i nvasion ofH indostan , and the cruelties committed by h issavage hordes i n that part of the world , caused avast number of H indoos to abandon their nativeland

,an d that the Gypsies of the present day are

the descendants of those exi les who wended thei rweary way to the West. Now, provided the abovepassage i n the work of Arabschah be enti tled tocredence, the opin ion that T imour was the cause of

An Eastern image tan tamoun t to the taking away of life.

1141 11011 ] ART IFICE or TIMOUR 37

the expatriation and subsequent wanderi ng l ife ofthese people , must be abandoned as untenable.At the time he i s stated by the Arabian writer tohave an n ihilated the Gypsy hordes of Samarcand

,

he had but j ust commenced h is career of conquestan d devastation , an d had not even di rected h isthoughts to the invasion of I ndia ; yet at th is early

period of the h istory of h is l ife , we find fami l ies ofZin garriestablished at Samarcand , l ivi ng much inthe same manner as others of the race have subsequently done i n various towns of Europe and theEast ; but supposing the event here narrated tobe a fable , or at best a floati ng legend , i t appearssingu lar that, if they left thei r native land to escapefrom Timou r, they should never have mentionedin the Western world the name of that scourge ofthe human race , nor detai l ed the h istory of thei rflight and sufferi ngs, which assured ly would have

procured them sympathy ; the ravages of Timourbeing al ready but too wel l known i n Europe.That they came from I ndia is much easier to provethan that they fled before the fierce Mongol .Such people as the Gypsies , whom the Bishop

of Forl i i n the year 142 2 , on ly sixteen years subsequent to the i nvasion of I ndia, describes as a

‘ ragi ng rabble, of brutal an d an imal propen sities ,’ l

are not such as general ly abandon thei r country onforeign i nvasion .

Gen tes n on multum morigeratae, sed quasi bruta an imalia et

furen tes. See vo l. xxii . o f the Supplemen t to the works o f Muratori,9 890

T H E ZI N C A L I

OR A N ACCO UNT

OF TH E GY PS I E S

OF S PA I N

PA RT I

T H E ZINC A L I

PART I

C H A P T E R I

GrrArlo s , or Egyptians, i s the name by wh ich theGyps i es have been most general ly known in Spai n ,in the ancient as wel l as i n the modern period , butvarious other names have been and sti l l are appl iedto them ; for examp le , New Casti l ians, Germans,and Flemings ; the first of which titles probablyoriginated after the name of Gitano had begunto be considered a term of reproach and infamy.

They may have thus designated themselves froman unwi l l i ngness to utter, when speaki ng of themselves , the detested expression

‘ Gitano ,’ a word

which seldom escapes thei r mouths ; or it mayhave been appl ied to them first by the Span iards,i n thei r mutual deal i ngs an d commun ication , as aterm less calculated to wound thei r feel i ngs an d tobeget a spi ri t of an imosity than the other ; but,however it m ight have originated , New Casti lian , i ncou rse of time, became a term of l ittle less infamythan Gitano for, by the law of Phi l ip the Fourth ,both terms are forbidden to be appl ied to themunder severe penal ties .

42 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

That they were cal led Germans, may be ao

counted for, either by the supposition that thei rgeneric name of Rommany was m isunderstood an dmispronounced by the Span iards amongst whomthey came , or from the fact of thei r having passedthrough Germany i n thei r way to the south , andbearing passports and letters of safety from thevarious German states. The title of Flemings

,by

wh ich at the present day they are known i n variousparts of Spain , would probably never have beenbestowed upon them but from the ci rcumstanceof thei r having been designated or bel ieved to beGermans,— as German an d Fleming are consideredby the ignorant as synonymous terms.Amongst themselves they have three words tod isti ngu ish them and thei r race in general : Zincalo ,Romano, and Chai of the first two of which someth ing has been al ready said .

They l ikewise cal l themselves Cales,’ by wh ich

appel lation i ndeed they are tolerably wel l knownby the Span iards , an d which is merely the plu ralterm ination of the compound word Zincalo

, an d

sign ifies , The black men . Chai is a modificationof the word Chai, which , by the Gitanos of Estremadura, is appl ied to Egypt, and in many partsof Spai n is equivalent to Heaven ,

’

an d which isperhaps a modification of ‘ Chero s,

’ the word forheaven i n other d ialects of the Gypsy language .Thus Chai may denote , The men of Egypt, or, Thesons of Heaven . I t is , however, right to observe ,that amongst the Gitanos, the word Chai has frequently no other sign ification than the simple o n e

of ch i ldren .

’

I t is imposs ible to state for certai nty the exact

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44 THE Z INCALI [P11111 I .

wherever thei r hordes were found , they were attacked by the i ncensed rustics or by the armedhand of j ustice , an d those who were not massacredon the spot, or could not escape by fl ight , were ,without a shadow of a trial , either hanged on thenext tree , or sent to serve for l ife i n the gal leys orif females or ch i ldren , e ither scourged or mu tilated .

The consequence of th is severity , which , considerin g the manners an d spi ri t of the time, isscarcely to be wondered at

,was the speedy

disappearance of the Gypsies from the soi l ofFrance.Many returned by the way they came, toGermany , Hungary , an d the woods and forestsof Bohemia ; but there is l i ttle doubt that by farthe greater portion found a refuge i n the Pen i nsula

,a country which , though by no means so rich

and ferti le as the one they had quitted , nor ofleri ng so wide an d ready a field for the exercise ofthose fraudulent arts for which thei r race had hecome so i nfamously notorious , was , neverthel ess, i nmany respects, su itable an d congen ial to them .

I f there were less gold and si lver i n the pursesof the citizens to reward the dexterous handler ofthe kn ife and sc issors amidst the crowd i n themarket-place if fewer sides of fatted swine gracedthe amp le ch imney of the labourer i n Spai n thanin the neighbou ri ng country ; i f fewer beevesbel lowed in the plai ns, an d fewer sheep bleatedupon the h i l l s, there were far better opportu n i tiesafiorded of indulgi ng in wi ld i ndependence. Shouldthe halberded bands of the city be ordered outto quel l , seize, or exterm inate them ; should the

alcalde of the vi l lage cause the tocsin to be rung,

CHAP. PECULIARITIES OF SPAIN 45

gatheri ng together the vi l lan os for a sim i lar purpose

, the wi ld sierra was general ly at hand , which ,with its winding paths, i ts caves , i ts frown ingprecipices , and ragged th ickets , would o ffer tothem a secure refuge where they might laugh toscorn the rage of thei r hamed pursuers , an d fromwhich they might emerge either to fresh districtsor to those which they had left, to repeat theirravages when opportun ity served .

After crossi ng the Pyrenees , a very short timeelapsed before the Gypsy hordes had bivouackedi n the principal provinces of Spain . There can

i ndeed be l ittle doubt, that shortly after thei rarrival they made themselves perfectly acquai ntedwith al l the secrets of the land , and that therewas scarcely a nook or reti red corner with in Spain ,from which the smoke of thei r fi res had not ari sen ,or where thei r cattle had not grazed . People

,

however, so acute as they have always proverbial lybeen , would scarcely be slow in disti nguishing theprovinces most adapted to thei r manner of l ife ,and most calculated to afford them opportun itiesof practisi ng those arts to which they were main lyi ndebted for thei r subsistence ; the savage hi l lsof Biscay , of Gal icia, an d the Astu rias , whoseinhabitants were almost as poor as themselves ,which possessed no superior breed of horses ormules from amongst which they m ight pick andpurloi n many a gal lant beast, an d having transformed by their dexterous scissors , impose himagain upon h is rightfu l master for a high price,such provinces , where , moreover, provisions werehard to be obtai ned , even by pi lfering hands, couldscarce ly be supposed to offer strong temptations to

46 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

these rovi ng visitors to settle down in , or to vex

an d harass by a long sojourn .

Valencia an d Murc ia found far more favour inthei r eyes ; a far more fertile soi l , and wealth ieri nhabitants , were better calculated to entice themthere was a prospect of pl un der

,and l i kewise a

prospect of safety an d refuge, should the dogs ofjustice be roused agai nst them . I f there were thepopulous town and vi l lage in those lands , therewas l ikewise the lone waste, and uncu ltivated spot,to which they could reti re when danger threatenedthem . Sti l l more su itable to them must havebeen La Mancha, a land of ti l lage , of horses, andof mules , ski rted by its brown sierra , ever eagerto afford i ts shel ter to the i r dusky race . Equal lysuitable, Estremadura an d New Casti le ; but far,far more, Andalusia, with its th ree kingdoms, Jaen ,Granada, an d Sevi l le, one of which was sti l lpossessed by the swarthy Moor,— Andalusia, theland of the proud steed an d the stubborn mule,the land of the savage sierra an d the fru itfu l an dcu l tivated plain : to Andalusia they hied , i n bandsof th i rties an d sixties ; the hoofs of thei r assesmight be heard clatteri ng i n the passes of thestony hi l ls ; the gi rls m ight be seen bounding inlasc ivious dan ce i n the streets of many a town ,an d the beldames standing beneath the eaves tel li ng the buena ventura to many a credulous femaledupe ; the men the while chafl

'

ered i n the fai r an dmarket-place with the labourers an d chalanes ,casti ng sign ificant glances on each other, or exchanging a word or two i n Rommany , whi lstthey placed some uncouth an imal i n a particularposture which served to conceal its ugl iness from

CHAP . L ] PROVINCES FREQUENTED 47

the eyes of the Chapman . Y es, of all provi ncesof Spai n , Andalusia was the most frequented bythe Gitano race, an d i n Andalusia they mostabound at the present day

,though no longer as

restless i ndependent wanderers of the fields andhi l ls , but as residents i n vi l lages an d towns ,especial ly i n Sevi l le.

48 THE ZINCAL I [PART 1.

C H A P T E R I I

HAV ING al ready stated to the reader at what periodand by what means these wanderers i ntroducedthemselves in to Spain , we shal l now say someth ingconcern ing the i r manner of l ife .I t would appear that , for many years after thei rarrival i n the Pen insu la, thei r manners and habitsunderwent no change ; they were wanderers, i nthe strictest sense of the word , an d l ived much i nthe same way as thei r brethren exist i n the presentday in England , Russia, an d Bessarabia, with theexception perhaps of bei ng more mgkless, mischievous , an d bavin le o 1

'

t

is true at t ctr superiority in wickedness 1n thesepoints may have been more the effect of the moralstate of the country in wh ich they were , than of anyother operati ng cause .Arriving in Spai n with a predisposition to everyspecies of crime an d vil lai ny , they were not l ikelyto be improved or reclaimed by the example of thepeople with whom they were about to m ix ; norwas it probable that they would entertai n muchrespect for laws which , from time immemorial , havepri ncipal ly served , not to protect the honest an dusefu l members of society , but to en rich those entrusted with the admin istration o f them . Thus

,if

CRAP. PREDATORY HAB ITS 49

they came th ieves , i t is n ot probable that theywould become ashamed of the title of th ief i nSpai n , where the officers of justice were ever wi l l i ngto shield an offender on rece iv ing the largest portion of the booty obtai ned . I f on thei r arrival theyheld the l ives of others i n very low estimation

,

could it be expected that they would become gentleas lambs i n a land where blood had i ts price , an dthe shedder was seldom executed un less he waspoor an d fri endless , and unable to cram with ouncesof yel low gold the greedy hands of the pursuers ofblood ,— the alguaz i l and escribano ? therefore, i fthe Span ish Gypsies been mogg plggdy an d

those of their race i n most other re°

ons , the causemust be attributed to the i r residence in a countryunsound i n every branch of its civi l pol ity , whereright has ever been i n less esteem , an d wrongi n less d isrepute , than in any other part of theworld .

However, i f the moral state of Spain was notcalculated to have a favourable effect on the habitsan d pursu i ts of the Gypsies , thei r manners were asl i ttle calculated to operate beneficial ly , in any pointof view,

on the country where they had latelyarrived . Divided i nto numerous bodies , frequentlyform idable i n point of number, the ir resen ce was

W mthei r steps. 5 mtg t be expected , the labourers,who i n all coun tries are the most honest

,most

useful , and meri torious class , were the pri ncipalsuflerers ; thei r mules an d horses were stolen

,

carried away to distant fai rs , and there disposedof, perhaps, to i nd ividuals desti ned to be deprived

D

50 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

of them in a sim i lar man n er ; whi lst thei r flocksof sheep an d goats were laid under requ isi tion toassuage the hungry cravings of these th ievishcormorants.I t was not uncommon for a large band or tribeto encamp in the v ici n ity of a remote vi l lage scanti lypeopled , and to remai n there unti l , l ike a fl ight oflocusts , they had consumed everyth ing which thei nhabitants possessed for thei r support ; or unti lthey were scared away by the approach of justice

,

or by an army of rustics assembled from the

surrounding country. Then would ensue thehurried march ; the women an d

'

children , mountedon lean but spi rited asses ,

'

wou ld scour along theplains fleeter than the wind ; ragged and savagelooking men , wield ing the scourge an d goad , wouldscamper by thei r side or close behind , whi lst perhaps a smal l party on strong hors35 , -arfned withrusty matchlocks or sabres, would bring up the

rear, th reaten ing the d istant foe , an d now an d

then saluti ng them with a hoarse blast from theGypsy horn

0, when I sitmycoarserbold,My ban tlin g in myrear,

An d in myhan d mymusket hold0 how they quake with fear 1’

Let us for a moment suppose some u nfo rtu natetravel ler, mounted on a handsome mule or beast ofsome value , meeting , unarmed an d alone

,such a

rabble rout at the close of eve, i n the wildest part,for example , of La Mancha ; we wil l suppose thathe is journeying from Sevi l le to Madrid , an d thathe has left at a considerable distance beh ind h im

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CHAP. PREDATORY HAB ITS 51

the gloomy an d horrible passes of the SierraMorena ; h is bosom , which for some time pasthas been contracted with dreadful forebod ings, i sbeginn i ng to expand ; h is blood , which has beencongealed i n h is veins , i s beginn ing to circulatewarmly and freely ; he is fondly anticipati ng thesti l l d istant posada an d savou ry omelet. The sunis sin ki ng rapidly beh ind the savage and uncouthh i l ls i n h is rear ; he has reached the bottom of asmal l valley, where runs a ri vu let at which heal lows h is ti red an imal to dri nk ; he is about toascend the side of the h i l l ; his eyes are tu rnedupwards ; sudden ly he beholds strange and un

couth forms at the top of the ascent— the sundescending slants i ts rays upon red cloaks , withhere and there a tu rbaned head , or long streami nghai r. The travel ler hesitates , but reflecti ng thathe is no longer i n the mountai ns, an d that i nthe open road there is no danger of banditti , headvances. I n a moment he is i n the midst ofthe Gypsy group, i n a moment there is a generalhal t ; fiery eyes are tu rned upon h im replete withan expression which on ly the eyes of the Romapossess, then ensues a jabber in a language orjargon which is strange to the ears of the travel lerat last an ugly urch in springs from the crupper ofa hal ti ng mule, an d i n a l isping accent entreatscharity i n the name of the Virgin an d the Majoro .

The travel ler, with a falteri ng hand , produces h ispurse, an d is proceeding to loosen its strings , buthe accompl ishes not h is purpose

,for

,struck

violently by a huge knotted club i n an unseenhand , he tumbles headlong from his mule . Nextmorn ing a naked co fse, besmeared with brain s an d.

52 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

blood , i s foun d by an arriéro ; and with i n a weeka simple cross records the event, according to thecustom of Spain .

Below there in the dusky passWas wrought amurder dread

The murdered fel l upon the grass,Away themurderer fled.

’

To many , such a scene, as above described , wil lappear purely imaginary , or at least a mass ofexaggeration , but many such anecdotes are relatedby old Span ish wri ters of these people ; theytraversed the country i n gangs ; they were whatthe Span ish law has styled Abigeos and Salteadores de Camino, cattl e-stealers and h ighwaymen ; though , i n the latter character, they neverrose to any considerable eminence . True it isthat they would not hesitate to attack or evenmurder the unarmed and defenceless travel ler,when they fel t assured of obtai n ing booty withl ittle or no risk to themselves ; but they were notby constitu tion adapted to rival those bold anddari ng banditti of whom so many terrible an ec

dotes are related i n Spain and I taly , an d whohave acquired their renown by the dauntless dari ngwhich they have invariably displayed in the pursuitof plunder.Besides trafficking in horses and mules, and nowand then attacking an d plunderi ng travel lers uponthe h ighway , the Gypsies of Spain appear, from avery early period , to have pl ied occasional ly thetrade of the blacksmith , an d to have worked i ni ron , form ing rude implements of domestic andagricultural use, which they disposed of, either

CRAP. THE FORGE 53

for provisions or money , i n the neighbourhoodof those places where they had taken up thei rtemporary residence. As the i r han ds were composed of numerous i ndividuals, there is no improbabi l ity in assum ing that to every member wasal lotted that branch of labour in which he wasmost calculated to excel . The most importan t

,

an d that which requi red the greatest share ofcunn ing and address , was undoubtedly that of thechalan or jockey , who frequented the fai rs with thebeasts which he had obtained by various means

,

but general ly by theft. Highway robbery,though

occasional ly committed by all join tly or several ly ,was probably the pecu l iar department of the boldestspi ri ts of the gang ; whi lst wield ing the hammeran d tongs was abandoned to those who

,though

possessed of athletic forms, were perhaps, l ikeVu lcan , lame, or from some particu lar cause ,moral or physical , unsuited for the other two veryrespectable avocations. The forge was general lyplaced i n the heart of some mountai n aboundingin wood ; the gaunt sm iths fel led a tree, perhapswith the very axes which their own sturdy handshad hammered at a former period ; wi th the woodthus procured they prepared the charcoal wh ichthei r labour demanded . Everyth ing is i n readi

ness ; the bel lows pufl'

until the coal is excited toa fu rious glow ; the metal , hot, pl iant, an d ducti le,is laid on the anvi l , round wh ich stands the Cyclopgroup, thei r hammers upraised ; down they descend successively , one, two, th ree, the sparks arescattered on every side. The sparks

More than a hun dred lovely daughters I see produced at

54 THE Z INCALI 1.

on e t ime, fiery as roses in on e momen t they expire gracefullycircumvolvin g.

’

The anvi l ri ngs beneath the thunderi ng stroke ,hour succeeds hour, and sti l l endures the hardsul len toi l .One of the most remarkable features i n the

h istory of Gypsies is the stri ki ng sim i larity of thei rpursuits i n every region of the globe to which theyhave penetrated they are not merely al ike i n l imband in feature , i n the cast and expression of theeye , i n the co lour of the hai r, i n thei r walk an d

gait, but everywhere they seem to exhibit the sametendencies , and to hunt for thei r bread by the samemeans, as if they were not of the human but ratherof the an imal species , and in l ieu of reason wereendowed with a kind of instinct which assists themto a very l im ited extent and no farther.I n no part of the world are they found engagedi n the cultivation of the earth , or in the service ofa regu lar master but i n al l lands they are jockeys,or th ieves , or cheats and if ever they devote themse lves to any toi l or trade

,i t is assuredly in evecy

material poi nt o n e an d the same. We have foundthem above , i n the heart of a wi ld mountain ,

hammering i ron , and manments either for thei r ownbourin g townsemployed i n a sim i lar manner i n the p lai ns ofRuss ia, or i n th

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56 THE ZINCAL I [PART 1.

them, always al lowing the captai n a th i rd part of

the whole. ’

These Counts, being elected for such qual iti es aspromised to be usefu l to thei r troop or fam i ly , wereconsequently l iable to be deposed if at any timethei r conduct was not calculated to afford satisfac

tion to thei r subjects . The office was not hereditary, and though it carried along with i t partialpriv i leges

,was both toi lsome an d dangerous .

Should the plans for plunder, which it was the dutyof the Count to form , miscarry i n the attempt toexecute them ; should i nd ividuals of the gan g fal li nto the hand of j ustice , an d the Count be unab leto devise a method to save thei r l ives or obtai nthei r l iberty , the blame was cast at the Count

’sdoor, an d he was i n considerable danger of beingdeprived of his i nsign ia of authority

,which con

sisted not so much in ornaments or i n dress,as i n

hawks an d hounds with which the Seiior Counttook the diversion of hunti ng when he thoughtproper. As the ground which he hunted over wasnot h is own , he incu rred some danger of com ing i ncontact wi th the lord of the soi l

, attended , perhaps,by his armed fol lowers. There is a tradition (ratherapocryphal , i t is true) , that a Gitano ch ief, oncepursu ing th is amusement, was encountered by a

real Count, who is styled Count Pepe . An engagement ensued between the two parties, which endedin the Gypsies being worsted , and thei r ch ief leftdyi ng on the field . The slai n chief leaves a son ,who , at the instigation of h is mother, steals theinfan t heir of h is father’s enemy, who, reared upamongst the Gypsies, becomes a ch ief, an d, i nprocess of time, hunting over the same ground ,

strap . MARTIN DEL R IO 57

slays Count Pepe i n the very spot where the bloodof the Gypsy had been poured out. This traditionis al luded to i n the followi ng stanza

I have a gal lan t mare in stall ;My mothergave that mare

That I might seek Coun t Pepe’s hallAn d steal his son an d heir.

’

Martin Del Rio, i n his Tractatus de M agr'

a ,

speaks of the Gypsies an d thei r Counts to the

fol lowi ng efl'

ect :‘When , i n the year 1584, I was

marchi ng i n Spai n with the regiment, a mu l ti tudeof these wretches were infesting the fields. I thappened that the feast of Corpus Domin i wasbeing ce lebrated , an d they requested to be admittedi nto the town , that they might dance i n honour ofthe sacrifice , as was cus tomary ; they did so , butabout midday a great tumu lt arose owing to themany thefts which the women committed , whereupon they fled out of the suburbs

,and assembled

about St. Mark’s , the magn ificent mansion andhospital of the kn ights of St . james , where themin isters of j ustice attempting to seize them wererepulsed by force of arms ; nevertheless , all of asudden , an d I know not how , everything was hushed

a Count, a fel low whoth as much purity as if

a native of Toledo he was acquaintedwith all the ports of Spai n , an d all the difficul t

ground of the provinces. He knewrength of every city , and who werepeople i n each , an d the exact amount

58 THE ZI NCALI [ 11 11 111 1.

with ; nor d id he make a mystery of his knowledge ,but publ icly boasted of it. ’

From the passage quoted above, we learn thatthe Gitanos i n the ancient times were considered asforeigners who prowled about the country i ndeed ,i n many of the laws which at various times havebeen promulgated agai nst them , they are spoken ofas Egyptians , and as such commanded to leaveSpai n , an d retu rn to thei r native country ; at o n etime they undoubtedly were foreigners i n Spain ,foreigners by bi rth , foreigners by language but atthe time they are mentioned by the worthy DelRio , they were certa in ly not entitled to the appel lation . True it is that they spoke a languageamongst themselves , un intel l igible to the rest ofthe Span iards , from whom they differed considerably in featu re and complexion , as they sti l l do ;but if being born i n a country , and being bredthere, constitute a right to be considered a nativeof that country , they had as much claim to theappel lation of Span iards as the worthy author himself. Del Rio mentions, as a remarkable ci rcumstance , the fact of the Gypsy Count speakingCasti l ian with as much purity as a native of Toledo ,whereas it is by no means improbable that thei nd ividual i n question was a native of that town ;but the truth is , at the time we are speaki ngof, they were general ly bel ieved to be not on lyforeigners , bu t by means of sorcery to have ao

qu ired the power of speaking all languages withequal faci l ity an d Del Rio

,who was a bel iever i n

magic , and wrote one of the most curious an d

erudi te treatises on the subject ever penned , hadperhaps adopted that idea, which possibly origi nated

s n ap . 1111 111 114 DEL R IO 59

from their speaking most of the languages an d

dialects of the Pen insula, which they picked up i nthei r wanderi ngs. That the Gypsy chief was sowel l acquainted wi th every town of Spai n

,and the

broken and difficu lt ground , can cause but l ittlesu rprise , when we reflect that the l ife which the

Gypsies led was o n e above all others calculatedto afford them that knowledge. They were continual ly at variance with justice ; they were frequen tlyobl iged to seek shelter i n the inmost recesses ofthe h i l ls ; and when thei r th ievish pursu its ledthem to the cities , they natural ly made themselvesacquai nted with the names of the principal individuals , i n hopes of plunderi ng them . Doubtlessthe ch ief possessed al l th is species of knowledge i na superior degree , as it was h is cou rage , acu teness ,an d experience alone which placed h im at the headof h is tribe , though Del R io from th is ci rcumstancewishes to infer that the Gitanos were spies sent byforeign foes , and with some simpl icity inqu ires ,‘

Quo aut cu i rei hmc curiosa exploratio ? nonnecompescen da vagamu n dorum haec curiositas , etiamsi solum peregrin i et in cu lpatae vi tae . ’

With the Counts rested the management an ddi rection of these remarkable societi es ; i t wasthey who determ ined thei r marches , countermarches , advances , and retreats ; what was to beattempted or avoided what i nd ividuals were to beadm itted into the fel lowship and priv i leges of theGitanos , or who were to be excluded from thei rsociety ; they settled disputes an d sat i n j udgmentover ofl

'

en ces. The greatest crimes , accord ing to

the Gypsy code, were a quarre lsome disposition ,an d revealing the secrets of the brotherhood . By

60 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

th is code the members were forbidden to eat, dri nk ,or sleep i n the house of a Busno, which sign ifiesany person who is not of the sect of the Gypsies ,or to marry out of that sect ; they were l ikewisenot to teach the language of Roma to any butthose who, by bi rth or i nauguration , belonged tothat sect ; they were enjoi ned to rel ieve thei rbreth ren i n d istress at any expense or peri l ; theywere to use a pecu l iar dress , which is frequentlyal luded to i n the Span ish laws , but the particularsof which are not stated an d they were to cultivatethe gift of speech to the utmost possible extent

,

an d never to lose anyth ing wh ich might be obtai nedby a loose and deceivi ng tongue , to encouragewhich they had many excel lent proverbs , forexample

‘The poor fool who closes h is mouth neverwinneth a do l lar. ’

The river which runneth with sound bears alongwith i t stones an d water. ’

cn xp . BOOKSELLER 011 LOGRONO 6 1

C H A P T E R I I I

THE Gitanos not unfrequently made thei r appearance i n considerable numbers , so as to be able tobid defian ce to any force which could be assembledagai nst them on a sudden ; whole districts thusbecame a prey to them , an d were plundered anddevastated .

I t is said that, i n the year 16 18, more than eighthu ndred of these wretches scoured the coun trybetween Casti le and Aragon , committing the mostenormous crimes. The royal counci l despatchedregu lar troops against them , who experienced somedifficulty i n dispersi ng them .

B ut we now proceed to touch upon an eventwh ich forms an era i n the history of the Gitanosof Spai n

,an d which for wi ldness an d singularity

throws al l other events co nnected with them an d

thei r race , wherever found , entirely into the shade.

1 HE BOOKSELLER o r LOGRONO

About the middle of the sixteenth centu ry,there

res ided one Francisco Alvarez i n the city of LO

gro fio , the ch ief town of Rioja, a prov i nce whichborders on Aragon . He was a man above them iddle age, sober, reserved , an d i n general ah

6 2 THE ZINCALI [1111 111 1.

sorbed i n thought ; he l ived near the great church ,and obtained a l ivel ihood by sel l i ng printed booksan d manuscripts i n a smal l shop . He was a verylearned man , an d was conti nual ly read ing i n thebooks which he was i n the habit of sel l ing

,and

some of these books were i n foreign tongues andcharacters , so foreign , i ndeed , that none but h imself an d some of h is friends, the canons , couldunderstand them ; he was much visited by theclergy, who were h is pri ncipal customers, and tookmuch pleasure i n l isten ing to h is d iscourse.He had been a considerable travel ler i n h isyouth , an d had wandered through all Spai n , visiting the various provinces an d the most remarkablecities . I t was l ikewise said that he had visi tedI taly and Barbary . He was, however, i nvariablysi lent with respect to his travels , an d whenever thesubject was mentioned to h im , the gloom andmelancholy i ncreased which usual ly clouded h isfeatures .One day, i n the commencement of autumn , hewas visi ted by a priest with whom he had longbeen intimate , and for whom he had always d isplayed a greater respect an d l i king than for anyother acquaintance. The ecclesiastic found h imeven more sad than usual , and there was a haggardpaleness upon h is countenance which alarmed h isvisitor. The good priest made affectionate in

quiries respecting the heal th of h is friend , andwhether anyth ing had of late occurred to give h imuneasiness ; adding at the same time, that he hadlong suspected that some secret lay heavy uponhis m ind , which he now conjured h im to reveal , asl i fe was uncertain , and it was very possible that he

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54 THE Z INCALI [1111 111 I .

an on ly daughter, about my own age ; she wasvery beautiful , but, at the same t ime, exceed i nglystrong and robust ; this Gitana was given to meas a wife or cadjee, and I l ived with her severalyears, and she bore me ch i ldren .

My wife was an arrant Gitana, an d i n her allthe wickedness of her race seemed to be concen trated . At last her father was ki l led i n anafl

'

raywith the troopers of the Hermandad , whereupon my wife an d myself succeeded to the authoritywhich he had formerly exercised i n the tribe. Wehad at first loved each other, but at last the GitAn ol ife , with its accompanying wickedness, becom inghatefu l to my eyes, my wife, who was not slowi n perce iving my al tered d isposition , conceived forme the most deadly hatred ; apprehend ing that Imed itated withdrawing myself from the society

,

and perhaps betraying the secrets of the band,

she formed a conspi racy against me , and , at onetime , being opposi te the Moorish coast, I wasseized and bound by the other Gitémos , conveyedacross the sea , and del ivered as a slave i nto thehands of the Moors.I conti nued for a long time in slavery i n various

parts of Morocco and Fez , unti l I was at lengthredeemed from my state of bondage by a missionaryfriar who paid my ransom . With h im I shortlyafter departed for I taly , of which he was a native.I n that country I

.

remained some years, unti l alongi ng to revisit my native land seized me

,when

I returned to Spain an d establ ished myself here ,where I have si nce l ived by vend ing books , manyof wh ich I brought from the strange lands whichI visited . I kept my h istory , however, a profound

CHA P. BOOKSELLER OF LOGRONO 65

secret, bei ng afraid of exposing myself to the lawsi n force against the Gitan os , to which I shouldi nstantly become amenable , were it once kn ownthat I had at any time been a member of th isdetestable sect.

‘ My present wretchedness , of which you havedemanded the cause , dates from yesterday ; I hadbeen on a short jou rney to the Augu stine convent

,

which stands on the plai n i n the d i rection ofSaragossa , carrying with me an Arabian book ,which a learned monk was desirous of see i ng.

Night overtook me ere I could return . I speedi lylost my way, and wandered about unti l I camenear a di lapidated ed ifice with which I was ao

quain ted ; I was about to proceed i n the di rectionof the town , when I heard voices wi th i n the ruinedwal ls ; I l istened , an d recogn ised the languageof the abhorred Gitanos ; I was about to fly , whena word arrested me. I t was Drao , which i n theirtongue sign ifies the horrid po ison wi th which thisrace are i n the habit of destroying the cattle theynow said that the men of Logrofio should rue theDrao which they had been casting. I heard nomore , but fled . What i ncreased my fear was

,

that i n the words spoken , I thought I recogn isedthe pecul iar jargon of my own tribe ; I repeat,that I bel ieve some horrible misfortune is overhanging th is city , an d that my own days are

numbered .

’

The priest, having conversed with him for sometime upon particular points of the h istory that hehad related , took h is leave, advisi ng h im to compose h is spi ri ts , as he saw no reason why he shouldi ndulge i n such gloomy forebod ings .

E

66 THE ZINCALI [ 9 11111 1.

The very next day a sickness broke out i n thetown of Logrofio . I t was one of a pecul iar ki nd ;un l ike most others , i t d id not arise by slow an d

gradual degrees , but at once appeared i n ful lv iolence , i n the shape of a terrific epidem ic.Dizz iness i n the head was the first symptomthen convulsive retchings , fol lowed by a dreadfu lstruggle between l ife an d death , which general lyterm inated i n favour of the grim destroyer. Thebod ies , after the spi ri t wh ich an imated them had

taken fl ight , were frightful ly swol len , and exh ibiteda dark blue colour, checkered with crimson spots .Noth ing was heard with i n the houses or the streets

,

but groans of agony no remedy was at hand , an dthe powers of med icine were exhausted i n vai nupon this terrible pest ; so that with in a few daysthe greatest part of the i nhabitants of Logrofio hadperi shed . The booksel ler had not been seen sincethe commencement of th is frightfu l v is itation .

Once , at the dead of n ight , a knock was heardat the door of the priest, of whom we have al readyspoken ; the priest h imself staggered to the door,an d opened it,— he was the on ly o n e who remainedal ive i n the house , and was h imsel f slowly rc

coveri ng from the malady which had destroyed all

the other i nmates ; a wi ld spectral-looking figu represented itself to h is eye— itwas h is friend Alvarez .Both went i nto the house , when the booksel ler,glancing gloom i ly on the wasted features of thepriest, exclaimed , You too , I see , amongst others ,have cause to rue the Drao which the Gitanoshave cast. Know ,

’ he continued , ‘ that i n orderto accompl ish a detestable plan , the fountai ns ofLogrofio have been poisoned by emissaries of the

CHAP . BOOKSELLER OF LOGRONO 67

rov ing bands, who are now assembled i n thene ighbourhood . On the first appearance of thediso rder, from which I happi ly escaped by tasti ngthe water of a private fountain , which I possess i nmy own house , I i nstantly recogn ised the effectsof the poison of the Gitanos , brought by thei ran cestors from the isles of the I ndian sea ; an d

i nstantly suspecti ng thei r i ntentions , I d isgu isedmyself as a Gitano , and went forth in the hope ofbei ng able to act as a spy upon thei r actions. Ihave been successful , and am at present thoroughlyacquai nted with thei r designs . They i ntended ,from the first, to sack the town , as soon as i t shouldhave been emptied of its defenders .

‘ Midday , to—morrow , is the hour i n wh ich theyhave determ ined to make the attempt. There is notime to be lost let us , therefore , warn those of ourtownsmen who sti l l su rvive, i n order that they maymake preparations for thei r defence .

’

Whereupon the two friends proceeded to thech ief magistrate, who had been but sl ightly affectedby the d isorder ; he heard the tal e of the booksel lerwi th horror an d aston ishment, an d i nstantly tookthe best measures poss ible for frustrating the

des ign s of the Gitanos ; all the men capable ofbearing arms in Logroi

'

io were assembled , an d

weapons of every description put i n the i r hands.By the advice of the booksel ler all the gates of thetown were shut, with the exception of the pri ncipalone an d the l i ttle band of defenders , which barelyamounted to sixty men , was stationed i n the greatsquare , to which , he said , i t was the i ntention ofthe Gitanos to pen etrate i n the first i nstan ce , andthen , divid i ng themse lves i nto various parties , to

68 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

sack the place . The booksel ler was , by generaldesi re, constituted leader of the guard ians of thetown .

I t was considerably past noon ; the sky was

overcast, an d tempest clouds , fraught wi th l ightn ingan d thunder, were hanging black an d horrid overthe town of Logro fio . The l i tt le troop , resting onthei r arms , stood awaiting the arrival of thei runnatural enemies ; rage fired thei r m inds as theythought of the deaths of thei r fathers , thei r sons ,an d thei r dearest relatives , who had perished , notby the hand of God , but, l ike i nfected cattle , by thehel l ish arts of Egyptian sorcerers. They longedfor thei r appearance , determined to wreak uponthem a bloody revenge ; not a word was uttered ,an d profound si lence reigned around , on ly i nterrupted by the occasional mutte ri ng of the thunderc louds . Sudden ly , A lvarez , who had been i ntentlyl isten ing, raised h is hand with a sign ificant gesture ;presently , a sound was heard— a rustl i ng l ike thewaving of trees , or the rushi ng of distant . water ;i t gradual ly i ncreased , an d seemed to proceed fromthe narrow street wh ich led from the principal gatei nto the square. Al l eyes were turned i n thatdi rection .

That n ight there was repique or ringing of bel lsi n the towers of Logroh

'

o , an d the few priests whohad escaped from the pesti lence sang l itan ies toGod and the Vi rgin for the salvation of the townfrom the hands of the heathen . The attempt ofthe Gitanos had been most signal ly defeated , an dthe great square and the street were strewn withthei r corpses . Oh ! what frightful objects : therelay grim men more black than mulattos, with fury

cn xp . BOOKSELLER or L0G1101<10 69

an d rage i n thei r stiffened featu res ; wi ld womenin extraord inary dresses , thei r hair, black and longas the tail of the horse , spread all dishevel led uponthe ground ; and gaunt and naked chi ld ren graspingkn ives an d daggers in thei r ti ny hands. Of thepatri otic troop not one appeared to have fal len ;an d when , after thei r enem ies had retreated withhowl i ngs of fiend ish despai r, they told thei rn umbers

,on ly one man was missing , who was

never seen agai n , and that man was Alvarez .I n the m idst of the combat, the tempest, whichhad for a long time been gatheri ng, bu rst overLogro fio , i n l ightn ing, thunder, darkness, an d

vehement hai l .A man of the town asserted that the last time

he had seen Alvarez , the latter was far i n advanceof h is compan ions , defendi ng h imself desperatelyagai nst three powerfu l young heathen , who seemedto be acting under the di rection of a tal l womanwho stood n igh , covered with barbaric ornaments ,and weari ng on her head a rude si lver crown .

1

Such is the tal e of the Booksel ler of Logroi‘

io ,

an d such is the narrative of the attempt of theGitanos to sack the town in the time of pesti lence

,

1 In the above little tale the writer con fesses that there are man ythin gs purely imagin ary ; the most material poin t, however, the

attemmto sack the town durin g the pestilen ce, which was defeated bythe courage and activi ty o f an in dividual , rests on historical eviden cethe most satisfactory. I t is thus men tion ed in the work of Fran ciscode Cordova (he was surnamed Cordova from having been for man yyears can on in that city)

‘ An n is prwteritis Iuliobrigam arbeta, vu lgo Logrono, pestilen tilaboran tem morbo, et homin ibus vaeuam in vadere hi ac diripereten tarun t, perfecissen tque uiDeus 0 . M . cuiusdam bib/{apatite opera, ineorum capita, quam urbimolieban turpern iciemavertisset.

’t arralr

’

a,

Lugdn n i, 16 15, 1 vo l. 8vo . p. 405, cap. 50 .

THE Z INCAL I [PART 1.

wh ich is al luded to by many Span ish authors, butmore particu larly by the learned Francisco deCordova , i n h is D z

’

dascalz'

a, one of the most curiousand i nstructive books with i n the ci rc le of un iversall iterature.

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7 2 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

The exact period when the Git-{mos fi rst formedthese colon ies with i n the towns is not known thelaws , however, which commanded them to abandonthei r wandering l ife under penalty of ban ishmentand death , an d to become stationary i n towns

,

may have induced them first to take such a step.

By the fi rst of these laws, which was made byFerd inand and I sabel la as far back as the year1499 , they are commanded to seek out for themselves masters. This injunction they utterly disregarded . Some of them for fear of the law, or fromthe hope of betteri ng thei r condition , may havesettled down in the towns , cities , an d vi l lages fora time , but to expect that a people , i n whosebosoms was so deeply rooted the love of lawlessi ndependence , would subject themselves to theyoke of serv itude , from anymotive whatever, wasgoing too far ; as we l l might i t have been expected ,according to the words of the great poet of Persia ,that tiny wou ld [rave washed their skin s wkz

’

te.

I n these Gitan erias , therefore , many Gypsyfami l ies resided , but ever i n the Gypsy fash ion , i nfi l th an d i n m isery , with l ittle of the fear of man ,and noth ing of the fear of God before thei r eyes .Here the swarthy ch i ldren basked naked i n the sunbefore the doors ; here the women prepared lovedraughts , or told the buena ventura ; and here themen pl ied the trade of the blacksmi th , a forbiddenoccupation , or prepared for sale, by disguisi ngthem

,an imal s stolen by themselves or thei r accom

plices . I n these places were harboured the strangeGitanos on thei r arrival , an d here were discussedi n the Rommany language , which , l ike the Arabic ,was forbidden under severe penalties , plans of fraud

cm . iv. ] GYPSY COLONIES 73

and plunder, which were perhaps intended to becarried i nto effect i n a distant provi nce and adistant ci ty .

The great body , however, of the Gypsy racei n Spai n con ti nued i ndependent wanderers of theplai ns an d the mountains , and indeed the den izensof the Gitan erias were conti nual ly sal lyi ng forth ,e i th er for the purpose of reun iti ng themselves withthe wandering tribes , or of strol l i ng about fromtown to town , and from fai r to fai r. Hence theconti n ual complai n ts i n the Span ish laws agai nstthe Gite’tn os who have left thei r places of domici le,from doi ng which they were interdicted , even asthey were i nterd icted from speaking thei r languageand fol lowing the occupations of the blacksmithand horse-dealer, i n wh ich they sti l l persist even atthe present day.

The Gitan erias at even ing fal l were frequentlyresorted to by individuals widely d ifferi ng in stationfrom the inmates of these places— we al lude to theyoung an d d issolute nobi l i ty an d h idalgos of Spain .

Th is was general ly the time of m i rth and festival ,and the Gitanos, mal e and female , danced an d

sang in the Gypsy fash ion beneath the smi le ofthe moon . The Gypsy women an d gi rls were the

pri ncipal attractions to these visi tors ; wild andsi ngular as these females are i n thei r appearance

,

there can be no doubt, for the fact has beenfrequently proved , that they are capable of exciti ngpass ion of the most ardent desc ription , particularlyin the bosoms of those who are not of thei r race ,wh ich passion of course becomes the more violentwhen the almost utter impossibi l i ty of gratifying i tis known . No femal es in the world can be more

74 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

l icentious i n word and gestu re , i n dance and i nsong, than the Gitanas ; but there they stop : andso of old , i f thei r ti tled visi tors presumed to seekfor more , an unsheathed dagger or gleam ing kn ifespeedi ly repulsed those who expected that the gemmost dear amongst the sect of the Roma was wi th i nthe reach of a Busno.

Such visitors , however, were always encouragedto a certai n poi nt, and by th is and various othermeans the Gitanos acqui red connections wh ichfrequently stood them in good stead in the hour ofneed . What avai led it to the honest labourers ofthe neighbourhood , or the citizens of the town , tomake complai nts to the corregidor concern i ng thethefts and frauds committed by the Gitanos, whenperhaps the sons of that very corregidor frequentedthe n ightly dances at the Gitan eria, and weredeeply enamoured with some of the dark - eyedsinging-girls ? What avai led maki ng complai nts ,when perhaps a Gypsy sibyl , the mother of thosevery gi rls, had free admission to the house of thecorregidor at al l times and seasons , an d spaed thegood fortune to h is daughters , prom ising themcounts an d dukes, an d Andalusian kn ights i nmarriage , or prepared phil tres for h is lady bywhich she was always to reign supreme i n theaffections of her husband ? And , above al l , whatavai led it to the plundered party to complain thath is mu le or horse had been stolen , when the Gitanorobber

,perhaps the husband of the sibyl and the

father of the black-eyed Gitan illas, was at thatmoment actual ly i n treaty with my lord the corregidor h imself for supplying h im with some splendidth ick-maned , long-tai led steed at a smal l price , to

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76 THE ZINCAL I [PART 1.

C H A P T E R V

‘ Los Gitain os son muy malos l— the Gypsies arevery bad people,

’ said the Span iards of old timesThey are cheats ; they are h ighwaymen ; theypractise sorcery ; and , lest the catalogue of thei roffences should be i ncomplete , a formal charge ofcann ibal ism was brought against them . Cheatsthey have always been , and highwaymen , and ifnot sorcerers , they have always done thei r best tomerit that appel lation , by arrogati ng to themselvessupernatura l powers ; but that they were add ictedto cann ibal ism is a matter not so easi ly proved .

Thei r pri ncipal accuser was Don Juan de

Quinones , who , i n the work from which we haveal ready had occasion to quote , gives severalanecdotes i l l ustrative of thei r cann ibal propensities.Most of these anecdotes , however, are so h ighlyabsurd , that none but the very credu lous could everhave vouchsafed them the sl ightest cred it. Thisauthor is particu larly fond of speaking of a certai n

jun , or j udge , cal led Don Marti n Fajardo , whoseems to have been an arrant Gypsy-hunter, an dwas probably a member of the ancient fami ly ofthe Fajardos, which sti l l flourishes i n Estremadura,an d with i nd ividuals of which we are acquai n ted .

So it came to pass that th is personage was, i n theyear 1629 , at jaraicejo, i n Estremadura, or, as it

c11AP. v . ] CANNIBALISM— THE FOREST 77

is written i n the l ittle book in question, Zaraizejo ,

in the capaci ty of j udge ; a zealous one he un

doubted ly was .A very strange place is th is same Jaraicejo

,a

smal l ru i nous town or vi l lage , situated on a risinggrou nd

,with a very wi ld country all about i t. The

road from Badajoz to Madrid passes th rough it ;an d abou t two leagues d istant , i n the di rection ofMadrid , is the famous mountai n pass of Mirabe

'

te,

from the top of which you enjoy a most picturesqueview across the Tagu s , which flows be low , as farasthe huge mounta i ns of P lasencia, the tops of whichare general ly covered with snow.

So th is Don Marti n Fajardo , j udge , being atJaraicejo , laid h is claw upon four Gitanos, andhaving noth ing, as i t appears , to accuse them of,except being Gitanos , put them to the torture , an dmade them accuse themse lves , which they d id for,on the fi rst appeal wh ich was made to the rack ,they confessed that they had murdered a femaleGypsy in the forest of Las Gamas , an d had thereeaten her.I am myself wel l acquai nted with th is same forestof Las Gamas , which l ies between Jaraicejo an d

Truj i l lo ; it abounds with chestnut and cork trees ,an d i s a place very wel l sui ted ei ther for the pur

or cann ibal ism . I t wi l l be as wel lI v isi ted it i n company with a bandbivouacked there , an d cooked thei rhowever d id not consist of humanpuchera , the i ngredients of which

and berdo laga, orrefore I myself can

forest as Las

78 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

Gamas,an d that it is frequented occasional ly by

Gypsies, by which two points are establ ished byfar the most important to the h istory i n question ,or so at least i t would be thought i n Spain , forbeing sure of the forest an d the Gypsies , few wouldbe i ncredulous enough to doubt the facts of themurder and cann ibal ism .

On being put to the rack a second time , theGitanos confessed that they had l ikewise murderedan d eaten a female pi lgrim in the forest aforesaidand on being tortu red yet agai n , that they hadserved i n the same manner, an d i n the same forest,a friar of the order of San Francisco , whereuponthey were released from the rack and executed .

Th is is one of the anecdotes of Quir‘

io n es.

And it came to pass , moreover, that the saidFajardo , being i n the town of Montijo , was told bythe alcalde , that a certai n i nhabitant of that placehad some time previous lost a mare an d wandering about the plai ns i n quest of her, he arrived ata place cal led Arroyo el Puerco , where stood aru ined house, on enteri ng which he found variousGitanos employed i n prepari ng thei r d i nner, whichconsisted of a quarter of a human body , which wasbeing roasted before a huge fire : the result, however, we are not told ; whether the Gypsies wereangry at bei ng disturbed i n thei r cookery , orwhether the man of the mare departed unobserved .

Quinones , i n conti nuation , states i n h is bookthat he learned (he does not say from whom , butprobably from Fajardo) that there was a shepherdof the city ofGaudix, who once lost h is way i n thewi ld sierra ofGado l n ight came on , and the windblew cold : he wandered about unti l he descried a

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80 THE ZINCALI [mm 1.

Cases of cann ibal ism are said to have occu rredin Hungary amongst the Gypsies ; i ndeed , the

whole race , i n that country , has been accused ofcann ibal ism , to which we have al l uded wh i lstspeaking of the Chingany : i t is very probable

,

however, that they were quite i nnocent of th isodious practice , and that the accusation had i tsorigi n i n popular prejudice , or i n the fact of the i rfoul feeding, an d thei r seldom rejecti ng carrion orofl

'

al of any descri ption .

The Gazette of Frankfort for the year 1782 , Nos .157 and 207 , states that one hundred and fiftyGypsies were imprisoned charged with th is practice ; an d that the Empress Teresa sent comm issio n ers to i nqu i re i nto the facts of the accu sation

,

who discovered that they were true ; whereuponthe empress publ ished a law to obl ige all the

Gypsies i n her domin ions to become stationary ,which , however, had no o ffect.Upon th is matter we can state noth ing on ourown knowledge.After the above anecdotes , i t wi l l perhaps not be

amiss to devote a few l i nes to the subject of Gypsyfood and diet. I bel ieve that it has been assertedthat the Romas

,i n al l parts of the world , are per

fectly i nd ifferent as to what they eat, provided on lythat they can appease thei r hunger and that theyhave no objection to partake of the carcasses ofan imals which have d ied a natural death , and havebeen left to putrefy by the roadside moreover, thatthey use for food all kinds of repti les an d verm inwhich they can lay thei r hands upon .

I n th is there is a vast deal of exaggeration , butat the same time it must be confessed that, i n some

CRAP. v . ] ANECDOTES 8 1

i ns tances, the habits of the Gypsies i n regard tofood would seem , at the fi rst glance , to favour thesupposition . This observation ch iefly holds goodwith respect to those of the Gypsy race who sti l lconti nue i n a wanderi ng state , and who , doubtless ,retai n more of the ways an d customs of the i r forefathers than those who have adopted a stationaryl ife. There can be no doubt that the wanderersamongst the Gypsy race are occasional ly seen tofeast upon carcasses of cattle which have beenabandoned to the bi rds of the air, yet i t would bewrong, from this fact, to conclude that the Gypsieswere habitual devourers of carrion . Carrion it istrue they may occas ional ly devour, from want ofbetter food , but many of these carcasses are noti n real i ty the carrion which they appear, but arethe bod ies of an imals which the Gypsies havethemse lves kil led by casti ng drao , i n hope thatthe flesh may even tual ly be abandoned to them . I tis utterly useless to write about the habits of theGypsies , especial ly of the wanderi ng tribes , un lessyou have l ived long and i ntimately with them ; an dunhappi ly , up to the present time, all the bookswh ich have been publ ished concern i ng them havebeen written by those who have i ntroduced themselves into thei r society for a few hours , an d fromwhat they have seen or heard consider themselvescompetent to give the world an idea of the mannersan d customs of the mysterious Rommany : thus ,because they have been known to beg the carcassof a hog which they themselves have poisoned , i thas been asserted that they prefer carrion whichhas perished of sickness to the meat of theshambles ; and because they have been seen to

F

82 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

make a ragout of boror (sn ails) , and to roast ahotchiwitchu or hedgehog, i t has been supposedthat repti les of every description form a part ofthei r cu isine. I t is h igh time to undeceive theGenti les on these points . Know , then , 0 Genti le ,whether thou be from the land of the Gorgios ‘ orthe B usn é that the very Gypsies who consider aragout of snai ls a del icious d ish wi l l not touch aneel , because it bears resemblance to a make ; an d

that those who wi l l feast on a roasted hedgehogcould be i nduced by no money to taste a squ irrel ,a del icious and wholesome species of game , l ivi ngon the purest an d most nutri tious food which thefields an d forests can supply. I myself, whi lel ivi ng among the Roms of England , have been regarded almost i n the l ight of a cann ibal for cooki ngthe latter an imal and preferri ng it to hotchiwitchubarbecued , or ragout of boror. You are but ha lfRommany , brother,

’ they would say , an d you feed

gorgiko- nes (like a Gen tile) , even as you talk.

Tchachipen (in truth) , if we d id not know you tobe of the Mecralliskoe rat (royal blood ) of Pharaoh ,we should be justified i n drivi ng you forth as a

juggel-mush (dog man ) , one more fitted to keepcompany with wi ld beasts an d Gorgios than gen tleRommanys . ’

No person can read the present volume withoutperceivi ng, at a glance, that the Romas are i n mostpoi nts an anomalous people ; i n thei r moral itythere is much of anomaly , and certain ly not lessi n thei r cu isi ne.

‘ Los Gitanos son muy malos ; l levan n ifios

hurtados a Berberia. The Gypsies are very badEnglan d .

1 Spain .

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34 THE Z INCAL I [pm 1.

been of considerable assistance to the Barbarypi rates i n their marauding tri ps to the Span ishcoasts , both as gu ides and advisers ; and as it wasa far easier matter, an d afforded a better prospectof gain , to plunder the Span iards than the Moors ,a people al most as wi ld as themselves

,they were ,

on that account, and that on ly , more Moors thanChristians , an d ever wi l l i ng to assist the formeri n thei r forays on the latter.

Quifio n es observes: ‘ The Moors, with whom

they hold correspondence, let them go and comewithout any let or obstacle : an i nstance of th is wasseen i n the year 1627 , when two gal leys from Spainwere carry ing assistance to Marmora, which wasthen besieged by the Moors . These gal leys struckon a shoal , when the Moors seized al l the peopleon board , making captives of the Christians andsetti ng at l iberty all the Moors , who were chai nedto the oar ; as for the Gypsy gal ley-slaves whomthey found amongst these last, they d id not makethem slaves, but received them as people friendlyto them , and at thei r devotion ; which matter waspubl ic and notorious . ’

Of the Moors an d the Gitanos we shal l haveoccasion to say someth ing in the fol lowing chapter.

CR AP . vr. ] BARBARY 85

C H A P T E R V I

THERE is no portion of the world so l i ttle knownas Africa i n general ; an d perhaps of al lthere is no corner with wh ich Europeans are sol ittl e acquainted as Barbary , which nevertheless ison ly separated from the continent of Europe by an arrow strai t of four leagues across .China i tself has , for upwards of a centu ry , ceasedto be a land of mystery to the civi l ised portionof the world ; the en terprising ch i ldren of Loyolahav ing wan dered about it i n every d irection maki ngconverts to the i r doctri ne and discipl i ne , whi lst theRussians possess better maps of i ts vast regionsthan of thei r own country , an d lately , owing to thepe rsevering labour and search i ng eye of my friendHyacin th , Archimandrite of Saint John Nefsky,are acquainted with the number of i ts m i l itary forceto a man , and also with the names an d places ofresidence of its civ i l se rvants . Y et who possessesa map of Fez an d Morocco

,or would venture to

form a conjectu re as to how many fiery horsemenAbderrahman , the mulatto emperor, could lead tothe field , were his sandy domin ions threatened bythe Nazarene ? Yet Fez is scarcely two hundredleagu es distant from Madrid

,whi lst Maraks, the

other great c ity of the Moors, and which also hasgiven its name to an empi re, is scarcely farther

86 THE'ZINCALI [PART 1.

removed.

from Paris, the capital of civi l isation ina word , we scarce ly know anythi ng of Barbary , thescan ty information which we possess be ing co n

fined to a few towns on the sea-coast ; the zeal ofthe Jesuit h imsel f being in suflicien t to i nduce h imto confront the peri ls of the i n terior, i n the hopeless endeavour o f making one single proselyte fromamongst the wi ldest fanatics of the creed of theProphet Camel-d river.Are wanderers of the Gypsy race to be found i nBarbary ? This is a question wh ich I have frequently asked myself. Several respectable authorshave, I bel ieve , asserted the fact, amongst whomAdelung , who , speaking of the Gypsies , says :Four hundred years have passed away since theydeparted from thei r native land . During this time ,they have spread themselves through the wholeof Western Asia, Europe , and Northern Africa .

"

But it is one th ing to make an assertion , an d

another to produce the grounds for maki ng i t. Ibel ieve it would requi re a far greater stock of information than has h itherto been possessed by anyone who has written on the subject of the Gypsies ,to justify h im i n asserting positively that aftertraversi ng the west of Europe , they spread themselves over Northern Africa , though true i t is thatto those who take a superficial v iew of the matter,noth ing appears eas ier an d more natural than tocome to such a conclusion .

Tari fa , they wi l l say , the most western part ofSpain , is opposite to Tangier, i n Africa , a narrowsea only run n ing between , less wide than manyrivers. Bands , therefore , of these wanderers , of

M ikkridata : ersterThei l , s. 34 1 .

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33 THE Z INCALI [mm 1.

suspicious, an d cruel ; an d would not have fa i led

i nstan tly to attack bands of foreign wandere rs,wherever they found them , an d i n al l probab i l i tywould have exterm inated them . Now the Gitanos,such as they arrived i n Barbary , could not havedefended themselves agai nst such enemies , hadthey even arrived i n large d ivisions , i nstead ofbands of twenties and th i rties , as is thei r customto travel . They are not by natu re nor by habit awarl i ke race , and would have quai led before theAfricans, who , un l ike most other peop le , engagei n wars from what appears to be an i n nate love ofthe cruel and bloody scenes attendant on war.

I t may be said , that if the Gitanos were ableto make thei r way from the north of I nd ia, fromMultan , for example, the provi nce which thelearned consider to be the origi nal dwel l i ng-placeof the race , to such an immense d istance as thewestern part of Spain , passing necessari ly th roughmany wi ld lands an d tribes , why might they nothave penetrated i nto the heart of Barbary , an d

wherefore may not thei r descendants be sti l l there ,fol lowing the same ki nd of l ife as the EuropeanGypsies, that is , wandering about from place to

place , and mai ntai n i ng themselves by deceit an drobbery ?But those who are acquai nted but sl ightly wi ththe condition of Barbary are aware that i t wouldbe less difficult an d dangerous for a company offoreigners to proceed from Spai n to Multan , thanfrom the nearest seaport i n Barbary to Fez , an

i nsign ificant distance. True it is, that, from thei ri ntercou rse wi th the Moors of Spain , the Gypsiesmight have become acquai nted with the Arabic

C HAP . v1. ] BARB ARY 89

language , an d might even have adopted theMoorish dress , ere enteri ng Barbary ; and , moreo ver, might have professed bel ief i n the rel igionof Mahomet ; sti l l they would have been knownas foreigners , an d, on that account, would havebeen assu redly attacked by the people of the interior, had they gone amongst them , who , according to the usual practice, would ei ther havemassacred them or made them slaves ; and asslaves , they would have been separated . The

mulatto hue of thei r coun tenances would probablyhave i nsured them the latter fate , as al l blacksan d mulattos i n the domin ions of the Moor areproperly slaves , an d can be bought an d sold ,un less by some means or other they become free ,i n wh ich event the i r colou r is no obstacle to thei relevation to the highest employments an d dign ities ,to their becom ing pashas of ci ties and provi nces

,

or even to thei r ascending the throne. Severalemperors of Morocco have been mulattos.Above I have pointed out all the diflicu lties anddangers which must have attended the path of theGitanos , had they passed from Spain i nto Barbary ,an d attempted to spread themselves over thatregion , as over Europe an d many parts of Asia.To these observations I have been led by the

assertion that they accompl ished th is, and noproof of the fact having , as I am aware, ever beenadduced ; for who amongst those who have madesuch a statement has seen or conversed with theEgyptians of Barbary , or had suflicien t i n tercoursewi th them to justify h im i n the assertion that theyare one an d the same people as those of Europe,from whom they differ abou t as much as the various

90 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

tribes which inhabit various European countriesdiffer from each other? At the same time , I wishit to be disti nctly understood that I am far fromdenying the existence of Gypsies i n various partsof the i nterior of Barbary . I ndeed , I almostbel ieve the fact, though the information wh ich Ipossess is by no means of a descri ption whichwould justify me i n speaking with fu l l certai n ty ;I havi ng myself never come in contact with anysect or caste of peo ple amongst the Moors, whonot on ly tal l ied in thei r pursu its with the Romman y,but who l ikewise spoke amongst themselves adialect of the language of Roma ; nor am I awarethat any i ndividual worthy of cred i t has ever presumed to say that he has been more fortu nate inthese respects .

Nevertheless , I repeat that I am incl i ned tobel ieve that Gypsies vi rtual ly exist i n Barbary ,and my reasons I shal l presently adduce ; but Iwil l here observe , that if these strange outcasts d idi ndeed contrive to penetrate in to the heart of thatsavage an d i nhospitable region , they could onlyhave succeeded after having become wel l acquai n tedwith the Moori sh language , and when , after a

considerable sojourn on the coast , they had raisedfor themselves a name , and were regarded withsuperstitious fear ; i n a word , if they walked thisland of peri l un touched and unscathed , i t was notthat they were considered as harmless an d in o ffensive people, which , i ndeed , would not have protected them , and wh ich assured ly they were not ;i t was not that they were mistaken for wanderingMoors and Bedou ins , from whom they differed infeatu re and complexion , bu t because , wherever they

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92 THE Z INCALI [pm 1.

the confines of the Sahara, or great desert, an d

the i r language is the Shilhah , or a dialect thereof.They speak but l ittle Arabic. When I saw themfor the fi rst time , I bel ieved them to be of the Gypsycaste , but was soon undeceived . A more wanderi ngrace does not ex ist than the ch i ld ren of Sid i Hamedau Muza. They have even v isited France , an dexhibi ted thei r dexteri ty and agi l ity at Pari s andMarsei l les .I wi l l now say a few words concern ing anothersect which exists i n Barbary , and wi l l here prem ise ,that if those who compose i t are not Gypsies , suchpeople are not to be found in North Africa , an d theassertion , h i therto bel ieved , that they abound there ,is devoid of foundation . I al lude to certai n menand women , general ly termed by the Moors

‘Thoseof the Dar-bush i-fal ,

’ which word is equ ivalent toprophesying or fortune-tel l i ng. They are greatwanderers, but have also thei r fixed dwel l i ngs orvi l lages, an d such a place is cal led Char Seharra,

’

or witch-hamlet. Thei r manner of l ife, i n everyrespect , resembles that of the Gypsies of othercountries ; they are wanderers duri ng the greatestpart of the year, and subsist pri ncipal ly by pi lferi ngand fortune-tel l i ng. They deal much in mules anddonkeys, and i t is bel ieved , i n Barbary , that theycan change the colour of any an imal by means ofsorcery , an d so disguise him as to sel l h im to h isvery proprietor, without fear of h is being recogn ised. This latter trait is quite characteristic ofthe Gypsy race , by whom the same th ing ispracti sed i n most parts of the world . But theMoors assert, that the ch i ldren of the Dar-bush i-falcan not on ly change the colour of a horse or a

CRAP. V I . ] DAR-BUSH I-FAL 93

mu le,but li kewise of a human being, i n one n ight,

transforming a white i nto a black, after which theysel l h im for a slave ; on which account the superstitious Moors regard them with the u tmost dread ,an d i n general prefer passi ng the n ight i n the openfields to sleeping i n the i r hamlets . They are saidto possess a particu lar language , which is nei therShilhah nor Arabic, an d which none but themselves understand ; from all which ci rcumstancesI am led to bel ieve , that the ch i ldren of theDar-bush i-fal are legitimate Gypsies, descendantsof those who passed over to Barbary from Spai n .

Nevertheless, .as i t has never been my fortune to

meet or to converse wi th any of th is caste , thoughthey are tolerably numerous i n Barbary

,I am far

from asserti ng that they are of Gypsy race. Moreenterprisi ng i ndividual s than myself may

,perhaps

,

establ ish the fac t. Any particu lar language orjargon which they speak amongst themselves wil lbe the best criterion . The word which they employfor ‘ water ’ would decide the point ; for the Darbush i-fal are not Gypsies , i f, i n thei r pecul iarspeech , they designate that blessed element an darticle most necessary to human existence byaught else than the Sanscrit term Pan i

,

’

a wordbrought by the race from sunny I nd , and esteemedso holy that they have never even presumed tomod ify it.The fol lowing is an account of the Dar-bush i-fal,given me by a Jew of Fez , who had travel led muchin Barbary , and which I i nsert almost l iteral lyas I heard it from h is mouth . Various other individuals, Moors , have spoken of them in much thesame manner.

94 THE ZINCAL l [PART 1.

‘ I n one of my journeys I passed the n ight i na place cal led Mu lai-Jacub M u n sur.

Not far from th is place is a Char S charra, orwitch-hamlet, where dwel l those of the Dar-bush ifal. These are very evi l people , an d powerfu lenchanters ; for it is wel l known that i f anytravel ler stop to sleep i n thei r Char, they wi l lwith thei r sorceries , i f he be a white man , tu rnh im as black as a coal , and wi l l afterwards sel lh im as a negro . Horses an d mules they serve i nthe same manner, for if they are black , they wil ltu rn them red, or any other colour which best mayplease them ; an d although the owners demandjustice of the authori ties , the sorcerers alwayscome o ff best. They have a language which theyuse among themselves , very different from all

other languages , so much so that i t is impossibleto understand them . They are very swarthy

,quite

as much so as mulattos , and thei r faces are exceedingly lean . As for thei r legs, they are l i ke reeds ;and when they ru n , the devi l h imse l f cannot overtake them . They tel l Dar-bush i-fal with flour ;they fi l l a plate , an d then they are able to tel l youanyth i ng you ask them . They l ikewise tel l i twi th a shoe ; they put i t i n thei r mouth , and thenthey wi l l recal l to your memory every action ofyour l ife . They l ikewi se tel l Dar-bush i-fal wi thoi l an d i ndeed are, i n every respect, most powerfu l sorcerers .

‘ Two women , once on a time , came to Fez ,bri nging with them an exceed i ngly wh ite donkey

,

which they placed i n the m iddle of the squarecal led Faz el Bal i ; they then ki l led it, an d cutit i nto upwards of th i rty pieces . Upon the ground

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96 THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

he demanded . White, said the man ; whereupon

,turn ing round , he cried , “Good peo ple , be

hold , the wh ite si lk is green”

; an d so he got apound of si lk for noth ing ; and he al so was of theChar Seharra.

‘ They are very evi l people i ndeed , an d theemperor himself is afraid of them . The poorwretch who fal ls i nto thei r hands has cause to ruethey always go badly dressed , an d exh ibit everyappearance of m isery , though they are far frombeing m iserable . Such is the l i fe they lead .

’

There is , of course , some exaggeration i n the

above account of the Dar-bush i-fal ; yet there isl ittle reason to doubt that there is a foundation oftruth in all the facts stated . The bel ief that theyare enabled , by sorcery , to change a white i n toa black man had its origi n i n the great ski l l wh ichthey possess i n alteri ng the appearance of a horseor a mule , an d givi ng it another colour. Thei rchanging white i nto green si lk is a very simpletrick

,an d is accompl ished by dexterously substi tu t

i ng o n e th ing for another. Had the man of theDar-bush i-fal been searched , the white si l k wou ldhave been found upon him . The Gypsies , wherever they are found , are fond of th is species offraud . I n Germany , for example , they go to thewine-shop with two pitchers exactly sim i lar, one i nthei r hand empty , an d the other beneath thei rcloaks fi l led with water ; when the empty pitcheris fi l led with wine they pretend to be dissatisfiedwi th the qual i ty , or to have no money, but con triveto substitute the pitcher of water i n its stead , whichthe wi ne-sel ler general ly snatches up in anger, an dpours the contents back, as he th inks , i n to the butt

CHAP. vr. ] DAR-BUSH I-FAL 97

— but i t is not wine but water which he pours.Wi th respect to the donkey, which appeared to becut i n pieces, but which afterwards, being prickedin the tai l , got up an d ran home, I have l ittleto say, but that I have myself seen almost asstrange th ings without bel iev i ng i n so rcery.

A s for the dates of dung, an d the paper money ,they are mere feats of legerdemai n .

I repeat, that if legitimate Gypsies real ly exist i nBarbary , they are the men an d women of the Darbushi-fal.

98 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

C H A P T E R V I I

CH1ROMANCY , or the d ivination of the hand , is ,accord ing to the orthodox theory , the determ in i ngfrom certai n l i nes upon the hand the qual ity of thephysical an d i ntel lectual powers of the possessor.The whole science is based u pon the five pri n

cipal l i nes i n the hand , an d the triangle which theyform in the palm . These l i nes , which have all

thei r part icular an d appropriate names , an d the

princi pal of which is cal led ‘the l i ne of l ife

,

’

are ,

i f we may bel ieve those who have written on thesubject, connected with the heart , with the gen itals ,with the brai n , with the l iver or stomach , an d the

head . Torreblanca , ‘ i n h is curious an d l earnedbook on magic , observes : ‘ I n judging these l i nesyou must payattention to thei r substance , colour,an d conti nuance , together with the disposition ofthe correspondent member ; for, i f the l i ne be wel lan d clearly described , and is of a vivid colou r,without being intermitted or pun ctun lr inf ecta, i tdenotes the good complexion an d vi rtue of itsmember, according to Aristotle.

‘ So that if the l ine of the heart be found suflicien tly long and reasonably deep , and not crossedby other accidental l i nes , i t is an i nfal l ible sign of

Torrehlan ca : dz. Magic , 1678.

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l oo THE Z INCALI [mm 1.

seems to be the l ivi ng by fraud an d imposition .

’

And shortly afterwards he remarks : Nor do theyderive any authori ty for such a practice from thosewords in Exodus , 1 et quasi signum in manu tua ,

”

as that passage does not treat of ch i romancy , butof the festival of un leavened bread the observanceof which , i n order that i t m ight be memorable tothe Hebrews , the sacred h istorian said should beas a sign upon the hand a metaphor derived fromthose who , when they wish to remember anyth ing,tie a thread round thei r finger, or put a ri ng uponit ; an d sti l l less I ween does that chapter of Job z

speak in thei r favour, where is written , “Qui i nmanu homin is sign at, ut n orin t omnes opera sua ,

”

because the d ivine power is meant thereby whichis preached to those here below : for the hand isi ntended for power an d magn itude , Exod . chap .

xiv . ,

3 or stands for free wi l l , which is placed i na man ’s hand , that is , i n h is power. Wisdom ,

chap . xxxvi . I n man ibus absco n dit lucem,

" etc.etc. etc .

No , no , good Torreblanca , we know perfectlywel l that the witch-wives of Multan , who for thelast four hundred years have been runn ing aboutSpain an d other countries , tel l i ng fortunes by thehand , an d deriving good profit from the same , arenot countenanced in such a prac tice by the sacredvolume ; we yield as l ittle cred it to their ch i romancy as we do to that wh ich yo u cal l the true

Exodus, chap. xiii. v. 9.

‘ An d it shall be for a sign un to theeupon thy han d .

’Eng. Tran s.

No chapterin the book o f Job con tain s anysuch verse.

And the chi ldren o f Israel wen t outwith an high han d.

’Exodus,

chap. xiv. v. 8. En g. Tran s.

No such verse is to be foun d in the book men tion ed.

am p . V 11. ] THE GlTANA or SEV I LLE 10 1

an d cathol ic , and bel ieve that the l i nes of the handhave as l i ttle connection with the events of l ife aswith the l iver an d stomach , notwithstanding Aristotle, who yo u forget was a heathen , an d knew as

l ittl e an d cared as l i tt le for the Scriptures as theGitanos

,whether male or female , who l ittle reck

what sanction any of thei r practices may receivefrom au thori ty , whether divi ne or human , i f thepu rsu i t enable them to provide suflicien t for theexistence , however poor and m iserable , of thei rfami l ies an d themselves .A very singu lar ki nd of women are the Gitanas ,far more remarkable i n most points than thei rhusbands , i n whose pursu its of low cheating an d

petty robbery there is l ittle capable of exciti ngmuch interest ; but if there be one being in theworld who , more than another, deserves the titleof sorceress (an d where do you find a word ofgreater romance an d more thri l l i ng itis the Gypsy female i n the prime and vigour ofher age and ripeness of her u n derstan di

Gypsy wife , the mother of two or three chi ldren .

Mention to me a poi nt of devi lry with which thatwoman is not acquai n ted . She can at any time,when it su its her, show hersel f as expert a jockeyas her husband , and he appears to advantage i nno other character, and is on ly eloquent whendescan ting on the merits of some particular an imalbu t she can do much more : she is a prophetess ,though she bel ieves not i n prophecy ; she is aphysician , though she wi l l not taste her ownphi ltres ; she is a procuress , though she is not tobe procured ; she is a si nger of obscene songs ,though She wil l suffer no obscene hand to touch

102 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

her ; and though no one is more tenacious of thel itt le she possesses, she i s a cutpurse an d a shopl ifter whenever opportun ity shal l offer.I n al l times , si nce we have known anyth ing ofthese women , they have been addicted to an d

famous for fortune-tel l i ng ; i ndeed , i t is thei r on lyostensible means of l ivel ihood , though they havevarious others which they pursue more secretly .

Where an d how they fi rst learned the practice weknow not ; they may have brought i t with themfrom the East , or they may have adopted it, whichis less l ikely , after thei r arrival i n Europe . Chi romancy , from the most remote periods , has beenprac ti sed i n al l countri es . Neither do we kn ow ,

whether i n th is practice they were ever gu ided byfixed an d certai n rules ; the probabi l ity , however,i s , that they were not , an d that they never fol lowedit but as a means ofamongst al l the“ professors o f thiS art that féverexisted ,

‘

no people are more adapted by natu re totu rn it to accou nt then mese'

fimal es, cal l them bywhatever name you wi l l , Gitanas , Zigé n as , Gypsies ,or Bohemians ; thei r forms , thei r featureSq—the ex

pression of their countenances are ever wi ld andSibyl l i ne , frequt w utifu l, but never—vul gar.Observe, for example , the Gitana , even her ofSevi l l e. She is stand ing before the portal of alarge house i n one of the narrow Moorish streets ofthe capital of Andalusia ; through the grated i rondoor

, She looks i n upon the court ; i t is paved withsmal l marble slabs of almost snowy wh iteness ; i nthe middle is a fountai n disti l l i ng l impid water, an dall around there is a profusion of macetas , i n whichflowering plants an d aromatic sh rubs are growing,

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104 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

which wi l l make your hearts rejoice,but your

hearts ’ blood would freeze , could you hear thecurses wh ich to herself she murmurs against youfor she says , that i n her ch i ldren

’s ve i ns flows thedark blood of the ‘ husbands ,

’ whi lst i n those ofyours flows the pale tide of the ‘ savages

,

’

an d

therefore she wou ld gladly set her foot on all you rcorses first poisoned by her hands. For all herlove— a n d she can love— i s for the Romas and al lher hate— an d who can hate l ike her ?— is for theB usn ees ; for she says that the world would bea fai r world if there were no B usn ees , an d i f theRomamiks could heat thei r kettles undisturbed atthe foot of the ol ive-trees an d therefore she wouldki l l them all i f she could an d i f she dared . Shenever seeks the houses of the B usn ees but for thepurpose of prey for the wi ld an imals of the sierrado not more abhor the sight of man than sheabhors the countenances of the B usn ees. She nowcomes to prey upon you an d to scoff at you . Wil lyou bel ieve her words ? Fools ! do you th ink thatthe being before ye has any sympathy for the l i keo f you ?

She is of the m iddle statu re , nei ther strongly norsl ightly bu i l t, and yet her every movement denotesagi l ity and vigour. As she stands erect beforeyou , she appears l ike a falcon about to soar, an dyou are almost tempted to bel ieve that the power ofvol ition is hers and were you to stretch forth yourhand to seize her, she would spri ng above thehouse-tops l i ke a bi rd . Her face is oval , an d herfeatu res are regular but somewhat hard and coarse

,

for she was born amongst rocks i n a th icket, an d

she has been wind-beaten an d sun-scorched for

am p . v11. ] THE C ITANA OF SEV I LLE 19 5

many a year, even l ike her parents before her ;there is many a speck upon her cheek , and perhapsa scar, but no dimples of love ; an d her brow iswri n kled over, though She is yet young. Her complexion is more than dark, for i t is almost that of amu latto ; an d her hai r, which hangs in long lockson either side of her face , is black as coal , andcoarse as the tai l of a horse, from which it seems tohave been gathered .

There is no female eye in Sev i l le can support theglance of hers ,— so fierce an d penetrati ng, and yetso artful an d S ly, is the expression of the ir darkorbs ; her mouth is fin e an d almost del icate

,an d

there is not a queen on the proudest throne betweenMad rid and Moscow who m ight not and wou ld notenvy the whi te an d even rows of teeth which adorni t, which seem not of pearl but of the pureste lephant’s bone of Multan . She comes not alonea swarthy two-year-old bantl i ng clasps her neckwith o n e arm, i ts naked body hal f extant from thecoarse blanket wh ich , drawn round her shou lders ,is secu red at her bosom by a skewer. Thoughtender of age , i t looks wicked an d S ly, l ike a veritable imp o f Roma. Huge rings of false golddangle from wide sl its i n the lobes of her ears hernether garments are rags, and her feet are cased i nhempen sandals. Such is the wanderi ng Gitana,such is the witch-wife of Multan , who has come tospae the fortune of the Sevi l l ian countess an d herdaughters .

‘ O may the bless i ng of Egypt l ight upon yourhead , you high-born lady (May an evi l end overtake your body , daughter o f a B usn ee harlot an d

may the same blessing awai t the two fai r roses of

106 THE Z INCALI [1mm 1.

the Nile here flowering by your side ! (May evi lMoors seize them an d carry them across the water ! )0 l isten to the words of the poor woman who iscome from a distant country ; she is of a wisepeople, though it has pleased the God of the skyto pun ish them for thei r sins by sending them towander through the world . They den ied Shel terto the Majari , whom you cal l the queen of heaven ,and to the Son of God , when they flew to the landof Egypt before the wrath of the wicked king it issaid that they even refused them a draught of thesweet waters of the great riverwhen the blessed twowere ath i rst. O you wi l l say that it was a heavycrime ; an d tru ly so it was, and heav i ly has theLord pun ished the Egyptians. He has sent usa-wanderi ng , poor as you see , with scarcely ablanket to cover us. O blessed lady , (Accursedbe thy dead

,as many as thou mayest have, ) we

have no money to buy us bread we have only ourwisdom with which to support ourselves an d ourpoor hungry babes ; when God took away the i rsi l ks from the Egyptians , and thei r go ld from the

Egyptians , he left them thei r wisdom as a resourcethat they might not starve. O who can read thestars l ike the Egyptians ? an d who can read thel i nes of the palm l ike the Egyptians ? The poorwoman read in the stars that there was a rich ventura for all of th is goodly house, so she fol lowedthe bidding of the stars and came to declare it. Oblessed lady , (I defi le thy dead corse , ) your husbandis atGranada , fighting with king Ferd inand agai nstthe wi ld Co rahail (May an evi l bal l sm ite himan d spl it h is head With in three months he shal lreturn with twenty captive Moors, round the neck of

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108 THE Z INCALI [PART I .

and fiercely brandishes it aloft, ti l l at last, wi th a

yel l She tosses it h igh i nto the ai r, l ike a bal l , an dthen , with neck an d head th rown back, receives i t,as i t fal ls , on her hands an d breast, extracting a

cry from the terrified beholders. I s it poss ible shecan be singing ? Y es , i n the wi ldest sty le ofher people ; an d here is a snatch of the song, i nthe language of Roma , which she occasional lyscreams

En los sastos de yesque plai me diquélo,Doscusar

’

ias de so n acaiterelo,

Corojaidiquélo abillar,Y n e asislo chapescar, chapescar.

’

On the top of amoun tain I stan d ,With a crown of red gold in myhan d,Wild Moors came troopin g o’er the lea,0 how from theirfury shal l I flee, flee, flee ?0 how from their fury shall I flee ? ’

Such was the Gitana i n the days of Ferdinand andI sabel la, an d much the same is she now in the daysof I sabel and Christi na.Of the Gitanas and thei r practices I shal l havemuch to say on a futu re occasion , when speakingof those of the present time , with many of whomI have had no l ittle in tercourse. Al l the ancien tSpan ish authors who mention these women speakof them in unmeasured terms of abhorrence , employing against them every abusive word conta i nedi n the language i n which they wrote . Amongstother vi le names, they have been cal led harlots ,though perhaps no females on earth are , an d haveever been , more chaste i n their own persons, thoughat al l times wil l i ng to encourage l icentiousness i nothers , from a hope of gai n . I t is o n e th i ng to be

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1 10 THE Z INCAL I [PART 1.

bo urin g vi l lages , an d entered the houses a-begging ,givi ng to understand thereby thei r poverty andnecess ity , an d then they would cal l aside the gi rls ,i n o rder to tel l them the buena ventura, an d the

young fel lows the good l uck which they were toenjoy , neve r fai l i ng i n the first place to ask for acuarto or real , i n order to make the S ign of thecross ; an d with these flattering words, they gotas much as they could , al though , i t is true , notmuch in money , as thei r harvest i n that art iclewas general ly sl ight ; but enough i n bacon toafford subsistence to thei r husbands an d bantl i ngs.I looked on and laughed at the simpl icity of thosefool ish people , who , especial ly such as wished tobe married , were as satisfied an d content wi thwhat the Gitana told them , as i f an apostle had

spoken it . ’

The above description of Gi tanas tel l i ng fortunesamongst the vi l lages of Navarre , and which waswritten by a Span ish author at the commencementof the seventeenth century , is , i n every respect ,appl icable, as the reader wi l l not fai l to have oh

served , to the Engl ish Gypsy women of the presentday, engaged in the same occupation in the ru rald istricts of England , where the fi rst demand of theS ibyls is invariably a sixpen ce, l in order that theymay cross the i r hands with S i lver, an d where thesame promises are made , an d as easi ly bel ieved ;all which , i f it serves to confirm the opin ion thati n all times the practices an d habits of the Egyptianrace have been , i n almost all respects , the same asat the present day, brings us also to the fol low i ngmo rtify ing conclusion ,— that mental i l l um ination ,amongst the general i ty of mankind , has made n o

CHAP . V IL ] ANECDOTES 1 1 I

progress at all ; as we observe i n the n ineteenthcen tu ry the same gross credu l ity man ifested as inthe seventeen th , an d the i nhabitants of o n e of thecou ntri es most celebrated fo r the arts of civ i l i sation

,imposed upon by the same stale tricks which

se rved to deceive two centuries before i n Spai n ,a country whose name has long an d j ustly beenconsidered as synonymous with every species ofignorance an d barbarism .

The same au thor, whi lst speaking of these femaleThugs , relates an anecdote very characteristic ofthem ; a dev ice at which they are adepts , whichthey love to employ , an d which is general lyattended with success . I t is the more deservingattention , as an i nstance of the same description ,attended with very S im i lar ci rcumstances , occurredwithi n the sphere of my own knowledge i n myown country . This species of deceit is styled , i nthe pecul iar language of the Rommany , lwkkan obaro , or the ‘ great trick ’

; i t being considered bythe women as thei r most fru i tfu l sou rce o f plunder.The story , as related by Alonso , runs as fol lows :A band of Gitanos being i n the neighbourhood

of a vi l lage , o n e of the women went to a housewhere l ived a lady alone. This lady was a youngwidow , rich , without ch i ldren , an d of very handsome person . After having sal uted her, the Gypsyrepeated the harangu e which she had al readystudied , to the effect that there was nei ther bachelor,widower , nor married man , nobleman , nor gal lant,endowed with a thousand graces , who was notdying for love of her; an d then conti nued : “Lady ,I have contracted a great affection for you , an dS i nce I know that vo u wel l merit the riches you

1 12 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

possess , notwithstand ing you l ive heed less of yourgood fortune, I wish to reveal to you a secret. Youmust know , then , that i n your cel lar you have. a

vast treasure ; nevertheless you wi l l expe riencegreat d i fficulty i n arrivi ng at i t , as i t is enchanted ,an d to remove it is impossible , save alone on theeve of Saint John . We are now at the eighteenthof June, and it wants five days to the twenty-th i rdtherefore, i n the meanwhi le , col lect some jewel s ofgold and si lver , an d l ikewise some money , whatever you please , provided it be not copper, an d

provide six tapers , of white or yel low wax , for atthe time appointed I wi l l come with a sister ofm ine, when we wi l l extract from the cel lar suchabundance of riches , that you wi l l be able to l ivei n a Style which wi l l excite the envy of the wholecountry .

" The ignorant w idow , heari ng thesewords , put impl icit confidence in the deceiver, andimagined that she al ready possessed all the gold ofArabia an d the si lver of Potosi .

‘ The appointed day arrived , an d no t mo repunctual were the two Gypsies , than anxiouslyexpected by the lady . Being asked whether shehad prepared all as she had been desi red , sherepl ied i n the affirmative , when the Gypsy thusaddressed her : You must know , good lady , thatgold cal ls forth gold , and si lver cal ls forth si lver ;let us l ight these tapers , an d descend to the cel larbefore it grows late, i n order that we may havetime for our conjurations . ” Thereupon the trio ,the widow an d the two Gypsies , went down , an dhaving l ighted the tapers an d placed them incandlesticks in the shape of a ci rcle, they depositedin the midst a si lver tankard , with some pieces o f

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1 14 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

clothes, an d not finding those whom she had leftwai ti ng, descended in to the cel lar, when , perceivingthe trick which they had played her, and therobbery which they had committed i n steal i ng herjewe ls , she began to cry an d weep , but al l i n vai n .

Al l the neighbours hastened to her, and to themshe related her m isfortu ne, which served more toraise laughter an d jeers at her expense than toexcite pity ; though the subtlety of the two she

th ieves was un iversal ly praised . These latter, assoon as they had got out of the door, knew wel lhow to conceal themselves , for having once reachedthe mountain it was not possible to find them . Somuch for thei r d iv ination , thei r foreseeing th ingsto come , thei r power over the secrets of nature, andthei r knowledge of the stars. ’

The Gitanas i n the olden time appear to havenot unfrequently been subjected to pun ishment assorceresses , an d with great justice , as the abominable trade wh ich they drove in phi ltres an d decoctions certai n ly entitled them to that appel lation

,

an d to the pains an d penalties reserved for thosewho practised what was termed witchcraft . ’

Amongst the crimes laid to thei r charge , conn ected with the exercise of occu l t powers , there isone , however, of which they were certain ly notcapable, as it is a pu rely imaginary one , though ifthey were pun ished for it, they had assuredly l ittl eright to complai n , as the chastisement they metwas fu l ly merited by practices equal ly malefic asthe crime imputed to them , provided that werepossible. I twas casting the evil eye.

CHAP . vm . ] THE EVIL EYE 1 15

C H A P T E R V I I I

IN the Gitano language , casti ng the evi l eye iscal led Querelar n arula, which simplymeans maki ng sick , an d which , accord ing to the commonsuperstition , i s accompl ished by casting an evi llook at people , espec ial ly ch i ld ren , who , from thetenderness of their consti tution , are supposed to bemore eas i ly bl ighted than those of a more matureage . After receiving the evi l glance , they fal l sick,an d die i n a few hours .The Span iards have very l i ttle to say respecting

the evil eye , though the bel ief i n it is very prevalent,especial ly i n Andalusia amongst the lower orders.A stag’s horn is considered a good safeguard

,and

on that account a smal l horn , tipped with si lver,is frequently attached to the ch i ldren ’s necks bymeans of a cord braided from the hai r of a blackmare’s tai l . Should the evi l glance be cast

,i t is

imagi ned that the horn receives i t, an d i nstantlysnaps asunder. Such horns may be purchased i nsome of the si lversm iths’ shops at Sevi l le.

The Gitanos have nothi ng more to say on th isspecies of sorcery than the Span iards, which can

cause but l ittle surprise , when we consider thatthey have no traditions , an d can give no rationalaccount of themselves, n or of the country fromwhich they come.

1 16 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

Some of the women , however, pretend to havethe power of casti ng it, though if questioned howthey accompl ish i t, they can return no answer.They wi l l l i kewise se l l remedies for the evi l eye

,

which need not be particu larised , as they consist ofany drugs which they happen to possess o r beacquai nted with ; the prescribers be i ng perfectlyreckless as to the effect produced on the patient

,

provided they receive thei r pal try reward .

I have known these beings offer to cure theglanders i n a horse (an i ncurable d isorder) withthe very same powders which they offer as a

specific for the evi l eye .Leaving , therefore , for a time , the Span iards andGitanos , whose ideas on th is subject are veryscanty an d i nd isti nct, let us tu rn to other nationsamongst whom th is supersti tion ex ists , an d en

deavour to ascertai n on what it is founded , and i nwhat i t consists . The fear of the evi l eye is common amongst all oriental people , whether Turks ,Arabs, or H indoos. I t is dangerous i n someparts to survey a person with a fixed glance

,as

he i nstantly concludes that you are casti ng theevi l eye upon h im . Chi ldren , particularly , are

afraid of the evi l eye from the superstitious feari ncu lcated i n thei r m inds i n the nursery . Parentsi n the East feel no del ight when strangers lookat thei r ch i ldren i n adm i ration of thei r lovel iness ;they consider that you merely look at them inorder to bl ight them . The attendants on the ch i ldren of the great are enjoined never to perm itstrangers to fix thei r glance upon them . I wasonce i n the shop of an Armen ian at Constanti nople,waiti ng to see a procession which was expected to

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1 18 THE ZINCAL I [PART 1.

whom th is bel ief is so firm ly rooted an d from soancient a period as the Jews ; i t bei ng a subjecttreated of, an d i n the gravest manner, by the oldRabbin ical writers themselves , which induces theconclusion that the superstition of the evi l eye is ofan antiqu ity almost as remote as the origi n of theHebrew race (and can we go farther back as theoral traditions of the Jews , contained and commen ted upon in what is cal led the Talmud , are

certain ly not less ancient than the i nspi red wri ti ngsof the O ld Testament, and have unhappi ly beenat all times regarded by them with equal if notgreater reverence .The evi l eye is mentioned i n Scripture , but ofcou rse not i n the fal se an d superstitious sense ;evi l i n the eye, which occurs i n Prov. xxi i i . v . 6 ,

merely denoti ng n iggardness an d i l l iberal ity . TheHebrew words are az

'

u m , and stand i n co n tradisti nction to air: toub, or the ben ignant i n eye , whichdenotes an i ncl i nation to bounty and l iberal ity .

I t is imagined that th is bl ight is most easi lyi n fl icted when a person is enjoying h imself withl ittle or no care for the future , when he is recl i n i ngi n the sun before the door, or when he is ful l ofhealth an d spi rits : i t may be cast designed ly ornot ; an d the same effect may be produced by an

i nadvertent word . I t is deemed partial ly un luckyto say to any person , How wel l you look as theprobabi l ities are that such an i ndividual wi l l receivea sudden bl ight and pine away . We have however no occasion to go to H indoos, Turks, andJews for th is idea ; we shal l find i t nearer home,or someth ing aki n to it. I s there one of ourselves ,however en l ightened an d free from prej udice , who

CHAP. v111. ] REMEDIES FOR EVIL EYE 1 19

would not sh ri nk, even i n the m idst of h is h ighestglee an d enjoyment, from sayi ng,

‘ How happy Iam I ’ or if the words inadvertently escaped him ,

would he not consider them as ominous of approachin g evi l , and would he not endeavour toqualify them by saying, ‘God preserve me l ’— Ay,God preserve you , brother ! Who knows whatthe morrow wi l l bri ng forth ?The common remedy for the evil eye , i n theEast, is the spittle of the person who has cast i t,provided it can be obtai ned .

‘ Spit i n the face ofmy ch i ld ,

’ said the Jew of Jan ina to the Greekphysician : recourse is had to the same means inBarbary , where the superstition is un iversal . I nthat country both Jews an d Moo rs carry papersabout with them scrawled with h ieroglyphics , whichare prepared by thei r respective priests , and sold .

These papers , placed in a l i tt le bag, and hungabout the person , are deemed infal l ible preservatives from the evi l eye .

’

Let us now see what the Talmud i tself saysabout the evi l eye. The passage which we are

about to quote i s curious , not so much from the

subject wh ich it treats of, as i n affording an exampleof the manner i n which the Rabbins are wontto interpret the Scriptu re , an d the strange an d

wonderfu l deductions which they draw from wordsan d phrases apparently of the greatest simpl icity .

‘Whosoever when about to enter i nto a city isafraid of ev i l eyes , let him grasp the thumb of h isright hand wi th h is left hand , and h is left-han dthumb with h is right hand

,and let h im cry i n th is

manner : “I am such a o n e, son of such a o n e,

sprung from the seed of Joseph an d the evi l eyes

n o THE Z INCALI [PART 1.

shall n ot prevai l against h im . j oseph is af n a'

tjfulbong/1, a f ruilf ul bong/c by a well ,

‘ etc. Now you

should n o t say a well , bu t over an eye.

’ RabbiJoseph Bar Hen ina makes the fol lowing deductionan d they shall become (the seed of Joseph) like/ismin multitude in the midrt of t/1c earth} Now thefishes of the see are covered by the waters , an d theev i l eye has no power over them ; an d so overthose of the seed of Joseph the evil eye has nopower.

’

I have been thus d iffuse upon the evil eye ,because of late years i t has been a commonpractice of write rs to speak of i t without apparentlypossessing any farther knowledge of the subjectthan what maybe gathered from the words themse lves .Like most other superstitions, i t is , perhaps ,founded on a physica l real i ty.

I have observed , that on ly in hot countries ,where the sun and moon are particularly dazzl i ng,the bel ief in the evi l eye is prevalent. I f we tu rnto Scripture, the wonderfu l book which is capableof resolving every mystery , I bel ieve that we shal lpresently come to the so lution of the ev i l eye.‘ The sun shal l not smite thee by day, nor themoon by n ight. ’ Ps. cxx i . v. 6 .

Those who wish to avoid the evi l eye, i nstead oftrusti ng in charms , scrawls, and Rabbin ical anti

Gen . xl ix. as.

In the original there is a play on words — It is n ot n ecessary toen ter in to particulars farther than to observe that in the Hebrewlanguage sin mean s a wel l , an d l ikewise an eye.

Gen . xlvii i. 16. In the English version the exact sense o f the

in spired original is n ot con veyed. The descen dan ts o f Joseph are toin crease like fish.

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122 THE Z INCAL I [m m 1.

C H A PT E R I X

WHEN the six hundred thousand men , 1 and themixed multitude of women an d ch i ldren , went forthfrom the land of Egypt, the God whom they worsh ipped , the on ly true God , went before them byday in a pi l lar of cloud , to lead them the way,and by n ight i n a pi l lar of fire to give them l ight ;th is God who rescued them from slavery , whogu ided them through the wi lderness , who was thei rcaptai n i n battle , an d who cast down before themthe strong wal ls which encompassed the towns ofthei r enemies , th is God they sti l l remember, afterthe lapse of more than three thousand years , andsti l l worsh ip wi th adoration the most u nbounded .

I f there be o n e event i n the eventfu l h istory of theHebrews which awaken s i n thei r m inds deeperfeel i ngs of grati tude than another, it i s the exodusand that wonderful man ifestation of olden mercysti l l serves them as an assurance that the Lordwil l yet one day redeem and gather together h isscattered and oppressed people. Art thou not theGod who brought us out of the land of bondage ? ’

they exclaim i n the days of thei r heaviest troubleand affl iction . He who redeemed I srael from the

1 Exodus, chap. x11. v. 37 , 38.

CHAP. 1x. ] EXODUS OF THE JEWS 1 23

hand of Pharaoh is yet capable of restori ng thekingdom an d sceptre to Israel .I f the Rommany trusted i n anyGod at the periodof their exodus , they must speedi ly have forgottenh im . Coming from I nd , as they most assu red lydid , i t was impossible for them to have known thetrue, an d they must have been fol lowers (i f theyfol lowed any) either of Buddh , or B rahmah , thosetremendous phantoms wh ich have led , an d are

l ikely sti l l to lead , the souls of hundreds of mi l l ionsto destruction ; yet they are now ignorant of suchnames, nor does it appear that such were evercurrent amongst them subsequent to thei r arrivali n Europe , i f i ndeed they ever were. They broughtwi th them no I ndian idols , as far as we are ableto judge at the present time , nor i ndeed I ndianri tes or Observances , for no traces of such are tobe d iscovered amongst them .

Al l , therefore, which relates to thei r originalrel igion is shrouded i n mystery , an d i s l ikely soto remai n . They may have been idolaters

,or

atheists , or what they now are, total ly neglectfulof worsh ip of any ki nd ; an d though not exactlyprepared to deny the existence of a Supreme Being

,

as regardless of him as if he existed not, an d nevermention ing h is name , save i n oaths and blasphemy ,or i n moments of pai n or sudden surprise, as theyhave heard other people do, but always withoutany fixed be l ief, trust, or h0pe .There are certai n ly some points of resemblancebetween the ch i ldren of Roma an d those of Israel .Both have had an exodus , both are exi les an d

d ispersed amongst the Genti les , by whom theyare hated an d despised

,an d whom they hate and

124 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

despise , under the names of B usn ees an d Goyimboth , though speaki ng the language of the Genti les ,possess a pecul iar tongue , which the latter do notunderstand , and both possess a pecu l iar cast ofcountenance , by which they may, without d ifficu l ty ,be distinguished from all other nations ; but wi ththese points the sim i lari ty term inates . The Israel i teshave a pecul iar rel igion , to which they are fanatical ly attached ; the Romas have none , as theyi nvariably adopt, though on ly in appearance , thatof the people with whom they chance to sojou rn ;the Israel i tes possess the most authentic h istory ofany people i n the world , and are acquainted withand del ight to recapitu late al l that has befal lenthei r race , from ages the most remote ; the Romashave no history , they do not even know the nameof thei r original country ; an d the on ly traditionwhich they possess , that of thei r Egyptian origin ,i s a false one , whether i nvented by themselves orothers ; the I srael ites are of al l people the mostweal thy , the Romas the most poor— poor as a

Gypsy bei ng proverbial amongst some nations ,though both are equal ly greedy of gain ; andfinal ly , though both are noted for pecul iar craftan d cunn ing , no people are more ignorant thanthe Romas , whi lst the Jews have always been a

learn ed people, being in possession of the oldestl iteratu re i n the world , and certai n ly the mostimportant an d i nteresti ng.

Sad an d weary must have been the path of themixed rabble of the Romas , when they left I nd ia

’ssun ny land an d wended thei r way to the West, i ncomparison wi th the glorious exodus of the Israel itesfrom Egypt, whose God went before them in cloud

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1 26 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

and H is Son , Mary and the saints , wou ld passaway when they ceased to be nou rished by thesight of churches and crosses for shou ld i t pleasethe Almighty to reconduct the Romas to I nd iancl imes

,who can doubt that with i n half a century

they would en ti rely forget all connected with therel igion of the West ! Any poor sh reds of thatfai th which they bore with them they would dropby degrees as they would rel i nquish thei r Europeangarments when they became old , an d as theyrel inqu ished thei r Asiatic ones to adopt those ofEurope ; no particular dress makes a part of theth ings essential to the sect of Roma, so l ikewise noparticular god and no particular rel igion .

Where these people first assumed the name ofEgyptians , or where that ti tle was first bestowedupon them , i t is d ifficult to determi ne ; perhaps ,however

,i n the eastern parts of Europe , where i t

should seem the grand body of th is nation ofwanderers made a hal t for a considerable time , andwhere they are sti l l to be found i n greater numbersthan i n anyother part. O n e th ing is certai n , thatwhen they first entered Germany , which theyspeedi ly overran , they appeared under the character of Egyptians , doing penance for the sin ofhaving refused hospital ity to the Virgi n an d herSon , and , of course , as bel ievers i n the Christianfaith , notwithstanding that they subsisted by theperpetration of every kind of robbery and imposition Aven tin us (A n n ales B oz

'

orum, 826) speakingof them says : ‘ Adeo tamen vana superstitio hom inum mentes , velut lethargus in vasit, ut eos vio larinefas putet, atque grassari, furari, imponere passimsin an t.

’

CHAP . 1x. ] TALE OF EGYPTIAN DESCENT 1 27

Th is si ngu lar story of ban ishment from Egypt,and wandering through the world for a periodof seven years , for i nhospital ity d isplayed to theVirgin

,an d which I find much di fficul ty i n attri

buting to the i nvention of people so ignorant asthe Romas , tal l ies strangely with the fate foretoldto the ancient Egyptians i n certai n chapters ofEzekiel

,so much so , i ndeed , that i t seems to be

derived from that sou rce . The Lord is angry withEgypt because i ts i nhabitants have been a staff ofreed to the house of Israel , an d thus he threatensthem by the mouth of his prophet.

‘ I wi l l make the land of Egypt desolate i n them idst of the countries that are desolate , and hercities among the cities that are lai d waste shal lbe desolate forty years : an d I wi l l scatter theEgyptians among the nations , an d wi l l d ispersethem through the countries. ’ Ezek. , chap . xxix.

v. 12 .

‘ Yet thus sai th the Lord God ; at the endof forty years wil l I gather the Egyptians from thepeople wh ither they were scattered .

’ v. 13 .

Thus saith the Lord I wi l l make the multitudeof Egypt to cease , by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,king of Babylon .

’ Chap . xxx . v . 10.

‘ And I wi l l scatter the Egyptians among thenations , an d disperse them among the countries ;an d they shal l know that I am the Lord .

’ Chap .

xxx . v. 26 .

The reader wi l l at once observe that the apocryphal tale which the Romas brought i nto Germany ,concern ing thei r origi n an d wanderi ngs , agreesi n every material po int with the sacred prophecy.

The ancient Egyptians were to be driven fromthe i r country and dispersed amongst the nations ,

128 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

for a period of forty years , for having been theca use of Israel ’s backsl id ing, an d for not havingknown the Lord

,— the modern pseudo-Egyptians

are to be dispersed among the nations for sevenyears , for having den ied hospital i ty to the Virgi nan d her ch i ld . The prophecy seems on ly to havebeen remodel led for the purpose of su iti ng thetaste of the time ; as no legend possessed muchi nterest i n wh ich the Vi rgi n did not figure , she

and her chi ld are here i ntroduced i nstead of theIsrael ites , an d the Lord of Heaven offended withthe Egyptians ; and th is legend appears to havebeen very wel l received i n Germany , for a timeat least, for, as Aven tin us observes, i t was esteemeda crime of the fi rst magn itude to offer anyviolence to the Egyptian pi lgrims , who were permitted to rob on the highway , to commit larceny ,and to practise every species of imposition withimpun i ty .

The tale , however, of the Romas could hard lyhave been i nvented by themselves, as they were,an d sti l l are, utterly unacquai nted wi th the Scri ptu re ; i t probably originated amongst the priestsan d learned men of the east of Europe , who ,startled by the sudden appari tion of bands ofpeople foreign i n appearance an d language , ski l ledi n d ivi nation an d the occu lt arts , endeavoured tofind i n Scripture a clue to such a phenomenon ;the resu lt of which was , that the Romas of H industan were sudden ly transformed in to Egyptianpen itents , a title which they have ever si nce bornei n various parts of Europe. There are no meansof ascertai n ing whether they themselves bel ievedfrom the first i n th is story ; they most probably

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130 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

Gitanos was speed i ly observed , an d became qu iteas notorious as thei r want of honesty ; they havebeen styled atheists , heathen idolaters , and Moors.I n the l ittle book of Quir

’

io n es’

, we find the subjectnoticed i n the fol lowing manner

‘ They do not understand what ki nd of th ingthe church is, an d never enter it but for the purpose of committing sacri lege . They do not knowthe prayers ; for I examined them myself, malesand females , an d they knew them not , or i f any,very imperfectly . They never partake of the HolySac raments , and though they marry relations theyprocu re no d ispensations. 1 No one knows whetherthey are baptized . O n e of the five whom I causedto be hung a few days ago was baptized i n the

prison , being at the time upwards of th i rty yearsof age. Don Marti n Fajardo says that two Gitanosand a Gitana, whom he hanged i n the vi l lage ofTorre Perojil, were baptized at the foot of thegal lows , an d declared themselves Moors .

‘ They i nvariably look out, when they marry , ifwe can cal l thei rs marrying, for the woman mostdexterous in pi lferi ng an d deceivi ng, caring noth ing whether she is aki n to them or marriedal ready ,2 for it is on ly necessary to keep her company an d to cal l her wife. Sometimes they purchase them from thei r husbands , or receive themas pledges : so says , at least , Doctor Salazar deMendoza.

Friar Melch ior of Guelama states that he heardasserted of two Gitanos what was never yet heard

Quiiion es, p. 1 1 .

3 The writer will by n o mean s an swer for the truth o f thwe

M emen ts respecting Gypsy marriages.

cu s p 1x. ] gumoflxss 13 1

of any barbarous nation , namely , that they exchanged thei r wives , an d that as one was morecomely looking than the other, he who took thehandsome woman gave a certai n sum of moneyto him who took the ugly one. The l icentiateAlonzo Duran has certified to me , that i n the year1623-4 , o n e Simon Ramirez, captai n of a band ofGitanos

,repud iated Teresa because she was old

,

an d married o n e cal led Melchora, who was you ngan d handsome , an d that on the day when therepudiation took place an d the bridal was celebrated he was jou rneyi ng along the road , an d

perceived a company feasti ng an d revel l i ng be

neath some trees i n a plai n with i n the ju risd ictionof the vi l lage of Deleitosa, an d that on demandingthe cause he was told that i t was on account ofS imon Ramirez marryi ng one Gitana and castingo ff another ; and that the repud iated woman toldh im

,with an agony of tears , that he abandoned her

because she was old , an d married another becauseshe was youn g. Certain ly Gitanos an d Gitanasconfessed before Don Marti n Fajardo that they didnot real ly marry , but that i n thei r banquets an dfestivals they selected the woman whom they l iked ,an d that i t was lawfu l for them to have as many asth ree mistresses, an d on that account they begatso many ch i ldren . They never keep fasts nor anyecc l es iastical command . They always eat meat,Friday an d Lent not excepted the morn ing when Iseized those whom I afterwards executed , whichwas i n Lent, they had th ree lambs which they intended to eat for thei r d inner that day.

— Quir"

io n es ,

page 13Although what is stated i n the above extracts ,

132 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

respecti ng the marriages of the Gitanos an d thei rl icentious manner of l ivi ng, is , for the most part,i ncorrect , there is no reason to conclude the samewith respect to thei r want of rel igion in the oldentime, an d thei r sl ight regard for the forms an d

Observances of the church , as thei r behav io ur at

the present day serves to confirm what is said onthose points . From the whole , we may form a

tolerably correct idea of the opin ions of the timerespecti ng the Gitanos in matters of moral i ty an d

rel igion . A very natural question now seems topresent itself, namely , what steps did the government of Spai n , civi l an d eccles iastical , which hasso often trumpeted its zeal i n the cause of whatit cal ls the Christian rel igion , which has so oftenbeen the scou rge of the Jew , of the Mahometan ,and of the professors of the reformed fai th ; whatsteps d id i t take towards converting, pun ish ing , an drooting out from Spai n , a sect of demi-atheists

,

who,besides be ing cheats an d robbers , displayed

the most marked indifference for the forms of theCathol ic rel igion , and presumed to eat flesh everyday, an d to i ntermarry with thei r relations , withoutpaying the v icegerent of Christ here on earth forperm ission so to do ?The Gitanos have at all times , si nce thei r fi rstappearance in Spai n , been notorious for thei r contempt o f rel igious Observances ; yet there is noproof that they were subjected to persecu tion onthat account. The men have been pun ished as

robbers an d murderers , with the gal lows an d the

gal leys ; the women , as thieves an d sorceresses,

with imprisonment, flagellatio n , an d sometimesdeath but as a rabble , l iving without fear of God ,

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134 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

unmeasured terms. On the i r departi ng, I i nqu i redof the old man whether he , who having been an

i nqu isitor, was doubtless versed i n the annal s ofthe holy office , could inform me whether the I nqu isitio n had ever taken any active measu res for thesuppression an d pu n ishment of the sect of the

Gitanos : whereupon he repl ied , ‘ that he was notaware of o n e case of a Gitano having been tri edor pun ished by the I nqu isition adding these te

markable words : ‘ The I nqu isi tion always lookedupon them with too much contempt to give i tselfthe sl ightest trouble concern ing them ; for as nodanger e ither to the state , or the church of Rome ,could proceed from the Gitanos , it was a matter ofperfect i ndifference to the holy cfiice whether theyl ived without rel igion or not . The holy ofi ce has

always reserved its anger for people very difi'

eren t

the Gitanos having at al l times been Gen te barata

y desprecz'

able.

I ndeed , most of the persecutions which havearisen i n Spai n agai nst Jews , Moors , an d Protestants , sprang from motives wi th which fanaticisman d bigotry , of which it is true the Span iards havethei r fu l l share , had very l i ttle connection . Rel igion was assumed as a mask to conceal the vi lestan d most detestable motives which ever yet led tothe commission of cry ing injustice the Jews weredoomed to persecution an d destruction on twoaccounts ,— thei r great riches , an d thei r h igh superiority over the Span iards i n learn ing an d i ntel lect.Avarice has always been the dominant passion i nSpan ish m inds , their rage for money be i ng on lyto be compared to the wild hunger of wolves forhorse-flesh i n the time of winter : next to avari ce ,

cum». 1x. ] EXPULSION OF GI

’

I‘

ANOS 135

envy of superior talent an d accompl ishment is theprevail i ng passion . These two detestable feel i ngsun ited

,proved the ru i n of the Jews i n Spai n , who

were , for a long time , an eyesore , both to the

C lergy an d lai ty , for the ir great riches an d learn ing.

Much the same causes insured the expu lsion of theMoriscos , who were abhorred fo r thei r superiori ndustry , which the Span iards would not imitate ;whi lst the reformation was kept down by the gauntarm of the I nqu isi tion , lest the property of the churchshou ld pass i nto other an d more deservi ng hands.The faggot pi les i n the squares of Sevi l le an d

Madrid , which consumed the bod ies of the Hebrew ,

the Morisco , an d the Protestant , were l ighted byavarice an d envy , an d those same pi les would l i kewise have consumed the mulatto carcass of theGitano , had he been learned an d wealthy enoughto become obnoxious to the two master passionsof the Span iards .Of all the Span ish wri ters who have writtenconcern ing the Gitanos , the o n e who appears tohave been most scandal i sed at the wan t of rel igionobservable amongst them , an d thei r contempt forth ings sacred , was a certai n Doctor Sancho De

Moncada.This worthy , whom we have al ready had occasionto mention , was Professor of Theology at theUn iversity of Toledo , an d shortly after the expu l

sion of the Moriscos had been brought about by thei n trigues of the monks an d robbers who throngedthe cou rt of Ph i l ip the Thi rd , he endeavoured toget up a cry agai nst the Gitanos sim i lar to thatwi th which for the last half-century Spai n had

resounded against the u nfortunate and oppressed

136 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

Africans , an d to efi'

ect th is he publ ished a discou rse ,en ti tled ‘ The Expulsion of the Gitanos,

’

addressedto Ph i l ip the Thi rd , i n which he conjures thatmonarch , for the sake of moral i ty an d everyth ingsacred , to complete the good work he had com

men ced , an d to send the Gitémos packi ng after theMoriscos.Whether this d iscourse produced any benefi t tothe author, we have no means of ascertai n i ng.

One th ing is certai n , that i t d id no harm to theGitanos

,who sti l l conti nue i n Spai n .

I f he had other expectations , he must have understood very l ittle o f the gen ius of h is countrymen , orof King Phi l ip and his cou rt. I t would have beeneasier to get up a crusade against the wi ld cats ofthe sierra, than agai nst the Gitanos , as the formerhave skins to reward those who slay them . H isd i scourse , however, is we l l worthy of perusa l , as

i t exh ibits some learn ing , an d comprises manycurious detai l s respecti ng the Gitanos , thei r habits ,an d thei r practices. As it is not very lengthy , wehere subjoin it, hoping that the reader wi l l excusei ts many absurdities, for the sake of its many val uable facts .

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138 THE Z INCALI [ PART 1.

they are from Africa , an d that they came with theMoors when Spain was lost ; others that they areTartars , Persians , Ci l icians , Nubians , from LowerEgypt, from Syria , or from other parts of Asia andAfrica

,and others consider them to be descendants

of Chus , son of Cain ; others say that they are ofEuropean origin , Bohemians, Germans , or outcastsfrom other nations of th is quarter of the world .

The second an d sure opin ion is , that those whoprowl about Spai n are not Egyptians , but swarmsof wasps and atheistical wretches , without any ki ndof law or rel igion , Span iards , who have i ntroducedth is Gypsy l ife or sect , an d who admit i n to itevery day all the id le an d broken people of Spain .

There are some foreigners who wou ld make Spainthe origin an d fountain of all the Gypsies ofEurope , as they say that they proceeded from a

river i n Spai n cal led Cija , of which Lucan makesmention ; an opin ion , however, not much adoptedamongst the learned . I n the opin ion of respectable authors , they are cal led Cin gary or Cin l i ,because they in every respect resemble the birdcin clo , which we cal l i n Span ish Motaci l la, oraguzan ieve (wagtai l) , which is a vagrant bi rd an dbui lds no nest,

‘ but broods i n those of other birds ,a bird restless an d poor of plumage , as ZEl ianwrites.

‘THE GITANOS ARE V ERY HURTFUL To S PAIN

‘ There is not a nation which does not considerthem as a most pern icious rabble ; even the Turksand Moors abominate them , amongst whom th is

1 This statemen t is in correc t.

am p . x. ] EXPULSION OF C ITANos 139

sect is found u nder the names of Torlaquis,1 Hugie

malars , an d Dervislars, of whom some historiansmake mention , an d all agree that they are most evi lpeople , an d highly detrimental to the country wherethey are fou nd .

‘ I n the first place , because i n all parts they areconsidered as enemies of the states where theywander, and as spies an d trai tors to the crown ;which was proven by the emperors Maximi l ian an dAlbert, who declared them to be such i n publ iced icts a fact easy to be bel ieved , when we considerthat they enter with ease i nto the enemies’ country ,an d know the languages of all nations .Secondly , because they are idle vagabond

people , who are i n no respect usefu l to the ki ngdom ; without commerce , occupation , or trade ofany description an d i f they have any i t i s maki ngpicklocks and pothooks for appearance sake , beingwasps , who on ly l ive by sucking an d impoverish ingthe country , sustai n i ng themselves by the sweat ofthe miserable labourers , as a German poet has saidof them

Quos al ien a juvan t, proprn s habitare mo lestum,

Fastidit patrium n on n isi n osse solum.

”

They are much more useless than the Moriscos,as

these last were of some service to the state andthe royal revenues, but the Gitz

’

mos are nei therlabourers , gardeners , mechan ics , n o r merchants ,an d on ly serve

,l ike the wolves

,to plunder an d

to flee.

1 The Torlaquis (id le vagabon ds) , Hadgies (sain ts) , an d Dervishes(men dican t friars) o f the East, are Gypsies n either by origin n or

habits, but are in gen eral people who support themselves in idlen essby prac tisin g upon the credul ity an d superstition o f the Moslems.

140 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

Thi rd ly , because the Gitanas are publ ic harlots ,common , as i t is said , to all the Gitanos , and withdances , demeanour, an d fi l thy songs , are the causeof continual detriment to the souls of the vassals ofyour Majesty , i t be ing notorious that they havedone i nfin i te harm in many honou rable houses byseparati ng the married women from thei r husbands,and perverting the maidens : an d final ly , i n thebest of these Gitanas any one may recogn ise all

the signs of a harlot given by the wise ki ng ; theyare gadders about, whisperers , always unqu iet i nplaces an d corners.Fourthly, because i n al l parts they are accounted

famous th ieves , abou t which authors wri te wonderfu l th ings ; we ourselves have conti nual experi

ence of th is fact i n Spai n , where there is scarcely acorner where they have not committed some heavyoffence .Father Martin Del Rio says they were notorious

when he was i n Leon i n the year 1584 ; as theyeven attempted to sack the town of Logrofio i n thetime of the pest, as Don Francisco De Cordobawrites i n h is D z

’

a’

ascalza. Enormous cases of thei rexcesses we see i n infin ite processes in al l thetribunals , an d particu larly i n that of the HolyBrotherhood ; thei r wickedness ascending to sucha pitch

,that they steal ch i ldren , an d carry them for

sale to Barbary ; the reason why the Moors cal lthem in Arabic , Raso cherargy,

‘ which , as AndreasTebetus writes , means master thieves. Althoughthey are addicted to every species of robbery , they

1 I n the Moorish Arabic ,WM ‘ u nj y— or reus ai baramin ,

the literal mean ing being , ‘ heads or captains o f thieves.

’

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142 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

receive the sacraments ; they pay no respect toimages , rosaries , bul ls , neither do they hear mass ,nor divine services they never enter the churches

,

nor observe fasts , Lent, nor any ecclesiastical precept ; which enormities have been attested by longexperience , as every person says.Final ly , they practise every ki nd of wickedness

i n safety , by discoursi ng amongst themselves i na language with which they understand each otherwi thout being understood , which i n Spai n is cal ledGerigo n za, which , as some th i nk , ought to becal led Cingerio n za, or language of Cin gary. The

king our lord saw the evi l of such a practice i n thelaw which he enacted at Madrid , i n the year 1566 ,i n wh ich he forbade the Arabic to the Moriscos

,

as the use of different languages amongst thenatives of o n e ki ngdom Opens a door to treason ,and is a source of heavy i nconven ience ; and th isis exempl ified more i n the case of the Gitanos thanof any other people .

‘THE C 1TAN05 o uC RT To B E 5 1312151)

WHEREV ER FOUND

‘ The civi l law ordai ns that vagrants be se izedwherever they are found , without any favour beingshown to them ; i n conform ity with which , theGitanos i n the Greek empi re were given as slavesto those who should captu re them ; as respectableauthors write. Moreover, the emperor, our lord ,has decreed by a law made i n Toledo, i n the year1525, that the third time they be f ou n d wan deringthey shall serve as slaves during their whole lie

to those who capture them. Which can be easi ly

mm . x. ] EXPULSION or C ITANos 143

justified , i nasmuch as there is no shepherd whodoes not place barriers against the wolves

, an d

does not endeavour to save h is flock, an d I have

already exposed to your Majesty the damage whichthe Gitémos perpetrate i n Spai n .

‘THE G1TAN05 OUC RT To as CONDEMNED

To DEATH

‘ The reasons are many . The first , for bei ngspies, an d traitors to the crown ; the second asid lers an d vagabonds .

I t ought always to be considered , that no soonerdid the race of man begin , after the creation ofthe world , than the important poin t of civi l pol icyarose of condemn ing vagrants to death ; for Cai nwas certa i n that he shou ld meet h is destruction i nwandering as a vagabond for the murder of Abel .E ra sagas et prof ugus in term : ommlr zjgritur gmin ven erit me, 00t me. Now, the igitur standshere as the natural consequence of sagas era ; as

i t i s evident, that whoever shal l see me must ki l lme, because he sees me a wanderer. And it mustalways be remembered , that at that time there wereno people i n the world but the parents an d brothersof Cain , as St. Ambrose has remarked . Moreover, God , by the mouth of Jerem ias , menacedh is people, that all should devou r them whi lstthey went wanderi ng amongst the mountai ns .And it is a doctrine entertained by theologians ,that the mere act of wanderi ng, without anyth ing else , carries with it a vehement suspicionof capital crime. Nature herself demonstrates iti n the curious pol itical system of the bees , i n

144 THE ZINCALI [ PART 1.

whose wel l-governed republ ic the drones are ki l ledi n Apri l , when they commence working.

‘The th i rd , because they are stealers of fou rfooted beasts , who are condemned to death by thelaws of Spai n , i n the wise code of the famous KingDon Alonso ; which enactment became a part ofthe common law.

The fourth , for wizards , diviners , an d for practising arts which are prohibited under pai n of deathby the divine law itself. And Saul is praised forhaving caused th is law to be put i n execu tion i nthe begin n ing of h is reign ; an d the Holy Scriptu reattributes to the breach of it (namely , h is consu l ti ngthe witch ) his d isastrous death , and the transfer ofthe ki ngdom to David . The Emperor Constanti nethe Great , an d other emperors who founded thecivi l law, condemned to death those who shouldpractise such facinorousness ,— as the President ofTolosa has wri tten .

‘ The last an d most urgent cause is , that they areheretics , i f what is said be truth ; an d i t is thepractice of the law i n Spai n to bu rn such .

‘THE GITANOS ARE EXPELLED FROM THE COUNTRY

BY THE LAWS OF SPA IN

Firstly , they are comprehended as hale beggarsin the law of the wise king, Don Alonso , by whichhe expel led all stu rdy beggars, as being idle an duseless .

‘ Secondly , the law expels publ ic harlots fromthe city ; an d of th is matter I have al ready saidsometh ing in my second chapter.Thirdly

, as people who cause scandal , an d who ,

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146 THE ZINCALI [PART 1 .

‘THE LAws ARE VERY JUST WH ICH EXPEL THE

C 1TAN0s FROM THE STATES

‘ All the doctors , who are of opin ion that theGitanos may be condemned to death , would cons ider it as an act of mercy i n your Majesty to ban ishthem perpetual ly from Spai n , an d at the same timeas exceedingly just. Many an d learned men noton ly consider that i t is j ust to expe l them , butcannot sufficiently wonder that they are toleratedin Christian states , an d even consider that suchtoleration is an i nsult to the kingdoms.Whilst engaged in writi ng th is

,I have seen a

very learned memorial , i n which Doctor Salazarde Mendoza makes the same suppl ication to you rMajesty which is made i n this d iscourse , hold ingit to be the imperious duty of every goodgovernment.

‘ I t stands i n reason that the pri nce is bound towatch for the wel fare of h is subjects , an d thewrongs which those of your Maj esty receive fromthe Gitanos I have already exposed i n my secondchapter ; it bei ng a point worthy of great consideration that the wrongs caused by the Moriscos movedyour royal an d mercifu l bosom to drive them out,al though they were many, and thei r departurewou ld be fel t as a loss to the population , thecommerce

,the royal revenues , an d agriculture.

Now , with respect to the Gitanos , as they are few ,

an d perfectly use less for everyth ing, i t appearsmore necessary to drive them forth , the i njuri eswhich they cause be ing so numerous.

‘ Secondly , because the Gitanos , as I have

carp . x. ] EXPULSION OF GITANo s 147

al ready said , are Span iards ; an d as others professthe sacred orders of rel igion , even so do thesefel lows profess gypsying, which is robbery an d all

the other v ices enumerated in chapter the second .

And whereas it is j ust to ban ish from the kingdomthose who have committed any heavy del inquency ,i t is sti l l more so to ban ish those who profess to bei nju rious to all.

‘ Thirdly,because all the kings an d ru lers have

always endeavoured to eject from the i r kingdomsthe idle an d use less . And it is very remarkable,that the law i nvariably commands them to be ex

pelled, an d the republ ics of Athens an d Corinthwe re accustomed to do so— casting them forth l ikedu ng, even as Athenmus writes : N os gen us hoc

mortalium q’

icimus ex hac urbe velaipargamz’

na .

Now the profession of the Gypsy is idleness .Fourthly , because the Gitanos are diviners , en

chanters , an d misch ievous wretches , an d the law

commands u s to expel such from the state.‘ I n the fifth place , because you r Majesty , i n theCortes at present assembled , has obl iged you r royalconscience to fulfi l all the articles voted for thepubl ic service , an d the forty-n inth says : “One ofthe th ings at present most necessary to be donei n these kingdoms, is to afford a remedy for therobberies , plunderi ng and murders committed bythe Gitanos , who go wanderi ng about the country ,steal ing the cattle of the poor, an d committi ng a

thousand ou trages , l ivi ng without any fear of God ,an d being Christians on ly i n name. I t is thereforedeemed expedient , that your Majesty commandthem to quit these kingdoms with in six months , tobe reckoned from the day of the ratification of these

148 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

presents , an d that they do not return to the sameunder pai n of death .

‘ Agai nst th is , two things may possibly be

urged‘ The first , that the laws of Spai n give unto the

Gitanos the al ternative of res id ing in large towns.which , i t appears , wou ld be better than expel l i ngthem . But experience , recogn ised by grave andrespectable men , has shown that it is not wel l toharbour these people ; for thei r houses are densof th ieves , from whence they prowl abroad to robthe land .

The second , that it appears a pity to ban ish thewomen an d ch i ld ren . But to th is can be opposedthat holy act of your Majesty which expel led the

Moriscos , an d the ch i ldren of the Moriscos, for thereason given i n the royal ed ict. W'hen ever anydetestable crime is committed by any un iversity, it

is well to pun ish all . And the most detestablecrimes of al l are those which the Gitanos commit

,

si nce it is notorious that they subsist on what theysteal an d as to the ch i ldren , there is no law whichobl iges us to bri ng up wolf-whelps , to cause hereafter certa in damage to the flock.

‘1T RAs EVER BEEN TR E PRACT1CE o r PR INCES

To EXPEL TR E (RT/mo s

Every o n e who considers the manner of yourMajesty ’s government as the truly Christian patte rnmust entertain fervent hope that the advice proffeted in th is d iscourse wi l l be attended to ; moreespecial ly on reflecting that not on ly the good , but

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150 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

expe l led the Jews , assign i ng as reaso n s fo r thei rexpulsion those which are more close ly app l icableto the Gitanos ; —namely , that they sucked the V i talsof the state , without being of any uti l i ty whatever ;that they were thieves themselves , an d harbourersof others ; that they were wizards, d ivi ners , an d

wretches who i nduced people to bel ieve that theyknew the futu re , which is what the Gité n os atpresent do by tel l i ng fortunes.Your Majesty has al ready freed us from greater

and more dangerous enemies ; fin ish , therefore,the enterprise begun , whence wi l l resu l t u n iversaljoy and security , an d by which your Majestywil learn immortal honour. Amen .

‘ O Regum summe, horum plura n e temnas

(absit) n e forti: tempsisse Hispan ize pericu losum

existat.’

LAWS To SUPPRESS GITANOS 15 1

C H A P T E R X I

PERRAPs there is no country in which more laws

of l ife , than Spai n . Every mo n agchg duri ng a

per mitof three hund! r;edW mcessro n to the throne to have considered that oneof h is first an d most 1mperative dutiesme d iated111 suppressing or checking the robben e frauds,

'

They have,by royal edicts , been repeatedly

ban ished from Spain , under terrible penal ties ,unless they renounced tiEif

'

TfiVe era e’

f—TW S ;

an d for“W W W-

c onfoun din gthem with the residue of the population , they havebeen forbidden , even when stationary , to res idetogether, every fami ly being enjoined to l ive apart ,an d ne i ther to seek nor to hold commun icationwi th others of the race .We shal l saynothing at present as to the wisdomwhich dictated these provisions , nor whether othersm ight not have been dev i sed , better calcu lated toproduce the end desi red . Certai n i t is , that the

152 THE ZINCALI [ PART 1.

laws were never, or very imperfectly , put i n force ,an d for reasons with which thei r exped iency orequ i ty (which no o n e at the time impugned) hadno connection whatever.I t is true that, i n a country l ike Spain , abou ndin gin wi ldernesses and almost i naccess ible mountai ns ,the task of hunting down an d exterm inati ng orban ish ing the roving bands would have beenfound one of no sl ight d ifficu l ty , even if such hadever been attempted ; but it must be remembered ,that from an early period colon ies of Gitanos haveexisted i n the pri ncipal towns of Spain , where themen have pl ied the trades of jockeys an d blacksmiths , an d the women subs isted by divination ,an d all kinds of fraud . These colon ies were , ofcourse , always with in the reach of the hand ofjustice , yet it does not appear that they were morei nterfered with than the roving an d i ndependentbands

,and that any serious attempts were made

to break them up , though notorious as nu rseriesan d refuges of crime.I t is a lamentable fact , that pure an d uncorrupt

justice has never existed i n Spain , as far at leastas record wi l l al low us to judge ; not that theprinciples o f justice have been less understoodthere than i n other countries , but because theenti re system of justic iary admin istration has everbeen shamelessly profligate and vi le .Span ish justice has i nvariably been a mockery ,a thing to be bought an d sold , terrible on ly tothe feeble and innocent, and an i nstrument ofcrue lty and avarice .The tremendous sati res of Le Sage upon Span ishcorregidors an d alguazi ls are true , even at the

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154 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

he thought fit, though such an act, by the law ofthe land , was pun ishable with the gal leys.I n o n e of their songs they have commemoratedthe impun ity with which they wandered about.The escribano , to whom the Gitanos of the neighbo urhood pay con tribution , on a strange Gypsybeing brought before h im , i nstantly orders h im tobe l iberated , assign ing as a reason that he is noGitano , but a legitimate Spaniar

‘

d

l leftmyhouse, an d walked aboutThey seized me fast , an d boun d

it is a Gypsy th ief, they shout,The Span iards here have foun d.

From out the prison me they led ,

Before the scribe they broughtI t is n o Gypsy thief, he said,The Span iards here have caught .’

I n a word , noth ing was to be gained by i nterferin g with the Gitanos , by those i n whose handsthe power was vested but, on the contrary , someth ing was to be lost. The chief sufferers werethe labourers , and they had no power to rightthemselves , though thei r wrongs were un iversal lyadmitted , and laws for their protection continual lybeing made, which thei r enemies contrived to setat nought ; as wil l presently be seen .

The fi rst law issued against the Gypsies appearsto have been that of Ferdinand and I sabel la , at

Ma l i na del Campo , i n 1499 . I n th is edict theywere commanded , under certai n penalties , to become stationary in towns an d v i l lages , an d toprovide themselves with masters whom they might

(311 . m ] LAWS TO SUPPRESS GITANos 155

se rve for thei r mai ntenance, or i n defau lt thereof,to quit the kingdom at the end of sixty days.No mention is made of the country to which theywere expected to betake themselves i n the eventof the i r qu itting Spain . Perhaps , as they are

cal l ed Egyptians , i t was concluded that theywould forthwith retu rn to Egypt ; but the framersof the law never seem to have considered whatmeans these Egyptians possessed of transporti ngtheir famil ies an d themselves across the sea tosuch a distance , or if they betook themselves toother countries , what reception a host of people,confessedly th ieves an d vagabonds, were l ikely tomeet with , or whether it was fair i n the two

Chmlrtz’

an Wear to get rid of such a nu isanceat the expense of thei r ne ighbours. Such matterswere of course left for the Gypsies themselves tosettle.

I n th is ed ict , a class of i nd ividuals is mentionedi n conjunction wi th the Gitanos , or Gypsies, butdistingu ished from them by the name of foreignti nkers, or Calde

'

ros estran géros. By these , wepresume

,were meant the Calabrians , who are sti l l

to be seen upon the roads of Spain , wanderingabout from town to town , i n much the same wayas the itinerant tin kers of England at the presentday. A man , half a savage , a haggard woman ,who is general ly a Span iard , a wretched ch i ld , an dstil l more miserable donkey , compose the group ;the gai ns are of cou rse exceed ingly scan ty , nevertheless th is l ife, seemingly so wretched , has itscharms for thes e outcasts, who l ive without carean d anxiety , without a thought beyond the presenthou r

,an d who sleep as sound i n ruined posadas

156 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

an d ventas , or in ravines amongst rocks and pines ,as the proudest grandee i n h is palace at Sevi l le orMadrid .

Don Carlos an d Donna Juan n a, at Toledo , 1539 ,

confirmed the edict of Med ina del Campo agai nstthe Egyptians , with the add ition , that if an y

Egyptian , after the expi ration of the sixty days ,should be found wanderi ng about, he shou ld besent to the gal leys for six years , i f above the ageof twenty an d under that of fifty , an d i f under orabove those years , pun ished as the preced ing lawprov ides.Phi l ip the Second , at Madrid , 1586 , after commanding that all the laws an d edicts be obse rved ,by which the Gypsies are forbidden to wanderabout , an d commanded to establ ish themselves ,ordai ns , with the view of restrai n i ng thei r th ievishand cheating practices , that none of them be permitted to sel l anything , e i ther with in or withoutfai rs or markets , i f not provided with a testimonysigned by the notary publ ic , to prove that theyhave a settled residence, an d where i t may be ;which testimony must also specify an d describethe horses , cattle , l i nen , and other th ings , whichthey carry forth for sale ; otherwise they are to bepun ished as th ieves , an d what they attempt to sel lconsidered as stolen property .

Phi l ip the Thi rd , at Belem ,i n Portugal , 16 19 ,

commands all the Gypsies of the kingdom to qu itthe same within the term of six months, and neverto retu rn , under pai n of death ; those who shou ldwish to remai n are to establ ish themse lves i n ci ties ,towns , an d v i l lages , of o n e thousand famil ies an dupwards , an d are not to be al lowed the use of the

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158 THE Z INCA LI [PART 1.

manner of l ife m ight have been made withou t theassertion of a pal pable absurdity .

Phi l i p the Fourth , May 8, 1633 , after referenceto the evi l l ives an d want of re l igion of the

Gypsies , an d the complai nts made agai nst themby prelates an d others , declares ‘ that the lawshitherto adopted since the year 1499 , have beeni nefficient to restrai n the i r excesses ; that they arenot Gypsies by origi n or nature , but have adoptedth is form of l i fe an d then , after forbidd ing them ,

acccording to custom , the dress an d language ofGypsies , under the usual severe penalties , heordai ns

tst. That under the same penal ties , the aforesaid people shal l , with i n two months , leave thequarters (barrios) where they now l ive with the

denomination of Gitanos , and that they shal lseparate from each other, and mingle with the

other i nhabitants , an d that they shal l hold nomore meetings , nei ther i n publ ic nor i n secret ;that the min isters of justice are to obse rve, withparticular di l igence , how they fu lfi l these commands

,and whether they hold commu n ication with

each other, or marry amongst themselves ; an d

how they fulfi l the obl igations of Ch ristians byassisti ng at sacred worsh ip i n the chu rches ; uponwhich latter point they are to procure i nformationwith all possible secrecy from the curates an d

clergy of the parishes where the Gitanos reside.

2n dly. And i n order to extirpate , i n every way,the name of Gitanos , we ordai n that they be notcal led so , and that no o n e venture to cal l themso

, an d that such shal l be esteemed a very heavyinju ry , an d shal l be pun ished as such , i f proved ,

CH . LAWS To Su'

ppREss GlTANo s 159

an d that nought pertai n ing to the Gypsies, thei rname , dress , or actions , be represented , ei ther i ndances or i n any other performance , under thepenal ty of two years’ ban ishment, an d a mulct o ffifty thousand maravedis to whomsoever shal l offendfor the fi rst time , an d double pun ishment for thesecond .

’

The above two articles seem to have i n view the

suppression an d breaking up of the Gypsy colon iesestabl ished i n the large towns , more especial ly thesubu rbs ; farther on , mention is made of the wanderi ng bands.

‘

4thly. And forasmuch as we have understoodthat numerous Gitanos rove in bands throughvarious parts of the kingdom , committi ng robberiesi n u n inhabited places , an d even i nvading somesmal l v i l lages , to the great terror and danger ofthe i nhabitants , we give by th is our law a genera lcommission to all min isters of justice

,whether

appertai n ing to royal domai ns , lordsh ips, or abbatia l terri tories , that every o n e may, i n his d istrict,proceed to the imprisonment an d chastisement ofthe del i nquents , an d may pass beyond h is ownj urisd iction in pu rsu it of them ; an d we also command all the min isters of justice aforesaid , thaton receiv i ng information that Gitanos or h ighwaymen are prowl i ng in the i r d istricts , they doassemble at an appointed day, an d with the

necessary preparation of men an d arms they dohu nt down , take, an d del iver them under a goodguard to the nearest officer holding the royalcomm 155 1on .

’

Carlos the Second fol lowed in the footsteps ofhis predecesso rs, with respect to the Gitanos. By

160 THE ZINCALI [PART. 1.

a law of the z oth of November 1692 , he i nh i bitsthe Gitanos from l iving in town s of less than on ethousand heads of famil ies (vecinos) , an d pursu ingany trade or employment, save the cu l ti vation ofthe ground ; from going i n the dress of Gypsies,or speaki ng the language or gibberish which theyuse ; from l iv ing apart i n any particu lar quarterof the town ; from visi ting fai rs with cattle, greator smal l , or even sel l i ng or exchanging such at

any time , un less with the testimon ial of the pu bl icnotary. that they were bred wi th in thei r own houses.By this law they are also forbidden to have firearms in thei r possession .

So far from being abashed by th is law , or the

preced ing o n e , the Gitanos seem to have in crm ed

i n excesses of every ki nd . Only th ree years after

(l ath June the same monarch deemed itnecessary to publ ish a new law for thei r persecution and chastisement. Th is law , which is exceedin gly severe , consists of twenty-n ine articles .By the fou rth they are forbidden any other exerciseor manner of l ife than that of the cultivation ofthe fields , i n wh ich thei r wives an d ch i ldren , if ofcompetent age , are to assist them .

Of every other office , employment, or commerce ,they are declared incapable , an d especial ly of being

By the fifth , they are forbidden to keep horsesor mares , either with i n or without thei r houses ,or to make use of them in any way whatever,under the penalty of two months’ imprisonmentand the forfeitu re of such an imals ; and any onelend ing them a horse or a mare is to forfei t thesame , i f it be found in thei r possession . They are

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162 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

of the Gitanos themselves , made upon Me rack ,

al though they relate to separate and di fferent actsof abetting an d harbouring.

’

The fol lowing article is curious, as it bea rsevidence to Gypsy craft an d cunn i ng

‘ Article 18 .— And whereas it is very di fficu lt to

prove against the Gitanos the robberies an d delin

quen cies which they commit, partly because theyhappen i n un inhabited places , but more especial lyon account of the malice and cun n ing with wh ichthey execute them ; we do ordai n , i n order that theymay rece ive the meri ted chastisement, that to convict, i n these cases , those who are cal led Gitanos , thedeposi tions of the persons whom they have robbedi n un i nhabi ted places shal l be su fficient, providedthere are at least two witn esses to one an d the

same fact , an d these of good fame and reputationand we also dec lare , that the cm delz

'

cti maybe proved i n the same manner i n these cases , i norder that the culpri ts may be proceeded agai nst,an d condemned to the corresponding pains andpun ishments . ’

The counci l of Madrid publ ished a schedu le,

18th of August 1 705, from which it appears thatthe v i l lages an d roads were so much in fested bythe Gitano race, that there was neither peace n or

safety for labourers an d travel lers the corregidorsan d justices are therefore exhorted to use theirutmost endeavour to apprehend these outlaws

,and

to execute upon them the pun ishments enjoined bythe preceding law. The min isters of justice areempowered to fire upon them as publ ic enem ies ,wherever they meet them , i n case of resistance orrefu sal to del iver up the arms they carry about them .

ca . LAWS To SUPPRESS GlTANo s 163

Ph i l ip the Fifth , by schedule, October I st, 1726 ,forbade any complai nts which the Gitanos m ighthave to make agai nst the i nferior justices bei ngheard i n the h igher tribunals , and , on that account ,ban ished all the Gypsy women from Madrid , and ,i ndeed , from all towns where royal audiences wereheld , i t being the cus tom of the women to flock upto the capital from the smal l towns an d vi l lages ,under pretence of claim ing satisfaction for wrongsi nfl icted upon their husbands an d relations, andwhen there to practise the art of divi nation , andto sing obscene songs th rough the streets ; byth is law, also , the j ustices are particularly comman ded not to permit the Gitanos to leave thei rplaces of dom ici le , except i n cases of very urgentnecessity .

This law was attended with the same success asthe others the Gitanos left their places of domici lewhenever they thought proper, frequented thevarious fai rs , an d played 05 thei r jockey tricks asusual , or traversed the country i n armed gangs ,plunderi ng the smal l v i l lages , and assaul ti ngtravel lers.The same monarch , i n October, publ ishedanother law agai nst them , from St. Lorenzo , of theEscurial . From the words of th is ed ict, an d themeasu res resolved upon , the reader may form someidea of the excesses of the Gitanos at th is period .

They are to be hunted down with fi re and sword ,an d even the sanctity of the temples is to be i nvadedi n thei r pursuit, and the Gitanos dragged from thehorn s of the altar, shou ld they flee th ither forrefuge . I t was impossible, i n Spai n , to carry theseveri ty of persecution farther, as the very parri

164 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

cide was in perfect safety , could he escape to the

church . Here fol lows part of th is law‘ I have resolved that all the lord-l ieutenants ,

i ntendants , an d corregidors shal l publ ish proclamatio n s, an d fix edicts , to the effect that allthe Gitanos who are domici led i n the citi es an d

towns of the i r jurisd iction shal l return with i n thespace of fifteen days to thei r p laces of dom ici le,under penal ty of being declared , at the expi rationof that term , as publ ic banditt i , subject to be firedat i n the event of being found with arms , orwithout them , beyond the l im its of thei r placesof dom ici le ; and at the expi ration of the te rmaforesaid , the lord - l ieutenan ts , i ntendants , an d

corregidors are strictly commanded , that ei therthey themselves , or su itable persons deputed bythem , march out with armed sold iery , or if therebe none at hand , with the m i l i tias , and theirofficers , accompan ied by the horse rangers , desti nedfor the protection of the revenue , for the purposeof scou ring the whole district with in thei r jurisdiction , making use of all possible d i l igence to apprehend such Gitanos as are to be found on the publ icroads an d other places beyond their domici l iarybounds

,an d to i nfl ict upon them the penal ty of

death,for the mere act of being found .

‘ And i n the event of thei r taking refuge i nsacred places , they are empowered to drag themforth

,and conduct them to the neighbou ri ng

prisons an d fortresses , and provided the ecclesiastical j udges proceed agai nst the secular, i n orderthat they be restored to the church , they are atl iberty to avai l themselves of the recourse to force ,countenanced by laws declaring, even as I now

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166 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

C H A P T E R X I I

CARLo s TERCERO, or Charles the Thi rd , ascendedthe throne of Spai n i n the year 1759 , and d ied i n1788. No Span ish monarch has left beh ind amore favourable impression on the m inds of thegeneral ity of h is countrymen ; i ndeed , he is theon ly one who is remembered at all by al l ranksan d cond itions — perhaps he took the su rest meansfor preventi ng his name being forgotten , by erecti ng a durable monument i n every large town ,we do not mean a pi l lar surmounted by a statue ,or a colossal figu re on horseback , but some usefu land stately publ ic ed ifice. Al l the magn ificentmodern bui ld ings which attract the eye of thetravel ler i n Spain , sprang up during the re ignof Carlos Tercero ,- for example , the museum atMadrid , the gigantic tobacco fabric at Sevi l le ,half fortress, hal f manufactory ,— and the Faro ] , atCoruiia. We suspect that these erections, whichspeak to the eye , have gained h im fargreater cred itamongst Span iards than the support which heafl

'

orded to l iberal opin ions , which served to fanthe flame of insurrection i n the new world , andeventual ly lost for Spain her transatlantic empi re.We have said that he left beh i nd h im a favour

able impression amongst the general ity o f his

CH . x11. ] CARLOS TERCERO— H IS LAW 167

countrymen ; by which we mean the great bodyfound i n every nation , who nei ther th ink norreason ,— for there are amongst the Span iards nota few who deny that any of h is actions entitleh im to the grati tude of the nation .

‘ Al l h isthoughts ,

’ say they , ‘ were d irected to huntingand hunti ng alone ; an d all the days of the yearhe employed h imself ei ther i n hunting or i n pre

paratio n for the sport. I n one exped ition , i n theparks of the Pardo , he spent several m i l l ions ofreals. The noble edifices wh ich adorn Spain ,though bui l t by h is orders, are less due to h isreign than to the anterior one ,— to the reign ofFerdinand the Sixth

,who left immense treasures

,

a smal l portion of which Carlos Tercero devoted tothese pu rposes , squanderi ng away the remainder.I t is said that Carlos Tercero was no friend tosuperstition ; yet how l i ttle d id Spai n during h istime gai n i n rel igious l iberty ! The great part ofthe nation remai ned in tolerant an d theocratic as

before , the other an d smal ler section tu rned phi losophic, but after the i nsane manner of the Frenchrevolution ists , i n tolerant i n its i ncredul ity, an d

bel iev ing more i n the E n cyclopédie than i n theGospel of the Nazarene. ’

We shou ld not have said thus much of CarlosTercero , whose character has been extravagantlypraised by the multitude, an d severely criticised bythe discern ing few who look deeper than the surface

For the above wel l-drawn character o f Charles the Third I amin debted to the pen o f Louis de Uso z y Rio , my coadjutor in the

edi tin g o f the New Testamen t in Span ish (Madrid , For a

furtheraccoun t o f this gen tleman , the reader is referred to Tbe B ible inSpain , preface , p. xxii.

168 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

of th ings , if a law passed during his reign did notconnect h im intimately with the h istory of theGitanos , whose condition to a certai n extent it hasal ready al tered

,an d over whose fu tu re desti n ies

there can be no doubt that i t wi l l exert considerableinfluence. Whether Carlos Tercero had anyth ingfarther to do with its enactment than subscribing itwith his own hand , i s a poi nt diflicu lt to determ i nethe chances are that he had not there is damn ingevidence to prove that in many respects he was amere Nimrod , an d i t is not probable that such a

character would occupy h is thoughts much wi thplans for the welfare of h is people , especial ly such aclass as the Gitanos , however wi l l i ng to bu i ld publ icedifices , gratifying to his van ity , with the moneywhich a provident predecessor had amassed .

The law in question is dated 19th September1 783 . I t is enti tled , Rules for repressing andchastising the vagrant mode of l ife , and otherexcesses, of those who are cal led Gitanos.

’ I t is i nmany respects widely di fferent from all the preceding laws , an d on that account we have separated itfrom them , deeming it worthy of particu lar notice.I t is evidently the production of a comparativelyen l ightened spi rit, for Spai n had al ready begu n toemerge from the dreary n ight of monach ism andbigotry, though the l ight which beamed upon herwas not that of the Gospel , but of modern ph i losophy. The spirit, however, of the wri ters of theE n cyclopéd z

'

e is to be preferred to that ofTarguemadaan d M on cada ,

an d however deeply we may lamentthe many grievous om issions i n the law of CarlosTercero (for no provision was made for the spiri tuali nstruction of the Gitanos) , we prefer it i n all poin ts

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170 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

law of Carlos Tercero , on the contrary , flung opento them the whole career of arts and sciences , anddeclared them capable of fol lowing any trade orprofession to which they might please to addictthemselves. Here fol low extracts from the abovementioned law

‘ Art. 1 . I declare that those who go by the nameof Gitanos are not so by origi n or natu re , nor dothey proceed from any infected root.

‘2 . I therefore command that nei ther they , nor

any one of them shal l use the language , dress , orvagrant kind of l ife which they have fol lowed untothe present time, under the penal ti es here belowcontai ned .

‘

3 . I forbid al l my vassal s, of whatever state ,c lass , and condition they may be , to cal l or namethe above -mentioned people by the names ofGitanos, or new Casti l ians, u nder the same penalties to which those are subject who inj ure othersby word or wri ting.

‘

5. I t is my wi l l that those who abandon thesaid mode of l ife , dress , language , or jargon , beadm i tted to whatever offices or employments towh ich they may apply themselves , and l ikewiseto any gu i lds or commun ities , wi thout any obstacleor contradiction being ofl

'

ered to them , or admittedunder th is pretext wi th i n or withou t courts of law.

6. Those who shal l oppose and refuse the admiss ion of th is class of reclaimed people to thei r tradesan d gu ilds shal l be mulcted ten ducats for the fi rsttime, twenty for the second , and a double quantityfor the th i rd ; an d du ri ng the time they conti nuein their opposition they shal l be prohibited fromexercisi ng the same trade, for a certai n period , to

CH. x11. ] CARLOS TERCERO— H IS LAW 1 7 1

be determined by the judge, an d proportioned tothe opposi tion which they d isplay .

‘

7 . I grant the term of n i nety days,to be

reckoned from the publ ication of th is law i n thepri ncipal town of every district, i n order that all thevagabonds of th is an d any other class may retireto the towns an d vi l lages where they may chooseto locate themselves , with the exception

,for the

present, of the capital an d the royal residences , i norder that, abandon i ng the dress , language , an d

behaviour of those who are called Gitanos,they

maydevote themselves to some honest cflice , trade ,or occupation , i t be ing a matter of i nd ifferencewhether the same be connected with labour or thearts .

‘ 8. I t wil l not be sufficient for those who havebeen formerly known to follow th is manner of l ifeto devote themse lves so lely to the occupation ofshearing and cl ipping an imals, nor to the trafficof markets and fai rs , nor st il l less to the occu

patio n of keepers of i nns and ventas i n un inhabitedplaces , al though they may be in nkeepers wi th i ntowns, which employment shal l be considered assuflicien t, provided always there be no wel l-foundedi ndications of thei r being del inquents themselves

,

or harbourers of such people.

‘

9 . At the expi ration of n inety days , the justicesshal l proceed agai nst the di sobed ient in the fol lowing man ner — Those who , having abandoned thedress , name , language or jargon , association , an dmanners of Gitanos , and shal l have moreoverchosen and establ ished a domici le , but shal l nothave devoted themselves to any cflice or employment , though i t be on ly that of day-labourers , shal l

17 2 THE ZINCALI [PART 1.

be considered as vagrants, and be apprehendedan d pun ished according to the laws in force againstsuch people without any disti nction being madebetween them an d the other vassals.

10 . Those who henceforth shal l commit anycrimes , havi ng abandoned the language , dress ,an d manners of Gitanos , chosen a domici le , an d

appl ied themselves to any office , shal l be proseouted an d chastised l i ke others gu i l ty of the samecrimes , without any difference being made betweenthem .

1 1 . But those who shal l have abandoned theaforesaid dress , language an d behav iour, and thosewho , pretending to speak an d dress l ike the othervassals, an d even to choose a domicil iary residence,shal l con ti nue to go forth , wanderi ng about theroads and un i nhabited places , al though it be withthe pretext of visi ting markets and fai rs , suchpeople shal l be pursued an d taken by the justices ,an d a l ist of them formed , with thei r names andappel lations , age, description , with the placeswhere they say they reside an d were born .

‘16 . I , however, except from pun ishment the

ch i ldren an d young people of both sexes who are

not above sixteen years of age.

17 . Such , al though they may belong to a fami ly ,shal l be separated from thei r parents who wanderabout an d have no employment , an d shal l be desti ned to learn someth i ng , or shal l be placed out i nhospices or houses of i nstruction .

20 . When the register of the Gitanos who haveproved disobed ient shal l have taken place , i t shal lbe notified and made known to them , that i n caseof another relapse , the pun ishment of death shal l

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T H E ZI N C A L I

O R AN ACCOUNT

OF TH E GY PS I E S

OF S PA I N

PA RT I I

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178 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

just entered , which was i nvolved i n bloody anarchyan d confusion , and where the m in isters of a rel igionfalsely sty led Cathol ic an d Christian were blowingthe trump of war, i nstead of preaching the loveengenderi ng words of the blessed Gospel .Sudden ly two men , wrapped in long cloaks,came down the narrow an d almost deserted street ;they were about to pass , an d the face of the nearestwas turned fu l l towards me ; I knew to whom the

countenance wh ich he d isplayed must belong,and

I touched him on the arm. The man stopped,

and l ikewise his compan ion ; I said a certai nword , to wh ich , after an exclamation of surprise.he responded i n the manner I expected . The menwere Gitanos or Gypsies , members of that si ngularfami ly or race which has difl‘used itself over theface of the civi l ised globe , an d which , i n all lands ,has preserved more or less its origi nal customsan d i ts own pecul iar language.We i nstantly commenced discou rsing i n the

Span ish dialect of th is language , with which Iwas tolerably wel l acquai n ted . I asked my twonewly -made acquaintances whether there weremany of thei r race i n Badajoz an d the vici n i ty :they i nformed me that there were eight or ten

famil ies i n the town , and that there were othersat Merida, a town about six leagues d istant. Ii nqu i red by what means they l ived , an d theyrepl ied that they and thei r breth ren princi pal lygained a l ivel ihood by trafficking in mules andasses

,but that all those i n Badajoz were very

poor,with the exception of o n e man , who was

exceedingly bafialo , or rich , as he was i n possession of many mules an d other cattle. They

CHAP . THE GYPSIES 179

removed thei r cloaks for a moment, and I foundthat thei r under-garments were rags .They left me in haste , an d went about the towni nform ing the rest that a stranger had arrived whospoke Rommany as wel l as themselves , who hadthe face of a Gitano , and seemed to be of the‘ errate

,

’ or blood . I n less than hal f an hour thestreet before the i nn was fi l led with the men

,

women, an d ch i ld ren of Egypt. I went out

amongst them , and my heart sank with in me asI surveyed them : so much vi leness , di rt, an d

misery I had never seen amongst a sim i lar number of human beings ; but worst of all was the

evi l expression of thei r countenances , which spokeplain ly that they were conversant with every spec iesof crime , an d i t was not long before I found thatthei r countenances did not bel ie them . After theyhad asked me an infin ity of questions , and feltmy hands, face , an d clothes , they reti red to theirown homes .That same n ight the two men of whom I have

al ready particularly spoken came to see me. Theysat down by the brasero i n the middle of the apartment, an d began to smoke smal l paper cigars .We conti nued for a considerable time i n si lencesu rveying each other. Of the two Gitanos onewas an elderly man , tal l an d bony , with lean ,skinny , an d whimsical featu res , though perfectlythose of a Gypsy ; he spoke l i ttle, an d h is expressions were general ly singu lar an d grotesque.His compan ion

,who was the man whom I had

first noti ced i n the street, differed from him i nmany respects ; he could be scarcely th i rty , andh is figure , which was about the middle height,

180 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

was of Herculean proportions ; shaggy black hai r,l ike that of a wi ld beast, covered the greatest partof h is immense head ; his face was frightfu l lyseamed with the smal l-pox , and his eyes , whichglared l ike those of ferrets , peered from beneathbushy eyebrows ; he wore immense moustaches ,and his wide mouth was garn ished with teethexceedi ngly large and white . There was o n e

pecul iari ty about h im which must not be forgotten : h is right arm was withered , an d hungdown from his shoulder a th i n sap less stick

,

which contrasted strangely with the huge brawnof the left. A figure so perfectly wild an d u n

couth I had scarcely ever before seen . He hadnow flung aside h is cloak, an d sat before megaunt i n h is rags and nakedness. I n spite ofh is appearance , however, he seemed to be muchthe most sensible of the two ; and the conversation which ensued was carried on ch iefly betweenhim and myself. This man , whom I shal l cal lthe fi rst Gypsy, was the first to break si lence ;an d he thus addressed me, speaking in Span ish ,broken with words of the Gypsy tongueF irst Gypsy — ‘ Arromali (i n truth) , I l i ttlethought when I saw the errafio standi ng by thedoor of the posada that I was about to meet abrother— one too who, though wel l dressed , wasnot ashamed to speak to a poor Gitano ; but tel lme , I beg you , brother, from whence you come ; Ihave heard that you have just arrived from Laloré ,but I am sure you are no Portuguese ; the Portu

guese are very difl'

eren t from you I know i t,for I

have been i n Laloré I rather take you to be one ofthe Corahai, for I have heard say that there is much

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182 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

Myselfi Y ou seem wretchedly poor. Are youmarried ? ’

F irst Gypsy —Wam, an d to the best-looki ngan d cleverest cal lee i n Badajoz ; nevertheless wehave never thriven since the day of our marriage ,an d a curse seems to rest upon us both . PerhapsI have on ly to thank myself ; I was once rich , an dhad never less than six borricos to sel l or ex

change, but the day before my marriage I sold allI possessed , i n order to have a grand fiesta. Forthree days we were merry enough ; I entertai nedevery one who chose to come in , an d flung awaymy money by handfu ls , so that when the affai r wasover I had not a cuarto i n the world an d the verypeople who had feasted at my expense refu sed mea dol lar to begin again , so we were soon reducedto the greatest misery. True it is , that I now andthen shear a mule , an d my wife tell s the bah i

(fortune) to the servant-girls , but these th i ngsstand us i n l ittle stead : the people are now verymuch on the alert , an d my wife, with al l her kn owledge , has been unable to perform any grand trickwhich would set us up at once . She wished tocome to see you , brother, th is n ight, but wasashamed

,as she has no more clothes than myself.

Last summer our d istress was so great that wecrossed the frontier i nto Portugal : my wife sung ,an d I played the guitar, for though I have but onearm , an d that a left one, I have never felt the wantof the other. At Estremoz I was cast i nto prisonas a th ief an d vagabond , an d there I m ight haveremai ned ti l l I starved with hunger. My wife ,however, soon got me out : she went to the lady ofthe corregidor

,to whom she told a most wonderfu l

CHA P. THE WITHERED ARM 183

bah i , promising treasures and titles , an d I wot notwhat ; so I was set at l iberty , an d retu rned toSpai n as qu ick as I cou ld .

’

Myself . I s i t not the custom of the Gypsies ofSpain to rel ieve each other i n d istress — it is theru le in other countries . ’

F irst Gypsy. El kral l is ha n icobado la l i ri delos Calés— (The king has destroyed the law of theGypsies) ; we are no longer the people we wereonce , when we l ived amongst the sierras an d

deserts , and kept aloof from the B usn é ; we havel ived amongst the B usn é ti l l we are become almostl ike them

,an d we are no longer un ited , ready to

ass ist each other at al l times an d seasons, and veryfrequently the G itano is the worst enemy of hisbrother. ’

Myself . The Gitanos , then , no longer wanderabout, but have fixed residences in the towns andvil lages ? ’

F irst Gypsy. I n the summer time a few of usassemble together, an d l ive about amongst theplains an d h i l ls , an d by doing so we frequentlycontrive to pick up a horse or a mule for noth ing ,an d sometimes we knock down a Busno

,an d strip

h im , but i t is seldom we venture so far. We are

much looked after by the B usn é , who hold us i ngreat dread , an d abhor us . Sometimes , whenwandering abou t, we are attacked by the labou rers ,an d then we defend ourselves as wel l as we can .

There i s no better weapon in the hands of a Gitanothan h is “cachas ,

” or shears , with which he trimsthe mules . I once sn ipped o ff the nose of a Busno,and opened the greater part of h is check i n an afi

'

rayup the country near Truj i l lo .

’

184 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

Mysegf. Have you travel led much aboutSpain ? ’

F irst Gypsy. Very l ittle ; I have never beenout of th is province of Estremadura, except lastyear, as I to ld you , i nto Portugal . When wewander we do not go far, and it is very rare thatwe are visited by our brethren of other parts . Ihave never been i n Andalusia , but I have heard saythat the Gitanos are many in Andalusia, and aremore wealthy than those here , and that they fol lowbetter the Gypsy law.

’

Myse4f . What do you mean by the Gypsylaw ? ’

F irst Gypsy. Wherefore do you ask, brother ?You know what is meant by the law of the Calésbetter even than ourselves . ’

Mysefi—‘ I know what i t is i n England and in

Hungary , but I can on ly give a guess as to whatit is i n Spain .

’

B oth w sw. What do you consider it to bei n Spain ? ’

Myself Cheati ng and chori ng the B usn é onal l occasions, an d being true to the errate i n lifeand i n death .

’

At these words both the Gitanos sprang simultan eo usly from thei r seats , and exclaimed wi th a

boisterous shout Chachipé .

’

This meeting with the Gitanos was the occasionof my remain ing at Badajoz a much longer timethan I original ly in tended . I wished to becomebetter acquai nted with the i r cond ition an d manners ,an d above all to speak to them of Christ and H isWord for I was convinced , that should I trave l tothe en d of the un iverse , I should meet with no

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186 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

belief in metempsychosis ; but they themselveslaughed at the idea , an d were of opin ion that thesoul perished when the body ceased to breathe ;and the argument which they u sed was rationalen ough , so far as it impugned metempsychos is‘We have been wicked an d miserable enoughi n th is l ife ,

’ they said ;‘ why should we l ive

agai n ? ’

I translated ce rtai n portions of Scripture i n tothei r dialect, which I frequently read to them ;

especial ly the parable of Lazarus and the ProdigalSon , and told them that the latter had been aswicked as themselves , an d both had suffered asmuch or more ; but that the sufferings of theformer, who always looked forward to a blessedresurrection , were recompensed by admission

,i n

the l ife to come , to the society of Abraham and theProphets , an d that the latter, when he repen ted ofh is sins , was forgiven , an d received i nto as muchfavour as the just son .They l istened with admi ration but, alas ! not ofthe truths , the eternal truths, I was tel l i ng them,

but to find that thei r broken jargon could be wri ttenan d read . The on ly words denoting anyth ingl ike assent to my doctri ne which I ever obtai ned ,were the fol lowing from the mouth of a woman‘ Brother, you tel l us strange th ings, thoughperhaps you do not l ie ; a month since I wouldsooner have bel ieved these tales, than that th isday I should see one who could write Rommany .

’

Two or three days after my arrival , I was againvisi ted by the Gypsy of the withered arm , who Ifound was general ly termed Paco , which is the

CHAP . PACO AND ANTONIO 187

dim inutive of Francisco ; he was accompan ied byhis wife, a rather good- looking young woman withsharp i nte l l igent features, an d who appeared i nevery respect to be what her husband had repre

sented her on the former visit. She was verypoorly clad , and notwithstanding the extremesharpness of the weather, carried no mantle toprotect herself from its i nclemency

,— her raven

black hai r depended behind as far down as herhips . Another Gypsy came with them ,

but notthe old fel low whom I had before seen . Thiswas a man about forty-five, dressed i n a zamarraof sheep-sk i n , with a high-crowned Andal usianhat ; his complexion was dark as pepper, an d hiseyes were fu l l of sul len fire. I n h is appearancehe exh ibited a goodly compound of Gypsy an d

band it.Paco . Laches chibeses te difiele U n debel (MayGod grant you good days , brother) . This is mywife , an d th is is my wife

’s father. ’

Myrefi—‘ I am glad to see them . What are

thei r names ?Paco . Maria an d Anton io ; thei r other namei s Lopez . ’

Myself Have they no Gypsy names ?Paco . They have no other names than these . ’

Myse4f . Then i n th is respect the Gitanos ofSpai n are un l ike those of my country . Everyfami ly there has two names ; one by which theyare known to the B usn é, an d another which theyuse amongst themselves . ’

A n tom'

o . Give me your hand , brother ! Ishould have come to see you before, but I havebeen to O liven zas i n search of a horse . What

188 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

I have heard of you has fi l led me with muchdesi re to kn ow you , and I now see that you can te llme man y th ings which I am ignorant of. I amZincalo by the four sides— I love our blood , andI hate that of the B usn é. Had I my wi l l I wou ldwash my face every day i n the blood of the B usn é ,for the B usn é are made on ly to be robbed and tobe slaughtered ; but I love the Calore , an d I loveto hear of th ings of the Calore, especial ly fromthose of foreign lands ; for the Calore of foreignlands know more than we of Spain , an d moreresemble our fathers of old .

’

Mysem—J Have you ever met before with Calorewho were not Span iards ?A n tom

'

o. I wi l l tel l you , brother. I served as asoldier i n the war of the i ndependence agai nst theFrench . War

, i t is true , i s not the proper occupation of a Gitano , but those were strange times ,and al l those who could bear arms were compel ledto go forth to fight : so I went with the Engl isharm ies , an d we chased the Gabin é unto the frontierof France ; and it happened once that we joined i ndesperate battle, an d there was a confusion , andthe two parties became interm ingled and foughtsword to sword and bayonet to bayonet, and a

French soldier singled me out, an d we fought fora long time , cutti ng, goring, an d cursing eachother

,til l at last we flung down our arms an d

grappled ; long we wrestled , body to body , but Ifound that I was the weaker

,an d I fel l . The

French soldier’s knee was on my breast, an d

his grasp was on my th roat, an d he se ized h isbayonet, and he raised it to th rust me throughthe jaws ; an d h is cap had fal len an d I l ifted

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190 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

A n ton io .— ‘

j ust so ; an d I have repented eversi nce that I d id not fol low him .

’

Myself . Why so ? ’

A n tom'

o . I wi l l tel l you the ki ng has destroyedthe law of the Calés , an d has put disun ion amongstus. There was a time when the house of everyZ incalo , however rich , was open to h is brother,though he came to h im naked ; an d i t was thenthe custom to boast of the “errate .

” I t is nolonger so now : those who are rich keep alooffrom the rest, wil l not speak i n Calo , an d wi l lhave no dea l i ngs but with the B usn é. Is therenot a false brother i n th is foros, the on ly rich manamong us , the swine, the balichow ? he is marriedto a B usn ee and he would fai n appear as a Busno !Tel l me one th ing, has he been to see you ? Thewhite blood , I know he has not ; he was afraidto see you , for he knew that by Gypsy law hewas bound to take you to his house and feast you ,whi lst you remai ned , l i ke a pri nce , l ike a crallis

of the Calés , as I bel ieve you are, even though hesold the last gras from the stal l . Who have cometo see you , brother ? Have they not been such asPaco an d his wife, wretches without a house, or,at best, one fi l led with cold an d poverty ; so thatyou have had to stay at a mesun a, at a posada ofthe B usn é ; an d, moreover, what have the Calésgiven you since you have been residing here ?Nothing, I trow, better than this rubbish , which isall I can offer you , this M eligran a de los B en gues .

’

Here he produced a pomegranate from the pocketof h is zamarra, an d flung it on the table with suchforce that the fru it burst , an d the red grai ns werescattered on the floor.

CHAP. PHARAOH AND EGYPTIANS 19 1

The Gitanos of Estremadura cal l themselves i ngeneral Chai or Chabos, an d say that thei r origi nalcountry was Chal or Egypt. I frequently askedthem what reason they could assign for Cal l ingthemselves Egyptians , an d whether they couldremember the names of any places i n thei r supposed fatherland ; but I soon found that, l ikethei r brethren in other parts of the world , theywere unable to give any rational account of themselves , an d preserved no recol lection of the placeswhere thei r forefathers had wandered ; thei r language , however, to a considerable extent, solvedthe riddle, the bulk of which being Hin dui, poi ntedout I ndia as the bi rthplace of thei r race, whi lstthe number of Persian , Sclavon ian , an d modernGreek words with wh ich it is checkered , spokeplai n ly as to the countries through which thesesingu lar people had wandered before they arrivedi n Spai n .

They said that they bel ieved themselves to beEgyptians , because thei r fathers before thembel ieved so , who must know much better thanthemselves . They were fond of tal ki ng of Egyptan d i ts former greatness, though it was evident thatthey knew nothing farther of the cou ntry and itshistory than what they derived from spuriousbibl ical legends current amongst the Span iards ;on ly from such materials could they have composedthe fol lowing account of the manner of thei r expu lsion from thei r native land .

‘There was a great king i n Egypt, and his namewas Pharaoh . He had numerous arm ies , withwhich he made war on all coun tries , an d conqueredthem all. And when he had conquered the enti re

192 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

world , he became sad and sorrowfu l ; for as hedel ighted i n war, he no longer knew on what toemploy h imse lf. At last he bethought h im onmaking war on God so he sent a defiance to God

,

dari ng him to descend from the sky with his angels,

and contend with Pharaoh and his arm ies ; butGod said , I wi l l not measure my strength wi th thatof a man . But God was incensed against Pharaoh ,an d resolved to pun ish h im an d he opened a holei n the side of an enormous mountain , and he raiseda raging wind , and drove before it Pharaoh an d h isarm ies to that ho le, and the abyss received them ,

an d the mountai n closed upon them ; but whosoever goes to that mountai n on the n ight of St.John can hear Pharaoh an d his arm ies si ngingand yel l i ng therein . And it came to pass, thatwhen Pharaoh an d his arm ies had disappeared , al lthe kings and the nations which had become subjcet to Egypt revolted agai nst Egypt, which , havinglost her king and her armies , was left utterly without defence ; an d they made war agai nst her, andprevai led against her, and took her peop le and drovethem forth

,d ispersi ng them over al l the world .

’

So that n ow,say the Chai , Our horses dri nk the

water of the Guadiana — (Apilyela gras Chai la

pan ee Lucalee) .

‘THE STEEDS OF THE EGYPTIANS DRINK THE WATERS

OF THE GUAD IANA

‘The region of Chal was ourdearn ative soil,Where in fu ln ess o f pleasure we l ived without toi lT ill dispersed through all lan ds, ’twas our fortun e to beOursteeds, Guadian a, must n ow drin k of thee.

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194 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

C H A P T E R I I

IN Madrid the Gitanos chiefly res ide in the neighbourhood of the ‘ mercado ,

’ or the p lace wherehorses and other an imals are sold ,— in two narrowand di rty lanes , cal led the Cal le de la Comadre an dthe Cal lejon de Lavapies . I t is said that at thebegin n ing of last centu ry Madrid abounded wi ththese people , who , by the i r lawless behaviour an dd issolute l ives , gave occasion to great scandal ; i fsuch were the case , thei r numbers must have considerablydim in ished since that period , as it wouldbe diflicult at any time to col lect fifty throughoutMadrid . These Gitanos seem , for the most part,to be either Valencians or of Valencian origi n

, as

they i n general e i ther speak or understand the

dialect of Valencia an d whi lst speaking thei r ownpecul iar jargon , the Rommany , are i n the habit ofmaking use of many Valencian words and terms.The manner of l ife of the Gitanos of Madridd iffers i n no material respect from that of thei rbrethren i n other places . The men , every marketday, are to be seen on the ski rts of the mercado ,general ly with some miserable an imal— for example ,a foundered mule or gal led borrico, by means ofwh ich they seldom fai l to gain a dol lar or two

,

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CRAP . MADRID 195

ei ther by sale or exchange . I t must not, however,be supposed that they content themselves with suchpal try earn ings. P rovided they have any val uablean imal , which is not unfrequently the case , theyi nvariably keep such at home snug in the stal l ,conducti ng th ither the Chapman , should they findany, an d concl uding the bargai n with the greatestsecrecy. Thei r general reason for th is conduct isan unwi l l i ngness to exh ibi t anyth ing calcu lated toexcite the jealousy of the chalans , or jockeys ofSpan ish blood , who on the sl ightest umbrage arei n the habit of ejecti ng them from the fai r by forceof palos or cudgels , i n which violence the chalansare to a certai n extent cou ntenanced by law ; forthough by the edict of Carlos the Thi rd the Gitanoswere i n other respects placed upon an equal i ty withthe rest of the Span iards, they were sti l l forbiddento obtai n thei r l ivel ihood by the traffic of marketsan d fairs.They have occasional ly however another excel lent

reason for not exposi ng the an imal i n the publ icmercado— thei r having obtai ned him by dishonestmeans. The steal i ng , conceal ing, an d receivingan imals when stolen , are i nveterate Gypsy hab its ,and are perhaps the last from which the Gitano wi l lbe reclaimed , or wi l l on ly cease when the race hasbecome exti nct. I n the prisons of Madrid

,either i n

that of the Saladero or De la Corte, there are neverless than a dozen Gitanos immu red for stolen horsesor mules being found i n thei r possession , whichthemselves or thei r connections have spi rited awayfrom the neighbouri ng vi l lages

,or sometimes from

a considerable distance. I say spi ri ted away, forso wel l do the th ieves take thei r measures , and

196 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

watch thei r opportun ity , that they are seldom ornever taken i n the fact.The Madri len ian Gypsy women are i ndefatigablei n the pursuit of prey, prowl i ng about the town an d

the suburbs from morn ing ti l l n ight, enteri ng housesof al l descriptions, from the h ighest to the lowest ;tel l i ng fortunes , or attempting to play o ff variouski nds of Gypsy tricks , from which they derivemuch greater profit, and of which we shal l presentlyhave occasion to make particular mention .

From Madrid let us proceed to Andalusia, casti ng a cu rsory glance on the Gitanos of that country .

I found them'

very numerous at Granada , which i nthe Gitano language is termed Meligran a. Theirgeneral cond ition in th is place is tru ly miserable ,farexceed ing i n wretchedness the state of the tri besof Estremadura. I t is right to state that Granadaitse lf is the poorest city in Spain the greatest partof the population , which exceeds sixty thousand ,l iv ing i n beggary and nakedness, and the Gitanosshare i n the general d istress.Many of them reside i n caves scooped i n thesides of the ravi nes which lead to the higher regionsof the Alpujarras , on a ski rt of which standsGranada. A common occupation of the Gitanosof Granada is working in i ron , and it is not u n frequent to find these caves tenanted by Gypsy smi thsand thei r fami l ies , who ply the hammer and forgei n the bowels of the earth . To one standing at themouth of the cave , especial ly at n ight

,they afford

a picturesque spectac le. Gathered round the forge ,thei r bronzed and naked bodies, i l lum inated by theflame

,appear l ike figures of demons ; whi le the

cave, with its flin tysides and uneven roof, blackened

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CRAP. GYPSY SM ITHS 197

by the charcoal vapours which hover about i t infestoons , seems to offer no i nadequate represen tation of fabled purgatory. Working i n i ron was anoccupation strictly forbidden to the Gitanos by theancient laws, on what accoun t does not exactlyappear ; though , perhaps, the trade of the smithwas considered as too much akin to that of thechalan to be permitted to them . The Gypsy sm ithof Granada i s sti l l a chalan , even as h is brother i nEngland is a jockey an d ti nker altern ately .

Whilst speaking of the Gitanos of Granada, wecannot pass by i n si lence a tragedy which occurredin th is town amongst them , some fifteen years ago ,an d the detai ls of wh ich are known to every Gitanoi n Spain

,from Catalon ia to Estremadura. We

al lude to the murder of Pin damo n as by PepeConde. Both these i nd ividuals were Gitan os ;the latter was a celebrated contraband ista , of whommany remarkable tales are told . On one occasion ,having committed some enormous crime, he fledover to Barbary an d turned Moor, and was employed by the Moorish emperor i n h is wars , i ncompany with the other renegade Span iards

,who se

grand depot or presid io is the town of Agurey i nthe kingdom of Fez . After the lapse of someyears, when h is crime was nearly forgotten , heretu rned to Granada , where he fol lowed h is oldoccupations of contrabandista an d chalan . P i ndamonas was a Gitano of considerable wealth , andwas considered as the most respectable of the raceat Granada, amongst whom he possessed considerable i nfluence . Between th is man an d Pepe Condethere existed a jealousy , especial ly on the part ofthe latter, who, being a man of proud untamable

198 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

spi ri t, could not wel l brook a superior amon gst hisown people. I t chanced one day that Pin damo n asan d o ther Gitanos, amongst whom was PepeConde, were in a coffee-house . After they had all

partaken of some refreshment , they cal led for thereckon ing, the amount of which Pin damo n as insisted on discharging. I t wi l l be necessary here toobse rve , that on such occasions i n Spai n i t is considered as a species of privi lege to be al lowed topay , which is an honour general ly claimed by thepri ncipal man of the party. Pepe Conde did notfai l to take umbrage at the attempt of Pin damo n as ,which he considered as an undue assumption ofsuperiori ty , and put i n h is own claim but P i ndamonas insisted , and at last flung down the moneyon the table , whereupon Pepe Conde i nstantly u n

clasped one of those terrible Manchegan kn iveswh ich are general ly carried by the contrabandistas

,

and with a frightful gash opened the abdomen ofPin damo n as , who presently expi red .

After th is exploit, Pepe Conde fled , and was notseen for some time. The cave , however, i n wh ichhe had been i n the habit of residing was watched

,

as a be l ief was entertained that sooner or later hewou ld return to i t, i n the hope of being able toremove some of the property contai ned i n it. Th isbe l ief was wel l founded . Early one morn ing hewas observed to enter it, and a band of sold iers wasi nstantly despatched to seize h im . This ci rcumstance is al luded to i n a Gypsy stanza :

Fly, Pepe Con de, seek the hi llTo flee ’

s thy on ly chan ceWith bayon ets fixed, thy blood to spill,See soldiers fouradvan ce.

’

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CRAP. TRIANA 199

And before the soldiers could arrive at the cave ,Pepe Conde had discovered thei r approach and fled ,endeavouring to make his escape amongst the rocksan d barrancos of the Alpujarras . The soldiersi nstantly pursued , an d the chase conti nued a considerable time. The fugitive was repeated ly summo n ed to surrender h imself, but refusing, the

sold iers at last fi red , an d four bal ls entered the

heart of the Gypsy contraband ista an d murderer.Once at Madrid I received a letter from the sister’sson of Pin damo n as , dated from the prison of theSaladero . I n th is letter the writer, who it appearswas i n durance for steal i ng a pair of mu les , cravedmy charitable assistance an d advice ; and possiblyi n the hope of securi ng my favour, forwarded someuncouth l i nes commemorative of the death of hisrelation , and commencing thus

The death of Pin damon as fill’d all the world with painAt the coffee-house’s portal , by Pepe he was slain .

’

The faubourg of Triana, i n Sevi l le, has fromtime immemorial been noted as a favourite res idence of the Gitanos and here , at the present day,they are to be found i n greater number than i n anyother town i n Spain . This faubourg is i ndeedch iefly inhabi ted by desperate characters , as, be

sides the Gitanos , the pri ncipal part of the robberpopulation of Sevi l le is here congregated . Perhapsthere i s no part even of Naples where crime somuch abounds

,an d the law is so l ittle respected , as

at Triana , the character of whose i nmates was sograph ical ly del ineated two centuries an d a halfback by Cervantes , i n o n e of the most amusing ofh is tales . l

1 Rin con ete an d Cortadil lo.

200 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

I n the vilest lan es of th is suburb, amidst dilapidated wal ls and ru ined convents , exists the grandcolony of Span ish Gitanos. Here they may beseen wieldi ng the hammer ; here they may be seentrimming the fetlocks of horses, or sheari ng thebacks of mules an d borricos with thei r cachas an d

from hence they emerge to ply the same trade i nthe town , or to ofliciate as terceros , or to buy ,sel l , or exchange an imals i n the mercado, an d thewomen to tel l the bahi through the streets , even asi n other parts of Spain , general ly attended by oneor two tawny bantl i ngs i n thei r arms or by thei rsides whi lst others, with baskets an d chafing-pans,proceed to the del ightfu l banks of the Len Baro , 1

by the Golden Tower, where , squatti ng on theground and kindl ing thei r charcoal , they roastthe chestnuts which , when wel l prepared , are thefavouri te bonne bouche of the Sevi l l ians ; whi lstnot a few, i n league with the contraband istas, gofrom door to door ofl

'

ering for sale proh ibited goodsbrought from the English at Gibraltar. Such isGitano l ife at Sevi l le ; such it is i n the capital ofAndalusia.

I t is the common bel ief of the Gitanos of otherprovinces that i n Andalusia the language , customs ,habits , an d practices pecul iar to thei r race are bestpreserved . This opin ion , which probably origi natedfrom the fact of thei r being found in greater numbers in th is province than i n any other, may holdgood i n some instances , but certai n ly not i n al l .I n various parts of Spai n I have found the Gitanosretai n i ng thei r primitive language an d customsbette r than in Sevi l le, where they most abound

The great river, orGuadalquiver.

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CRAP. CORDOVA 20 1

i ndeed , i t is not pla in that thei r number hasoperated at al l favourab ly in th is respect. At Cordova, a town at the distance of twenty leaguesfrom Sevi l le, which scarcely contains a dozenGitano famil ies , I found them l iving in much morebrotherly amity , and cherish i ng i n a greater degreethe Observances of the i r forefathers .I shal l long remember these Co rdovese Gitanos

,

by whom I was very wel l received , but always onthe supposition that I was o n e of thei r own race .They said that they never adm itted strangers tothei r houses save at thei r marriage festivals, whenthey flung thei r doors open to all, and saveoccasional ly people of i nfluence an d distinction ,who wished to hear thei r songs an d converse withtheir women ; but they assured me , at the sametime , that these they invariably dece ived , an d

mere ly made use of as i nstruments to serve thei rown purposes . As for mysel f, I was admittedwithout scruple to thei r private meetings, an d wasmade a participator of the i r most secret thoughts .Du ri ng our i ntercourse some remarkable scenesoccurred . One night more than twen ty of us, menan d women , were assembled in a long low room onthe ground floor

,i n a dark al ley o r court i n the old

gloomy town of Cordova. After the Gitanos haddiscussed several jockey plans, an d settled someprivate bargai ns amongst themselves , we all

gathered round a huge brasero of flaming charcoal , an d began conversing sobre las cosas de

Egypto , when I proposed that, as we had nobetter means of amusing ourselves , we shouldendeavour to tu rn i nto the Calo language somepieces of devotion , that we might see whether this

202 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

language, the gradual decay of which I had frequently heard them lament, was capable of expressing any other matters than those which related tohorses , mules , an d Gypsy traflic. I t was i n th iscautious manner that I fi rst endeavoured to divertthe attention of these singular people to matters ofeternal importance. My suggest ion was rece ivedwith acclamations, and we forthwith proceeded tothe translation of the Apostles' creed . I fi rst recited i n Span ish , i n the usual manner an d withoutpausing, th is noble confession , an d then repeated itagain , sentence by sentence , the Gitanos translati ng as I proceeded . They exh ibited the greatesteagern ess an d i nterest i n thei r unwonted occupation , an d frequently broke i nto loud d isputes asto the best renderi ng— many being off ered at the

same time. I n the meanwhi le , I wrote down fromthei r dictation and at the conc lusion I read aloudthe translation , the result of the un ited wisdom ofthe assembly , whereupon they al l raised a shout ofexu ltation , and appeared not a l i ttle proud of thecomposition .

The Co rdovese Gitanos are ce lebrated esqu i ladors. Connected with them an d the exercise ofthe arte de esquz

'

lar, i n Gypsy mo n rabar, I havea curious anecdote to relate . I n the first place,however, i t may not be am iss to say someth ingabout the art i tself, of all relati ng to which it ispossible that the reader may be qu i te ignorant.Noth ing is more deserving of remark i n Span ishgroom ing than the care exh ibited i n cl ipping andtrimming various parts of the horse

,where the

growth of hair is considered as prej udicial to theperfect health and clean l i ness of the an imal , par

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204 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

I n one of their couplets al l usion is made to th isoccupation i n the fol low i ng manner

I ’ll rise to-morrow bread to earn ,For hun ger’

s worn me grimOf all I meet I ’ll ask in turn ,

If they ’ve n o beasts to trim.

’

Sometimes , whilst sheari ng the foot of a horse ,exceed i ngly smal l sc issors are necessary for thepurpose of removing fin e sol itary hairs ; for a

Span ish groom wi l l tel l you that a horse’s footbeh ind ought to be kept as c lean and smooth asthe hand of a sefiora : such scissors can on ly beprocu red at Madrid . My sending two pai r of th iskind to a Cordovese Gypsy , from whom I hadexperienced much attention whi lst i n that ci ty ,was the occasion of my receiving a singu larepistle from another whom I scarce ly knew, andwhich I shal l i nsert as be i ng an original Gypsycomposition , an d i n some points not a l i ttle characteristic of the people of whom I am now writing.

Cordova, z oth dayo f Jan uary, 1837 .

seNo R DON JORGE ,‘ After saluting you and hoping that you arewel l , I proceed to tel l you that the two pai r ofsc issors arrived at th is town of Cordova with himwhom you sent them by ; but, unfortunately , theywere given to another Gypsy , whom you neitherknew nor spoke to nor saw i n your l ife ; for itchanced that he who brought them was a friendof mine, and he told me that he had broughttwo pai r of scissors which an Engl ishman hadgiven h im for the Gypsies ; whereupon I , understand i ng it was yourself, i nstantly said to h im ,

CRAP. CHARACTERI STIC EP ISTLE 205

Those scissors are for me he told me, however, that he had already given them to another,an d he is a Gypsy who was not even in Cordovadu ring the time you were. Nevertheless

,Don

Jorge,I am very gratefu l for your thus remember

ing me, al though I d id not receive your present,an d i n order that you may know who I am

,my

name is Anton io Salazar, a man pitted with the

smal l-pox , and the very first who spoke to youin Cordova i n the posada where you were ; an d

you told me to come an d see you next day at

eleven , and I went, and we conversed togetheralone. Therefore I should wish you to do methe favour to send me scissors for trimming beasts

,

— good sc issors , mind you ,— such would be a verygreat favour, an d I should be ever grateful

,for

here i n Cordova there are none , or if there be ,they are good for noth ing. Senor Don Jorge

,

you remember I told you that I was an esquiladorby trade

,and on ly by that I got bread for my

babes. Seflor Don Jorge , i f you do send me thescissors for trimming , pray wri te an d di rect to theal ley De la Lo n diga, No. 28, to Anton io Salazar,i n Cordova. This is what I have to tel l you

, an d

do you ever command your trusty servant,who

kisses your hand and is eager to serve you .

‘ ANTON IO SALAZAR .

’

F IRST COUPLET

That I mayc lip an d trim the beasts, a pairof cachas gran t,If n ot, I fearmy luckless babes will perish all of wan t .’

SECOND COUPLET

If thou a pairof cachas gran t, that I mybabesmayfeed,I ’ll pray to the Almigh ty God, that thee he ever speed .

’

206 THE Z INCAL I [ PART 11.

I t is by no means my intention to describe theexact state and cond ition of the Gitanos in everytown and provin ce where they are to be found ;perhaps, i ndeed , it wi l l be considered that I haveal ready been more circumstan tial and particularthan the ease requi red . The other d istricts wh ichthey inhabit are principal ly those of Catalonia,Murc ia, and Valencia ; and they are l ikewise tobe met with in the Basque pro vinces , where theyare cal led Egipcioac , or Egyptians. What I nextpurpose to occupy myself wi th are some generalobservations on the habits , and the physical andmoral state of the Gitan os throughout Spain , andof the position which they hold in society.

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208 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

Gitan ismo—which means Gypsy vi l lai ny of everydescription— flourished an d knew noth i ng of decayso long as the laws recommended and enjoinedmeasures the most harsh an d severe for the suppression of the Gypsy sect ; the palmy days ofGitan ismo were those i n wh ich the caste wasproscribed , an d i ts members , i n the event of ren ou n cing thei r Gypsy habi ts , had noth ing fartherto expect than the occupation of ti l l i ng the earth ,a dul l hopeless toi l ; then it was that the Gitanospaid tribute to the i nferior m inisters of justice , an dwere engaged i n i l l icit connection with those ofh igher station , and by such means baflied thelaw, whose vengeance rarely fel l upon thei r headsan d then it was that they bid it open defiance ,reti ring to the deserts an d mounta i ns , and l iv i ngin wi ld i ndependence by rapine and shedd ing ofblood ; for as the law then stood they wou ld loseall by resign ing thei r Gitan ismo , whereas bycl inging to it they l ived ei ther i n the independenceso dear to them , or beneath the protection of thei rconfederates . I t would appear that i n proportionas the law was harsh and severe

,so was the Gitano

bold and secure . The fiercest of these laws wasthe one of Phi l ip the Fifth , passed i n the year1745, which commands that the refractory Gitanosbe hunted down with fire an d sword ; that it wasquite inefficient is satisfactori ly proved by its beingtwice reiterated , once i n the year

’

46 , and againin ’

49 , which would scarcely have been d eemednecessary had i t quel led the Gitanos. This law,with some un important modifications, conti nuedin force ti l l the year ’

83 , when the famous ed ictof Carlos Tercero superseded it. Wil l any fee ]

cm p . 11 1. 1 PROSPECTS OF GITANo S 299

d is posed to doubt that the preceding laws hadse rved to foster what they were intended to sup

p ress , when we state the remarkable fact, that si nceth e enactment of that law, as humane as the otherswe re unj ust, we M 218 heard n otlzing more of the

Gitdn os f rom qfl‘icial quarters ; titey lzave ceased to

p lay a distin ctpart in the Izistory of Spain ; an d the

law n o longer speaks of them as a distin ct people ?The caste of the Gitano sti l l exists , but it is neitherso extensive nor so form idable as a centu ry ago ,when the law i n denouncing Gitan ismo proposed tothe Gitanos the al ternatives of death for persistingin thei r profession , or slavery for abandon ing i t.There are fierce and discontented spi rits amongstthem , who regret such times, and say that Gypsylaw i s now no more , that the Gypsy no longerassists h is brother, an d . that un ion has ceasedamong them . I f th is be true , can better proof beadduced of the beneficial working of the later law ?A blessing has been conferred on society

,and in

a manner h ighly creditable to the spi ri t of moderntimes ; reform has been accompl ished , not bypersecution , not by the gibbet an d the rack , butby justice an d tolerance. The travel ler has flungaside his cloak , not compel led by the angrybufl

'

etin g of the north wind , but because the

mi ld , ben ignant weather makes such a defenceno longer necessary . The law no longer compelsthe Gitanos to stand back to back, on the pri ncipalof mutual defence, an d to cl ing to Gitan ismo toescape from servitude an d thraldo m .

Taki ng everyth ing into consideration , an d viewing the subject i n all i ts beari ngs with an impartialglance , we are compel led to come to the conclusion

0

2 10 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

that the law of Carlos Tercero , the provisions ofwh ich were disti ngu ished by justice an d clemency ,has been the pri ncipal i f not the on ly cause of thedecl ine of Gitan ismo i n Spain . Some importanceought to be attached to the opi n ion of the Gitanosthemselves on th is poi nt. El Crallis ha n icobado

la l i ri de los Cales ,’ is a proverbial saying among

them . By Crallis , or King, they mean CarlosTercero , so that the sayi ng, the proverbial saying,may be thus translated 7 71e Law of Carlos Terrerohas superseded GypsyLaw.

By the law the schools are open to them , and thereis no art or science which they may not pursue

,i f

they are wil l i ng. Have they avai led themselves ofthe rights which the law has conferred upon themUp to the present period but l i ttle— they sti l lcon ti nue jockeys and blacksm iths ; but some ofthese Gypsy chalans, these bronzed smiths , thesewi ld-looking esquiladors, can read or wri te i n theproportion of one man i n three or four ; what morecan be expected ? Would you have the Gypsyban tl i ng, born i n filth and m isery ,

’midst mu lesand borricos, amidst the mud of a choza or thesand of a barranco , grasp with i ts swarthy handsthe crayon and easel , the compass , or the microscope , or the tube which renders more d isti nctthe heaven ly orbs, an d essay to become a Muri l lo ,or a Feijoo , or a Lorenzo de Hervas , as soon asthe legal disabi l ities are removed which doomedh im to be a th ievish jockey or a sul len husbandman ? Much wi ll have been accompl ished

,i f,

after the lapse of a hundred years,one hundred

human bei ngs shal l have been evolved from therpsy stock, who shal l prove sober, honest,

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2 12 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

Doubtl ess there are those who wi l l find somedifliculty i n bel iev ing that the m i ld and conci l iatoryclauses of the law i n question cou ld have mucheffect i n wean ing the Gitanos from th is i nveteratehabit, and wi l l be more disposed to th ink that th isrel i nqu ishment was eflected by energetic measuresresorted to by the government, to compel them toremain i n thei r places of location . I t does notappear, however, that such measures were everresorted to. Energy , i ndeed , i n the removal of anu isance , is scarcely to be expected from Span iardsunder any ci rcumstances . Al l we can say on thesubject, with certainty , is , that si nce the repeal ofthe tyrann ical laws , wandering has considerablydecreased among the Gitanos .Since the law has ceased to brand them , theyhave come nearer to the common standard ofhuman ity , and thei r general cond ition has beenamel iorated . At present, on ly the very poorest ,the parias of the race , are to be found wanderingabout the heaths an d mountai ns , an d th is on lyi n the summer time , and thei r principal motive ,accord ing to thei r own confession , i s to avoid theexpense of house rent ; the rest remai n at home

,

fol lowing thei r avocations , un less some immediateprospect of gai n , lawful or un lawful , cal ls themforth ; and such is frequently the case. Theyattend most fai rs, women an d men , an d on theway frequently bivouac i n the fields, but th ispractice must not be confounded with systematicwanderi ng.

Gitan ismo , therefore , has not been extingu ished ,on ly mod ified ; but that modification has beeneffected with i n the memory of man , whi lst pre

CRAP . PARTIAL REFORMATION 2 13

viously near four centuries elapsed , duri ng whichno reform had been produced amongst them by thevarious measures devised , all of which were distin gu ished by an absence not on ly of true pol icy ,but of common-sense ; i t is therefore to be hoped ,that if the Gitanos are abandoned to themselves , bywhich we mean no arbitrary laws are agai n enactedfor thei r exti nction , the sect wi l l eventual ly ceaseto be , an d its members become confounded withthe residue of the population ; for certain ly noChri stian nor merely phi lanthropic heart can des i rethe conti nuance of any sect or association of peoplewhose fundamental pri nciple seems to be to hateall the rest of man ki nd , and to l ive by deceiv ingthem and such is the practice of the Gitanos.Du ri ng the last five years, owing to the civi lwars, the ties which un ite society have been considerably re laxed the law has been tramp led underfoot, and the greatest part of Spain overrun withrobbers an d miscreants , who , under pretence ofcarrying on parti san warfare , an d not u nfrequentlyunder no pretence at all, have committed the mostfrightfu l excesses , plunderi ng and murdering the

defenceless. Such a state of th ings ‘would haveafforded the Gitanos a favourable opportu n ity toresume thei r former ki nd of l ife, an d to levy contributio n s as formerly , wanderi ng about i n bands.Certai n i t is , however, that they have not sought torepeat the i r ancient excesses , taki ng advantage ofthe troubles of the country ; they have gone on ,with a few exceptions

,quietly pursuing that part of

the i r system to which they sti l l cl i ng, thei r jockeyism , which , though based on fraud and robbery ,i s far preferable to wanderi ng brigandage, which

2 14 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

necessari ly i nvolves the frequent shedd i ng of blood .

Can better proof be adduced , that Gitan ismoowes its decl i ne, i n Spain , not to force, not topersecution , not to any want of opportun ity ofexercisi ng i t, but to some other cau se ?— and werepeat that we consider the pri ncipal if not the on lycause of the decl i ne of Gitan ismo to be the conferri ng on the Gitanos the rights and privi leges ofother subjects .We have said that the Gitanos have not muchavai led themselves of the perm ission , which the

law grants them , of embarking i n various spheresof l ife. They remain jockeys, but they haveceased to be wanderers ; and the grand object ofthe law is accompl ished . The law forbids them tobe jockeys, or to fol low the trade of trimming an d

sheari ng an imal s , without some other visible modeof subsistence. This provision , except i n a fewi solated i nstances , they evade ; an d the law seeksnot, and perhaps wisely , to d isturb them , contentwi th having achieved so much . The ch ief evi lsof Gitan ismo which sti l l remain consist i n the

systematic frauds of the Gypsy jockeys an d thetricks of the women . I t is i ncurring considerablerisk to purchase a horse or a mule, even from themost respectable Gitano , without a previous knowledge of the an imal and h is former possessor, thechances being that i t is either diseased or stolenfrom a distance. Of the practices of the females ,someth i ng wi l l be said i n particu lar i n a futu rechapter.The Gitanos i n general are very poor, a pai r oflarge cachas and various scissors of a smal ler description constituting thei r whole capital occasion

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2 16 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

lutelypossessed , stamping an d teari ng, their manesan d ta i ls stifliy erect, l ike the bristles of the wi ldboar— many a rider lost his seat. When the pan ichad ceased , and it d id cease almost as sudden ly asi t had arisen , the Gitanos were forthwi th accusedas the authors of it i t was said that they in tendedto steal the best horses duri ng the confusion , an dthe keepers of the ground , assisted by a rabbleof chalans , who had the i r private reasons forhati ng the Gitanos , drove them o ff the field wi thsticks and cudgels . So much for having a badname.These wealthy Gitanos , when they are notashamed of thei r blood or descent, and are notaddicted to proud fancies , or

‘ barbales ,’ as they

are cal led , possess great i nfluence with the restof thei r brethren , almost as much as the rabbinsamongst the Jews thei r bidding is considered law ,

an d the other Gitanos are at thei r devotion . Onthe contrary , when they prefer the soc iety of theB usn é to that of thei r own race , an d refuse to ass istthei r less fortunate brethren in poverty or in prison ,they are regarded with unbounded contempt an dabhorrence , as in the case of the rich Gypsy ofBadajoz

, an d are not unfrequen tly doomed to destruction : such characters are mentioned i n theircouplets

The Gypsy fien d of Man gamead ,Who n evergave a straw,

He would destroy, forvery greed,The good Egyptian law.

The false Juan i to dayan d n ightHad best wi th caution go

The Gypsy carles o f Veira heightHave sworn to layhim low.

’

CRAP . LOVE OF RACE 2 17

However some of the Gitanos may complai nthat there is no longer un ion to be found amongstthem , there i s sti l l much of that fel low - feel i ngwhich spri ngs from a consc iousness of proceedingfrom one common origin , or, as they love to termit, blood .

’ At present thei r system exh ibits less ofa commonweal th than when they roamed in bandsamongst the wi lds, an d pri ncipal ly subsisted byforaging, each i ndividual con tributi ng to the common stock, accord ing to his success. The i n terestsof i ndividual s are now more disti nct, and thatclose connection is of course disso lved whichex isted when they wandered about, and thei r dangers, gains, an d losses were felt i n common ; andit can never be too often repeated that they are nolonger a proscribed race , with no rights n or safetysave what they gained by a close and i ntimateun ion . Nevertheless , the Gitano , though he natural ly prefers his own interest to that of h is brother,an d envies him his gai n when he does not expectto share i n i t, is at al l times ready to side withh im against the Busno , because the latter is not aGitano

,but of a different blood , an d for no other

reason . When o n e Gitano confides h is plan s toanother, he is i n no fear that they wi l l be betrayedto the Busno

,for whom there is no sympathy, an d

when a plan is to be executed which requ i res ccoperation , they seek not the fel lowship of the B usn é,but of each other, an d i f successfu l , share the gainl i ke brothers .As a proof of the fraternal feel ing which is notunfrequen tly displayed amongst the Gitanos, Ishal l relate a circumstance which occurred at Cordova a year or two before I first visited i t. One of

2 18 THE Z INCAL I [PART 11.

the poores t of the Gitanos murdered a Span iardwith the fata l Manchegan kn ife ; for th is crime hewas se i zed , tried , and found gu i lty . Blood-shedding in Spai n is not looked upon with much abhorrence , an d the l ife of the culpri t i s seldom taken ,prov ided he can ofier a bribe suflicien t to i nducethe notary publ ic to report favourably upon hiscase ; but i n th is i nstance money was of no avai l ;the murdered ind ividual left beh ind him powerfu lfriends and connections , who were determ ined thatjustice should take its course . I t was i n vai n thatthe Gitanos exerted all thei r i nfluence wi th theauthoriti es i n behal f of thei r comrade, and suchi nfluence was not sl ight ; i t was i n vai n that theyofl

'

ered extravagant sums that the pun ishment ofdeath might be commuted to perpetual slaveryi n the dreary presidio of Ceuta ; I was cred iblyinformed that one of the richest G itanos , by nameFruto , offered for his own share of the ransom the

sum of five thousand crowns , whi lst there was n ot

an i nd ividual but contributed accordi ng to h ismeans — nought avai l ed , and the Gypsy wasexecuted i n the P laza. The day before the execu

tion , the Gitanos , perceivi ng that the fate of the i rbrother was sealed

,one and al l qu itted Cordova,

shutti ng up thei r houses an d carrying with themthei r horses , thei r mules, thei r borricos , thei r wivesand fami l ies , an d the greatest part of the i r household furn iture. No one knew whither they di rectedthei r course , nor were they seen i n Cordova forsome months, when they again sudden ly madethei r appearance ; a few, however, never retu rned .

So great was the horror of the Gitanos at what hadoccurred

,that they were i n the habit of saying that

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220 THE Z INCAL I [PART 11.

so numerous as it was at former periods ; witnessthose barrios i n various towns sti l l denom inatedGitan erias, but from whence the Gitanos have disappeared even l ike the Moors from the M orerias.

Whether th is dim inution i n number has been theresult of a partial change of habits , of pesti lence orsickness, of war or fam ine , or of al l these causescombined , we have no means of determ in ing, andshal l abstain from offeri ng conjectures on the

subject.

CRAP . 1v. ] THE GYPSY INNKEEPER 22 1

C H A P T E R I V

IN the autumn of the year 1839 , I landed at Tarifa,from the coast of Barbary . I arrived i n a smal lfelouk laden with hides for Cad iz, to which place Iwas myself going. We stopped at Tarifa i n orderto perform quaranti ne , which , however, turned outa mere farce , as we were all permitted to come onshore ; the master of the felouk having bribed theport captai n wi th a few fowls. We formed a motleygroup. A rich Moor an d h is son , a ch i ld , withtheir Jewish servant Y usouf , an d myself wi th myown man Hayim Ben Attar, a Jew. After passingthrough the gate , the Moors and thei r domesticswere conducted by the master to the house of oneof h is acquai ntance, where he intended they shouldlodge ; whi lst a sai lor was despatched with myse lfan d Hayim to the on ly i nn which the place afi

'

orded .

I stopped i n the street to speak to a person whom Ihad known at Sevi l le . Before we had concludedour discourse , Hayim , who had walked forward ,return ed , saying that the quarters were good , andthat we were i n h igh luck, for that he knew thepeople of the i nn were Jews. ‘ Jews ,

’ said I , herei n Tarifa, and keeping an i nn , I should be glad tosee them .

’ So I left my acquai ntance, and hastenedto the house. We first entered a stable , of which

222 THE z 1NCAL1 [pm 11 .

the ground floor of the build i ng con sisted, an d

ascend in g a flight of stairs entered a very largeroom , and from thence passed i n to a kitchen , in

which were several people. One of these was astout, athletic, burly fel low of about fifty , dress edi n a buh

'

jerki n , an d dark cloth pantaloons. His

hair was black as a coal and exceedi ngly bushy , hisface much marked from some disorder, and h is skinas dark as that o f a toad. A verytallwoman stood

by the dresser, much resembl ing h im in featu re,with the same hai r and complexion , but with moreintel ligence i n her eyes than the man , who lookedheavy and dogged . A dark woman , whom I subsequently discovered to be lame, sat in a corner.and two or three swarthy girls , from fifteen to e ighteen years o f age , were fl i tti ng about the room . Ialso observed a wicked-looki ng boy, who mighthave been cal led handsome, had not one of hiseyes been i nju red .

‘ Jews ,’ said I , i n Moorish , to

Hayim , as I glanced at these peop le and about theroom ; ‘ these are not Jews, but ch i ldren of theDar-bush i-fal . ’

‘ List to the Corahai,’ said the tal l woman , i n

broken Gypsy slang, hear how they jabber (hun clad como chamulian ) , tru ly we wi l l make them payfor the noise they rai se i n the house. ’ Then coming up to me, she demanded with a shout

,feari ng

otherwise that I should not understand, whether Iwould not wish to see the room where I was tosleep. I nodded : whereupon she led me out upona back terrace , and open ing the door of a smal lroom , of which there were three, asked me if i twould su it. Perfectly ,

’ said I , and retu rned withherj to thezkitchen .

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CHAP . [v. ] THE GYPSY INNKEEPER 223

‘0 , what a handsome face l what a royal person I exclaimed the whole fam i ly as I retu rned , i nSpanish , but i n the whi n ing, canti ng tones pecul iarto the Gypsies , when they are bent on victim ising.

A more ugly Busno it has never been our chanceto see ,

’ said the same voices in the next breath ,speaki ng in the jargon of the tribe . Won ’t yourMoorish Royal ty please to eat someth ing ? ’ saidthe tal l hag.

‘We have nothing in the house ;but I wi l l run out and buy a fowl , which I hopemayprove a royal peacock to nourish and strengthenyou .

’ I hope it mayturn to drow in your entrails ,’

she muttered to the rest i n Gypsy . She then randown , an d i n a m inute returned with an old hen ,which , on my arrival , I had observed below in thestabl e. See th is beautifu l fowl ,

’ said she,

‘ I havebeen runn i ng over al l Tari fa to procure it for yourki ngsh ip ; trouble enough I have had to obtain it ,and dear enough it has cost me. I wi l l now cut itsthroat. ’ Before you ki l l i t,

’ said I ,‘ I should wish

to kn ow what you paid for i t, that there may be nodispute about it i n the accou n tz

’ ‘ Two dol lars Ipaid for it, most valorous an d handsome si r ; twodol lars it cost me, out of my own quisobi— out ofmy own l ittle purse .

’ I saw it was h igh time toput an end to these zalamerias , an d therefore exclaimed in Gitémo ,

‘ You mean two brujis (reals) ,0 mother o f all the witches , an d that is twelvecuartos more than it is worth .

’ ‘ Ay Dios m io,whom have we here ? ’ exclaimed the femal es.One

,

’ I repl ied , who knows you wel l and all yourways. Speak am I to have the hen for two reals ?i f not, I shal l l eave the house th is moment.

’ ‘ 0

yes , to be sure, brother, an d for noth ing if you

224 THE Z INCALI [PART 11 .

wish i t,’ said the tal l woman , i n natu ral and qu ite

al tered to nes ; ‘ but why did you enter the housespeaking in Gorahai l ike a Bengu i ? We thoughtyou a Busno , but we now see that you are of ourrel igion pray sit down and tel l us where you havebeen . ’

My: e{fi. Now , my good people , si nce I haveanswered your questions , i t is but right that youshould answer some of mine ; pray who are you ?an d how happens it that you are keeping th isi nn ? ’

W5) : Hag.— ‘ Veri ly , brother, we can scarcely

tel l you who we are. Al l we know of ourselvesis,that we keep th is i n n , to our trouble and sorrow ,

and that our parents kept it before us ; we wereal l born i n this house , where I suppose we shal ld ie. ’

Myse¢ Who is the master of the house , andwhose are these chi ldrenGypsy Hag.

— ‘The master of the house is thefool , my brother, who stands before you withoutSaying a word ; to h im belong these chi ldren , andthe cripple i n the chai r is h is wife , and my cousi n .

He has also two sons who are grown-up men ;one is a chumajarri (shoemaker) , and the otherserves a tan ner. ’

Alyselfi—‘ I s it not contrary to the law of the

Cales to fol low such trades ? ’

Gypsy Hag. We know of no law, and l i ttl eof the Cales themse lves. Ours is the on ly Calofami ly i n Tarifa , and we never left i t i n our l ives ,except occasional ly to go on the smuggl ing layto Gibraltar. True it is that the Cales, when theyvisit Tarifa, put up at our house , sometimes to

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226 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

proached him with it, be threatened to marry her.I i n tend to take my kn ife, and to wait beh ind thedoor i n the dark, and when she comes out to gashher over the eyes. I trow he wi l l have l ittle desireto wed with her then .

’

MyreM Do many En sue from the country putup at th is house ?GypsyHag. Not so many as formerly

,brother ;

the labourers from the Campo say that we are al lth ieves ; and that i t is impossible for any one buta Calo to enter th is house without having theshi rt stripped from his back. They go to thehouses of thei r acquai ntance i n the town , for theyfear to enter these doors. I scarcely know why

,

for my brother is the veriest fool i n Tarifa. Wereit not for his face , I should say that he is noChabo, for he cannot speak , and perm its everychance to sl i p through h is fingers. Many a goodmule an d borrico have gone out of the stablebelow , which he might have secured , had he buttongue enough to have cozened the owners . B ut

he is a fool , as I said before ; he cannot speak ,and is no Chabé .

’

How far the person i n question , who sat allthe whi le smoking his pipe , with the most u n

perturbed tranqui l l i ty , deserved the character hestowed upon him by his sister, wil l presentlyappear. It is not my intention to describe hereal l the strange th ings I both saw and heard i nthis Gypsy inn . Several Gypsies arrived fromthe country during the six days that I spentwi thin i ts wal ls ; one of them , a man , from Moron ,was received with particu lar cord ial ity , he havinga son

,whom he was th in king of betroth ing to

CHAP. 1v. ] THE GYPSY INNKEEPER 227

one of the Gypsy daughters. Some females ofqual ity l ikewise visited the house to gossip , l iketrue Andalu sians . I t was singular to observe thebehaviour of the Gypsies to these people , especial lythat of the remarkable woman , some of whose conversation I have given above . She whined

, she

canted , she blessed , she talked of beauty of colour,of eyes, of eyebrows , an d pestaiias (eyel ids) , andof hearts which were ach ing for such an d sucha lady . Amongst others , came a very fin e woman ,the widow of a colonel lately slain i n battl e ; shebrought with her a beautiful i nnocent l ittle girl ,her daughter, between th ree an d fou r years of age.

The Gypsy appeared to adore her ; she sobbed ,she shed tears , she kissed the ch i ld , she blessedi t, she fondled it. I had my eye upon her counten an ce , an d i t brought to my recol lection thatof a she-wolf, which I had once seen in Russia

,

playing with her whelp beneath a bi rch-tree.

‘ You seem to love that ch i ld very much , 0 mymother,

’ said I to her, as the lady was departin g.

Gypsy Hag.— ‘ No lo camelo, h ijo ! I do not

love it, 0 my son , I do not love it ; I love i t somuch , that I wish it may break its leg as i t goesdownstai rs , an d i ts mother also .

’

On the even ing of the fourth day, I was seatedon the stone bench at the stable door, taking thefresco ; the Gypsy in nkeeper sat bes ide me , smoki ng h is pipe , an d si len t as usual presently a manand woman with a borrico, or donkey , enteredthe portal . I took l ittle or no notice of a ci rcumstance so sl ight, but I was presently aroused byheari ng the Gypsy

’s pipe drop upon the groundI looked at h im , an d scarcely recogn ised h is face.

228 THE ZINCALI [mm 11.

I t was no longer dul l , black, and heavy , but wasl ighted up with an expression so extremely vi l lai nous that I felt uneasy. H is eyes were scann ingthe recent comers , especial ly the beast of burden ,which was a beautifu l female donkey . He was

almost i nstantly at thei r side, assisting to removei ts housings , and the al forjas , or bags. Histongue had become un loosed , as if by sorceryan d far from being unable to speak, he provedthat, when i t su i ted his purpose, he could discourse with wonderfu l volubi l ity. The donkeywas soon tied to the manger, and a large measureof barley emptied before it, the greatest part ofwhich the Gypsy boy presently removed

,h is

father having purposely om itted to m ix the barleywith the straw , with which the Span ish mangersare always kept fi l led . The guests were hurriedupstai rs as soon as possible . I remained below

,

and subsequently strol led about the town an d onthe beach . I t was about n i ne o’c lock when I returned to the in n to reti re to rest ; strange th i ngshad evidently been going on during my absence.As I passed through the large room on my wayto my apartment, lo , the table was set out withmuch wine, fru its , an d viands There sat theman from the country , th ree parts i ntoxicated ;the Gypsy , al ready provided with another pipe ,sat on h is knee , with h is right arm most afi

'

ec

tio n ately round his neck ; on one side sat thechumajarri drinking an d smoking , on the otherthe tanner. Behold , poor human ity , thought Ito myself, i n the hands of dev i ls ; i n th is mannerare human souls ensnared to destruction by the

fiends of the pit. The females had al ready taken

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230 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

that when he sees her he wil l repent hisbargai n ,an d i f he cal ls off with in four-and-twenty hours ,the exchange is nul l , an d the justicia wi l l causeus to restore the ass ; we have , however, al readyremoved her to our huerta out of the town , wherewe have h id her below the ground . Dios sabe

(God knows) how it wi l l tu rn out.’

When the man an d woman saw the lame ,foundered , one-eyed creature , for which an d the

reckon ing they had exchanged thei r own beautifu l borrico, they stood confounded. I t was aboutten i n the morn ing , an d they had not al togetherrecovered from the fumes of the wine of the preceding n ight ; at last the man , with a frightfu loath , exclaimed to the innkeeper, ‘ Restore mydonkey , you Gypsy vi l lai n

‘ I t cannot be , brother,’ repl ied the latter, ‘ your

donkey is by th is time three leagues from hereI sold her th is morn ing to a man I do not know ,

an d I am afraid I shal l have a hard bargain withher, for he on ly gave two dol lars , as she was u n

sound . 0 , you have taken me in , I am a poorfool as they cal l me here , and you understandmuch , very much , baribu .

"

Her value was th i rty-five dol lars , thou demon ,’

said the countryman , ‘an d the justicia wil l make

you pay that.’

Come , come , brother,’ said the Gypsy ,

‘all th is

is mere conversation you have a capital bargai n ,to-day the mercado is held , an d you shal l sel l themule ; I wi l l go with you mysel f. 0 , you understand baribu sister, bring the bottle of an ise ; thesenior and the senora must drink a copita.

’ After1 A Gypsy word sign ifying exceeding much.

’

CHAP . lv. ] THE GYPSY SOLDIER 23 1

much persuasion , and many oaths, the man andwoman were weak enough to comply ; when theyhad dru nk several glasses , they departed for themarket, the Gypsy leading the mule. I n abouttwo hours they retu rned with the wretched beast,but not exactly as they went ; a numerous crowdfol lowed , laughing an d bootin g. The man wasnow frantic, an d the woman yet more so. Theyforced thei r way upstai rs to col lect thei r baggage ,which they soon effected , an d were about to leavethe house , vowing revenge. Now ensued a tru lyterrific scene, there were no more blandishments ;the Gypsy men an d women were i n arms , utteri ngthe most frightfu l execrations as the woman camedownstairs , the females assai led her l ike lunati cs ;the cripple poked at herwith a stick , the tal l hagclawed at her hai r, whi lst the father Gypsy wal kedclose beside the man , his hand on his clasp-kn ife,looking l ike noth ing i n th is world : the man , however, o n reach ing the door, tu rned to h im andsaid : ‘ Gypsy demon , my borrico by three o

’clock— o ryou know the rest, the justicia.

’

The Gypsies remained fi l led with rage and disappointment ; the hag vented her spi te on her

brother. "Tis your fault,’ said she ; ‘ foo l l you

have no tongue ; you a Chabo, you can’t speak ’

;

whereas , with in a few hours , he had perhapsta l ked more than an auctioneer duri ng a threedays’ sale : but he reserved h is words for fitti ngoccasions, an d now sat as usual , sul len and si lent,smoking h is pipe .The man an d woman made thei r appearance atthree o’clock , but they came— i n toxicated ; theGypsy

’s eyes gl istened— blandishment was again

232 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

had recourse to .

‘ Come and sit down wi th the

caval ier here ,’ whined the fam i ly ; ‘ he is a friend

of ours , an d wil l soon arrange matters to yoursatisfaction .

’ I arose , and went i nto the street ;the hag fol lowed me . ‘Wil l you not assist us ,brother, or are you no Chabo?

’ she muttered .

‘ I wi l l have noth ing to do with your matters ,’

said I .‘ I know who wil l ,

’ said the hag , and hurrieddown the street.The man and woman , with much noise , demandedthei r donkey ; the i nnkeeper made no answer, andproceeded to fi l l up several glasses wi th the am

’

rado .

I n about a quarter of an hour, the Gypsy hagreturned with a young man , wel l dressed , an d

with a genteel air, but with someth ing wi ld an d

singu lar i n h is eyes. He seated himself by thetable, sm i led , took a glass of l iquor, drank partof it, smi led agai n , and handed i t to the countryman . The latter seeing himsel f treated in th isfriendly manner by a cabal lero

,was evidently much

flattered , took o ff his hat to the newcomer, an d

drank , as did the woman also. The glass wasfil led , and refi l led , ti l l they became yet more intoxicated. I d id not hear the young man saya word : he appeared a passive automaton . The

Gypsies , however, spoke for him , an d were profuse of compl iments. I t was now proposed thatthe cabal lero should settle the dispute ; a long an dnoisy conversation ensued , the young man looki ngvacantly on : the strange people had no money ,and had al ready run up another bi l l at a winehouse to which they had reti red . At last i t wasproposed , as i f by the young man , that the Gypsy

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234 THE ZINCALI [PART 11 .

beh ind my table in a cabin ete , as it is cal led , ofthe th i rd floor of No. 16 , i n the Cal le de Santiago ,having just taken my meal

,my hostess entered

and i nformed me that a mil i tary officer wi shedto speak to me , adding, i n an undertone , thathe looked a strange guest. I was acquain ted withno m i l itary officer i n the Span ish service ; but asat that time I expected dai ly to be arrested forhaving distributed the Bible, I thought that verypossibly th is officer m ight have been sent to perform that piece o f duty. I i nstantly ordered h imto be admitted , whereupon a th in active figu re ,somewhat above the midd le height, dressed in ablue un iform , with a long sword hanging at h isside, tripped into the room . Depositing h is regimenta l hat on the ground , he drew a chai r to thetable , and seating himsel f, placed his elbows onthe board , and supporting his face with h is hands ,confronted me , gazi ng steadfastly upon me , without uttering a word . I looked no less wistfu l ly ath im , an d was of the same opin ion as my hostess ,as to the strangeness of my guest. He was aboutfifty , with th i n flaxen hai r covering the sides ofh is head , which at the to p was enti rely bald . Hiseyes were smal l , an d, l ike ferrets

’

, red and fiery.

His complexion l ike a brick , a dul l red , checkeredwith spots of purple.

‘ May I i nqu i re your namean d business , si r ?

’ I at length demanded .

Stranger. My name is Chaleco of Valdepefiasi n the time of the French I served as bragan te ,fighti ng for Ferdinand vn . I am now a captai non hal f-pay i n the service of Donna Isabel ; as

for my business here, it is to speak with you . Doyou know th is book ?

CRAP. 1v. ] THE GYPSY SOLDIER 235

Myse% This book is Saint Luke’s Gospel i nthe Gypsy language ; how can th is book concern

you ?’

Stranger. No o n e more . I t is i n the languageof my people. ’

MyseM You do not pretend to say that youare a Calo?Stranger. I do ! I am Zincalo , by the mother

’sside. My father, i t is true, was one of the B usn é ;but I glory i n being a an d care not to acknowledge other blood .

’

Myrelf . How became you possessed of thatbook ? ’

Stranger.— ‘ I was this morn ing in the Prado ,

where I met two women of our people , an d amongstother th ings they told me that they had a gabicé tei n our language. I d id not bel ieve them at first,but they pu l led it out , and I found thei r wordstrue. They then spoke to me of yourself, an d toldme where you l ive, so I took the book from themand am come to see you .

’

Myself . Are you able to understand th isbook ? ’

Stmnger. Perfectly , though it is wri tten i nvery crabbed language : 1 but I learnt to read Calowhen very young. My mother was a good Cal l i ,and early taught me both to speak an d read it. Shetoo had a gabicote, but not pri nted l ike th is , and ittreated of a d ifferent matter. ’

Myself . How came your mother, being a goodCal l i , to marry o n e o f a difl

'

eren t blood ? ’

Stranger. I t was no fault of hers ; there wasno remedy . I n her i nfancy she lost her parents ,

1 Lenguamuycerrada.

’

236 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

who were executed and she was abandoned by all,ti l l my father, tak ing compassion on her, broughther up and educated her : at last he made her hiswife , though three times her age. She , however,remembered her blood an d hated my father, andtaught me to hate h im likewise, an d avoid h im .

When a boy , I used to strol l about the p lai ns , thatI m ight not see my father ; and my father wouldfol low me an d beg me to look upon h im , andwould ask me what I wanted ; and I would reply ,Father, the on ly th ing I want is to see you dead .

’

Myregfi That was strange language from achi ld to i ts parent. ’

Stranger. I t was— but you know the couplet, ‘

which says , I do not wish to be a lord— I am bybi rth a Gypsy— I do not wish to be a gentlemanI am content with being a Calo lMysefi—

‘ I am anxious to hear more of yourhistory— pray proceed .

’

Stranger. When I was about twelve years oldmy father became distracted , and died . I then conti nn ed with my mother for some years ; she lovedme much , and procured a teacher to i nstruct me i nLatin . At last she d ied , and then there was a

pleyto (law-suit) . I took to the sierra an d becamea highwayman ; but the wars broke out. Mycousi n Jara , of Valdepefias , raised a troop ofbrigantes . 2 I en l isted with h im and disti nguishedmyself very much ; there is scarcely a man orwoman i n Spain but has heard of Jara and Chaleco.

No camelo ser cray, es Calominacimien toNo camelo serm y, eon ser Calome con tén to .

’

Armed part isan s, or guerillas o n horseback : they waged a waro fextermination again st the Fren ch , but at the same time plun deredtheircoun trymen without scruple.

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238 THE Z INCALI [PART I t.

gising, told h im I must leave h im . The next dayhe came again at the same hour, but he found menot, as I was abroad din ing wi th a friend . On theth ird day , however, as I was sitti ng down to di nner,i n he walked , unannounced . I am rather hospitablethan otherwise , so I cord ial ly welcomed h im , an d

requested h im to partake of my meal . ‘Con muchogusto ,

’ he repl ied , an d i nstantly took h is place atthe table. I was agai n aston ished , for i f h is coughwas frightfu l , h is appetite was yet more so . Heate l ike a wolf of the sierra — soup , puchero , fowland bacon disappeared before h im in a tw inkl i ng.

I ordered in cold meat, which he presently despatched a large piece of cheese was then produced .

We had been drinki ng water.Where is the wine ? ’ said he.

‘ I never use i t,’ I repl ied .

He looked blank. The hostess, however, whowas present wai ti ng , said , ‘ I f the gentleman wishfor wine , I have a bota nearly fu l l

,which I w i l l

i nstantly fetch .

’

The skin bottle, when fu l l , might contai n aboutfour quarts . She fi l led h im a very large glass

,and

was removing the ski n , but he prevented her, sayi ng, Leave it , my good woman my brother herewi l l settle with you for the l i ttle I shal l use. ’

He now l ighted h is cigar, an d i t was evident thathe had made good his quarters . On the formeroccasion I thought his behaviou r sufficien tlystrange , but I l iked it sti l l less on the present.Every fifteen m inutes he emptied h is glass

,which

contai ned at least a pi nt ; h is conversation becamehorrible. He related the atroc ities wh ich he hadcomm itted when a robber an d bragan te i n La

CHAP. iv. ] THE GYPSY SOLDIER 239

Mancha. ‘ I t was our custom ,

’ said he, to tie ourprisoners to the ol ive-trees , an d then , putti ng ourhorses to ful l speed , to ti lt at them with our spears .

’

As he continued to dri nk he became waspish an d

quarrelsome : he had h itherto talked Casti l ian , buthe would now on ly converse i n Gypsy and in Latin ,the last of which languages he spoke with greatfluency , though ungrammatical ly . He told methat he had ki l led six men i n duels ; and , drawingh is sword , fenced about the room . I saw bythe manner i n which he handled it, that he wasmaster of h is weapon . His cough d id not retu rn

,

an d he said it seldom afllicted h im when he dinedwel l . He gave me to understand that he had re

ceived no pay for two years. Therefore you vis itme

,

’ thought I . At the end of three hou rs,per

ceivin g that he exh ibited no signs of taking hisdeparture , I arose , and said I must again leaveh im .

‘ A S you please , brother,’ said he ;

‘ use noceremony with me, I am fati gued , an d wi l l wai ta l i ttle whi le . ’ I d id not return ti l l eleven at n ight,when my hostess i nformed me that he had justdeparted , promising to return next day . He hademptied the bota to the last drop , an d the cheeseproduced being insufficient for h im , he sent for anenti re Dutch cheese on my account part of whichhe had eaten an d the rest carried away. I now sawthat I had formed a most troublesome acquai ntance , of whom it was h ighly necessary to rid mysel f, if possible ; I therefore d ined out for the nextn i ne days.For a week he came regu larly at the usual hour,

at the en d of which time he desisted ; the hostesswas afraid of h im , as She said that he was a brujo

240 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

or wizard , and on ly spoke to him th rough thewicket.On the tenth day I was cast i nto pri son , where Icontinued several weeks . Once , duri ng my confin emen t, he cal led at the house , an d bei ng informed o f my mishap , drew his sword , and vowedwith horrible imprecations to murder the primem in ister of Ofalia, for havi ng dared to impri sonhis brother. On my release , I did not revisit mylodgings for some days , but l ived at an hotel . Iretu rned late one afternoon , with my servant Francisco , a Basque of Hernan i , who had served mewith the utmost fidel ity duri ng my imprisonment,which he had voluntari ly shared with me . Thefi rst person I saw on enteri ng was the Gypsysoldier, seated by the table , whereon were severalbottles of wi ne which he had ordered from the

tavern , of course on my account. He was smok

i ng, and looked savage an d sul len ; perhaps hewas not much pleased with the reception he hadexperienced . He had forced h imself in , and thewoman of the house sat i n a corner looki ng uponh im with dread . I addressed h im , but he wouldscarcely retu rn an answer. At last he commenceddiscoursing with great volubi l ity i n Gypsy an d

Lati n . I d id not understand much of what he said .

His words were wi ld an d i ncoherent , but he re

peatedly threatened some person . The last bottlewas now exhausted : he demanded more. I toldh im in a gentle manner that he had drunk enough .

He looked on the ground for some time, thenslowly , an d somewhat hesitatingly , drew his swordan d laid it on the table. I t was become dark. Iwas not afraid of the fel low , but I wished to avoid

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242 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

he foi led the stroke of Chaleco , and , i n anothermoment, with a dexterous blow , struck the swordout of h is hand , sending it ringing against thewal l .The Gypsy resumed h is seat an d his cigar. Heoccasional ly looked at the Basque. His glanceswere at fi rst atrocious , but presently changed thei rexpression , an d appeared to me to become pryi ngand eagerly cu rious. He at last arose , picked uph is sword , sheathed it, an d walked slowly to thedoor ; when there he stopped , tu rned round , ad

van ced close to Francisco , an d looked h im steadfastly in the face . My good fel low

,

’ said he ,‘ I

am a Gypsy , an d can read baj i . Do you knowwhere you wi l l be at th is time to-morrow ? "

Then , laughing l ike a hyena, he departed , an d Inever saw him again .

At that time on the morrow , Francisco was onhis death-bed . He had caught the jai l fever, whichhad long raged i n the Carcel de la Corte , whereI was imprisoned . I n a few days he was buried ,a mass of corruption , i n the Campo Santo ofMadrid .

The hostess. Maria Diaz, an d her son Joan Jose Lopes, werepresen t when the outcast uttered these prophetic words.

CRAP. v . ] DRESS 243

C H A P T E R V

THE Gitanos , i n thei r habits an d manner of l ife,are much less clean ly than the Span iards . Thehovels in which they reside exhibit none of theneatness which is observable in the habitationsof even the poorest of the other race. The floorsare unswept, and abound with fi lth an d mud ,and in thei r persons they are scarcely less vi le.I nattention to clean l iness is a characteristic of theGypsies , i n all parts of the world .

The B ishop of Forl i , as far back as 1422 , givesevidence upon this point, an d i nsinuates that theycarried the plague with them as he observes thati t raged with pecu l iar v iolence the year of thei rappearance at Forl i . 1

At the present day they are almost equal lyd isgusting, i n this respect, i n Hungary , England ,an d Spai n . Amongst the richer Gitanos, habitsof greater clean l i ness of cou rse exist than amongstthe poorer. An air of sluttishness , however, pervades thei r dwel l ings , which , to an experiencedeye, would su fficiently attest that the i nmates wereGitanos , i n the event of the i r absence.

What can be said of the Gypsy dress , of whichsuch frequent men zio n is made i n the Span ishlaws, an d which is proh ibited together with the

Eodem an n o precipue fui t pestis seu mortalitas Forlivio.

244 THE ZINCALI [PART I I .

Gypsy language an d manner of l ife ? Of whatever it might consist i n former days , it is so l i ttleto be distinguished from the dress of some classesamongst the Span iards , that i t is almost impossibleto describe the difference . They general ly weara high-peaked , narrow-brimmed hat, a zamarra ofsheep-ski n i n win ter, an d, during summer, a jacketof brown cloth ; an d beneath th is they are fond ofexhibiting a red plush waistcoat , someth ing afterthe fash ion of the Engl ish jockeys , with numerousbuttons an d clasps. A faja, or gi rdle of crimsonsi lk , su rrounds the waist, where , not unfrequently ,are stuck the cachas which we have al ready described . Pantaloons of coarse cloth or leatherdescend to the knee ; the legs are protected bywoo l len stocki ngs , and sometimes by a speciesof spatterdash , either of cloth or leather ; stouthigh-lows complete the equ ipment.Such is the dress of the Gitanos of most partsof Spai n . But i t is necessary to remark thatsuch also is the dress of the chalans , an d ofthe muleteers , except that the latter are i n thehabit of wearing broad sombreros as preservativesfrom the sun . This dress appears to be ratherAndalusian than Gitano ; an d yet i t certai n lybeseems the Gitano better than the chalan ormuleteer. He wears it with more easy negl igenceor jauntiness , by which he may be recogn ised at

some distance , even from beh ind .

I t is sti l l more d ifficult to say what is thepecul iar dress of the Gitanas ; they wear not thelarge red cloaks and immense bonnets of coarsebeaver which distingu ish their'sisters of Englandthey have no other headgear than a handkerchief,

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246 THE Z INCAL I [PART n .

and express ive. Thei r complexion is by no meansun iform , save that it is i nvariably darker than thegeneral ol ive hue of the Span iards ; not u n fre

quently countenances as dark as those of mulattospresen t themselves , and i n some few i nstances ofalmost negro blackness. Like most people ofsavage an cestry, thei r teeth are wh ite an d strong ;thei r mouths are not bad ly formed , but i t is i n theeye more than i n any other feature that they diflerfrom other human beings.There i s someth ing remarkable i n the eye of theG itano : shou ld h is hai r an d compa becomefai r as those of the Swede or the Firm, and hisjockey gait as grave an d ceremon ious as that ofthe native of O ld Casti le , were he d ressed l ike aking, a priest, or a warrior, stil l would the Gitanobe detected by his eye , shou ld it con ti nue n u

changed . The jew i s kn own by his eye, but then

in the jeW that feature is peculiarly small ; the

Ch inese has a remarkablethe Chin ese is oblon g , andis flat ; but the eye of the Gitin o is n either large

its shape fmm the eyes of the commo n mst. lts

CRAP. v. ] EXTRACTS , ETC. 247

The fol lowing passages are extracted from aSpanish work, 1 and can not be out of place here ,as they relate to those matters to which we havedevoted th is chapter.The Gitanos have an ol ive complexion and very

marked physiognomy thei r checks are prominent,thei r l ips thick , thei r eyes v ivid and black ; thei rhai r is long , black, and coarse , and thei r teeth verywhite. The general express ion of thei r physio

gn omy is a compound of pride , slavishness , andcunn ing. They are , for the most part, of goodstature, wel l formed , and support with faci l ityfatigue and every ki nd of hardship . When theydiscuss an y matter, or speak among themselves,whether in Catalan

,i n Casti l ian , or in German ia,

which is thei r own pecul iar jargon , they alwaysmake use of much gesticu lation , which contributesto give to thei r conversation and to the vivacity oftheir physiognomy a certain expression , sti l l morepen etratin g and characteristic.

This work is styled Historic do 10: Gr'

lén or, by J . M publishedat Barcelo na in the year 1832 ; it consists of n in ety-three verysmall

and smn tily furnished pages. Its chief , wemight sayits on ly merit,is lbe styien vhich is fluen t mid easy. The writer is a theorist, an d

sacrifices truth and probability to the shrin e of one idea, an d that on e

Of flicmost ahsurd that ever en tered the head o f an in dividual. He

endeavours to pemtade his readers that the Gitanos are the deseendan tsof the Mm and the greatest part o f his work is a historyo f thoseAfrican s. from the time of their arrival in the Pen in sulaan theirexPfilflfl lion by Philip the Third. The Gitfin os he supposes to be varioustribes o f wan derin gMo ors, who baflied pursuit amidst the fistn esses o fthe hills ; he denies that they are of the name origin as theGypsies,BOhemian s. ctc , of o ther h n ds, though he does not back his den ial

by any is con fessedlyign oran t of the Gita'

n o lan guage, the

revert on a future occasion .

248 THE ZINCALI [PART rr.

When a Gitano has occasion to speak of somebusiness i n which h is i n terest is i nvolved

, he

redoubles his gestu res i n proportion as he knowsthe necessity of convincing those who hear h im

,

and fears thei r impassibi l ity . I f any rancorous ideaagi tate him in the course of h is narrative ; i f heendeavour to infuse i nto h is audito rs sentiments ofjealousy , vengeance , or any violent passion , hisfeatures become exaggerated , an d the vivac ity ofh is glances , an d the contraction of h is l ips , showclearly , and i n an imposi ng manner, the fore ignorigin of the Gitanos, an d all the customs of barbarous people. Even his very smi le has an expression hard and disagreeable. One might almost saythat joy in him is a forced sentiment, and that , l ikeunto the savage man , sadness is the dom inantfeature of his physiognomy .

‘The Gitana is d istingu ished by the same complexion , and almost the same features. In her

frame She is as wel l formed , an d as flex ible as theGitano. Condemned to suffer the same privationsand wants , her countenance , when her interest doesnot obl ige her to d issemble her feel i ngs , presentsthe same aspect of melancholy, an d shows besides ,with more energy , the rancorous passions of whichthe female heart is susceptible. Free i n her actions

,

her carriage, an d her pursu its , she speaks , vociferates, and makes more gestures than the Gitano

,

and,i n im itation of h im , her arms are i n con ti n ual

motion,to give more expression to the imagery

with which she accompan ies her d iscourse ; herwhole body contributes to her gesture , an d toi ncrease its force endeavouri ng by these means tosharpen the eff ect of language in itsel f i nsu fficien t

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250 THE Z INCAL I [ PART 11.

embroidered with silh as well as the seams o f

the pan taloo n s ; he wears, moreover, o n the jacketor the waistcoat, various rows of silver button s ,small an d round , sustain ed by rings or chains of

the m e metal . The old people, an d those whoby fortun e, orsome o thercause, exercise, in appearan ce, a kind 0f authority over the res aare almostalways dressed in black ordark-blue velvet. Someof those wbo afiect elegan ce amo ngst them keepfo r hol idays a complete dress of sky-blue velvet,with embroideryat the n eck, pocket-holes, arm-pits,and in all the seams ; in a word , with the exeeptio n

of the turban , this was the fashion of dres s of

the an cien t Moors of Granada, the on ly difieren cebeing occasio n ed by time an d misery.

‘The dres s o f the Gitan as is very var-ied : the

youn g girls, or those who are in tolerably easy

circumstan ces generallywear a black bodice laced

up with a string, an d adjusted to theirfigures , an d

on lycovers a part of the leg ; their shoes are cut

very low, an d are adomed with little buckles of

silver ; the breast, and the upperpart of the bodice.

are com ed eitherwith awhite han dhu chiefi or o n e

o f some vivid colour ; an d o n the head is worn

of the en ds o f v hich falls on the shoulda , in the

man n er of a hood. When the cold or tbe heat

CRAP. v . ] EXTRACTS,ETC. 251

beneath the most revo lti ng aspect ; whi lst thepoorestGité n o preserves a certain deportment whichwould make h is aspect supportable, if h is unquietand ferocious glance did not inspi re us withaversion .

’

252 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

C H A P T E R V I

WRrLST thei r husbands are engaged in thei r jockeyvocation , or i n wield ing the cachas , the Cal lees , orGypsy females , are seldom idle , but are endeavouring, by various means , to make al l the gai n theycan . The richest amongst them are general ly contraban distas , and in the large towns go from houseto house with proh ibited goods , especial ly si lk andcotton , and occasional ly with tobacco. They l i kewise purchase cast - oh

'

female wearing - appare l ,which , when vamped up an d embel l ished , theysometimes contrive to sel l as new , with no in co nsiderable profit.Gitanas of th is description are of the most re

spectable class ; the rest, provided they do not sel lroasted chestnuts , or esteras , which are a species ofmat, seek a l ivel ihood by di fferent tricks and praotices , more or less fraudulent ; for exampleLa B aht, or fortune-tel l i ng, which is cal led i nSpan ish , buena ven tura — This way of extracti ngmoney from the credul ity of dupes is, of al l thosepractised by the Gypsies , the readiest and mosteasy ; promises are the on ly capital requisite , an dthe whole art of fortune-tel l ing consists i n properlyadapting these promises to the age and condition ofthe parties who seek for information . The Gitanas

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254 THE Z INCAL I [PART 11.

they have noth ing to hope or fear the result bei ng,

that most m inds quai l before them . There weretwo Gitanas at Madrid , one Pepita by name , an dthe other La Chicharo n a ; the fi rst was a spare

,

shrewd , witch-l i ke female , about fifty , and was themother-in -law of La Chicharo n a, who was remarkable for her stoutness. These women subsistedenti rely by fortune-tel l i ng and swindl ing. I tchanced that the son of Pepita , an d husband ofChicharo n a, having spi rited away a horse , was sentto the presid io of Malaga for ten years of hardlabour. This m isfortune caused i nexpressibleaffl iction to his wife and mother, who determ inedto make every effort to procure h is l iberation . The

readiest way which occurred to them was to procure an i nterv iew with the Queen Regent Christi na,who they doubted not would forthwith pardon thecu lpri t, provided they had an opportun ity of assai li ng her with thei r Gypsy d iscourse ; for, to usethe i r own words , ‘ they wel l knew what to say .

’ Iat that time l ived close by the palace , i n the streetof Santiago , an d dai ly , for the space of a mon th ,saw them bending thei r steps i n that d i rection .

One day they came to me in a great hurry , wi tha strange expression on both thei r countenances.‘We have seen Christi na, h ijo

’

(my son ) , saidPepita to me.Within the palace ? ’ I i nqui red .

‘Within the palace, 0 ch i ld of my garlochin ,

’

answered the sibyl Christina at last saw an d sen tfor us , as I knew she would ; I told her “bah i ,

”

and Chicharo n a danced the Romalis (Gypsy dance)before her. ’

What d id you tel l her ? ’

CRAP . vr. ] GYPSY PRACTICES— BAH I 255

‘ I told her many th ings ,’ said the bag,

‘ manythings which I need not tel l you : kn ow , however,that amongst other th ings , I told her that thechabori (l ittle queen) would die , an d then shewou ld be Queen of Spain . I told her, moreover,that with in th ree years she wou ld marry the son ofthe King of France , an d i t was her bah i to die

Queen of France an d Spain , and to be loved much ,and hated much .

’

‘ And did you not dread her anger, when youtold her these th i ngs ? ’

‘ Dread her, the B usn ee ?’ screamed Pepita

No , my ch i ld , she dreaded me farmore ; I lookedat her so -and rai sed my finger so— an d Chicharona clapped her hands , an d the B usn ee bel ievedall I said , an d was afraid of me ; an d then I askedfor the pardon of my son , and she pledged herword to see i nto the matter, and when we cameaway , she gave me th is baria of gold , an d toChicharo n a th is other, so at all events we havehokkan oed the queen . Mayan ev i l end overtakeher body , the B usn ee IThough some of the Gitanas contrive to subsistby fortune-tel l i ng alone , the general ity of themmerely make use of i t as an i nstrument towards theaccompl ishment of greater th ings . The immediategai ns are scanty ; a few cuartos be i ng the u tmostwhich they receive from the majority of thei rcu stomers . But the bah i is an excel lent passporti nto houses , an d when they spy a conven ientopportun i ty , they seldom fai l to avai l themselvesof it. I t is necessary to watch them strictly , asarticles frequently d isappear in a mysteriousmanner whi lst Gitanas are tel l i ng fortunes. The

256 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

bah i , moreover, i s occasional ly the prelude to a

device wh ich we shal l now attempt to describe , andwhich is cal led H okkzmo B asra, or the great trick ,of which we have al ready said someth ing i n theformer part of th is work. I t consists i n persuadi ng some credulous person to deposit whatevermoney an d val uables the party can muster i n a

particular spot, under the promise that the depositwi l l i ncrease many man ifold . Some of our readerswi l l have di fficulty i n bel ieving that any peoplecan be found sufficiently credulous to al low themselves to be duped by a trick of th is description ,the grossness of the i ntended fraud seem ing toopalpable. Experience , however, proves the contrary. The deception is frequently practised at thepresent day, an d not on ly i n Spain but i n England— en l ightened England— an d i n France l ikewise ;an instance being given i n the memoirs of V idocq ,the late celebrated head of the secret pol ice of Paris ,though , i n that i nstance , the perpetrator of the fraudwas not a Gypsy. The most subtle method ofaccompl ish ing the hokkan o baro is the fol lowingWhen the dupe— a widow we wi l l suppose , fori n these cases the dupes are general ly widowshas been i nduced to consent to make the experi

ment , the Gitana demands of her whether she hasi n the house some strong chest wi th a safe lock.On receiv ing an affirmative answer, she wi l lrequest to see all the gold an d si lver of anydescription which she may chance to have in herpossession . The treasu re i s shown her; and whenthe Gitana has careful ly i nspected an d counted i t,she produces a white handkerch ief, saying, Lady ,I give you th is handkerch ief, which is blessed .

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258 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

that if i t be not un locked unti l that period , i t wi llbe found fi l led with gold an d si lver ; but th reatening that i n the event of her injunctions beingdisregarded , the money deposited wi l l van ish .

She then walks o ff with great del iberation , bearin gaway the spoi l . I t is need less to say that she

never retu rns.There are other ways of accompl ish i ng the hokkano baro. The most simple , and indeed the onemost general ly used by the Gitanas , is to persu adesome simple i nd ividual to h ide a sum of money i nthe earth , which they afterwards carry away. Acase of th is description occurred with in my own

know l edge , at Madrid , towards the latter part of theyear 1837 . There was a noto rious Gitana, of thename of Aurora she was about forty years of age,a Valencian by bi rth , an d immensely fat. ° Th isamiable personage , by some means , formed theacquaintance of a weal thy widow lady ; and wasnot slow in attempting to practise the hokkan obaro upon her. She succeeded but too wel l . Thewidow , at the i nstigation of Aurora , buried onehundred ounces of gold beneath a ru ined arch i na field , at a short d istance from the wal l of Madrid .

The i nhumation was effected at n ight by the widowalone. Aurora was, however, on the watch , an d ,i n less than ten m inutes after the widow had

departed , possessed herse l f of the treasure ; perhapsthe largest one ever acqui red by th is kind of decei t.The next day the widow had certai n m isgivi ngs

,

and,retu rn ing to the spot, found her money gone.

About six months after th is event, I was imprisoned i n the Carcel de la Corte, at Madrid , an dthere I found Aurora, who was i n durance for

can . VL ] USTILAR PASTESAS 259

defrauding the widow . She said that i t had beenher i ntention to depart for Valen cia with thebarias ,

’

as she styled her plu nder,but the widow

had discovered the trick too soon , an d she had beenarrested . She added , however, that she had contrived to conceal the greatest part of the property

,

an d that she expected her l iberation i n a few days ,having been prodigal of bribes to the ‘ justicia.

’

I n effect, her l iberation took place sooner than myown . Nevertheless , she had l i ttle cause to triumph ,as before she left the pri son She had been fleeced ofthe last cuarto of her i l l-gotten gai n , by alguazi lsan d escribanos , who , she admitted , understoodhokkan o baro much better than herself.When I next saw Aurora, she informed me that

she was once more on excel lent terms with thewidow , whom she had persuaded that the loss ofthe money was caused by her own imprudence

,

i n looki ng for i t before the appointed time ; thespi ri t of the earth having removed it i n anger.She added that her dupe was qu ite disposed tomake another venture , by which she hoped toretrieve her former loss .Ush

’

larpastésas .— Under th is head may be placed

various ki nds of theft committed by the Gitanos.The mean ing of the words is steal i ng with the

hands ; but they are more general ly appl ied tothe filchin g of money by dexterity of hand , whengiving or receiv i ng change. For example : a

Gitana wi l l enter a shop , an d purchase some insign ificant article

,tenderi ng in payment a baria

or golden ounce. The change being put downbefore her on the counter, she counts the money ,an d complai ns that she has received a dol lar and

260 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

several pesetas less than her due. I t seems impossible that there ca n be any fraud on her part

,

as she has not even taken the pieces in her hand,

but merely placed her fingers upon them push ingthem on one side . She now asks the merchan twhat he means by attempti ng to deceive the poorwoman . The merchant, supposing that he hasmade a m istake, takes up the money , counts it,an d finds in effect that the j ust sum is not there.

He agai n hands out the change, but there i s nowa greater deficiency than before , an d the merchantis convi nced that he is deal ing with a witch . TheGitana now pushes the money to h im , upl i fts hervoice

,and talks of the justicia. Should the mer

chant become frightened , an d , emptyi ng a bag ofdol lars , tel l her to pay hersel f, as has sometimesbeen the case , she wi l l have a fine opportun ityto exercise her powers , and whi lst taking thechange wil l contrive to convey secretly i nto hersleeves five or six dol lars at least ; after wh ichshe wil l depart with much vociferation , declari ngthat she wi l l never again enter the Shop of socheati ng a picaro .

Of al l the Gitanas at Madrid , Aurora the fatwas , by thei r own confession , the most dexterousat th is species of robbery she havi ng been knownin many i nstances , whi lst receiving change for anounce

,to steal the whole value, which amounts

to sixteen dol lars . I t was not without reason thatmerchants i n ancient times were, accordi ng toMarti n Del Rio , advised to sel l noth ing out ofthei r shops to Gitanas , as they possessed an ia

fal l ible secret for attracting to thei r own pursesfrom the coffers of the former the money with

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262 THE ZINCALI [mm 11.

Connected wi th the cure was a curious piece ofdouble deal ing. They privately admin iste red an

efficacious remedy , but pretended to cure thean imal s not by medici nes but by charms , whichconsisted of smal l variegated beans , ca l led i n the i rlanguage bobis , 1 dropped i nto the mangers. Byth is means they fostered the idea , al ready prevalent,that they were people possessed of supernatu ralgifts an d powers , who could remove diseases without having recourse to medici ne. By means ofdrao , they l ikewise procured themse lves foodpoison ing swine , as thei r brethren i n Englandsti l l do ,2 and then feasti ng on the flesh , whichwas abandoned as worthless : witness one of theirown songs

By Gypsy drow the Porkerd ied,I saw him stifl

'

at even in g tide,B ut I saw him n ot when morn in g shon e,For the Gypsies ate him flesh an d bon e.

’

By drao also they could avenge themselves onthei r enem ies by destroying thei r cattle , withouti ncurring a shadow of suspicion . Revenge forinjuries , real or imaginary , is sweet to all un

converted minds to no o n e more than the Gypsy ,who, i n all parts of the world , is , perhaps , the

most revengefu l of human bei ngs.Vidocq in h is memoi rs states , that having formed

a connection with an i nd ividual whom he subse

quently d iscovered to be the captai n of a bandof Walach ian Gypsies , the latter, whose namewas Carou n , wished Vidocq to assist i n scatteri ng

A Russian word sign ifyin g beans.

The term for poison in g swin e in English Gypsy is Dmbéthg

CHAP. vr. ] THE LOADSTONE 263

certai n powders in the mangers of the peasants ’

cattle ; Vidocq , from prudential motives, refusedthe employment. There can be no doubt thatthese powders were , i n substance, the drao of theSpan ish Gitanos.La B ar Lachz

’

, or the Loadston e.— If the Gitanos

i n general be addicted to any o n e superstition , i tis certain ly with respect to th is stone , to whichthey attribute all kinds of miracu lous powers .There can be no doubt, that the singular propertywhich i t possesses of attracting steel , by fi l l i ngthei r untutored minds with amazement , fi rst gaverise to th is veneration

,which is carried beyond

al l reasonable bounds.They bel ieve that he who is i n possession ofit has noth ing to fear from steel or lead , fromfire or water, an d that death itself has no powerover h im . The Gypsy contrabandistas are particularlyanxious to procure th is stone, which theycarry upon thei r persons in thei r expeditions ;they say , that i n the event of being pursued bythe jaracan allis, or revenue officers , whirlwinds ofdust wi l l arise , an d conceal them from the viewof thei r enemies ; the horse-stealers say much thesame th ing, an d assert that they are u n iform lysuccessfu l , when they bear abou t them the preciousstone. But it is said to be able to effect muchmore. E xtraordinary th ings are related of itspower i n exciting the amorous passions, and , onth is accou nt, it is i n great request amongst theGypsy hags ; all these women are procuresses ,an d find persons of both sexes weak and wickedenough to make use of thei r pretended knowledgei n the composi tion of love-draughts and decoctions.

264 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

I n the case of the loadstone , however, there isno pretence , the Gitanas bel ieving all they sayrespecting i t, and sti l l more ; th is is proved bythe eagern ess wi th which they seek to obtai n thestone i n its natural state, which is somewhat diflicult to accompl ish .

I n the museum of natural cu riosities at Madridthere is a large piece of loadsto ne original ly ex

tracted from the American m ines. There is scarcelya Gitana i n Madrid who is not acqua inted withth is ci rcumstance , and who does not long toobtain the stone , or a part of i t ; i ts being placedi n a royal museum serving to augment, i n thei ropin ion , i ts real value. Several attempts havebeen made to steal i t, all of which , however, havebeen unsuccessful . The Gypsies seem not to bethe on ly people who envy royalty the possessionof th is stone. Pepita , the o ld Gitana of whosetalent at tel l i ng fortunes such honourable men tionhas al ready been made , i nformed me that a priest ,who was muy enamorado (i n love) , proposed toher to steal the loadstone

,offeri ng her all h is

sacerdotal garments i n the event of successwhether the si ngular reward that was promisedhad but sl ight temptations for her, or whethershe feared that her dexteri ty was not equal to theaccompl ishment of the task, we know not , but sheappears to have decl i ned attempting it. Accord ingto the Gypsy account, the person i n love , i f hewish to excite a corresponding passion i n anotherquarter by means of the loadstone , must swal low ,

in aguardz’

en te, a smal l portion o f the stone pu lverised , at the time of going to rest, repeati ngto h imself the fol lowing magic rhyme

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266 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

C H A P T E R V I I

IT is impossible to d ismiss the subject of the Span ishGypsies without offeri ng some remarks on theirmarriage festivals. There is noth ing which theyretai n connected with thei r prim itive rites and principles , more characteristic perhaps of the sect ofthe Rommany , of the sect of the husbands an d

wives , than what relates to the marriage ceremony ,which gives the female a protector, and the mana he lpmate , a sharer of h is joys and sorrows. TheGypsies are almost enti rely ignorant of the gran dpoints of moral ity ; they have never had sufficientsense to perceive that to l ie , to steal , an d to shedhuman blood violently , are crimes which are sure ,eventual ly , to yield bitter fru its to those who perpetrate them ; but on one point, an d that one of nol i ttle importance as far as temporal happiness isconcerned , they are i n general wiser than thosewho have had far better opportun ities than suchunfortu nate outcasts , of regulating thei r steps , anddisti nguish ing good from evi l . know that

high price,

inThe contempt ofalmostallTaw'

sT—

wh-

emor divine.

cm . v n. ] LACHA OF THE GITANAS 267

There is a word i n the Gypsy language to whichthose who speak it attach ideas of pecu l iar reverence , far superior to that connected with the nameof the Supreme Bei ng, the creator of themselvesand the un iverse . This word is La

'

c/za, which withthem is the corporeal chastity of the females ; wesay corporeal chasti ty , for no other do they hold inthe sl ightest esteem ; i t is lawful amongst them ,

naypraiseworthy , to be obscene i n look, gesture , an d

discourse , to be accessories to vice , an d to stand byand laugh at the worst abom inations of the B usn é,provided thei r Léc/za ye fwpas , or corporealchastity , remains unblemished . The Gypsy ch i ld ,from her earl iest years , i s told by her strangemother, that a good Cal l i need on ly d read onething

' in th is world , an d that is the loss of Lacha,i n comparison w ith wh ich that of l ife is of l ittleconsequence , as i n such an event she wi ll be provided for, but what provision is there for a Gypsywho has lost her Lacha ? Bear th is i n m ind , mychi ld

,

’ she wi l l say , ‘an d now eat th is bread , an d

go forth and see what you can steal . ’

A Gypsy girl is general ly betrothed at the age offourteen to the youth whom her parents deem a

sui table match , an d who is general ly a few yearsolder than hersel f. Marriage is i nvariably preceded by betrothment ; an d the couple must thenwait two years before thei r un ion can take place ,accordi ng to the law of the Calés . During thisperiod i t is expected that they treat each other ascommon acquai ntance ; they are perm itted to converse, an d even occasional ly to exchange sl ightpresents . One th ing, however, i s strictly forbidden , an d i f i n th is instance they prove co n tu

268 THE Z INCALI [PART 11 .

macious, the betrothment is i nstan tly broken andthe pai r are never un ited , and thenceforward bearan evi l reputation amongst thei r sect. This oneth ing is , going into the campo in each other

’s company , or having any rendezvous beyond the gateof the city, town , or vi l lage , i n which they dwel l .Upon this point we can perhaps do no better thanquote one of thei r own stanzas

‘ Thy sire an d mother wrath an d hateHave vowed again st us, love I

The first , first n ight that from the gateWe two togetherrove.

’

With all the other Gypsies , however, an d with theB usn é or Genti les, the betrothed female is al lowedthe freest i n tercourse , going wh ither she wi l l , an dreturn ing at al l times an d seasons. With respectto the B usn é, i ndeed , the parents are i nvariablyless cautious than with thei r own race , as they conceive i t next to an impossibi l i ty that thei r ch i ldshould lose her Lacha by any in tercourse with tirewlzite blood ; and true it is that experience hasproved that thei r confidence i n th is respect is notaltogether idle. The Gitanas have i n general adecided aversion to the white men ; some few ih

stances, however, to the contrary are said to haveoccurred .

A short time previous to the expi ration of theterm of the betrothment , preparations are made forthe Gypsy bridal . The wedding-day i s certai n lyan eventfu l period i n the l ife of every i nd iv idual ,as he takes a partner for better or for worse , whomhe is bound to cherish through riches and povertybut to the Gypsy particu larly the wedding festival

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270 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

not for the gratification of the palate, but for a purpose pure ly Gypsy. These sweetmeats of al l kinds ,an d of al l forms, but pri ncipal ly yemas , or yolks ofeggs prepared with a crust of sugar (a del iciousbonne-bouche) , were strewn on the floor of a largeroom , at least to the depth of three i nches. I n toth is room , at a given signal , tripped the bride an dbridegroom dan cing romdl zlr, fol lowed amain by allthe Gitanos an d Gitan as , dan cing romé lzlr. To convey a sl ight idea of the scene is almost beyond thepower of words . I n a few minutes the sweetmeatswere reduced to a powder, or rather to a mud , thedancers were soi led to the knees wi th sugar, fru its ,and yolks of eggs. Sti l l more terrific became thel unatic merriment. The men sprang h igh in tothe ai r, neighed , brayed , and crowed ; whi lst theGitanas snapped thei r fingers in thei r own fash ion ,louder than castanets , d istorting thei r forms i ntoall kinds of obscene attitudes, and utteri ng wordsto repeat wh ich were an abom ination . I n a cornerof the apartment capered the whi le Sebastian i l lo

,

a convict Gypsy from Mel i l la, strumming thegu itar most furiously , and producing demon iacalsounds which had some resemblance to Malbrun

(Malbrouk) , an d , as he sti'ummed, repeati ng ati ntervals the Gypsy modification of the song

ChalaMalbrdn chin guerar,B iran don , biran ddn , biran déra

ChalaMalbrun chin guerar,No 36 bus truteraNo sé bus trutera.

No sé bus trutera.

La romique le caméla,B iran don , biran don ,

’etc.

CHAP . vu . ] THE MARRIAGE FEST IVAL 27 1

The festival endures three days , at the end ofwhich the greatest part of the property of thebridegroom , even if he were previously i n easyci rcumstances , has been wasted i n th is strangeki nd of riot an d dissipation . Paco , the Gypsy ofBadajoz

,attributed h is rui n to the extravagance

of h is marriage festi val ; and many other Gitanoshave confessed the same th ing of themselves .They said that throughout the th ree days theyappeared to be under the i nfluence of infatuation ,having no other wish or thought but to makeaway wi th the i r substance ; some have gone sofar as to cast money by handfu ls i nto the street.Throughout the three days al l the doors are keptopen , an d al l comers , whether Gypsies or B usn é ,welcomed with a hospital ity which knows nobounds.I n noth ing do the Jews and Gitanos more re

semble each other than i n thei r marriages , andwhat is connected therewith . I n both sects thereis a betrothment : amongst the Jews for seven

,

amongst the Gitanos for a period of two years.I n both there is a wedding festival

,which endures

amongst the Jews for fifteen an d amongst theGitanos for th ree days , duri ng wh ich , on bothsides , much that is singu lar and barbarous occurs ,which , however, has perhaps its origin i n antiqu i tythe most remote. But the wedding ceremon ies o tthe Jews are farmore complex an d al legorical thanthose of the Gypsies, a more simple people. The

Nazarene gazes on these ceremon ies with muteaston ishment ; the wash ing of the bride— thepai nti ng of the face of herself an d her compan ions with chalk an d carm ine— her ensconcing

27 2 THE ZINCALI [PART 11.

hersel f with in the curtains of the bed with herfemale bevy , whi lst the bridegroom hides h imselfwith i n h is apartment with the youths h is compan ions— her envelopment i n the white sheet, i nwhich she appears l ike a corse , the bridegroom

’sgoing to sup with her, when he places h imselfi n the middle of the apartment with his eyesshut, an d without tasti ng a morsel . His goingto the synagogue , an d then repai ring to breakfast with the bride , where he practi ses the samesel f-den ial— the washi ng of the bridegroom ’s plateand sending it after h im , that he may break h is fast— the bind ing his hands beh ind h im— his ransompaid by the bride’s mother— the v isi t of the sagesto the bridegroom— the mu lct imposed i n casehe repent— the ki l l i ng of the bul lock at the houseof the bridegroom— the present of meat and fowls,mea l and spices , to the bride— the gold and si lver— that most imposing part of the ceremony , thewalking of the bride by torchl ight to the houseof her betrothed , her eyes fixed i n vacancy , whi lstthe youths of her kindred si ng thei r wi ld songsaround her— the cup of mi lk an d the spoon presented to her by the bridegroom ’s mother— the

arrival of the sages i n the morn— the read ing ofthe Ketuba— the n ight— the hal f-enjoyment— the

old woman— the tantal isi ng knock at the dooran d then the festival of fishes wh ich concludesall, an d leaves the jaded an d wearied couple torepose after a fortn ight of persecution .

The Jews , l ike the Gypsies , not unfrequentlyru in themselves by the riot and waste of the i rmarriage festivals. Throughout the enti re fortn ight, the houses , both of bride an d bridegroom ,

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274 THE Z INCAL I [PART 11.

C H A P T E R V I I I

WH ILS'

I' i n Spai n I devoted as much time as

I could spare from my grand object, which wasto circulate the Gospel through that ben ightedcountry , to attempt to en l ighten the m inds ofthe Gitanos on the subject of rel igion . I can notsay that I experienced much success i n my en

deavours ; i ndeed , I never expected much , be i ngful ly acquainted with the stony nature of theground on which I was employed ; perhaps someof the seed that I scattered may eventual ly spri ngup an d yield excel lent fru it. Of one th ing I amcertain : if l did the Gitanos no good , I d id themno harm .

I t has been said that there is a secret mon i tor,or conscience, withi n every heart, which immediately upbraids the i nd ividual on the commissionof a crime ; th is may be true , but certai n ly the

mon itor with in the Gitano breast is a very feebleo n e, for l ittle attention is ever paid to its reproofs.With regard to conscience, be it perm itted toobserve, that it varies much according to cl imate ,country

,an d rel igion ; perhaps nowhere is i t so

terrible an d strong as i n England ; I need n ot

say why. Amongst the Engl ish , I have seenmany individuals stricken low , and broken-hearted ,

CRAP. v m. ] THE INWARD MONITOR 2 75

by the force of conscience but never amongst theSpaniards or I tal ians ; and I never yet could oh

serve that the crimes wh ich the Gitanos weredai ly and hourly committi ng occasioned themthe sl ightest uneasiness.One important discovery 1 made among themit was

,that no individual , however wicked an d

hardened , is utterly godless. Cal l i t superstition ,if you wi l l , sti l l a certai n fear an d reverence ofsometh ing sacred and su preme would hang aboutthem . I

5? m en much more disposed to listento anyth ing I had to say than the men , who werei n general so taken up with thei r trame that theycould th i nk an d talk of noth i ng else ; the women ,too, had more curiosity an d more intel l igence the

conversational powers of some of them I found tobe very great, an d yet they were destitute of thesl ightest rudiments of education , an d were th ievesby profession . At Madrid I had regu lar conversaz io n es, or, as they are cal led i n Span ish , tertt

'

ilias ,

with these women , who general ly visited me twicea week ; they were perfectly un reserved towardsme with respect to thei r actions an d practices

,

though thei r behaviour, when present, was in variably strictly proper. I have already had cause tomention Pepa the sibyl , and her daughter-ia-Iaw,

Chicharo n a ; the manners of the first were some

276 THE ZINCAL I [PART 11.

times almost elegan t, though , next to Aurora, shewas the most notorious she-thug in Madrid ; Chicharona was good-humoured , l ike most fat perso n ages. Pepa had l ikewi se two daughters

, o n e

of whom , a very remarkable female, was cal led LaTuerta, from the ci rcumstance of her having butone eye, and the other, who was a gi rl of aboutth i rteen , La Casdaml, or the scorpion , from themal ice which she occasional ly d isp layed .

Pepa and Chicharo n a were i nvariably my mostconstant v isi tors. One day in winter they arrivedas usual the One-eyed and the Scorpion fol lowingbeh i nd .

Myrefi—‘ I am glad to see you , Pepa z what

have you been doing th is morn i ng ? ’

Pépa. I have been tel l i ng baj i , and Chicharo nahas been steal i ng a pastésas ; we have had butl ittle success , and have come to warm ourse lves atthe brasero. As for the O n e-eyed , she is a verysluggard (holgazana) , she wi l l nei ther tel l fortu nesnor steal . ’

27mOn e-eyed . Hold your peace , mother of theB en gues ; I wil l steal , when I see occasion , but itshal l not be a pastésas , and I wi l l hokkawar (deceive) , but i t shal l not be by tell i ng fortunes. I f Idece ive

,i t shal l be by horses , by jockey ing) If

I steal , i t shal l be on the road— I’l l rob. You

know al ready what I am capable of, yet knowi ngthat, you would have me tel l fortunes l i ke you rself,or steal l ike Chicharo n a. Me dincla conche (i t fi l lsme with fury) to be asked to tel l fortunes, an d thenext B usn ee that talks to me of bajis, I wi l l knockall her teeth out. ’

Formedio de chalnnerlu .

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278 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

h is fi rm heart, and should have wished h im for ahusband .

’

Scorpz'

on .—‘ Ojala, that I had been i n that

cortijo , to see such sport IMysel/Z Do you fear God , 0 Tuerta ?

’

0n e-eyed . Bro ther, I fear noth ing.

’

MyseM Do you bel ieve i n God , 0 Tue'

rta ? ’

7 7m 0n e-eyed . Brother, I do not ; I hate al lconnected with that name ; the whole is fol ly ; medifiela conche. I f I go to church , i t i s but to spi tat the images. I spat at the bul to of Maria th i smorn i ng an d I love the Corojai, an d the Lo n do n é ,

1

because they are not baptized .

’

Myself. You , of course , never saya prayer. ’

7 728 On e-q ed . No , no there are three or fou rold words , taught me by some old people , which Isometimes say to myself ; I bel ieve they have bothforce and vi rtue. ’

Afiu~

e§fl I would fain hear ; pray tel l me them .

’

7 7m On e-eyed Brother, they are words not tobe repeated .

’

Myself l Why not ? ’

0n e—eyed . They are holy words , brother.’

Myself —‘ Ho ly l You say there is no God ; i f

there be none, there can be noth ing holy pray tel lme the words, 0 Tuerta .

’

The On e-eyed. Brother, I dare not.’

Myself i Then you do fear someth i ng.

’

7 7m0n e-eyed. Not ISabaou E n recarM aria Eren

'

a,2

an d now I wish I had not said them .

’

The English .

These words are very an cien t, an d were, perhaps, used by theearliest Span ish Gypsies ; they differmuch from the language o f the

presen t day, and are quite un i n tel l igible to the modern Gi tan os.

CRAP . v m. ] PEPA AND CH ICHARONA 279

Myself You are distracted , O Tuerta thewords say simply , Dwel l with i n us, blessedMaria.

’ You have spitten on her bul to this momi ng i n the church , and now you are afraid to repeatfourwords , amongst which is her name.

’

Tire On e-eyed . I d id not understand them butI wish I had not said them .

’

I repeat that there is no ind ividual , howeverhardened , who is utterly godless .

The reader wil l have al ready gathered from the

conversations reported i n th is volume , and especial lyfrom the last , that there is awide difference betweenaddressi ng Span ish Gitanos and Gitanas and Engl ish peasantry of a certai nty what wi l l do wel l forthe latter is calculated to make no impression onthese th ievish half-wi ld people. Try them withthe Gospel , I hear some one cry , wh ich speaks toall : I d id try them with the Gospel , an d i n . thei rown language . I commenced with Pepa an d

Chicharo n a. Determ ined that they should understand it, I proposed that they themselves shouldtranslate it. They could neither read nor write,which , however, did not disqual ify them frombeing translators . I had myself prev iously translated the whole Testament i n to the Span ish Rommany , but I was desi rous to ci rculate amongst theGitanos a version conce ived in the exact languagei n wh ich they express thei r ideas . The womenmade no objection , they were fond of our tertiilias ,an d they l ikewise reckoned on o n e smal l glass ofMalaga wine , with which I i nvariably presentedthem . Upon the whole, they conducted themselvesmuch better than could have been expected . Wecommenced with Sai nt Luke : they renderi ng into

280 THE Z INCALI [PART 11.

Rommany the sentences which I del ivered to themi n Span ish . They proceeded as far as the eighthchapter, i n the middle of which they broke down .

Was that to be wondered at ? The only th i ngwhich aston ished me was , that I had induced twosuch strange beings to advance so far i n a task sounwonted

, an d so enti rely at variance with theirhabits , as translation .

These chapters I frequently read over to them,

explai n i ng the subject i n the best manner I wasable. They said it was lacho, an d j ucal , and m isto,al l of wh ich words express approval of the qual i ty ofa th i ng. Were they improved , were thei r heartssoftened by these Scriptu re l ectu res ? I know n ot.

Pepa commi tted a rather dari ng theft shortly afterwards , which compel led her to conceal hersel f for afortn ight ; i t is qu ite possible , however, that shemay remember the contents of those chapters onher death-bed if so , wil l the attempt have been afuti le one ?I completed the translation , supply ing deficienciesfrom my own version begun at Badajoz i n 1836 .

This translation I pri n ted at Madrid i n 1838 ; i twas the first book which ever appeared i n Rommany , and was cal led ‘ Embéo e Majaro Lucas,

’

or Gospel of Luke the Saint. I l ikewise publ ished,

simultaneously , the same Gospel i n Basque , which ,however, I had no opportun ity of ci rculati ng.

The Gitanos of Madrid purchased the GypsyLuke freely : many of the men understood it, andprized it h ighly, i nduced of course more by thelanguage than the doctri ne ; the women wereparticularly anxious to obtai n copies , though u n

able to read ; but each wished to have one in her

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282 THE Z INCAL I [ PART 11.

Rommany , i n wh ich their own wi ld couplets were,to a certai n extent, im itated .

The people of the street i n wh ich I l ived , see ingsuch numbers of these strange females contin uallypassing in and out, were struck with aston ishmen t,an d demanded the reason . The answers whichthey obtained by no means satisfied them .

‘ Zealfor the conversion of souls ,— the sou ls too ofGitanas — d isparate i the fel low is a scound rel.Besides he is an Engl ishman , and is not baptized ; what cares he for souls ? They visit himfor other pu rposes . He makes base ounces , whichthey carry away an d ci rculate . Madrid is al readystocked with fal se money .

’ Others were of opi n ionthat we met for the purposes of sorcery an d

abom ination . The Span iard has no conceptionthat other springs of action exist than i nterest orvi l lainy .

My l ittle congregation , i f such I may cal l it,consisted enti rely of women ; the men seldom ornever visited me , save they stood in need of someth ing wh ich they hoped to obtain from me. Thisci rcumstance I l ittle regretted , thei r manners an dconversation being the reverse of i nterest ing. I tmust not, however, be supposed that, even wi ththe women , matters went on invariably i n asmooth and satisfactory manner. The fol lowingl i ttle anecdote wi l l show what sl ight dependencecan be placed upon them , and how disposed theyare at all times to take part i n what is grotesquean d mal icious. One day they arrived , attendedby a Gypsy jockey whom I had never previouslyseen . We had scarcely been seated a minute ,when th is fel low , rising, took me to the window ,

CRAP. vm . ] GYPSY CONGREGAT ION 283

an d without any preamble or C i rcumlocution,said

‘ Don Jorge, you shal l lend me two barias’

(ounces of gold). Not to you r whole race,my

excel lent friend ,’ said I ;

‘are you frantic ? Sit

down an d be discreet. ’ He obeyed me l iteral ly,

sat down , an d when the rest departed,fol lowed

with them . We did not invariably meet at myown house , but occasional ly at one in a streeti nhabited by Gypsies. On the appoi nted day Iwent to th is house, where I found the womenassembled ; the jockey was also present. Onsee i ng me he advanced , agai n took me aside,an d agai n said Don Jorge, you shal l lend me

two barias. ’ I made him no answer, but at onceentered on the subject wh ich brought me thither.I spoke for some time i n Span ish ; I chose forthe theme of my discourse the situation of theHebrews in Egypt, an d pointed out its sim i larityto that of the Gitanos i n Spai n . I spoke of thepower of God , man ifested in preservi ng both asseparate an d distinct people amongst the nationsunti l the present day. I warmed with my subject.I subsequently produced a manuscript book, fromwhich I read a portion of Scripture , an d the Lord

’sPrayer an d Apostles’ Creed , i n Rommany. WhenI had concluded I looked around me.The features of the assembly were twisted , andthe eyes of all turned upon me with a frightfu lsqu int ; not an i ndividual present but squ inted ,the genteel Pepa, the good-humoured Chicharo n a,the Casdaml

’

, etc. etc . The Gypsy fel low ,the

contriver of the jest, squ i nted worst of all. Suchare Gypsies.

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T H E ZI NCA L I

PART I I I

C H A P T E R I

THERE is no nation in the world , however exaltedor however degraded , but is i n possession of somepecul iar poetry. I f the Chinese, the Hindoos , theGreeks , an d the Pers ians, those splendid an d re

n own ed races , have thei r moral lays , theirmythological epics , the i r tragedies , and their immortallove songs , so also have the wild an d barbaroustribes of Soudan , an d the wanderi ng Esqu imaux ,thei r d itties, which , however i nsign ificant in comparison with the compositions of the former nations ,sti l l are enti tled in every essential point to the

name of poetry ; i f poetry mean metrical compositions intended to soothe an d recreate the mindfatigued by the cares , distresses , an d anxieties towhich mortal i ty is subject.The Gypsies too have the ir poetry . Of that of

the Russian Zigan i we have already said something.

I t has always been our opin ion , an d we bel ievethat i n th is we are by no means singular, that i nnoth ing can the character of a people be read withgreater certainty and exactness than i n its songs.

288 THE ZINCALI [PART 111.

How truly do the warl ike bal lads of the Northmenand the Danes , thei r drapas and kcempe-viser,depict the character of the Goth and how equal lydo the songs of the Arabians , replete wi th homageto the one h igh , u ncreated , an d eternal God , thefountai n of blessi ng,

’ ‘the on ly conqueror,

’

lay bareto us the m ind of the Moslem of the desert , whosegrand characteristic is rel igious veneration , anduncomprom ising zeal for the glory of the Creator.

And WW W-am is sof the Qi nos depict the charact QtM ite. Thispoetry , for poetry we wi ll cal l i t, is i n most respectssuch as might be expected to originate among peopleof thei r class a set of Thugs , subsisting by cheati ng an d vi l lainy of every description hati ng the restof the human species , an d bound to each other by thebonds of common origin , language , an d pursu its .The general themes of this poetry are the variousi ncidents of Gitano l ife an d the feel ings of theGitanos . A Gypsy sees a pig runn ing down a h i l l ,and imagines that it cries Ustilame Caloro l ’ —a

Gypsy recl i n ing sick on the prison floor beseecheshis wife to i ntercede with the alcayde for the removalof the chain , the weight of which is bursti ng h isbody— the moon arises , and two Gypsies , who areabout to steal a steed , perceive a Span iard , andinstantly flee— J uan ito Ral l i , whi lst going home onh is steed , is stabbed by a Gypsy who hates h imFacundo , a Gypsy , runs away at the sight of theburly priest of Vi l la Franca , who hates all Gypsies .Sometimes a burst of wi ld temper gives occasion toa strain— the swarthy lover th reatens to slay h isbetrothed

,even at the f eet of j esus, should she

1 Steal me, Gypsy.

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290 THE ZINCALI [PART 111.

i n which everyth ing is expressed which the poetwishes to impart. This featu re wi l l appear si ngularto those who are unacquainted with the character ofthe popular poetry of the south , an d are accustomedto the redundancy and frequently ted ious repeti tiono f a more polished muse . I t wi l l be wel l to i n fo rmsuch that the greater part of the poetry sung i nthe south , an d especial ly i n Spain , i s extempora ry .

The musician composes it at the stretch of h is voice,

whi lst h is fingers are tuggi ng at the guitar wh ichstyle of composition is by no means favourable to along an d connected series of thought. Of cou rse

,

the greater part of th is species of poetry perishes assoon as born . A stanza , however, is sometimescaught up by the bystanders , an d committed tomemory an d bei ng frequently repeated , makes , i ntime , the circu it of the country . For example

,the

stanza about Corun cho Lopez , which was original ly made at the gate of a venta by a Miquelet, 1

who was conducting the said Lopez to the ga l leysfor a robbe ry. I t is at present sung through thewhole of the pen insula, however i nsign ificant i tmay sound to foreign ears

Corun cho Lopez, gal lan t lad,A smugglin g he would ride

He stole his father’s ambl in g prad,An d therefore to the galleys sadCorun cho n ow I guide.

’

The couplets of the Gitanos are composed i nthe same ofll han d manner, an d exactly resemble i n

A species o f gen darme orarmed pol iceman . The Miquelets haveexisted in Spain for upwards o f two hun dred years. They are cal ledMiquelets, from the n ame o f theirorigin al leader. They are gen eral lyAragonese by nation , an d reclaimed robbers.

CRAP. THEIR POETRY 29 1

metre the popular d itt ies of the Span iards. I nspi ri t

,however, as wel l as language , they are i n

general widely d ifferent, as they mostly relate tothe Gypsies an d thei r affairs , an d not unfrequentlyabound with abuse of the B usn é or Span iards.Many of these creations have, l ike the stanza ofCoru n cho Lopez , been wafted over Spai n amongstthe Gypsy tribes , an d are even frequently repeatedby the Span iards themsel ves ; at least , by thosewho affect to imitate the phraseology of the Gitanos .Those which appear i n the present col lection consist partly of such couplets , an d partly of such aswe have ourselves taken down , as soon as theyoriginated , not unfrequently i n the midst of a ci rcleof these si ngu lar people , dan cing an d singing tothei r wi ld music. I n no i nstance have they beensubjected to modification : an d the Engl ish translation is , i n general , very faithfu l to the original ,as wil l easi ly beperce ived by referri ng to the lexicon .

To those who may feel d isposed to find fault wi thor cri ticise these songs, we have to observe , thatthe present work has been written with no otherview than to depict the Gitanos such as they are

,

and to i l lustrate thei r character ; an d, on thataccount, we have endeavoured , as much as possible,to bring them before the reader, and to make themspeak for themselves . They are a hal f-c ivi l ised ,un lettered people, proverbial for a species of knavishacuteness , which serves them in l ieu ofwisdom . Toplace i n the mou th of such be ings the high-flownsentiments of modern poetry would not answer ourpurpose, though several authors have not shrunkfrom such an absurdity .

These couplets have been col lected i n Estrema

292 THE ZINCALI [PART 111.

dura and New Casti le , i n Valencia an d Andalusia ;the four provinces where the Gité n o race mostabounds. We wish , however, to remark, that theyconstitute scarcely a ten th part of our originalglean ings , from which we have selected o n e hundred of the most remarkable an d i nteresti ng.

The language of the originals wi l l convey an

exact idea of the Rommany of Spain , as used atthe present day amongst the Gitanos i n the fai rs ,when they are buying and sel l i ng an imals , andwish to converse with each other i n a way u n

i ntel l igible to the Span iards. We are free to confess that it is a mere broken jargon , but i t answersthe purpose of those who use it ; an d i t is but j ustto remark that many of its elements are of the mostremote antiqu i ty , and the most i l l ustrious descent,as wi l l be shown hereafter. We have un iformlyplaced the original by the side of the translation ;for though unwi l l ing to make the Gitanos speak inany other manner than they are accustomed

,we

are equal ly averse to have i t supposed that manyof the thoughts and expressions which occur i nthese songs, and which are highly objectionable,originated with ourselves. 1

RHYMES or THE GITANOS

Unto a refuge me they led ,To save from dungeon drear ;Then sigh ing to my wife I said

,

I leave my baby dear.

Those who may be desirous o f perusin g the origin alsfollowing rhymes should con su l t formeredition s of this work .

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2934 THE ZINCALI [PART m .

To blessed Jesus' holy feetI ’d rush to ki l l an d slayMy pl ighted lass so fai r an d sweet,Should she the wanton play.

I for a cup of water cried ,But they refus’d my prayer,

Then straight i n to the road I hied ,And fel l to robbing there .

I ask’d for fire to warm my frame ,

But they ’

d have scorn ’d my prayer ,

I f I , to pay them for the same ,Had stripp

’

d my body bare.

Then came adown the vi l lage street,With l ittle babes that cry,

Because they have no crust to eat,A Gypsy companyAnd as no charity they meet,They curse the Lord on high .

I left my house and walk ’d about ,They seized me fast an d boundI t is a Gypsy th ief, they shout,The Span iards here have found .

From out the prison me they led ,Before the scribe they brought ;I t is no Gypsy th ief, he said ,The Span iards here have caught.

Throughout the n ight , the dusky n ight ,I prowl i n si lence round ,

am p . I . ] RHY MES OF THE GITANo s 295

And with my eyes look left an d right,For h im , the Span ish houn d ,

That with my kn i fe I h im may smite,And to the vi tals wound .

Wil l no o n e to the sister bearNews of her brother’s pl ight,How in th is cel l of dark despai r,To cruel death he ’

s dight ?

The Lord , as e’

en the Genti les state,By Egypt

’s race was bred ,And when he came to man ’s estate ,His blood the Gentiles shed.

0 never with the Gentiles wend ,Nor deem their speeches trueOr else , be certai n i n the endThy blood wi l l lose its hue.

From ou t the prison me they bore ,Upon an ass they placed ,And sco urg

’

d me ti l l I dripp’

d with gore,As down the road it paced .

They bore me from the prison nook ,They bade me rove at largeWhen out I ’

d come a gun I took,And scathed them with its charge.

My mule so bonny I bestrode ,To Portugal I ’

d flee ,And as I o ’er the water rodeA man came sudden lyAnd he h is love an d ki ndness show ’dBy setti ng h is dog on me.

THE ZINCA LI [PART m .

Unless wi th in a fortn ight’s spaceThy face , 0 maid , I see

Flamen ca, of Egyptian race ,My lady love shal l be.

Flamen ca, of Egyptian race ,I f thou wert on ly mine ,With in a bonny crystal caseFor l ife I ’d thee enshrine.

Si re nor mother me caress,For I have none on earthOne l ittle brother I possess ,And he ’s a fool by bi rth .

Thy sire an d mother wrath and hateHave vow’

d agai nst me , love IThe first, first n ight that from the gateWe two together rove.

Come to the window, sweet love , do ,And I wi l l whisper there ,I n Rommany , a word or two ,And thee far o ff wil l bear.

A Gypsy stripl ing’s sparkl i ng eyeHas pierced my bosom ’s core ,

A feat no eye beneath the skyCould e’er efi

'

ect before.

Dost bid me from the land begone ,And thou with ch i ld by me ?Each time I come , the l i ttle one ,I ’l l greet i n Rommany.

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398 THE ZINCALI'

[PART m .

C H A P T E R I I

THE Gitanos , abject and vi le as they have everbeen , have nevertheless found adm irers i n Spain ,i ndividuals who have taken pleasure i n theirphraseology , pronunciation , and way of l ife ; butabove all, i n the songs an d dances of the femal es .This desire for cultivati ng thei r acquain tan ce isch iefly prevalent i n Andal usia , where , i ndeed , theymost abound ; and more especial ly i n the town ofSevi l le , the capita l of the province , where , i n the

barrio or Faubourg of Triana , a large Gitanocolony has long flourished

,with the den izens of

which it is at all times easy to have intercourse ,especial ly to those who are free of thei r money ,and are wil l i ng to purchase such a gratification atthe expense of dol lars an d pesetas .When we consider the character of the Andal usians in general , we shal l find l i ttle to su rpriseus in th is predi lection for the Gitanos . They arean i ndolent frivolous people

,fond of danci ng an d

song, and sensual amusements . They l ive underthe most glorious sun an d ben ign heaven i nEurope , an d thei r country is by nature rich andferti le , yet i n no provi nce of Spain is there morebeggary and misery ; the greater part of the landbeing uncultivated , an d producing noth ing but

CHAP. SPUR IOUS GYPSY POETRY 299

thorns an d brushwood , affording i n itsel f a stri kingemblem of the moral state of its i nhabitan ts.Though not destitute of tal ent, the Andalusians

are not much addicted to i ntel lectual pursuits , atl east i n the present day. The person i n mostesteem among them is i nvariably the greatestmaj o, and to acqui re that character it is necessaryto appear i n the dress of a Merry Andrew , to bul ly ,swagger, an d smoke conti n ual ly , to dance passably , an d to strum the gu itar. They are fond ofobscen ity an d what they term pz

'

cardz'

ar. Amongstthem learn ing is at a terrible discoun t, Greek ,Latin

,or any of the languages general ly termed

learned , bei ng considered in any l ight but aecom

plishmen ts, but not so the possession of th ieves’

slang or the dialect of the Gitanos, the knowledgeof a few words of wh ich invariably creates a certaindegree of respect, as i nd icating that the i ndividua li s somewhat versed i n that ki nd of l ife or tratofor which alone the Andal usians have any kind ofregard .

I n Andalusia the Gitano has been studied bythose who , for various reasons , have mingled withthe Gitanos. I t is tolerably wel l understood bythe chalans , or jockeys, who have picked up manywords i n the fai rs an d market-places wh ich theformer frequent. I t has

,however, been cultivated

to a greater degree by other i nd iv iduals , who havesought the society of the Gitanos from a zest forthei r habits , the i r dances , an d thei r songs ; an dsuch ind ividuals have belonged to all classes ,amongst them have been noblemen an d membersof the priestly order.Perhaps no people i n Andal usia have been more

300 THE ZINCALI [PART (1 1.

addicted i n general to the acquaintance of the

Gitanos than the friars, an d pre-eminently amongstthese the hal f-jockey half-rel igious personages ofthe Cartujan convent at Xeres . This commun ity ,now suppressed , was , as is wel l known , i n possession of a celebrated breed of horses, wh ich fed i nthe pastures of the convent, an d from which theyderived no inconsiderable part of thei r revenue .

These reverend gentlemen seem to have beenmuch better versed i n the points of a horse thani n points of theology , and to have understoodthieves’ slang an d Gitano far better than the language of the Vu lgate . A chalan , who had someknowledge of the Gitano, related to me the fol lowing singu lar anecdote in connection with th issubject.He had occasion to go to the convent, havi ng

been long in treaty with the friars for a steed whichhe had been commissioned by a nobleman to buyat any reasonable price . The friars, however, wereexorbitant i n thei r deman ds . On arriv i ng at thegate , he sang to the friar who opened it a coupletwhich he had composed i n the Gypsy tongue , i nwhich he stated the h ighest price which he wasauthorised to give for the an imal i n question ;whereupon the friar i nstan tly answered in the sametongue i n an extemporary couplet fu l l of abuse ofh im an d h is employer, an d forthwi th slammed thedoor i n the face of the disconcerted jockey .

An Augusti ne friar of Sevi l le, cal led , we bel ieve,Father Manso, who l ived some twenty years ago ,i s sti l l remembered for h is passion for the Gitanoshe seemed to be under the influence of fascination ,an d passed every moment that he could steal from

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302 THE Z INCALI [PART m .

of th is l iterature flourished ch iefly at the commencement of the present century : Father Manso is saidto have been one of the last. Many of thei r compositions, which are both in poetry and prose, exi sti n manuscript i n a compi lation made by one Lu isLobo . I t has never been our fortu ne to see th iscompi lation , which , i ndeed , we scarcely regret , asa rather cu rious ci rcumstance has afforded us a

perfect knowledge of i ts contents.Whilst at Sevi l le , chance made us acquai n tedwith a high ly extraord inary i ndividual , a tal l ,bony

,meagre figure , i n a tattered Andalusian hat,

ragged capote , and sti l l more ragged pantaloons,and seemingly between forty and fifty years of age.The on ly appel lation to which he answered wasManuel . His occupation , at the time we knewhim

,was sel l i ng tickets for the lottery. by which

he obtained a m iserable l ivel ihood i n Sevi l le an d

the neighbouring vi l lages. His appearance wasal together wi ld an d uncouth , an d there was an

i nsane expression i n h is eye. Observing us oneday i n conversation with a Gitana , he addressedus, an d we soon found that the sound of theGitano language had struck a chord wh ich vibrated through the depths of h is soul . His h istorywas remarkable ; i n h is early youth a manuscriptcopy of the compi lation of Lu is Lobo had fal leni nto h is hands. This book had so taken hold ofh is imagination , that he stud ied it n ight and dayunti l he had planted it i n h is memory from begi nn ing to end ; but i n so doing, his brai n , l ike thatof the hero of Cervantes , had become d ry andheated , so that he was u n fitted for any serious orusefu l occupation . After the death of h is parents

CHAP. THE DELUGE 303

he wandered about the streets i n great d istress ,unti l at last he fel l i n to the hands of certai n toreros ,or bul l-fighters, who kept h im about them , i n orderthat he might repeat to them the songs of theAficz

’

on . They subsequently carri ed h im to Madrid ,where , however, they soon deserted h im after hehad experienced much brutal ity from thei r hands.He retu rned to Sevi l le , and soon became the

i nmate of a madhouse, where he conti nued severalyears. Having partial ly recovered from h is malady ,he was l iberated , an d wandered about as before.During the cholera at Sevi l le, when nearly twentythousand human beings perished , he was ap

poi nted conductor of one of the death-carts , whichwent th rough the s treets for the purpose of picki ngup the dead bodies. His perfect in ofl

'

en siven ess

eventual ly procured him friends , an d he obtai nedthe situation of vendor of lottery tickets . He ftcquently visited us, an d would then recite longpassages from the work of Lobo . He was wontto say that he was the on ly o n e i n Sevi l le , at thepresent day

,acquain ted with the language of the

Aficio n ; for though there were many pretenders ,their knowledge was confined to a few words.From the recitation of th is i ndividual , we wrotedown the B rijin dope , or Deluge , an d the poem onthe plague which broke out i n Sevi l le i n the year1800. These an d some songs of less consequence ,consti tu te the poetical part of the compi lation i nquestion ; the rest, which is i n prose , consistingch iefly of translations from the Span ish , of proverbsan d rel igious pieces.

THE ZINCALI [PART m.

B R IJ INDOPE.— THE DELUGE ‘

A POEM : IN TWO PARTS

PART THE FI RST

I with fear and terror quake ,Whi lst the pen to write I take ;I wi l l utter many a pray

'

r

To the heaven ’s Regent fai r,That she deign to succour me ,And I ’l l humbly bend my kneeFor but poorly do I knowWith my subject on to goTherefore is my wisest planNot to trust i n strength of man .

I my heavy sins bewai l ,Whilst I v iew the wo and wai lHanded down so solemn lyI n the book of times gone by .

Onward , onward , n ow I'll move

I n the name of Christ above ,And his Mother true and dear,She who loves the wretch to cheer.Al l I know

,and al l I ’ve heard

I wi l l state— how God appear’

d

And to Noah thus did cryWeary with the world am ILet an ark by thee be bu i l t,For the world is lost i n gu i l t ;And when thou hast bu i lt i t wel l ,Loud proclaim what now I tel l

1 For the original , see othereditions.

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THE ZINCALI [PART m .

To obtai n a glorious prey .

I with horror turn awayTumbles house and tumbles wal lThousands lose thei r l ives an d all,Voiding curses , screams and groans ,For the beams , the bricks and stonesBru ise and bury al l belowNor is that the worst, I trow ,

For the clouds begin to pourFloods of water more an d more ,Down upon the world with migh t ,Never pausing day or n ight.Now in terrible distressAl l to God thei r cries address ,And h is Mother dear adore ,But the time of grace is o’er,For the Almighty i n the skyHolds h is hand upraised on high .

Now ’s the time ofmadden ’

d rout ,Hideous cry , despai ring shoutWhither, whither shal l they fly ?For the danger threat’n inglyDraweth near on every side ,And the earth , that

’

s open ing wide ,Swal lows thousands i n its womb,Who would ’scape the dreadfu l doom .

Of dear hope exists no gleam ,

Sti l l the water down doth streamNe’er so l ittle a creepi ng th i ngBut from out its hold doth spri ngSee the mouse , an d see its mateScour along, nor stop , nor wait ;See the serpent an d the snakeFor the nearest h ighlands make

CHAP . THE DELUGE

The tarantula I V iew,

Emmet smal l an d cricket too,

Al l unknowing where to fly,

I n the stifl i ng waters die.See the goat an d bleating sheep

,

See the bul l with bellowin gs deep.

And the rat with squeal i ngs shri l lThey have mounted on the h i l lSee the stag, an d see the doe ,How together fond they goLion , tiger-beast, an d pard ,To escape are striv i ng hardFol lowed by her l ittle ones ,See the hare how swift she runsAsses, he an d she, a pai r.Mute an d mule with bray an d blare ,And the rabbit an d the fox,Hurry over stones an d rocks ,With the grunti ng hog an d horse,Til l at last they stop thei r courseOu the summit of the h i l lAl l assembled stand they sti l lI n the second part I ’11 tel lUnto them what there befel l .

PART THE SECOND

When I last did bid farewel l ,I proposed the world to tel l ,Higher as the Deluge flow’

d ,

How the frog an d how the toad ,With the l izard an d the eft,Al l thei r holes an d coverts left,

307

THE ZINCALI [PAR T 111.

And assembled on the height ;Soon I ween appeared in sightAl l that ’s wings beneath the sky ,B at an d swal low , wasp and fly ,Gnat and sparrow , and behindComes the crow of carrion kindDove an d pigeon are descried ,And the raven fiery-eyed ,With the beetle and the craneFlying on the hurricaneSee they find no resti ng-place ,For the world ’s terrestrial spaceI s with water cover’d o’er,Soon they sink to rise no moreTo our father let us flee lStraight the ark-ship openeth he ,And to everyth ing that l ivesKind ly he admission gives.Of al l kinds a single pai r,And the members safely thereOf his house he doth embark ,Then at once he shuts the arkEveryth ing therein has pass

’

d ,

There he keeps them safe and fast.O

’

er the mountai n ’s topmost peakNow the raging waters break.

Til l fu l l twenty days are o ’

er,'Midst the elemental roar,Up and down the ark forlorn

,

Like some evi l th i ng is borne0 what grief it i s to seeSwimming on the enormous seaHuman corses pale an d white ,More

,alas ! than I can write :

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3 10 THE Z INCALI [PART m .

B ound they sw iftly on the shore ,And thei r fervent thanks outpour,Low ly knee l i ng to thei r GodThen thei r way a couple trod,Man and woman , hand i n hand ,Bent to populate the land ,To the Moorish region fai rAnd another two repai rTo the country of the GaulI n th is manner wend they al l ,And the seeds of nations lay.

I beseech ye ’ll credence pay ,For our father, high and sage ,Wrote the tale i n sacred page ,As a record to the world ,Record sad of vengeance hurl’d.

I , a low and humble wight,Beg permi ss ion now to writeUnto al l that i n our landTongue Egyptian understand .

May our Vi rgi n Mother m i ldGrant to me , her erri ng ch i ld ,Plenteous grace in every way,And success. Amen I say.

THE PEST I LENCE

I ’m resolved now to tel lI n the speech of Gypsy-landAl l the horror that befel lI n th is city huge and grand .

CHAP. THE PESTILENCE 3 1 1

I n the eighteenth hundred yearI n the m idst of summertide

,

God , with man dissatisfied ,His right hand on high did rear,With a rigour most severeWhence we wel l m ight understandHe would strict account demandOf our l ives an d actions here.The dread event to render clearNow the pen I take i n hand .

At the dread event aghast,Straight the world reform’

d i ts courseYet is sin i n greater force ,Now the pun ishment is past ;For the thought of God is castAl l an d utterly aside ,As if death itself had died .

Therefore to the present raceThese memorial l i nes I traceI n old Egypt’s tongue of pride.

As the streets you wan der’d throughHow you quail

’d with fear an d dread ,

Heaps of dying an d of deadAt the leeches’ door to view.

To the tavern 0 how fewTo regale on wine repai rAl l a sickly aspect wear.Saywhat heart such sights could brookWai l an d woe where’er you lookWai l an d woe an d ghastly care.

3 1 2 THE Z INCAL I [PART m.

P lying fast thei r rosaries ,See the people pace the street,And for pardon God entreatLong an d loud with stream ing eyes.And the carts of various size ,P i led with corses, high in air,To the plain thei r burden bear.0 what grief it is to meNot a friar or priest to seeIn th is city huge an d fai r.

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ON THE LANGUAGE O F

THE GI TAN o s

I am n ot very wi llin g that any lan guage shou ld be total lyextin guished ; the simil i tude an d derivation o f lan guagesafford the most in dubi table proof of the traduction of

nation s , an d the gen ealogy of man kin d ; they add oftenphysical certain ty to historical eviden ce of an cien t migration s, an d o f the revolution s of ages which left n o writtenmon umen ts behin d them.

’—JOHNSON.

THE Gypsy dialect of Spai n is at present verymuch shattered an d broken , being rather thefragments of the language which the Gypsiesbrought with them from the remote regions ofthe East than the language i tsel f : i t enables ,however

,i n i ts actual state, the Gitanos to hold

conversation amongst themselves , the import ofwhich is qu ite dark and mysterious to those whoare not of thei r race , or by some means havebecome acquai nted with thei r vocabulary. The

rel ics of th is tongue,singularly curious in them

selves , must be ever particu larly i nteresting tothe phi lological antiquarian , i nasmuch as theyenable h im to arrive at a satisfactory conclusionrespecti ng the origin of the Gypsy race. Duri ngthe later part of the last centu ry , the curiosity ofsome learned i nd iv iduals , particularly Grellman n ,

3 16 THE ZINCALI [PAR T m .

R ichardson , an d Marsden , i nduced them to col lectmany words of the Roman ian language , as spokeni n Germany , Hungary , and England , which , uponanalysing, they discovered to be i n general ei therpure Sanscri t or H industan i words, or modifications thereof ; these investigations have beenconti nued to the present time by men of equalcurios ity an d no less erud i tion , the resu lt of wh ichhas been the establ ishment of the fact, that theGypsies of those countries are the descendantsof a tribe of H indus who for some particu lar reasonhad abandoned thei r native country . I n England ,of late , the Gypsies have exci ted particu lar attention ; but a des i re far more noble and laudablethan mere antiquarian cu riosity has given rise toit, namely , the desi re of propagating the gloryof Christ amongst those who know Him not

,and

of savi ng sou ls from the jaws of the infernal wolf.I t is, however, with the Gypsies of Spai n , andnot wi th those of England and other countries ,that we are now occupied , and we shal l merelymention the latte r so far as they may serve to

elucidate the case of the Gitanos , thei r breth renby blood and language. Spai n for many centu rieshas been the country of error ; she has m istakenstem and savage tyranny for rational government ;base , low , and grovel l ing superstition for clear,bright, and soul-ennobl ing rel igion ; sordid cheating she has considered as the path to riches ;vexatious persecution as the path to power ; an dthe consequence has been , that she is now pooran d powerless , a pagan amongst the pagans , witha dozen kings, and with none. Can we be su rprised , therefore , that, mistaken in pol icy , rel igio n ,

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3 18 THE ZINCAL I [PART [ 11.

eightymillimrs o f human beings, gen erally kn ownby the n ame o f Hin dustan , two Persian words

tan tamou n t to the lan d o f l n d , or, the lan d watered

by the river I n dus.

The most celebrated of thes e languages is the

San skrida, or, as it is kn own in Europe, the

San scrit, which is the language of religio n o f all

those nation s amo n gst whom the faith o f Brahmahas been adopted ; but though the lang

uage o f

rel igion , bywhich we mean the ton gue in whichthe rel igious books of the Brahman ic sect wereorigi nally written and are sti l l preserved , it haslo ng since ceased to be a spoken language ; i ndeed ,h istory is silent as to any period when i t was alan guage in commo n use amongst any of the

vario us tribes of the H indus i ts knowledge , as faras read ing and writi ng it went, having been entire lyconfined to the priests of Brahma, or Brahmans ,unti l with in the last hal f-century, when the B ri tish ,having subjugated the whole of Hindustan , causedit to be open ly taught i n the co l leges wh ich theyestabl ished for the instruction of thei r youth i n thelanguages of the country. Though sufficien tlydifficu l t to acquire , principal ly on account o f i ts

prod igious richness i n synonyms , i t is no longer asealed language,— i ts laws , structu re, and vocabulary be ing sufficiently wel l known by mean s ofn umerous elementary works , adapted to facil i tateits study. I t has been considered by famous phi lologists as the mother not on ly of al l the languagesof Asia, but of al l others i n the world . So wi ldand preposterous an idea, however, on ly serves toprove that a devotion to phi lology , whose pri ncipalobject shou ld be the expansion of the mind by the

mm LANGUAGE OF THE GITANOS 3 19

various treasures of learn ing and wisdom which itcan un lock, sometimes on ly tends to its bewi lderment, by causing it to embrace shadows for real i ty.

The most that can be al lowed , i n reason , to theSanscri t is that i t is the mother of a certain classor fami ly of languages , for example, those spokeni n H industan , with which most of the European ,whether of the Sclavon ian , Gothic, or Celtic stock,have some connection . True i t is that in th is casewe know not how to dispose of the ancient l en d,the mother of the modern Persian , the language i nwh ich were written those writings general ly attributed to Zerduscht, or Zoroaster, whose affin ity tothe said tongues is as easi ly established as that ofthe sanscri t, an d which , i n respect to antiqu ity ,may wel l d ispute the palm with its I nd ian rival .Avoiding, however, the discussion of th is point,we shal l content ourselves with observing

,that

close ly connected with the Sanscri t, i f not derivedfrom i t, are the Bengal i , the h igh H industan i , orgrand popular language of H industan , general lyused by the learned i n the i r i ntercourse and writi ngs , the languages of Multan , Guzerat, an d otherprovinces , without mention ing the m ixed dialectcal led Mongol ian H industan i , a corrupt jargon ofPersian , Turkish , Arabic, an d Hindu words, firstu sed by the Mongols, after the conquest, i n thei ri n tercourse with the natives. Many of the pri ncipal languages of Asia are total ly unconnectedwith the Sanscrit, both i n words an d grammaticalstructure ; these are mostly of the great Tartarfamily , at the head of which there is good reasonfor placi ng the Ch inese and Tibetian .

Bearing the same analogy to the Sanscri t tongue

320 THE Z INCAL I [PART 111.

as the I ndian d ialects spec ified above , we find theRommany , or speech of the Roma, or Zincal i , asthey style themselves , known in Englan d and Spainas Gypsies an d Gitanos. This speech , whereveri t is spoken , is , i n al l pri ncipal poi nts , one an d thesame, though more or less corrupted by foreignwords , picked up in the various countries to whichthose who use i t have penetrated. One remarkablefeature must not be passed over without notice,namely , the very considerable number of Sclavo n icwords , which are to be found embedded with in it,whether it be spoken in Spai n or Germany , i nEngland or I taly from wh ich ci rcumstance we areled to the concl usion , that these people , i n thei rway from the East, travel led i n on e large compactbody , and that thei r route lay through some regionwhere the Sc lavon ian language, or a dialect thereof, was spoken . This region I have no hes itationin asserting to have been Bulgaria, where they probably tarried for a considerable period , as nomadherdsmen , and where numbers of them are sti l l tobe found at the present day. Besides the manySclavon ian words i n the Gypsy tongue , anothercurious feature attrac ts the attention of the phi lologist

— an equal or sti l l greater quanti ty of termsfrom the modern Greek ; i ndeed , we have ful lwarranty for assum ing that at one period theSpan ish section , if not the rest of the Gypsynation

,understood the Greek language wel l , and

that, besides thei r own I ndian dialect, they occasional ly used it for considerably upwards of a centurysubsequent to thei r arrival , as amongst the Gitanosthere were ind ividuals to whom it was i ntel l igibleso late as the year 1540 .

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322 THE ZINCALI [PART 111.

al ready expi red he spoke to them in the Egyptiantongue ; they said , however, as i t was a long timesince thei r departure from Egypt, they did notunderstand it he then spoke to them in the vulgarGreek , such as is used at present i n the Morea andArch ipelago ; some u n derstood it, others did not ;so that as al l d id not understand i t, we may conclude that the lan guage which they use is a feignedone

,1 got up by thieves for the purpose of con

ceal i ng thei r robberies , l ike the jargon o f bl i ndbeggars. ’

Sti l l more abundant, however, than the m ixtu reof Greek , sti l l more abundant than the mixture ofSclavon ian , i s the al loy i n the Gypsy language,wherever spoken , of modern Persian words , whichci rcumstance wi l l compel us to offer a few remarkson the share which the Persian has had i n theformation of the d ialects of I nd ia , as at presentspoken .

The modern Persian , as has been al readyobserved , i s a daughter of the ancient Zend

, an d ,as such , i s entitled to claim affin i ty with the Sanscrit , an d i ts d ialects . With th is language none i nthe world would be able to vie i n simpl ici ty an d

beauty , had not the Persians, o

in adopting therel igion of Mahomet , unfortunately i ntroducedi nto thei r speech an i nfin ity of words of the rudecoarse language used by the barbaric Arab tri bes

,

the immediate fol lowers of the warl ike Prophet.With the rise of I slam the modern Persian wasdoomed to be carried into I ndia. This country

,

A very un fair in feren ce ; that some o f the Gypsies did n o t un derstan d the authorwhen he spoke Romaic , was n o proof that their own

private language was a feign ed o n e, inven ted for thievish purposes.

mm LANGUAGE 01? THE G1TANo s 323

from the time of Alexander, had enjoyed reposefrom extern al aggress ion , had been ru led by itsnative princes , an d been perm itted by P rovidence to exercise, without control or reproof, thedegrad ing superstitions , an d the u nnatural an dbloody rites of a rel igion at the formation of whichthe fiends of cruel ty an d l ust seem to have presided ;but reckon ing was now about to be demanded ofthe accursed min isters of th is system for the pai n ,tortu re , an d misery which they had been in strumental in i nfl icti ng on thei r countrymen for thegratification of thei r avarice , fi l thy passions

, an d

pride ; the n ew Mahometans were at hand— Arab ,Persian , an d Afghan , with the gl i tte ri ng scimitaru praised , fu l l of zeal for the glory an d adoration ofthe one high God , an d the relentless persecutors ofthe idol-worsh ippers . Already , i n the four hundredan d twenty-sixth year of the Hegeira, we read ofthe destruction of the great B u tkhan ,

or imagehouse of S umn aut, by the arm ies of the far-conquering Mahmoud , when the dissevered heads ofthe Brahmans rol led down the steps of the giganticand Babel-l ike temple of the great image

Q I Ofi W U AS GL—ugl w b

(Th is image grim, whose n ame was Laut,Bold Mahmoud foun d when he took Sumn aut. )

I t is not our in tention to fol low the conquests of theMahometans from the days of Wal id an d Mahmoudto those of T imour and Nad ir sufficient to observe ,that the greatest part of I nd ia was subdued , n ewmonarch ies establ ished , an d the old rel igion ,

324 THE ZINCALI [PART 11 1.

though far too powerful and widely spread to beexti rpated , was to a considerable extent abashedan d humbled before the bright risi ng sun of I slam .

The Persian language , which the conquerors ‘ ofwhatever denomination in troduced with them toH industan , and which thei r descendants at the present day sti l l retai n , though not lords of the ascendan t, speed i ly became widely extended in theseregions , where i t had previously been unknown .

As the language of the court, i t was of coursestudied and acqui red by all those natives whosewealth , rank , and i nfluence necessari ly broughtthem into connection with the rul i ng powers ; an das the language of the camp , i t was carried i ntoevery part of the country where the duties of thesold iery sooner or later conducted them the resu l tof which relations between the conquerors an d

conquered was the adoption into the popu lard ialects of I ndia of an infin ity of modern Persianwords , not merely those of sc ience , such as it existsi n the East , and of luxury and refinement , but eventhose wh ich serve to express many of the mostcommon objects , necessi ties , and ideas , so that atthe present day a knowledge of the Pers ian isessential for the thorough understanding of thepri ncipal dialects of H industan , on which accoun t,as wel l as for the assistance which it affords in commun icatio n with the Mahometans , i t is cultivated

I Of all these , the most terrible, an d whose sway en dured for thelon gest period , were the Mongo ls, as they were cal led few, however,of his origin al Mongol ian warriors fol lowed Timour in the in vasion o f

India. His armies latterly appear to have con sisted chiefly o f Turcoman s an d Persian s. I twas to obtain populari ty amon gst these soldierythat he aban don ed his o ld religion , a kind of fetish , or sorcery, an dbecame aMahometan .

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326 THE Z INCALI [PART 111.

I t would be easy for us to adduce a thousan di nstances , as striking as the above, of the affin ityof the Gypsy tongue to the Pers ian , Sansc ri t, andthe I nd ian dialects , but we have not space forfurther observation on a point wh ich long si nce hasbeen sufficiently d iscussed by others endowed wi thabler pens than our own ; but having made theseprel im inary remarks , which we deemed necessa ryfor the elucidation of the subject , we now hasten tospeak of the Gita'mo language as used i n Spai n ,an d to determine , by its evidence (an d we againrepeat , that the language is the on ly cri terion bywh ich the question can be determ ined ) , how far theGitanos of Spai n are entitled to claim connectionwith the tribes who , under the names of Zi ngan i ,etc . , are to be found in various parts of Europe ,fol lowing, i n general , a l ife of wandering adventu re ,an d practisi ng the same kind of th ievish arts wh ichenable those i n Spain to obtai n a l ivel ihood at theexpense of the more honest and i ndustrious of thecommun ity .

The Gitanos of Spai n , as al ready stated , are

general ly bel ieved to be the descendan ts of theMoriscos , an d have been asserted to be such i npri n ted books. 1 Now they are kn own to speak a

Forexamme, in the Historic de lo: Giulia", o f which we have hadoccasion to speak in the first part o f the presen t work : amon gst otherthin gs the authorsays, p. 95, I f there exist anysimilitude o f customsbetween the Gitan os and the Gypsies , the Zigeun era, the Zin gari, an dthe Bohemian s, they (the Gitan os) can n ot, however, be con foun dedwith these n omad castes, n or the same origin be attributed to them

all that we shal l find in common between these people wi l l be ,that the on e (the Gypsies, etc. ) arrived fugitives from the heart o f Asiaby the steppes o f Tartary , at the begin n in g of the fi fteen th cen tury ,whi le the Gitan os, descen ded from the Arab orMorisco tribes , came

mm LANGUAGE OF THE crrAn o s 327

language or jargon amongst themselves which theother natives of Spai n do not understand ; ofcourse, then , supposing them to be of Moriscoorigin , the words of this tongue or jargon , whichare not Span ish , are the rel ics of the Arabic orMoorish tongue once spoken in Spain , which theyhave i nherited from thei r Moorish ancestors. Nowit is wel l known , that the Moorish of Spai n wasthe same tongue as that spoken at present by theMoors of Barbary , from which country Spain wasi nvaded by the Arabs , and to which they agai nreti red when unable to main tai n thei r groundagainst the arm ies of the Christians. We wil l ,therefore , col late the numerals of the Span ishGitano with those of the Moori sh tongue , precedi ng both with those of the Hungarian Gypsy , of

from the coast of Africa as conquerors at the begin n in g of the

eighth. ’

He gets rid o f anyeviden ce with respect to the origin o f the Gitan oswhich their lan guage might be capable of affordin g in the fol lowin gsummaryman n er : As to the particu larjargon which they use, anyinvestigatio n which peoplemight preten d tomake would be quite use lessin the first place, on accoun t of the reserve which they exhibit on thispoin t ; an d secon dly, because, in the even t of some bein g foun dsuficien tlycommun icative, the in formation which they cou ld impartwould lead to n o advan tageous result, owing to their extreme ign oran ce.

’

I t is scarcely worth while to offera remark on reason in gwhich couldon ly eman ate from an un derstan d in g o f the very lowest order,— so

the Gitan os are so ex tremely ign oran t , that however fran k they mightwish to be, they would be un able to tel l the curious inquirer the n amesforbread and water, meat and sal t, in their own peculiar tongue— for.assuredly, had they sen se en ough to afford that sl ight quan tum o f in

formation , it would lead to two very advan tageous resu lts, byprovin g ,first , that they spoke the same lan guage as the Gypsies , etc. , an d wereconsequen tly the same people—an d secon dly, that they came n o t from

the coast o f Northern Africa, where on ly Arabic an d Shillah are spoken ,

but from the heart o f Asia, three words o f the fourbein g pure Sanscrit.

328 THE Z INCAL I [PART m .

which we have al ready made use , for the purposeof maki ng clear the affin i ty of that language to theSanscrit and Persian . By th is col lation we shal lat once perceive whether the Gitano of Spai n bearsmost resemblance to the Arabic , or the Rommanyof other lands.

Hungarian

We bel ieve the above specimens wi l l go very farto change the opi n ion of those who have imb ibedthe idea that the Gitanos of Spai n are the descendants of Moors , an d are of an origin d ifferent fromthat of the wanderi ng tribes of Rommany i n otherparts of the world , the specimens of the two d ialectsof the Gypsy , as far as they go , being so stri kingly sim i lar, as to leave no doubt of thei r origi nalidentity , whi lst, on the contrary , with the Moorishneither the one nor the other exhibits the sl ightestpoint of sim i larity or connection . But with thesespecimens we shal l not content ourse lves , but proceed to give the names of the most common th i ngsan d objects i n the Hungarian and Span ish Gitémo ,co l lateral ly , with thei r equ ivalents i n the Moorish

Span ishGi tan o.

q ue

Dui

TrinEstarPauscheJob. ZoiHefta

OtorEsn ia (Nu .

Deque

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330 THE ZINCALI [PA RT I I I .

largely from the language of thei r rel igion— the

Arabic. We therefore , perhaps , ought not to besurprised that i n the scanty phraseology of theGitanos , amongst so much Persian , we fin d sol ittle that is Arabic ; had thei r pursu its been lessv i le , thei r desi res less an imal , an d their thou ghtsless circumscribed , i t wou ld probably have beenotherwise ; but from time immemorial they haveshown themselves a nation of petty thieves , horsetraflickers, an d the l ike, without a thought o f themorrow , bei ng content to provide agai nst the ev i lof the passing day .

The fol lowing is a comparison of words i n the

three languages

Hungarian Span ish MoorishGypsy. Gitan o . Arabic .

Bone Cokalos Cocal AdomC ity Forjus Foros BeledDay Dives Chibes YoumDri nk (to) P iava Piyar Y eschrab

Ear Kan Can Oothin

Eye Jakh Aqu ia EinFeather Por Porumia RischFi re Vag Yaque Afia

Fish Macz o Macho HutzFoot P i r P i ro

, pin dro Rj nl

Gold S o n kai S o n acai DahabGreat Baro Baro Qu ibirHai r Bala B a] ScharHe

,pron . Wow O Hu

Head Tschero jero Ras

House Ker Quer Dar

1 As given in the M z’

tlzrz’

dates o f Adelun g.

mm LANGUAGE OF THE GITANo s 33 1

Hun garian

We shal l ofler no further observations respectingthe affin ity of the Span ish Gitano to the otherd ialects , as we conce ive we have al ready afl

'

orded

suflicien t proof of i ts original identity with them ,

and consequently shaken to the ground the absu rdopin ion that the Gitanos of Spai n are the descendants o f the Arabs and Moriscos. We shal l now con

clude with a few remarks on the present state of theGitano language in Spai n , where , perhaps, with inthe course of a few years , i t wil l have perished ,

332 THE ZINCALI [PART ttt.

without leaving a vestige of its having once exi stedand where, perhaps , the singular people who speaki t are l ikewise doomed to d isappear, becom i ngsooner or later engulfed an d absorbed i n the greatbody of the nation , amongst whom they have solong existed a separate an d pecul iar class .Though the words o ra part of the words of theoriginal tongue sti l l remai n , preserved by memoryamongst the Gitanos , i ts grammatical peculiaritieshave d isappeared , the enti re language having beenmodified an d subjected to the ru les of Span ishgrammar, wi th which it now coincides i n syn tax ,i n the conjugation of verbs, an d i n the declen sionof i ts nouns. Were it possible or necessary tocol lect al l the rel ics of th is speech , they would probably amount to four or five thousand words ; butto efl

'

ect such an ach ievement, i t would be necessaryto hold c lose an d long intercourse wi th almost everyGitétn o i n Spai n , and to extract , by various means,the pecul iar i nformation which he might be capableof affording ; for i t is necessary to state here , thatthough such an amount of words may sti l l existamongst the Gitanos in general , no single i nd ividual of thei r sect is i n possession of one-th i rdpart thereof, nor indeed , we may add , those of anysingle city or provi nce of Spai n ; nevertheless allare i n possession , more or less , of the language, sothat , though of difieren t provinces , they are enabledto understand each other tolerably wel l , when d iscou rsing in th is thei r characteristic speech . Thosewho travel most are of course best versed i n i t

,as,

i ndependent of the words of thei r own vi l lage ortown , they acqui re others by intermingl ing withthei r race i n various p laces. Perhaps there i s no

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334 THE Z INCALI [PART m .

not unfrequently the very words which have been invai n requ ired of them wi l l , a minute subsequently ,proceed inadvertently from thei r mouths.We now take leave of thei r language. Whenwishi ng to praise the proficiency of any ind ividuali n thei r tongue, they are i n the habit of saying ,He understands the seven jargons. ’ I n the Gospelwhich we have pri nted in th is language, and i nthe dictionary which we have compi led , we haveendeavoured , to the utmost of our abi l ity , to deservethat compl iment ; an d at all times it wi l l afford ussincere and heartfel t pleasure to be i nformed thatanyGitano, capable of appreciati ng the said l ittleworks , has observed , whi lst readi ng them or heari ngthem read It is clear that the wri ter of these booksunderstood

THE S EVEN jARGONs.

ON RO B B E R LANGUAGE ;

OR, AS IT IS CALLED IN SPAIN ,

GERMAN IA

So I wen t with them to a music booth, where theymademe almost drun k with gin , an d began to talk their F laskLan guage, which I did n o t un derstan d.

’— Narrative o f the

Exploits o f Hen ry S imms , executed at Tyburn , 1746.

Hablaron se los dos en German ia, de lo qual result6 darmen u abraco, y o frecerseme.

’—QUEVP.DO. Vida dal granTacaiio .

HAV ING i n the preceding article endeavoured toafford all necessary i nformation concern ing theRommany , or language used by the Gypsiesamongst themse lves , we now propose to turn ourattention to a subject of no less i nterest, but whichhas h itherto never been treated i n a manner calcu lated to lead to any satisfactory result or conelusion on the contrary , though ph i losophic mi ndshave been engaged i n its consideration , an d learnedpens have not disdai ned to occupy themselveswith its detai l s , i t sti l l remai ns a si ngular proofof the errors i nto which the most acute an d

laborious writers are apt to fal l , when they takeupon themselves the task of wri ti ng on matterswhich cannot be stud ied i n the closet, an d onwhich no information can be received by mixing

336 THE ZINCALI [PART m .

i n the society of the wise , the lettered , and the

respectable, but which must be investigated i n thefields , an d on the borders of the highways , inprisons , an d amongst the dregs of society . Had

the latter system been pursued in the matter nowbefore us, much clearer, more rational , and morejust ideas would long si nce have been en terta i nedrespecti ng the German ia, or language of th ieves .I n most countries of Europe there exists , amongstthose who obtain their existence by the breach ofthe law , an d by preying upon the fru its of thelabours of the quiet and orderly portion of society ,a particu lar jargon or dialect , i n which the formerd iscuss the i r schemes an d plans of plunder, without being in general understood by those to whomthey are obnoxious. The name of th is jargonvaries with the country i n which i t is spoken .

I n Spain i t is cal led ‘German ia ’

; i n France ,‘ Argot ’ ; i n Germany , ‘ Rothwelsch ,

’ or RedI tal ian ; i n I taly ,

‘ Gergo ’

; whi lst i n Englandi t is known by many names ; for example , ‘ cant,slang, th ieves

’ Latin ,’ etc . The most remarkable

ci rcumstance connected with the h istory of th isjargon is , that i n all the countries i n wh ich itis spoken , i t has i nvariably , by the authors whohave treated of it, an d who are numerous , beenconfounded with the Gypsy language, and assertedto be the speech of those wanderers who have solong infested Europe under the name of Gitanos ,etc. How far th is bel ief is founded in j ustice weshal l now endeavour to show , with the premisethat whatever we advance i s derived , not fromthe assertions or opin ions of others , but from ourown observation ; the poin t i n question being one

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PART ROBBER LANGUAGE 339

i n a metaphorical sense , e xhibi ts a considerablespri nkl i ng of foreign words ; now of these wordsno sl ight number are I tal ian or bastard Lati n

,

Whether i n Germany, whether i n Spai n , or inother countries more or less remote from Italy.

When we consider the ignorance of thieves i ngeneral , the i r total want of education , the sl ightknowledge which they possess even of the i r mothertongue , i t is hard ly reasonable to suppose thati n any country they were ever capable of havingrecourse to foreign languages , for the pu rposeof en rich ing any pecu liar vocabulary or phraseology which they might deem conven ient to useamong themselves ; nevertheless , by associati ngwith foreign th ieves , who had e ither left thei r nativecountry for thei r crimes , or from a hope of reapinga rich harvest of plun der i n other lands , i t wouldbe easy for them to adopt a considerable number ofwords belonging to the lan guages of thei r foreignassociates , from whom perhaps they derived an increase o f knowledge i n th ievish arts of every description . At the commencement of the fifteenth centuryno nation i n Europe was at all calculated to vie withthe I tal ian i n arts of anykind , whether those whosetendency was the benefit or improvement of society ,or those the practice of which serves to i nju re an dundermi ne i t. The artists an d artisans of I talywere to be found i n all the countries of Europe

,

from Madrid to Moscow , an d so were i ts Charlatans,i ts jugglers , an d multi tudes of its ch i ldren

,who

l ived by fraud and cu nn ing. Therefore , when a

comprehensive view of the subject is taken,there

appears to be l i ttle improbabi l i ty i n supposing,

that not on ly were the I talians the origi nators of

340 THE ZINCALI [PART m.

the metaphorical robber jargon , which has beentermed ‘ Red I tal ian ,

’ but that they were mainlyi nstrumental i n causing it to be adopted by the

th ievish race i n various countries of Eu rope .

I t is here , however, necessary to state, that inthe robber jargon of Europe , elements of anotherlanguage are to be discovered , an d perhaps ingreater number than the I tal ian words. The

language which we al lude to is the Rommany ;th is language has been , i n general , confoundedwith the vocabu lary used among th ieves , wh ich ,however, i s a gross error, so gross , i ndeed , thatit is almost impossible to conceive the man neri n which it origi nated : the speech of the Gypsiesbeing a genuine language of Oriental origin

,

an d the former l ittle more than a phraseology ofconven ience , founded upon particular Europeantongues . I t wi l l be suflicien t here to remark,that the Gypsies do not understand the jargonof the thieves , whi lst the latter, with perhaps afew exceptions , are ignorant of the language of theformer. Certai n words , however, of the Rommanyhave found admission i nto the said jargon , whichmay be accounted for by the supposition that theGypsies , being themselves by bi rth , education ,an d profess ion , th ieves of the fi rst water, have,on various occasions , formed al l iances with the

outlaws of the various countries i n which theyare at present to be found , which association mayhave produced the result

'

above al l uded to ; but itwi l l be as wel l here to state, that i n no countryof Europe have the Gyps ies forsaken or forgottenthei r native tongue , an d i n its stead adoptedthe ‘ German ia,

’ Red Ital ian ,’ or robber jargon

,

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342 THE ZINCALI [ PART m.

by the adm ission of outlaws into the Gypsyfratern ity . an dly. That the Gypsies , in order tosupply the loss of thei r native tongue , i nventedsome words , an d modified others , from the Span ishan d I tal ian . 3rdly. That the Gypsies of the presen tday in Spai n an d I taly speak the al legorical robberdialect. Concern ing the fi rst assertion , namely,that the Gypsies of the west lost thei r languageshortly after the i r arrival , by mixing with the outlaws o f those parts , we bel ieve that its erroneousnesswil l be sufficiently establ ished by the publ ication ofthe present volume, which contains a d ictionary ofthe Span ish Gitano

,which we have proved to be

the same language i n most poi nts as that spokenby the eastern tribes. There can be no doubt thatthe Gypsies have at various times formed al l ian ceswith the robbers of particu lar countries , but thatthey ever received them in considerable numbersin to thei r fratern ity , as Hervas has stated , so as tobecome confounded with them ,

the ev idence of oureyesight precludes the possibi l i ty of bel iev ing. Ifsuch were the fact, why do the Ital ian an d Span ishGypsies of the present day sti l l present themselvesas a distinct race, differi ng from the other in habitan ts of the west of Europe in feature , colou r , an dconstitution Why are they , i n whatever si tuationan d under whatever circumstances , to be d istin

guished , l i ke Jews , from the other chi ldren of theCreator? But it is scarcely necessary to ask sucha question

,or indeed to state that the Gypsies of

Spai n an d I taly have kept themselves as muchapart as

,or at least have as l i ttle mingled their

blood with the Span iards an d I tal ians as theirbrethren i n Hungaria an d Transylvan ia with the

PART ROBBER LANGUAGE 343

i nhabitants of those countries, on which accountthey sti l l strikingly resemble them in manners ,customs , an d appearance . The most extraordinaryassertion of Hervas is perhaps h is second

,namely ,

that the Gypsies have inven ted particularwords tosupply the place of others which they had lost .The absurdity of th is supposition nearly i nducesus to bel ieve that Hervas

,who has wri tten so much

an d so laboriously on language, was total ly ignorantof the phi losophy of his subject. There can beno doubt, as we have before adm itted , that i n therobber jargon

,whether spoken i n Spain , I taly ,

or England,there are many words at whose ety

mo logy i t is very difiicu lt to arrive ; yet such a

fact is no excuse for the adoption of the opin ionthat these words are of pure i nvention . A knowledge o f the Rommany proves satisfactori ly thatmany have been borrowed from that language ,whi lst many others may be traced to foreigntongues , especial ly the Latin and I tal ian . Perhapsone of the strongest grou nds for concluding thatthe origin of language was d ivine is the fact thatno instance can be adduced of the i nvention , wewil l not say of a language , but even of a si ngleword that is i n use i n society ofanyki nd . Althoughn ew dialects are conti nual ly bei ng formed , i t i s on lyby a system of modification , by which roots almostcoeval with time itsel f are conti nual ly bei ng reproduced under a fresh appearance , an d under newcircumstances . The th i rd assertion of Hervas , asto the Gitanos speaki ng the al legorical languageof which he exh ibits specimens, i s enti tled to aboutequal credence as the two former. The truth is ,that the enti re store of erudition of the learned

344 THE ZINCALI [PART tn .

Jesu it,and he doubtless was learned to a remark

able degree , was derived from books , either pri n tedor manuscript. He compared the Gypsy words inthe publ ication of Grellman n with various vocabularies , which had long been i n ex istence , of therobber jargons of Spain and I taly, which jargonsby a strange fatu ity had ever been considered as

belonging to the Gypsies. Finding that theGypsy words of Grellman n did not at all correspo n d with the thieves

'slang , he concluded that theGypsies of Spain and I taly had forgotten the i r ownlanguage , and to supply its place had i nven tedthe jargons aforesaid , but he never gave h imselfthe trouble to try whether the Gypsies real lyunderstood the contents of h is slang vocabulari es ;had he done so , he would have found that theslang was about as un i ntel l igible to the Gypsiesas he would have found the specimens ofGrellman nun intel l igible to the thieves had he quoted thosespecimens to them . The Gypsies of Spai n , i twi l l be sufficient to observe, speak the languageof which a vocabu lary is given i n the presentwork, an d those of I taly who are general ly to befound existi ng in a half-savage state i n the variousru ined castles , rel ics of the feudal times , with wh ichI taly abounds , a dialect very sim i lar, an d about asmuch corrupted . There are, however, to be contin ually found i n I taly roving bands of Rommany ,not natives of the country , who make excursionsfrom Moldavia an d Hungaria to France an d I taly ,for the purpose of plunder and who , if they escapethe hand of j ustice , return at the expi ration of twoor three years to thei r native regions, with the

booty they have amassed by the practice of those

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346 THE ZINCALI [PART 11 1.

BalconyOld , wrinkled

QuickProbably A n tichrist

HelmetHead

SauceFrom the Italian n ame,which is man

Moon Mocc loso d i Wick of the firmamen t

Sant’ AltoB ru n amatern a Mother-brownGambaro CrabRuffo di Sant’ Red one of the firms

Alto mentSerpentina Serpent-l ike

T°"g“e Danosa HurtfulLenza Fishing-netWaterVetta ‘ Top , bud

The German ia of Spai n may be said to d iv idei tself i n to two dialects , the ancient an d modern .

Of the former there exists a vocabulary , publ i shedfirst by Juan H idalgo , i n the year 1609 , at Barcelona, an d repri n ted i n Madrid , 1773 . Before n otici ng this work, i t wi l l perhaps be advisable to

Possibly from the Russ ian 601013 , which has the same sign ification .

Basque, Ammo .

San scrit , rddrra.

These two words, which Hervas supposes to be I talian used in an

improper sen se, are probably o f quite an other origin . Len , in Gitan o,sign ifies ‘

river,’ whi lst vadz’ in Russian is equivalen t to water.

PART ROBBER LANGUAGE 347

endeavour to ascertain the true etymology of theword German ia, which sign ifies the slang vocabu

lary, or robber language of Spain . We have noi ntention to embarrass our readers by offeri ngvarious conjectu res respecti ng its origin ; i ts sound ,coupled with its sign ification , affording su fficientevidence that i t is but a corruption of Rommany

,

which properly deno tes the speech of the Romaor Gitanos. The th ieves who from time to timeassociated with th is wandering people , an d ac

qui red more or l ess of thei r language, doubtlessadopted th is term amongst others , an d, after modifyin g i t, appl ied it to the pecul iar phraseologywhich , in the course of time

,became prevalent

amongst them . The dictionary o f H idalgo isappended to six bal lads , or romances , by the same

author, written in the German ian dialect , i n whichhe describes the robber l ife at Sevi l le at the periodi n wh ich he l ived . All of these romances possessthei r pecu l iar merit, an d wi l l doubtless always beconsidered valuable , and be read as faithfu l p icturesof scenes an d habits which now no longer exist.I n the prologue , the author states that h is pri ncipalmotive for publ ish ing a work wri tten i n so strangea language was his observ ing the damage whichresulted from an ignorance of the German ia, es

pecially to the j udges an d min isters of j ustice ,whose charge i t is to cleanse the publ ic from thepern icious gentry who use it. By far the greatestpart of the vocabulary consists of Span ish wordsused al legorical ly , which are, however, i nterm ingledwith many others , most of which maybe traced tothe Lati n and I tal ian , others to the San scri t orGitano , Russian , Arabic , Turkish , Greek , an d

348 THE ZINCALI [PART 111.

German languages. l The ci rcumstances of wordsbelonging to some of the languages last en ume

rated being found i n the Gité n o , which at fi rst maystri ke the reader as singular, and almost i ncredi ble ,wil l afford but sl ight surprise , when he takes i n toconsideration the pecul iar ci rcumstances of Spainduring the sixteenth an d seventeenth centu ri es .Spain was at that period the most powerfu l monarchy i n Europe ; her foot reposed upon the LowCountries , whi lst her gigantic arms embraced aconsiderable portion of I taly. Mai ntai n i ng alwaysa stand ing army i n Flanders and i n I taly , i tfol lowed as a natural consequence , that her M iquelets and soldiers became tolerably conversant w i ththe languages of those countries ; and , i n cou rseof time , return ing to thei r native land , not a few ,

especial ly of the former class , a brave an d i ntrep id ,but always a lawless and d issolute species ofsold iery , e i ther fel l i n or returned to evi l soc i ety ,an d i ntroduced words which they had l earnt abroadinto the robber phraseology ; whi lst retu rn edgal ley-slaves from Algiers , Tun is, an d Tetuan ,added to its motley variety of words from the re l icsof the broken Arabic an d Turkish , which they hadacqu ired duri ng thei r captivi ty . The greater partof the German ia, however, remained strictly me ta

I t is no t our in ten tion to weary the readerwith prol ix spec imen s ;n evertheless, in corroboration o f what we have asserted , we shal l takethe liberty of offering a few. Piar, to drin k , (p. is San scrit,pian o . Basi lea, gal lows, (p. is Russian , loa f/its. Caramo , win e,and gurapo , gal ley , (pp. 162 , Arabic, Aura/n (which l iterallysignifies that which is forbidden ) an d grab. Isa, (p. harlot

,

Turkish, size. Harton , bread, (p. Greek , af ter. Guido, good,an d hurgaman dera, harlot , (pp. 177 , German , gut an d mTiple, win e, (p. is the same as the English word tipp le, Gypsy,

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350 THE ZINCALI [PART m .

than was i n former days thei r practi ce. From theirl ivi ng thus i n towns , thei r language has not onlyundergone much corruption , but has become, toa sl ight degree , known to the dregs of society ,amongst whom they reside. The th ieves’ dia lectof the present day exhibits , therefore, less of theal legorica l language preserved i n the pages ofH idalgo than of the Gypsy tongue. I t must heremarked , however, that i t is very scanty , an d thatthe whole robber phraseology at present used inSpai n barely amounts to two hundred words , wh ichare u tterly i nsufficient to express the very l im i tedideas of the outcasts who avai l themselves of it.Concern ing the German ia of F rance , or Argot,

’

as it is cal led , it is un necessary to make manyobservations , as what has been said of the language of H idalgo and the Red I tal ian is a lmostin every respect appl icable to it. As early as themiddle of the sixteenth centu ry a vocabulary of th isjargon was publ ished under the title of Langu e desE scrow , at Paris. Those who wish to study it as i tat present exists can do no better than consul t LesM émo z

'

res de Vidocq, where a multitude of words i nArgot are to be found , and al so several songs , thesubjects of which are th ievish adventures .The first vocabulary of the ‘ Cant Language

,

’ orEn gl ish German ia, appeared i n the year 1680,

appended to the l ife of The E nglirh Rogue, a workwhich , i n many respects , resembles the H istory ofGuzman d

’A lf ardc/ze, though it is written with

considerably more gen ius than the Span ish novel,

every chapter abounding wi th remarkable adventures of the robber whose l i fe it pretends to narrate ,an d which are described with a kind of feroc ious

PART ROBBER LANGUAGE 351

energy , which , i f i t do not charm the attention ofthe reader, at least enslaves it, holding it captivewith a chai n of i ron . Amongst h is other adventures , the hero fal ls i n with a Gypsy encampment,i s enrol led amongst the fratern ity

,an d is al lotted a

mort ,’ or concubine ; a barbarou s festival ensues ,

at the conclusion of which an epithalamium issung in the Gypsy language , as i t is cal led inthe work i n question . Ne i ther the epithalamium ,

however, nor the vocabu lary , are written i n thelanguage of the Engl ish Gypsies , but i n the‘ Cant,

’ or al legorical robber dialect , which issufficient proof that the writer, however wel lacquainted with th ieves in general , thei r customsan d manners of l ife , was i n respect to the Gypsiesprofoundly ignorant. His vocabulary , however,has been always accepted as the speech of theEngl ish Gypsies, whereas i t is at most entitled tobe considered as the pecul iar speech of the th ievesan d vagabonds of h is time. The cant of the present day, which , though it d iffers i n some respectsfrom the vocabulary al ready mentioned , is radical lythe same , is used not on ly by the th ieves i n townan d country , but by the jockeys of the racecoursean d the pugi l ists of the ring.

’ As a specimen ofthe cant of England , we shal l take the l iberty ofquoti ng the epithalamium to which we have aboveal luded

B in g out, bien morts, an d touran d tourB in g out, bien morts an d tourF orall yourduds are bin g’d awast,The bien cove bath the loure.

‘

This word is pureWallachian (Ramps) , an d was brought by theGypsies in to En glan d ; it mean s ‘ booty, ’ or what is cal led in the

presen t can t lan guage, ‘swag. ’ The Gypsies call booty louripen .

’

352 THE ZINCALI [PART

I met a del l, 1 Viewed her wel l,She was ben ship to mywatchSo she an d I did stal l an d clayWhateverwe cou ld catch.

This doxy dell can cut ben whids,An d wap well forawin ,An d prig an d cloy so ben shiply,Al l daisy-vi lle with in .

The hoyle was up, we had good luck,in fro st foran d in sn owWhen they d id seek, then we did cree pAn d plan t the roughman ’s low.

’

I t is scarcely necessary to say anyth i ng moreupon the German ia i n general or i n particular ; webel ieve that we have achieved the task wh ich wemarked out for ourselves , an d have conveyed toour readers a clear and d isti nct idea of what i t is .We have shown that i t has been erroneous ly eo nfounded with the Rommany , or Gité n o langu age ,with which it has nevertheless some points of s im ilarity. The two languages are, at the present day ,used for the same pu rpose , namely , to enablehabitual breakers of the law to carry on thei r co nsu ltatio n s with more secrecy and privacy than bythe ordi nary means. Yet i t must not be forgottenthat the thieves' jargon was invented for tha tpurpose , whi lst the Rommany , original ly theproper and on ly speech of a particu lar nation

,has

been preserved from fal l ing i nto enti re d isuse an dobl ivion , because adapted to answer the same end .

I t was impossible to treat of the Rommany i n a

manner calculated to exhaust the subject, and toleave no grou nd for future cavi l l i ng, without devoti ng a considerable space to the consideration of the

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354 THE ZINCALI [PART m .

the sacred tongue of the palm-covered regions ofI nd ; words original ly i ntroduced i nto Europe byobjects too miserable to occupy for a moment h islettered attention — the despised den izens of thetents of Roma.

ON THE TERM ‘ BUSNO ’

Those who have done me the honour to peruse th isstrange wandering book of mine , must frequentlyhave noticed the word ‘ Busno,

’ a term bestowedby the Span ish Gypsy on his good friend the

Span iard . As the present wi l l probably be the

last occasion which I shal l have to speak of theGitanos or anyth ing relati ng to them , i t w i l l perhaps be advisable to explain the mean ing of th isword . I n the vocabu lary appended to formereditions I have translated Busno by such wordsas Genti le , savage , person who is not a Gypsy,and have stated that i t is probably connected witha certai n Sanscrit noun sign ifying an impu reperson . I t is, however, derived immed iately froma Hungarian term , exceedingly common amongstthe lower orders of the Magyars , to thei r d isgracebe i t spoken . The Hungarian Gypsies themselvesnot unfrequently style the Hungarians B usn oes, i nrid icule of thei r unceas ing use of the word in question . The fi rst Gypsies who entered Spain doubtless brought with them the term from Hungary

,

the language of which country they probably understood to a certai n extent. That i t was not i l lappl ied by them i n Spain no one wi l l be d isposedto deny when told that it exactly corresponds w i th

PART THE TERM BUSNO ’

355

the Shibboleth of the Span iards, Carajo,’ an oath

equal ly common i n Spain as its equ ivalent i nHungary. Busno

,therefore, i n Span ish means

E l del caraj o, or he who has that term conti nual lyi n h is mouth . The Hungarian words i n Span ishGypsy may amount to ten or twelve , a very inconsiderable number ; but the Hungarian Gypsytongue itself, as spoken at the present day, exhibitson ly a sl ight sprinkl ing of Hungarian words

,

whi lst i t contai ns many words borrowed from the

Wallach ian,some of which have found thei r way

i nto Spai n , an d are in common use amongst theGitanos.

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THE ENGL I SH D I A L E C T

O F THE ROM M AN Y

‘TACH IPEN if I jaw’doi , I can lel a bit of tan to

hatch N ’

etist I shan ’t puch kekomiwafu gorgies.

’

The above sentence, dear reader, I heard fromthe mouth of M r. Petulengro , the last time that hedid me the honour to v isit me at my poor house ,which was the day after Mol-divvus

1, 1842 : he

stayed with me during the greater part of themorn i ng, discoursi ng on the affairs of Egypt, theaspect of which , he assured me , was becom ingdaily worse an d worse. There is no l iving for thepoor people, brother,

’ sa id he , ‘ the chokengres

(pol ice) pursue us from place to place, an d the

gorgios are become ei ther so poor or m iserly , thatthey grudge our cattle a bite of grass by the wayside

, an d ourselves a yard of ground to l ight a fireupon . Un less times al ter, brother, and of thatI see no probabi l i ty, un less you are made e i ther

pokn ees or mecralliskoe gei ro (j ustice of the peaceor prime min ister) , I am afraid the poor personswil l have to give up wanderi ng al together, an d

then what wi l l become of them i”

Christmas, l iteral lyWin e-day.

360 THE ZI NCALI [PART m.

‘ However, brother,’ he conti nued , i n a more

cheerfu l tone , I am no hin ditymush ,1 as you wel l

know. I suppose you have not forgot how , fifteenyears ago , when you made horseshoes i n the l i ttled i ngle by the side of the great north road , I lentyou fifty co ttors 2 to purchase the wonderfu l trotti ngcob of the in nkeeper with the green Newmarketcoat , which th ree days after you sold for twohundred .

Wel l , brother, i f you had wanted the two hundred i nstead of the fifty , I cou ld have len t themto you , and would have done so , for I kn ew youwould n o tbe long paz orrhus to me . l am no hin ditymush , brother, no I rishman ; I laid out the otherday twenty pounds i n buying rupo n oe peamengries ;

3an d i n the Cho n ggav ,

‘ have a house ofmy own with a yard beh ind i t.

‘A n d, f orsooth, if 1 go thither, 1 can choose a

place to Izjght afire upon , an d shall have n o n ecessz'

éyto ask leave of these here Gen tr

’

les .

’

Wel l , dear reader, th is last is the translation ofthe Gypsy sentence which heads the chapter, an d

which is a very characteristic specimen of thegeneral way of speaking of the Engl ish Gypsies.The language , as they general ly speak i t , is abroken jargon , i n which few of the grammaticalpeculiari ties of the Rommany are to be d isti n

guished. I n fact, what has been said of theSpan ish Gypsy dialect holds good with respect tothe Engl ish as common ly spoken yet the E ngl ishdialect has i n real ity suffered much less than the

Irishman orbeggar, literal ly a dirty squalid person .

Guin eas.

The Gypsyword fora oertain town .

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362 THE Z INCALI [PART m .

HUNGAR IAN D IALECT

The fol lowing short sentences in HungarianGypsy , i n addition to the prayer to the Virgingiven i n the I ntroduction , wil l perhaps not proveunacceptable to the reader. I n no part of theworld is the Gypsy tongue at the present dayspoken with more purity than i n Hungary , 1 wherei t is used by the Gypsies not on ly when they wishto be un i ntel l igible to the Hungarians , but i n thei rcommon conversation amongst themselves.From these sentences the reader, by the help ofthe translations which accompany them , may forma to lerable idea not on ly of what the Gypsy tongueis, but of the manner i n which the HungarianGypsies think an d express themselves . They arespec imens of genu ine Gypsy tal k— sentences wh ichI have myself heard proceed from the mouths ofthe Czigany ; they are not Busno thoughts donei n to gentle Rommany . Some of them are givenhere as they were written down by me at the time ,others as I have preserved them i n my memory upto the present moment. I t i s not improbable thatat some future time I may retu rn to the subject ofthe Hungarian Gypsies .

Varé tava soskeime puche Much I pon derwhy you ask

las caisoskeiavillara catiri . me (questi on s), an d why youshould come hither.

Man go le gul o Devlas vas o I pray the sweet Goddesserai, hodj o erai te pirelmisto, for the gen tleman , that thete n

’avel pascotia l’eras, ta n a gen tleman may journ ey well,

avel o erai n asvalo . that misfortun e come n ot to

the gen tleman , an d that thegen tleman fall n ot sick.

By Hun gary is here mean t n ot on ly Hun gary preper, but Transylvan ia.

PART HUNGAR IAN D IALECT

Cana cames aves pale.

Ki’som dhea keral avel o raicatari ? ‘

Kit somu berschengro hal

tu ? ’

Cade abri mai Iachi e mo lsaran do foro.

Sin 0 mas balichan o, ta igorkhe garasheskri;

3sin 0

man ro parn o , cai te felo dogarashan gro .

Yeck quartalli mol an doIen de.

An dé mo l otemestchibo .

Khava piava— dui shel,tri

shel predin ava.

Damen Devlasaschipo an do

Te rosarow labio tarraco leMujeskey miro pralesco, ta

vela mi an ao tukey le M u

jeskeymiro pralesky.

Llun dun baro foro, bishwarmaibaro sar Cosvaro .

Nan i yag, mu llas.

Nasiliom caipurdiom but ;

besh te pan sch bersch mihomas slugadhis pa BaronSplin iregimen tos.

Saro ch iro cado Del ; cavoo puro dinas 0 Del.

M e camov te jav an do Bukaresti—cado B ukaresti lachicotem durdromjin leeri.

M i hom n asvallo .

363

When you pleasecomeback.

Howman y days did the gmtleman take to come hither?How man y years old are

you ?

Here out better(is) the win ethan in the c i ty .

The meat is of pig, an d the

gherk in s cost a grosh— the

bread is whi te, an d the lardcosts two groshen .

On e quart of win e amon gstus .

In win e there (is) happin ess .

I wi ll eat, I wi ll drin k— twohun dred, three hun dred I willplace before.

Give us Goddess heal th inourbon es.

I wi ll seek awaistcoat, whichI have, forMoses mybrother,an d I will chan ge n ames withMoses mybrother.

‘

Lon don (is) abigc i ty, twen tytimes more big than Co losvar.

There is n o fire, i t is dead .

I have suffered an d toiledmuch : twen ty an d five yearsI was servin g in Baron Splin i’sregimen t.Every time (cometh ) fromGod that old (age) God gave .

I wish to go un to Bukarest— from Bukarest , the goodcoun try, (i t is) a farwayun to(my) house.

I am sick.

1 Howman y days made come the gen tleman hither.Howman y-year fel low are you. Of a grosh.

My name shall be to you forMoses mybrother.

364

Soskei naijas ke hare fulcheri ?Weiman gue ke nan i man

lovenastiajav.

B elgra sho mi lle pu cadoCosvarri hin otermiro chabo .

Te vas Del l’erangue ke

mec lan man abri an do a pand ibo.

Oprerukh sarkhiye chiriclo,ca kerel an re e chiricli.

Ca hin tiro ker?An do calo berkho , oterhin

miro ker, av prala men sar ;jasmen gue keri .

An do bersch dui chiro, yeven , ta n ilei.

O felhegos del 0 breschin o ,te purdel o barbal.HirmiDevliacamo but cavo

erai— lacho man us o, An glus,tama rakarel Un garica ; avelcatari an do urdon le trin grasten sas— beshel cate abri pohukle tan ; le poivasis an dohas irin el an do lel. Bo zedunstadjita bari barbs.

THE ZINCAL I [PART m.

Why do you n ot go to thegreat physicianBecause I have n o mon ey I

can’t goBelgrade (is) six mi les of

lan d from Colosvar ; there ismyson .

May God help the gen tlemen that they letme out (from)in the prison .

On the tree (is) the n est ofthe bird , where makes eggsthe female bird.Where is your house ?In the blackmoun tain , there

is my house ; come bro therwith me ; let us go to myhouse.

In the year(are) two season s,the win teran d summer.

The cl oud gives the rain ,an d pufi

'

s (forth) the win d .

By my God I love muchthat gen tleman — a good manhe, an En gl ishman , but he

speaks Hun garian ; he came ‘

hitherin awaggon wi th threehorses, he si ts here out in the

wildern ess ; ’ with a pen c i l inhis han d he wri tes in a book.

He has a green hat an d a bigbeard .

Empty place.

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Ampio majaro, Holy oil . San tobleo .

Amucharse, t ar. To in toxicate

Amular, To hang, execute,strmgle. Ahorcar, dargarrote.

An , apt. Things, matters. Cm .

Mod. Gr. he (being, existen ce) .An acar, v. r

'

mpers. To happen .

Sucedér.

Anaranii

}adv. Amen , so be i t.

Anariana Amen , asisen .

Andan dula, sf . For. Raposa.

adv. Thus.

Andingla, s.f . Girth. Cin cha.

An doba, pron . dam. This. Este.

Andorlles, S trings, garters.

Emden tro . Preterm,

San s,

W .

Andiique, adv.Whither. Adonde.

Anduyo , an . Lamp. Velén .

Anglal, 4421. Before, forward.

Anglano, am. A publican . Pub

Angrunio, a n . Lock, bolt Cer

rojo. Sm .m .

w et.

Augusti, Finger. Dedo

Anjelo , a n . Desire. D6 60.

Anis, sf . Wasp. Avispa.

Anro , Huevo . Sen s.

W .Both in San scrit and

Gypsy, this word sign ifies a

Ansul , cuff. Sick. En fermo .

Aocana. Vid . Aeana.

Aopler, To open . Abrir.

Apachelar, ran . To live, dwell.Vim, habitflr. Sam . FvF' ,

Apuchéris, apt. The livin g. Les

vivos.

Aquia, sJ . The eye. Ojo. Sow .

n o . To remember.

Aoter, adv. There. Alli.Apajenar, ma. To approach.Aw ait .

Apald, prep. Behin d . Den is.

Sam.W .

Apatiti , Cloud . Nube. Pars.

fi‘.

Apenar, ma. To take. Tow .

Aquin bilan eto , am. A tten dan ce,

mién to .

Aqnirimen , : f . Affection . Aficién .

Aquirindoy, adj . Afl'

ected . A»

ficionado .

Atacate, mu . Guard . Guards .

Guarddr.

Am hi, adv. Last n ight. Attache.

Arajambi, Un der-patien t.

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 367

Ampucbi, sf . Tortoise. Gala

An n , 3f Pledge. Pren da.

Arari, adj . Pregnan t. Prefiada.

Arasho, r.713 . Fear. Miedo.

An te, am. Blood . Sangre.

Archahar, ma. To serve. Servir.

Ardelar

}v.a. To raise. Le

Ardifielar van tfir S a n s.

Arispejal, am. Metal . Metal .

Arite, am. Len til . Len teja.

Arjafla, L} : Salad . En salada.

Aromali, adv. Verily, in deed .

En va dad .

Af uje, Wolf. Lobo. H'

m.

B hemha.

Am elarse, v.r. To rejoice, to

W (laughter) . Him Han sn a.

Asislable, afi . Powerful . Pede

Asislar, rm. To be able. Podér.

Asisprole, am. Brass. Bronce.

Asparabar, ma. To break, tear.

Romper, lacerar. Gr. m

pdd a’m.

Astisar, u a. To be able. Podér.

Astra, sf . Moon , star. Lun a.

Atelis, adv. Below. Abajo. Vid.

Ostelé. Tark. M .Him

Tule.

Atudiesalle, sum. Steel : rather

Otto .

Arab.

an other.W .

814 ,

Aupre, adv. Above. Arriba.

Ayes, adv. Y et, n evertheless.

Adn .

la-o l .

Azimache, Sign . Seaa.

B .

Babiflar, v.a. To extinguish. A

368 THE ZINCALI

Bajatia, sf A bell . Campafla. Bar, Stone. Piedra. Hit .

A derivative {mom the precedingword. Bu lachi.rj . The londl ton e. IA

Baji, Luck, fortune. Suerte,ven tura—Pena: baji, ‘ to tell

the Englt ypoies make use

of a derivative from the Scla

von ian , dukh n’

n . In theirdu lcet,

’

to tell t'

ortuneris ‘

penawYaque u lo dibelo i la bar lachi

q ue me n ioobele de meripé ;Y

'lm u lo diflelo ‘ Padilla roml

vm dm Cou n cil w oman ;Even t . Cam—Bajiné. Y

'l averal Beuguilnngd

‘ that which “PM " q ue m’owrguin reh lo que amelo

Ba] , Garden , kitchen -garden .

Jardln , huerta. Sam. it .

Be] , L} : Hair. Pelo. Sam.

“I . Gr. “Abs. Mad. Gr.

M od. Gr. repw'repd.

Ballestéro , am. Cock-pigeon .

Balogat, ma. To fly. Volar.Balunée, Pan taloon s. Pan

talones.

Bamban icha

}Shop

Banbanichn “160

.

03 110W8 3 0°

orthis rhyme there aa tran tlationtics, bodega. tumbler) , horca. in the First Volume.

tion s : it run s as followap

En el beiid'

Olivdte en tdn r‘ ,Trin braquh canardia en eon trin rd,

E n trin bedoalaa ordefiharé ,

Bar-ace, r.f .Win ter. In viemo .

Barader, am. Justice o f peace, aperson o f authority . Alcalde.hombre prin cipal .Baran di. Back. shoulder.Espalda.

Ban al , Gal ley. Galera.

Barbula, am. Physician . Median.

Barban , am.Wind , air. Vien to,ayre. Vid. Bear. Saar.

sn rm , m .

Barchata, a] . Kn obbed stick.

Porra.

Bardadi, adj . Empty. Vacio .

Bardi, r.f . Prison . Carcel.Bardon , am. Reason . Ramon .

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370 THE ZINCALI

Bejelar, To sit. M eow . Berdi, Quarrel, dispute. m

Bella, a] . War. Guerra.

Perhaps from the Scan din avianword B arrio. ‘ to fight. ’

Belutii, g] , A calash. Calesa.

A ship. Navio. Wd.Beluhi, Queen . Reyna. Parr.

cording to the Hindoo mythology

,there is 9. Hell o f mud.

called Bengaprabha : the Ben

gues o f the Gypsies appear tobe the tenan ts of this Hell.The Russian B og (God) , and

the English n ursery demon ,B oga) , are possibly derived fromthe same San scrit root.

de unamujer. Sam. M Hi”.

Bhug.

Beo , am. Prison . Carcel.Betabar, n .a. To save. Salvar.

Berallas, if . pl . Bee-hives. Colmenas.

Beralli, hf . Galley . Galera.

Berbal, am. Picture. Cuadro.Bethel, am. lo oking-glass. Es

B erbirin cha, r] . S tar-limrd. Salamanquesa.

—The proper mean

an imal rarely found in Spain .

Mad. Gr. Bepflipirfa. Ardilla.

Berdacufli, r.f . Win dow . Ven

Ba deji, am. Lizard. Lager-to.

Berdoche, h m. Coach . Cache.

Beribu. Multimde. Multitud.Vr

'

d. Baribfi.

BerigmrzfiChain . Caden n . Rm.

Veda»

Berilli, hf . Wasp. Avispa. B in .

Birnee.

Ber-jar, ma. To find. Hal lar.Berji , am. A year. A50. Hire.

Burukh .

Galley ; garrison to

which criminals are sen t t'

or

m . W e

Berquero . am. Wen . Loban illo.Berran dalia, Stone. Piedra.

Wd. Barendafii.

Berrin ches, 3 . pl. Lemon s. Limon es.

Bersali, Spy. Espia.

Berseji, War, quarrel. Guerra,

Berseli, Coarse, rude. Basic .

Berteleri, if . Appellation . Ape!

aci6n . Perhaps Word, fromthe San scrit .Beruni, L] : Balcon y. Balcon .

Bealli, af .War, dispute. Guerra,quimera. Vi

’

d . Bella.

Bestelar, ma. To sit. Asen tar.Bestipen , rzfi Wealth , riches,

°

VOCABULARY OF THE IR LANGUAGE 37 1

Bestique, par. Seated . Asen tado.

un ico.

Bian , adj . Twen ty-three. Vein tey ties.

Bioo , inf . Chair. Sil la.

Bichabar, we. To sa d . En viar.

Bicho lar, a n . To appear. Parecer.

Biere, am. Glass. Vidrio.B ifi, sf . Snow. Nieve. Parr.

B igorear, v.a. To arrive. Llegar.

ma. To sell. Ven dér.

Bique, am. Edict . Cartel .B iruquero , am. Carpen ter. Car

Bis, adj Twen ty. Vein te. Hm.

B ispapar6, m Gran dfather.

Abuelo.

Bispibi, rf Horn et . Avispon

Blan i, rj l jacket. Chaqueta.

B lejo , adj . S louched . Sesgo.

Bobee, 3 .pl . Bean s. Habas. Rm .

Béby. Hr’

n . Lohiya.

B oltani, r.j § Turn . Vuelta.

Boubachi, a] : Pipe. Pipa.

Bombardo, am. Lion . Leon .

Bomboi , adj . Foolish. Ton to.Boqui}r.f . Hunger, famine.

Boquis Hambre. Hin . B hukh.

Bordai'

ii. a] : Tower, male.

Torre, castillo.Bordelé , r.pl. Christian s. Cris

Braco. am. Mutton . Camera.

Bracui’ii, sf . A sheep. Oveja.

Braga-lachi, Much shame. Muchaverguen za.

Bragan te, adj . Made of straw.

Brajdta, a} : Nem ty’

Necesi

dad.

B raji, if . Sheep. Oveja. Peri.

Brichardilar,ma. To ask , implore.Rogér.

Bosnansibla, r.f . Con fiden ce.

Co nfian za. Quay, Possibility.Rm. Vosmojgn ost.Bostan , am. L inen . Lien zo.Bostan , adj .Weak , feeble. Flojo.

Bouchoy A bear. Oso.

Boz uchoy

Brajial, am. Hospital . Hospital .Bieji, ma. Field, moun tain .

Campo, mon te. Hi”. B ur (ademrt) .

Brequejo , adjupar Obliged. Obligado.

Defen d. Defen der.

Bresban . adj . B lessed . Ben dito.Possibly that which is con n ectedwith I“ orBrahma.

Bretegeli, sf .p1. Delights. Deli

Brijindal, r. Rain , shower. Lluvia.

Mad. Gr. Bpoxlf.

Brijindar, w e. To rain . Llover.BrijindOpe, am. Deluge, mighty

Hunchback.Brijindobio, am.

Brodelo , r. an d adj . Third, third

Brojuchi, s.j l Pin k, flower. Clavel.Brando , any. But, yet. Pero.Brono Aliedicato , n .pr. Pon tius

Bros, odi. pm . Your, yours.Vuestro.

Hi». Bhur-ban d .

Brostildan , mu . Mayor, justice of

M e, am. Camel. Camello.Brotobo

;adj . First. Primero.

Brotoboro Gr. ”Otor.

Brotomuchi, : .f . The sprin g. Pri

Bueharar, v.a. To shoot. Thar.

iicationsgcg . Buchararla basoe,‘ To exten d the han d .

’

tender laman o .—Me bucharéla

Me

Bmdih r, To answer. Coc o

tu tu , respon der. m Rndihr.

TheHolyB rothethood.

IA San ta Hermanddd . This

i gxf . A mLa Spmith coin .

Un real .Brunt, : JZA she-goat .

Bujen dt u n . Catamite . Bajan on .

B ujibi6, Hun chback . J oro o

bndo .

Ba! 5 . The an us. An n , orifi

Bulléti cio .m ay ;”in . Bil .

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374

Cf . M ‘

Cajuco , my. Deaf . Sordo.Cajuguy, Lf . File. Uma.

Calabéa, sf . Lie, falsehood .

Men tira. Am. u h ,

Calabear, ma. To lie. Men tir.

Calumbrico ,ing. En ten dimien to.

Cans-Lilo,

sum. Understan d

, .ma Christian . cm

.mw. Waggon , cart .Carro . Properly, on e that istil ted , fromm (a blan ket) .

Cangrt , Church . Iglesia.

The literal mean in g appears to

Cangn’

as, :fipl . Heels of shoes.Tapas de los u patos.

Canguclar, ma. To fear. Temer.

Canguelo , sum. Fear. Tremor.

Can i , Ear. Oreja. San s.

fl . Hi” . Kaun .

Canrea, r.j :Pity. IAatima. Sam .

Can t ian o, am. Summer. Veran o.M od . Gr. M andy.

Can rias, Troubles. Fatigue.Can to, sum. Neck . Pescuéeo .

Camacho, ran . Heel-bone, stupid

VOCABULARY OF

Cai'xi, sf . Hen . Gallina.

Cahismi, sf . Forge. Frigua

Capirima, rf . Aloe. La Pita.

Capucho , am. Child’s cap. Cc

Carema, if .Word. Palabra. Arab.

J ”

,.ss.

To fin ish. Fen ecer.Carlo, mu . Heart. Coru on .

W .

Cartacaya, Stork , heron .

Cartrabar, ma. To load . Cargar.

Casabo , sum. Liver. Higado .

Cascafié, ma . Avaricious, stingy .

Parr. (hungry) .

Tuesday : accordingto aim , Thursday. Martes,Jueves.

Casian , if . Wood, timber.dera.

Casidazo ,4am. March, mouth of.

Man o .

Casin oben , ma. Hell . I nfiern o .

Ma

tion . M od . Gr. “604mmCaste, am. A stick . Palo. 7 7x

true meaning is, Tree. Sam .

W (WM ) . P67 3 . au‘.

Hith Gachh.

Catabranarmm. To roar. BramAr.

Catacolla, r.f . Stork, cran e. Ci

Catanar

}To assemble. Jun

Catafiar tar. Hi”. Ckhuthan oh .

Catane, pl . Catanes, aay'

. United,

Catesca, sf . Spot, mark. Pin ts .

can te’we n one, n Ot on e. Nin ‘

Cayes, up] . Heaven s. Cielos.Cayque, sum. Nobody. Nadie.

Cen de , r.f . Light. Luz .

Cengan ca, Desire. Gena.

Hr’

n . Ghana (to desire) .Ciria, r.f . Passover, Easter. Pis

Ciria, sf . Garlick . Ajo . Hr’

x.

Cazuela.

Claric6, r.m. Dawn . Madrugada.

Vid . Callic6 .

Clasma, sf . Queen . Reyna. Vr’

d .

Clemaco , am. Hun ter. Cazad6r.

Clichi, a] : Key. Llave. Rut .

I f?“ (bolt)Clon e] , am. Pin k. Clavél.

Cobadrar, To bark. Ladrar.

THEIR LANGUAGE 375

Caste-randador, am. A workingstick, a plough. Arado.Casto, sum. Hammer. Martino.Castorro , am. Hat. Sombrero .

Castumba, sf . The provin ce of

fi t .Corie. rm. An ochavo, a small

Cecil, as. Bon e. Huéao Mad.

Gr.“W Saw I “.

Coripén , rf Trouble, amicuon .

Cocai ie Lubano. Bon e oi'

the

mm. Hm dcl emm Corm a pL Buskin S. Botin ea.

Cochoco , rum Evergreen oak.Cornichg ryi Bu ket Espuerta.

m m .

HrmKaun .

Solo

.

Cosfini rfi'

l‘

ax l i l on‘

l

Coligotewrm Bat. Muméhgo .

eold at i’

airs. A] “I L'

a

Combo, adj . Dau b. Mada. SW . W.

(The moun ting.) or ‘N

Wpaid formoun ting! Vid. Coe

Con che, r.m. Anger. Cor‘je.

COBdAH , r.f. Beam. Vial Hm. Ca dpén ’ a” , The summer.

Veran o.Vecino. CostunAr, a n . Tomoun t . Moun t.

Coplemande, mu. Coward. Co

barde.

Con cafio, am. Guard. Guarda.

Corajai, 3 .pl. The Moors. Los

Moros. Probably derived fromthe word Kurreh, a term of

frequen tly employed by the

common Moors in their dis

Corajafio, r. Moor,Moorish.

Moro, Morun o.Corbo, adj . Strange. Estrada.

Corby, Sf : Branch , shoot, sprig. Criscote, am. A book. Libra.

Rama.

Crisirn é, my . Christ. Christo.Cro, mu . Pair. Par.

Cuarinda. Len t. Cuarema.

Costt'tri, r. Conven t. Con ven to.

Cotor, run . A piece. Fedato.Arab. Sal-l .

Cotrimadv. Immediately. Luego .

Coyme, a . Farm house. Cortijo.Crallis, r.m. King. Rey. From

Me Sclaw nm word Kral.Crallisa, Queen . Reyna.

Crejete, apl. Sin s. Pecados. Rnr.

Graike.

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378 THE ZINCALI

Chan burifi JZSadnu . Tristén .

San m (M M ) . M I JZA fiir,market. Fem.

WW .

Chm iquefi f . Life. Vida. B in .

Chauele. Knee. scans .

: J M

Chanda, r. afi. Wise, a sage.

S‘ hio rdoctor. Chaaar, o .u . To pas . M r.

Chanelar. To know. M u n . Exercise . Ejercicio.Chasilar, rm. To sup. Cenar.

Chiti, rJ . A fair. Féria. Him

Clu nganar, v. a. n . To awake.

Jugana.

Changn n é. 0412 Awake. Des~

Changero, adj . False. Falao .

Chan iapar, v. a. n .Exhale,breathe,

Expiring. Chepo , r.m. M bowm. 86m,

0“M ' T° mg“ 0"Cherdillas, M 1. The stars .

Chan tar, To plan t. Plantir.

Chaomo, am. Win ter. Invierno.

Chapardo, r.m. Tin der. Yesca.

Cbapérca, rj . Flight . Fuga.

the dialect of Estremadura.

Egipto ; segun en dialecto delos Jitinos Estremefios.

Lucéro .

Cherja, Bag, bun dle. mmChetalli, O live. Oliva.

Cheti, r.f . Olive-oil . Aceyte .

Chi, 8: adv. Nothin g .Chiamu ry

'

. Table. Mesa.

N

Chihel, am. A river. Rio . Parr.

Chibéa, sum. Day. Dia. Sam .

Chibos

Chicato , Uncle. Tio . Em.

Chucha.

Chiche , sf . Face. Cara.

Chichi, .r. Nothin g . Ndda. Query,

Chiguay , sum. Louse . Piojo .

Childar, ma. To put, place .

Pon ér, metér.

Childo , par. par. Put, placed .

Metido, puésto .

Chilin drote, am. Sparrow. Gor

t ion . Hm. Chiriya.

Chim, r.m. Kin gdom, coun try .

Chimon i , Any thing . Cualquiércosa.

Chimudafii

}r. Glory. Gloria.

Chimusolan o Sam . em .

Chimuyar, o . .a Vid . Chamuliér.

Chimutra, Moon . Luna.

Arab.

I“Sam.M .

Chinaora, r.f . Sickle . Hoe. Vid .

Co lgnir.

Chin dat , n a. To hear, produce,Parir. Sam. ! Far (birth) .Hits. Jun na.

Chin day, sf : MSam. affirm .

THEIR LANGUAGE 379

Ciega W e “ 0 Hi“Choondhla (bloat -eyed) .

nicero .

Chinel

Chin o

M . W e

A person of officialran k .

Chin elar, o . .a To cut, reap. Cor

tfir. weir

Chingabar, m. Pin . Alfilér.

Chingarar. v.a. To fight. Pelear,

Chingaripén , am. War, battle .

Chin obaro, am. High-con stable.

govern or. Alguacil , mayor,gobernaddr. Vr

'

d . Chin o and

Chin ojé, am. He-ass. Burro.Chin oré, adj . Smal l , little . Pe

quefiO Samo t fi t , t fir8 ;when ce likewise the Englishcan t word Kt'mbr'n .

Chipalo, am. Blacksmith. Her

réro. Sam. m (dark,tawn y) .Chipe, r.f . Truth (improperly) .

Chique, sf . Earth , groun d .

Tierra, suelo. Sam. ( Fem.

Chique , sf Butter. Man téca.

Hin . Ghee .

Chirdabar, To cut. Cortar.

Bit of thread. lin t.

Mott . Scw -fi l‘

h slChismar, v.a. To rpit. Eacupir.

Choji sf . Petticoat. Saya,Chojinda e naguas. S aar.

m , m .

M thieviih.

Chuli r.vr. A dollar. Un d

Chn lo un peso fuérte.

Un mchiilo .

Hira Chulhoo .

Chube, Loose. Piojo. Scan

Fain t. Hm. JChubalo, am. Cigar. Cigarro .

Chucha, sf : Breast, pap. Pécho.

Sam. F .

Chuchiri, sf . Fat. Gordian .

Chuchuqueiar, r.f . Oil-cruise. Ai

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382

Derquih r, a n . To rest. Dea

Destechescar. ma. To un do .

Diar, n a. To see. Ver, mirar.P8 ”.

0446 .

Dicani, aj iWindow . Ven tana.

Dicar.ma. To see. Ver. Sam.

r‘v .

Dichabar,ma. To sen d. Mandiir.

Dielo, sum. Han dkerchief, clout .Pafiuelo , paM l.

Dil ia, Lettuce. Lechuga.

DinAste, r.m. Glass. Vidrio.Din elo ; r. adj . Fool . Ton to .

Dial, if . Pains. Libra.

ma. To give. Dar.

Dena.

Ditiator, am. Doctor. Doctor.Difiople, ma. Harm, damage.

Dafio .

Discoli, m s. Disciple. Discipulo .

Disde, adv. Un til . Haata.

Docurdan za, suf . Mistress. Ma

Docurdo, sum. Master. Maéstro .

Sam.W .Thakur.

Doj}r.f . Faul t. Culpa. Sam.

at .Dokh .

Draharo, mu . Rosary . Rosario.—Draharar or drabaro ,

‘Towh en e

’s bmda

’Reaar el m

af‘ dal ' and ‘ baro ’ : M ,

‘a thing o f great tear’

‘mn ctity.

’

Compasivo.

Drescos, Corns . Callas.

Droba, suj'

. Lu ther-bag for wine.Bota.

Dr6ji, r.j . Rin d , peel. Cinema.

Dromfilis, sup] . Carriers, mulcteers, men of“: mad . Arriéros,viajeros.

Dron}am. Road . Camin o . Hm .

Drun N”O,

Hr’

n . Duhur.

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 383

Dumen , am. Loin . Lomo .

Dundilo, J am. Lamp . Velén .

B un co, u h. Sun day . Domingo .

Dun dun , Light. Luz .

Duquéles, Dobloon s. Dob~

Dock ,‘a spirit w/u

'

cb is itself

(air)Duquen dio , Master, a prin

mpfl en tre los j itan os.

Duquipen , s .m. Grief . Dolér.

Dur, adv. Far. Lejos. Sam .

Darlin , am. Police-archer. Cor

chete.

Durotun és, mp] . Shepherds. herds

gur.

Dusuldo, rm . Drunkard. Bor»

nacho .

Dut, : .f . Light .

qfir.Luz . Sam .

E .

E, gm. n

'

u . o f the article 0 .

Jenetivo sin gulh delarticulo 0 .

EM , 407 . Seven . Siéte. H rs.

Emposun é , adv.

En brota, sf . Trunk, proboscis .

Trompa.

Eucalomér,

Atten tively .

w e. To moun t.

Enpirre, up] . Footmen , in fan try,labourers. Pe6ues.

Euré

}aa‘v. Within . Déutro .

En run Gr.

Eurecar,Within us. En nosotros

ereria !‘ Dwell within us,

Blessed Mary 1’Enrrar, a n . To en ter. En trar.

En simicha, : .f . En sign . En sefia.

Enia, my. Nin e. Nuéve. M od .

Wei.

Erajami, I f . Dress of a friar.

Habito de fraile.

Erajarda, : f . Bramble, thistle .

Zarza, cards . Pe n . Hm .

Jardar.B randia, f . Nun . Mon ja.Erani, a} : Lady. Senora.

Erafio , am. Lord,master. Senor.

(raising) .

En de. adv. prep. Sin ce, after,

from. Desde.

Engrejeri, am. Asparagus. Espér.

ragO Sm . t i n t .

En jallar, To remember.

Acordar.

En jalle, .r.f . Memory. Meméria.

En n agrar, ma. To repair. En

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 385

Estoaiar, To be tired .

Eston el, my. Fatigued, worn up.

(wa rin ess) .Estormen , rj . Pardon , remission .

Estuche , sum. Sword. Espada.

F 0

Fachoyi, sf . Grub, inm t. Vlcho ,

Halt. Alto . Querelar facorro , To halt. Hacér

alto .

Farat'

ais, npl . Button s. Botoues.

Feda, I f .Way, path . Carn in o .

Felicha, r.f . Tower (prison ) .Torre. Mod. Gr. !WM .

Fermen tar, : .f . Peniten ce. Peni

Fermicha, sf . Tower. Torre.

Fetér, adv. Better. Mejor. Pen .

fit-qt.

Fial'

o , am. Steel for striking fire.

Eslabon .

Fila, : .f . Face. Cara.

Fili, Jacket. Chaqueta.

Filimicha, rf Gallows.

Rm . Bicélitm.

Gorrion es.

Fuchmrf Ashes. Geniza. Hits.

Flamxlr, am. Jest . Chanea.

Home .

Y te cbobee

Te petro.

“Although thou go an dwash theein the Gulf of Lyon s, thou wilt n otget rid ot

‘

the min which tbou didstobtain through me (which with metell to

Frima, frima,’ ‘ By degrws.’

Pace 4 poeo .

’

Fron saperar, v. a. a. To wait, tohope. Esperar.

Fufu, sum. A well . Pozo .Ful, am. Dung. Estiérco l. Sm .

W . Hi”. Mul .

Fulalo, am. A dirty fellow.

Hombre dispreeiable.

Fulafii, : .f . Dirtin ees. Sticiedad .

Furi, a} ! Jacket. Chaqueta.

Furi, sf . Pudendum muliebre.

Fumia, : .f . Cave. Cuéva.

Furun é, sf . Favour, grace. Favér,

Floja, sf . Accoun t. Cuen ta.

Bloripi, sf . Mass. Misa.

Fon déla, Lf . Tavern . Taverna.

Faro

}r.m. City. Ciudad . Sam.

Foros ‘

gfi‘

. Hr’

n . Poor.

Fraceso, sum. Hog. El puérco.

Fraeasia, : .f . Sow. Lapuérca.

Framrdo , : J n .Tiled Roof. Tejido .

Fresiégo ,r.m. Gulf . Golfo. From

THE ZINCALI

G.

Gabicéte, am. Book . Libro .

Arab. gal-3 .

Gabiné, am.Tren chmmn Fren ch.

Fran ces.Gabufio, mu . Mouse. Rat6n .

Gachapla, sf . Couplet, caret .

Copla.

Cachaten , Cup, brazier. Cope.

Gachinbarta, r.f . Goodn ess, right

eousness. Rectitud , justicia.

Gaché, A gen tleman . Ca

halléro .—Properly, Anykind of

person who is n ot a GypsyCualquierhombre quo n o sea

Jitan o .

’

Gee, am.Wine-press. Lagar.Gajere } ad1/. Always. Siempre.

Gaycres

Galisarda, : .f . Hunger. Hambre.

Rm . Golod .

Gan cibé, L f . Avarice. Avaricia.

Gan di, : .f . Smell . Olor. Sam .

W . Hz’

n . Gund .

Gandias, pl. Dross, sittings.

Gran zas .

Gan isardar, o .u. To gain . Ganfir.

: .m. Town , village. Pueblo .

Sam . fi t . Pars. In

theThieves’ language, this wordis applied to Madrid .

Garabelar, a. To be on on e’sguard , to guard . Guardar.

Garapatia, : .f . Than ks. Gracias.

Garibardo, aafj . Wounded, full of

sores. Llagado .

Garipé, Scab. Postilla.

Garlochin , am. Heart. Corad n .

Vz'

d . Carlochin .

Gate. ran . Shirt. Camia . Pn

perly, A cloth roun d the middle.

Gavin , sf . Fran ce. Fran ck .

Gel, an . Ass. Burro .

Geliche, am. Cord. Co rdél.

Gereman cha, : .f . ShOp. Tien da.

Gerjeres. Vid . Guergeré .

Gerin el, mp. Michael . M iguel.Gi, Wheat. Trigo .

Gil6, Kin d of r0pe. S6ga,

Gimona, af . Hun ting-cap. M

téra.

Ginar, ma. To coun t . Con tar.Sam. I t . Hr

’

n . Gin n a.

Ginglar, To smell . O lér.Girelar, v.n . To laugh . Relr.

Hr’

a. Khilkhilana.

Give, : .f . Sn ow. Nieve.

Giyabér, v.a. To relate. Con tar.Glan daséo , s. My. A gallan t,Gallan t. Galan te.

Glan di, : .f . A kn ife. Cuchillo.

Gloriban , sum. Idler. Ho lgaean.Gola, Order. Orden .

Golberi, in] : Crop, harvest . Co

sécha.

Gole, sf . Shout, cry. V o z , grito .

Hin . Ghooloo . Rm . Gé los.Go lipén , : .f . Health . Salud .

Golisarelar, v. 11 . To smel l . Olér.

Golli, Lf . Black-pudding. M gr.

cilla. E z’

u . Gulgul.Gollori, am. Male an imal. M4cho .

Gon éles, am. Garmen ts, lin en .

Vestidos, ropa. Sam . zit-“i.Rm. Gune—These words in

VOCABULARY OF THE IR LANGUAGE 387

the Sanscritand Russian tonguesare solely applied to the habilimen ts of a beggar.

Gon o, am. A sack . Saco, costil .

Ht’

u . Con .

Gorberi, s.m. Farmer. Cosechéro .

Gorbio , A swelling. Bollo .

Gorbi, 3m . Ox. B uéy. Sam .

m m (bull) .Go tahar, To howl. Aullar.

Gorotun é, Native of Estre

Gorn y, ran . Ox. B uéy. Vid .

Gomfii, : .f . Young mare. Po

Gra, am. Horse. Caballo . Sam .

fl . E t'

n . Ghora.

Grajuno , adj . Dirty. Sticio .

Grauajina, 3 .f . Species o f plan t.

Granarnmr. To bray . Rebuznar.

Grafii, sf . Mare. Yegua.

Grao, 3 .x» . Poison . Vmén o . Sam.

Gras Horse. Caballo .

Graste Vid . Gra.

Grateriaa, 3 .f . Stable. Cuadra.

Grejélo , adj . Certain . Cierto .

Grejéri, 3 . Asparagus. Esparrago .

Gres, Hun dred. Cien to.

Gres, prop. adv. Before. An tes.

Greedefié, Stove. Andie.

Greson é, pr. n . Jesus Christ.

Grestis, 3 .pl . Breeches. Calzon es.

Grey, ran . Cen tury . Siglo .

Grfba, rf . Rigour. Rigor.

Grimpar, To toast, pledge.

Gucanar, ma. To open . Abrir.

Guel, 3m . Donkey, ass. Borrico,

Guillopio , adj . Maimed. Man co .

Gain . Wave. Onda.

Gule, Must, sirup. Arrope.

Gulupe, am. Co tton . Algodon .

Guriban o , Silen ce. Silen cio .

Guruban o , 3 .m. Pastry - cook.Bollero .

Gurujt't, Dissolute fellow.

Gusto , 3m . Goose. Ganno

Gris , r.m. Cold. Frio.

Grobelar, a.o . To repair, govern .

Componer, goberuar.

Grodogopo , adj . Woun ded. Es.

tr0pe6do .

Gronichen , 3 .f 2 Man ured earth.

Tierra estercolada.

C toni, 3 .f . Dung-heap . Estercole

'

ro .

Grose, Forest , moun tain .

Mon te. Rm . Gora.

Cracha, 3 J . Cloth . Tela.

Guachédre, 3 . Manger. Pesebre.

Guajalote, 3m . Turkey, peacock.

Guel , 3 .f . Itch . Sama.

Guergere, am. Tuesday. Marta .

Gui, 3 .f . Wheat . Trigo .

Guillabar, v .a. To sing. Can tar.

Sam . U fa (a song) . Hm.

Guwuya.

Guillar, To go , to walk. Ir,

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 389

Jal , Rope tied roun d the

n eck . Dogal .Jalar, v.11. To eat. Comer. Sam .

Jalares, 3 .pl . Breeches. Calzon es .

Jamar, v. cr. To eat. Comér. Sam.

W (food) . B in . Khana.

Jamachtiri

}3 .j 2 Strawberry-tree.

Jamaduri Madroiio .

Jamaco , Apricot. Albericoque.

Jan deblaban , Proverb. Re

Jan dojo, Sin . Pecado .

Jan dorro , Mon ey. Dinero.Janréles, The genitals. Los

IM O } Sabre. Sible.

JauroJana}3 .j 2Virgin . Virjen . Sam .

JahiJapufie, Soap. Jab6n .

Jar, Heat. Ca16r. Sam.

Jara, 3 .jZOunce of gold. On zade oro .

Jaracafiales, 3 .pl. Guards, ofi cers

oi'

the reven ue. Guardas, cara

bin éros.

Jarambélis, Rags. Trapos.

Jarami, 3 .f Jacket. Chaqueta.

Jarando, 3 .x . Pool, puddle.

Jardani, John . Juan .

Jarima, 3f Crumb, migija.Jarru

mbo, 3 . 111 . Sieve. Harnéro .

m . 3 111. Beh.

J ebilén , Hole, well. P010.

Jele, 3 .j I Rope. S6ga.

Jeli, 3 f Love. AmorJenebél, Cloak . Capote.

Jerarn i, 3 .f Bracelet. Manilla.

J erardo, Hell. Infiérn o.

Jerias, 3 .p1. Legs. Piérn as.

Jerifii, 3 .fi She-ass. Bum .

Jer6 , Head. Cabém. Sam .

Fur.

Jeroro , He-ass. Burro .

J eroscosa, 3 .f . Crown of the head.

Mo lléra.

Jerquéni, 3.f . Foun tain . Fuén te.

Jermmbro, Muleteer. Ar

riéro .

Jesame, 3 .f . Waistcoat. Chupa.

J estari, Chest . Area. 6 1 .

Jetayo , Lackey, footrnan .

Lacayo .

Jetro , aab'

. An other. Otro.

Jibicha, 3 .f . Soup . Sopa.

Jichan ca, 3 ./Z Gypsy-woman .

Jiténa.

Jichan co , Gypsy-man . Jitan o .

Jil , Cold. Frio. Sam .

Jil, Wheat. Trigo .

Jimilo , Sigh . Suspim.

Jinar, v .a. To coun t, reckon .

Con tar. Vid . Ginar.

Jin co , adj . Deep . Hon do.Jindo, adj . Dirty. Sucio . Sam.

39°

Jihar, To emonern te the belly.

Dene-git el vien tre. Saw .

fl . Mad. Gr. x6 0 .

Brio . Vr’

d Jil .

Jircar. To shiver. Tiritir.

j iré, adj . pm . Your, yours.

Vuéstro .

Jirihar, ma. To cook victuals, to

Jitarrorro , Reg. Trapo .

Job, ad . Six. Seis.

Joberdi, 3 . Sixty . Serena.

when ce also the English 11m ,

1101313

101404 1 Deceit, lie. Engeiio,

Men tira. Sam .m . Him

Jhooth .

JJj ojoy, Hare, rabbit. Liebre.

J olili, Earth, coun try. Tierra,pair. Sam.W,

Jollin , Anger, rage. Coraje.

11311. Julun .

Jongebdr, To tie, bind . Atfir.

11111 . J ukurnar.

Jorgarse, To divert oneself .

Divertirse.

J oroen osco, adj . Hoary. grey.Can udo.

Lana. Area.

Ur .

Justin , Dispute. Dispute.

Jotisam , To approach.

Inbefii, 3 .j 2Sale. Ven ts.

Jubichén , 3 .m. Gaspdcho .

Jued , 0& Lovely. gen erous.

Hammo , gen eroeo . M .

m m . 8M

Jumlhfin . af firm . 3 6 th

w k .

1°aJuice. Lfi Cradle . Cuna.

Jalebar, v .4i. To sweep . B arter.

Julabdy, A broom. Escoba.

Julafii, a} : Mistress. Ann a.

Juliy, Master. Arn o . Su e.

I f" (head of a family) .JulutrAbe, 3 Serpen t. Culebn .

Sam . m m} (black snake) .

Juméri,

Jurist , ma. To hear, listen . Oix,

J uribdfli, 3 .f . A cow. Vm .

Jurnio , A rope. SGga. E‘

m .

Joorna (to tie) .‘ Chibar n u

jumio en cl avérpinré.’—When

Jundr6, 3. 113. Tuba, pipe. Cafion .

Jundro de la puma, Barrel o f a

gun . Cahon de le esoopéta.

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 39:

an animal is lame in on e foot , Lacro , Servan t . Criado .

the Gypsies are in tbe hamt ol Sam. at (a man ) .driving a nail in to the o ther, Larkaaad , boy) .

by which they frequen tly de Lal6, nay. Red , arple . Rojo,ceive the chapman forwhen a

horse is lame in both feet, it is J 3.

Lalord, Portugal ,‘ 7 711 red Iaxd .

’

la” a‘ all , ‘he Pm ““mg Tiérra berméja, Portugal .

by the above phrase ; whichma ns , literally, To cad amp:

£1110 the 01k” f oot.’

Jurtibar, September. Septiémbre.

Juru , A bull. Tdro .

Jurun é, aay'

. Dark , obscure. Os

Justia, 3 .f . Pin chbeck . Tumbdga.

Jutér 3 . Vin egar. Vinagre. M od .

Juti Lango.“dj Lame. Céjm Sam.

Jutia, 3 .f . Needle . Aguja. Sam .

Lan bar, Law-suit. Pléyto .

Lan bio 3 . Farming-man . labourLan bro } er. Aperadér.

Lan chicbl, Charcoal-dust .

Cisco.

LandAri, 3.f . Ribbon . Cin ta.

Lanelar, To bring. Traer.11111. Lana.

Slobo . See Labelar.

Larpa, rj .A blow. Go lpe.Lehn te, Flin t. Pedernal .

Leberbena, 3J . Publicwalkplan ted

with elms. Alameda.

Ie gren té, A gallan t. Galan .

Lel, The world. Mun do.

Lembresque, 3.f . Lie, error.

Men tira.Lemitré, m

’

d. Limitren .

Len , River. Rio .

Len driz , 3 f . Partridge. Perdia.Leprcféte, 3am. Parsley. Perejil.

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 393

from ‘ Lon don , ’ which the

Spaniards in general consider

to be syn on ymous with Eng

Longon o , Comfort. Con

suelo.

Lorampio , A watch. Relox.

Loré, Gnat. Mosquito.Lorin , The sea. El mar.

Loriano , March. Man o .

Luan dar,To hang up, weigh .

Colgar.

Luas, Pesetas, coin s. Pesetas.Lucali, The river Guadiana.

LaGuadiana—Thisword seems

Luchardo, Steel for strikingtire. Eslabon .

Luchipen , 3 .f . Cliii, declivity,Cuésta.

Lucrarte, 3 . Large jar. Tinaja.

Lucy, Wolf. Lobo . Gr.

Adams.

Lali. 3.j . Basket. Espuérta. H1'

11.

Lumi

Lumiaca

Lun beru, Lan tern . Faro] .Lun o , Sickle. Hoe. Sam.

W , m (reaping)Luquin dofie, Cypress-tree.

Lurco, Well . P610.

Lurian dez , 3 .f . Thun der. Truen o.

I t is probable that this wordsprung from the same root asthe Celtic Damn , which it very

much resembles ; which root

Lluslu, Water-parsn ip.

Ma hi

Mazhicc

zn

} 3 111 A cat. Gato.

Machingafio A drun kard.

Machargarn o Borracho.

Macho, 3m . Fish. Péz . Sam .

W . 11111 . Muchee.

(In dra), from which the

Gothic ‘thun der,’ ‘ don n er,

’

&c . ,

are more immediately derived.

in old Danish, sign ifiesa horn .

’

Luricaiii, 3.f . Guest-house. Po

M .

Mans, Meat, flesh. Came.

511113 . are . R113 . Miaso.

Massengoro , A butcher.Carn icero.

Maasquero , Shambles, publicmarket-place. Carn iceria, plazapublica.

Mad che, adj . Dull. Tdrpe.

Man olotende, The abode o f

the fish , 121. the sea. El mar.

—This word is compoun dedfrom the 5 111133 111 W (fish)

an d W (abode) , an d is

on e.

of those beautiful meta

Madoy, A clove (or a ting.

Clavo de comer.Majara, adj . Half, middle. Medic .

Moln ia.

Mamr’

icha, 3 .j 2Short carbine. Ter

Man , M ‘M ' I . lo . ” I .

Man con , Hedge-hog. Erizo .

M od . 6 13 4x6103.

Man dela, 3 Cloak , Capa.

Mang, 3 .f . Meat, flesh. Carne.

Vid . Maas. Hin . Man s.Mangue, “m arine of 1113

M 11.” 3 . Man . El acusativodel pro. pers. Man .

Manguelar, n a .11. To en treat,

Cola.Torte.

Man toana, Bags (for bread) .Alforjas.

Mansenquere,

Man trdji, Wrist.an u Man .

an upe121 . Men u, the firstcreator of the world

Man tis, A

In this form itin the Saru .

Maramtioe,

Marcdri, Cat. Gato.

Marclet, 11.a. To kill.

Marmulli, Wax. Cera.1rMarmaye, 3 .f l Ball . Bela.

Man i, Man . Hombre.

or ,

Masvaro,

Plaza de la came .

VOCABULARY OF

Mastronges, Wrists. Mane

Masun é , 3 . Skirt. Falda.

Matipén , 3 f . Drun ken n ess. B or

racheria. Sam. m (to make

Mato , adj .&part.Drun k, drunken .

B an acho .

Matobar, To in toxicate.

Emborrachar. M od . Gr. 11 10611 .

racho .

Meelfa, rf . Measure. Medida.

Melalo , 3 . 111 . A measare o f wine,a drun kard . Medida de vin o :

Meligrana, 3 .f . A pomegranate,the city of Granada. Grandda

frum, también , la ciudad de

Melagrana.

Men , 1111111 . 1103 . Mine . Mi.

Men , 3 . Person , hon our. Persona,hon ér.

—Su men , “Your lord

Men brerico , Purgatory .

Men cha, Pudendum feminae.

Men da, pram. 1131 3 . I . Io.

Men deri, 3 .f . Phial. Limeta.

Men désquero, ado . Less. Mén os.

Mensalle, 3 .f . Table. Mesa.

M equelar, To leave , let go .

Dejar. Sam.m . M oorish,

Merdipén , 3 .j IWound . Matadura.

Merdo, adj . Sick. En fermo.

Mericha, 3./I Bushel. Fanega.

Min chord, The bully of a

prostitute. El querido , 6 rufiande unamujerpublica.

Min rio, pron . 11033 . Min e.

Minr’ricla, 3 .fi Cloud .

Mic .

Nube.

Malian, hf Grape. Uva.

Mon borico, 3 . adj . Violet .

Monrabdr, 11.a. To clip, shear.

Mon ro , A frien d. Amigo.

811113 . W .

Morchas, 3 .

“Skin ,

hide. Pelléjo .

Mushk .

THEIR LANGUAGE 395

Merid én , af tYard.court. Corral.Merinao , adj . An immortal . In

mortxil . Sam .m .

M eripén , sf Death. Muerte.

Sam .m . Arab.

uér

'o

Mermelli, L] : A taper. Véla.

M estepén , a] ; Life. Vida.

Medina, Lf :Guest-house. Pasada.

Milan ,3 .m. One thousan d. Mil .

Miliyo , am. Heart. Comz én .

Milla, League. Legua. Pe n .

J -e‘ .

Min chabar, a c . To produce, bringforth. Parir.

Min chi, 3 .jZPudendum femina .

I n the English dialect, M fr/ti.

Mirindia, adv. In the meanwhile.

Mien tras.

Mistos, adv. Well. Bién .

Mochi, : .f . Doublet. Coleto.Mochique, 3 . Mallet. Maze .

M01, 3 .m. Win e. Vin o. A pure

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 397

Narsichisle, A dwarf . Enan o .

Sam .

“

HT (man ), fi fl(low) .

Nasalo, adj . Sick, in firm. Eu

fermo .

Nasallipen , 3 .f . Sickn ess. Eu

fermedad . M od. Gr. vdo'evpa.

Nasti, adv . No .

Nastibre, 3 .m. November. No

viembre.

Nasula, s.fZThe evil eye. Mal

de ojo .

Nausardan , adj . Vile. Vil.

Ne, adv. No , n ot. No . Sam.

Nebél, adj . New. Nuévo . Sam .

Nebo, adj . New. Nuévo . San s.

Neboré , adj . Small, young.

Pequéfio , joven .

Necaute, adj . Non e, n ot on e.

Nicabar, v.a. To take away, steal .Quitar, robér.

Nichobelar, To appear.

Parecér.

Niguillar, o n . To go out. Salir.

Hm. Nikuln a.

Nililo , 3 .m. Turkey, peacock .

Pavo .

Nmelo , 3 .m. Fool , n in n y. Ton to .

Nislo , adj . Prompt, quick .

Prén to .

Nivel, 3x] : Ray. Raya.

Noiiabar, To swim. Nadar.

Noutro,pron .pos3 . Our. Nuéstro .

Noques, 3 . pl . Horn s. Cuern os.

Rm . Rogg.

Norical, 3 . Snail. Caracél.

O .

0, art. def : The. El .— ex. gr. 0

can , The sun .

’ El 501.O, pron .per3 . He. El . Pen .

Chen , 3 .Win ter. In viern o . Sam .

fl

Norungarse, v.r. To be angry .

En ojarse .

Norungy, adj . Angry. En ojado .

Nostaré , Small coin . Cuartillo .

Nostu, Small coin . Cuarto .

Noyme, 77 . pr. Noah . Noé.

Nu ,pron .per3 . ace. sin . Me. Me .

Nu , adj . Nin e. Nuéve. Pars. a;

Nuca, s.fZMother-in -law. Suegra.

Nun utibé, July . Julio .

Nutibé, Jun e. Junio .

Obiserna, s.f 2 Scabbard . Vayn a.

Ocajanaycha, 3 .f . Hut. Cabafia.

Ocan a, 3 .f . Hour. Hora.

Ocan agimia, 3 .f . Prayer. Oracion .

Ochardilo , Permission . Li

cen cia. H z'

n . Choottee .

Ochi, 3 .f . Soul, spirit. Alma,espiritu . Hin . Iee.

Ochipa, L] : Fortun e . Fortt'

tn a.

Ochon , Mon th. Mes.

Oclajita, 3 .f . Estate. Hacien da.

Oclaye, King. Rey.

Oclin de, adv. Then . En ton ces.

Ocrian se, 3 . An t. Hormiga.

Odisilo , Vice . Vicio.

Odoros, 3 .pl. Jealous fan cies.

Zélos.

Ogomo , Stomach. Est6

mago . Sam . W (body) .

398

Ojabesar, v.a. To pardon .

don ér.

Ojarar, v.77 . To remember. Acordar.

Ojomén , Stomach . Estomago .

Olacerar, v. 77 . To cost . Costar.

Olajéy, 3 .jZCurse. Maldicién .

Olebaréchi, 3 .j 2Midnight. Median 6che.

Olena, s.f I Roof-tile. Teja.

Olibias, 3 .p1. Stockings. Médias .

R773 . Obubh (shoes and stockings) .

Olicha, s.f 1 Street.Ulicha.

Olii6, Heart . Coraz6n .

Ollartib, Wolf. Ldbo .

Oltarique, Plain . Cémpo .

Olun e, 3 . Sickle. H6z .

Oman , Hole, pit.

Per

Calle. V’

zd.

Hoyo,agujero . Sam. WW . E 743 .

Obman (deceit, artifice) .Omit6, Farrier. A lbéytar.

On , prep. I n . En .

On chullao , adj . Having the

dropsy. Hidrépico .

On chullar, v. 77 . v.a. To grow fat,to fatten . Engordar.

On dila, s.f 2Wing. Ala.

On dinamo , Elm. Alamo .

On doba, pran .de777 . This. Este.

Ondo laya, She.

Ella.

Ondole, pron .per3 . 777a3 . He. El.

On doquel, pron . dom. That.Aquél .

On rres, 3 .jZSkirt. Falda.

Operfsa, s.fZSalad. Ensalada.

Opoy, 3 . Pupil of the eye. Nifia

del ojo .

THE ZINCALI

Opré, adv. Above. En cima.

Hin . Oopur. Gr. brép.

Opuchér, 3 .j 2Occasion . Ocasién .

Or. Vid. 0.

Oranpidn , Watch . Rel6j .

Orasta, 3 .f . Play, comedy. Co

média.

Or-bajando , Drum. Tambér.

Literally, The thing that istouched orbeaten . Vid . Pajabar

Orcajafii, 3.f . Cage. Jaula.

Orchiri, 3 .f . Beauty. Hermosura.

Orfi, 3 .j 2 Fig. Higo . Sam.

Orioz , 3. 777 . Wolf. Lobo.

Orchat , v. 77 . To weep. Llorar.

Sam . I t . Hin . Rowuya

(weeping) .Orobréro, 3 . 777. Thought. Pemmien to .

Orocafia, 3 .j 2 Foot-path . Sen da.

Oron dar, v.a. To seek . Buscar.Ompate, 3 .f . An t. Hormiga.

Otopatia, 3.jZLeaf. Hoja. Pro

bably from 117: San scrit com

poun dW1 (large leaf) .Oropatiara, in terj ect. God gran t.Ojala.

Oropen dola, Will . Volun tad.

Oropera, 3 .f . Compan y. Com

pan fa.

OrOpielar, v.a. To suck the breast.Mamar.

—Coin n e orobiéla n e

oropiéla, He who does n ot

weep does n ot suck .

’— Gyp3y

Orosque, Copper. C6bre.

Properly, Brass. Sam .“I“.

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 399

Orotar, v.a. To seek . Buscar.

Vid . Oron dar.

Orpachirima, 3 :f . Patien ce. Pa

cién cia.

Ortalame, 3 . 777 . Plain ,field. Cam

po .

Orteli, 3 .f . Love. Am6r.

On iji, 3 .f . Rin d, husk . Céscara.

Orzica, 3 .f . Harlot. Raméra.

Ospan to , Pompion , calabash.

Calabaza.

Ospesimia, 3 .f . Spice. Espécia.

Ostabat , v.a. Rob . Robar.

Ostalique, 3 . Plain , field . Campo .

Osté, tz’

t. 17077 . Your worship .

Usted . pl . Ostelénde.

Ostebél , God . Diés.

Debél .

Ostelfn da, 3 .f . Goddess , the

Virgin . Diosa, laVirgen .

Ostelé

}adv. Un der, below. Aba

Ostely jo . San 3 . m m.

Ostilar, v.a. To rob. Robar.

Vid .

Ostiladér, Robber, thief .Ladrén .

Ostinat , v.a.n . To awake. De

Spertar.

Ostor, adj . Eight. Ocho .

Ostordi, adj . Eighty. Ochén ta.

Osun cho , Pleasure. Placér.

Osun é, adj . Obscure, dark . Os

cfiro .

Otal , The heaven s. El cielo .

Otan , adv. A lready. Y a.

Otarpe, The heavens. Elciélo .

Ote, adv. There, yonder. A lli,

alla. H'

in . Oothe.

Otembrolilo , Heart. Corazc’

m.

Otoba, pron . de777. That. Aquél.

Man so .

Ocho. Vz'

d.

Otollojo , adj . Tame.

Otor, adj . Eight.Ostor.

Otorbar, 3 .777 . October. Octubre.

Ozan di, 3f Hempen san dal. Al

pargata.

P.

Pa, prep. For. Para.

Pacuaro, adj . Han dsome, pretty .

Bon ito.—The Gypsies have a

trick, which they employ whenthey wish to getrid of an an imalwith an ugly n eck and head

they place him in an attitudeby which his uglin ess is partlycon cealed from the chapman ,which they call De pamard.

J O -fi

The word is pure Persian , ”Sk.

Pachabelar, v.a.To believe. Creér.

Sam . { a (to reveren ce) .

Pachan dra, 3 .j 2 The festival o f

Easter. Pascua.

Pacharracar, v.a. To sow. Sem

Pachatrar, v.a. To pound , breakto pieces. Machacar.

Pachi, 3 .f . Modesty, hon our, virgin ity. Verguen za, virpn idad.

Pachibalo , adj . Hon est, hon ourable. Honrado.

Pachibar, v.a. To hon our.rat . R773 . Pachitat.

Pachimachi, 3 .f . Foot and leg.

Pata.

Hon

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE

Parchmdréro , adj . M ed, alo

Parcharique,my. Obsam e. Por

Pariolar, v. 77. To rage. Rabiir.

Paripen , Danger. Peligro .

Parlaora, 3 .f . A letter. Carta.

Parn é, White or silver

mon ey. Din éros, blan eoe, 7'

.e.

De plate.

Parn o , an} .White. B laneo . Sam .

Pardji, s.f I Leaf. Hoja.

Pan ache, a} : Wave. Ondo .

Parrotobar, v. 77. To fast . Ayunar.

Parta, 3 .f . Ribbon . Cin ta.

Parugar, v.a. To exchange, barter.

(m ange) :

Paruipen , Exchange, barter.

Parufii, 3 .f . Grandmother. A

W (in ter

Pas. dé'

. Half . Médio .—Pas

chibe, Half-day,’7°

.e. Noon ,

Medic-did. In like man n er,the English Gypsies say, Pas

leomun i, Halfos -crown , ’ &c .

Pasabia, 3 .f . Strength . Fuérza.

Pas-cameo, The day afterto-morrow. Pasado mafifina.

Pas-pile, Half drun k . Medic

Pasque, 3 .j 2 The half. Mitad .

Sam . m o

Pastin ache, 3 .f . Foo tstep . Pi

Pasun6, 3.f . Farm-house. Cortijo .

Sam .W (a foot. )Pavi, 3 .j i Nostril. Narfz .

Pea, 3 .j I Chair, saddle. Silla.

Pebuldorieo, afi . Catholic . Ca

t61ic0 .—Cangri Pebuldérica y

Pen débre, December. Di

ciémbre.

Pen ebri, 3 .f . Root. Rafa.

Peniche, The Holy Ghost.ElEspiritu San ta. Gh fl n i

‘

ma.

posto lic Church .

’

Pecalis, 3f Fren ch silk . Seda

Fran cesa.

Peon , adj . Roasted . An do.

Sam .“ horn“ (to cook) .

(oven ) .Pelan bru, 3 .f . Pen . Pluma.

Pele, 3 .pl . Eggs, the gen itals.

Huevos, los jenitales. Sam .

ire .

Pen , A particle frequen tly usedin the Gypsy language in the

formation o f n oun s ; e.g. Clum

g‘

alr'

pén ,‘uglin ess,

’or

‘an ugly

thing;’in which word the par

ticle Pen is affixed to Ch mgalo,

frecuén temén te se sirve en j itan opara la formacfon de substan ti

vos.

Penar, v.a. Tomy, speak . Decir,

hablar. Bo lna.

Pen chabAr, v . 77 . To thin k . Pen

sar. Hin . Bicharn a.

Perfin é, adj . Necen u y.

W . Gr. rm“.

Pagenamiéoto , 3 . 777 . Feeling,griet’

Pergenar. v.a. To feel. Sen tir.Pergoléto,

Precise .

Pilgrim. Pere

Perpléjo , Fright. Sumo .

Peu iharu se, v.r. To live in 000

Peu ifuye, Worm. reptile.

Pa quital, Pleasure. Placer,

Petalf , 3 .f . Horse-shoe . Hero

n dura. Mod. Gr. reru n .

Pen n-a 3 . pl. Hon e shoes.

Herreduras.

Filtra, Bed . Cama.

Petra, 7 .j'

A fsll . Cnida. Sam.

m .

Peujo, Hevgoat. Macho

Pichibibi, 3 .f Lin net. Jilguero .

Pichiecu , Cough. Toe. Sam.

Ft'fl‘

. Mad. Gr-afixus

word se ems to belong to thc

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 403

Pilvo , adj . Bald. Calvo .

Pin cherar, v.a.r. To kn ow, to be

Pindorri, 3 .f . Girl, lass. Muchzi

Pindorro , Boy , lad . Muchacho .

Pin drabar, v.a. To open . Abrir.

Pindro

}Foot. Pie. pl.

Pinro Pinrés.

Pin re o bustaro , The right foot . El

derécho .

Pin re-ean , The lefi foot . El

Pin n elar, v.a. To pain t . Pin tér.

Pinsorra, 3'

s Crab-louse. La.

Pipindorio, 77 .p. An tdn io .

Pipochi, 3 .f . Block, stock. Cepo .

Pirabar, v.r.a. To copulate , toba t. Co palm'

, calen tar. M od .

Gr. r upé n n. Sam.“1 (love) .Pirando, Lover, libidin ousperson . Aman te, hombre libi

Pirar, v .77 . To walk . An dir. Pro

Piri, 3 .f . Earthen pot. Olla. Sam .

Piribfcba, 3 .j I Female limrd . La

Piribfcho , Lizard. Lagarto .

Pir6, 3 . 777 . Foot. Pie. Vid . Pin to .

Pisabeis , 3 .pl . Buckles. Hebillas.

Pispiri, 3 .j i Pepper. Pimien ta.

Pispirucba, 3 .f . Widow. Viuda.

a comrade orbrother in villain y .

Plan i, 3 .f . Sister. Herman n . Sam .

Plasarar, v.a. To pay. Pagar.

Platilla, 3 .f . Straw. Paja.Playi, 3 .f . Importun ity. Portia.

Plescari, adj . Clear. Claro .

Pista, 3 .f . Accoun t. Cuén tn .

Dinarpista, To give accoun t.’

Dar cn én ta.

Pita , Drin k , beverage. Be

bfda. RN . Pitié .

Piulfiaf . Widow . Vifida. Pm .

ap e.

Piyar, v.a. To drin k . Bebér.

Sam . fil1 f fl’

. Hm. Piya-k .

Placo , am. Tobacco. Tabdco .

Literally, Dust , powder. Rm.

Plan, A moun tain . Siém ,

mon tana.

Plajista, sum. Smugglero f tobacco .

Con trabandista de tabdco .

Hermén o .

Plan - The first of these

Plan o words is n either moren or less than the English Pal ,a can t expression much in use

Plastafiar, v.a. To follow, topursue. Segufr. Sam . 2“(match)

Pursu it s ] : A company, a ban d

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 405

Pumen , s.m. Shoulder. Hombro .

Puni, s.f . Trouble, affliction .

Pun sabo, sum. Beak , Pico. San s.

Pur, adv. When . Cuan do .

Purelar, v. n . To be born . Nacér.

Puro , adj . Old. Viéjo. San s.

Pus, sum. Straw. Paja. I l ia.

Bhoosa.

Pusabar, v.a. To prick. Picar.

Pusca, s.fZMusket. Escopeta.

Rm . Puschca.

Pascali, s.f 2Pen , feather. Pluma.

Putar, sum. Well. Poz o . Sam .

Puy, s. Straw . PaJa.

Q .

Quejelan o , (my. Open , clear, nuin cumbered . Raso .

Quejei'

ia, s.f . Custom-house. A

duana.

Quejésa, s.jZSilk . Seda. San s.

Quelalla, s.f . Egg-plan t . Beren

gén a.

Queler, v.n . To dan ce.

San s . FI G (to sport) .Quelziti, suj i A rial , coin . Réal.

Quele, s.m. Dan ce. Bayle.

Quelebao , sum. Dan cer. Bayladér.

Quelibén , s.f . Declaration . De

Baylar.

Quer, sum. House. Casa. San s.

W T. If z’

n . Ghur.

Querabar, v.a. To cook. Guisar.

Vz'

d. Jiribar. f l irt . Kurna.

Querst}7J .a. To

Querelar Hacér. Pars. golf

.

Querelarnasula, To cast the evileye. Aojair.

Querdi, par.pass. Don e. Hecho .

Quijari, s.f . Stirrup. Estribo .

Quilen , s. Men tula.

Quillaba, s.f . Prun e. Ciruéla.

Quimbila, s.f . Company. Corn

Quimbilo, sum. Compan ion . Com

paiiéro .

Quimpmar, v.a.

Tragar.

Quimuqui, suf . Gimlet. B arrén a.

Quinar, v .a. To buy. Comprar.

To swallow.

Quinate, s.m. Cheese. Quéso .

Quin dia, sf . A species of bean .

Abichuela.

Qumguina, suj iKitchen . Cocina.

Quii'

iao, adj . Tired . Can sédo.

Querescaro , s.m. Steward, butler.

Mayordomo.Querisar, v.a.To scratch. Araiiar.

Querlo , sum. Neck , throat. Pes

cuez o . Sam . W .Pars. ;G

’

Rm . Gérlo .

Querosto , sum. August . Agosto .

Quichardila, sf . Stain . Man cha.

Quichardin o , adj . Tight, hard,mean . Apretado .

Quichi, adj . adv. As man y as,

con cern ing. Cuan to . On

quichi, Inasmuch .

’En cutin to .

Quicia, sf . Basket. Espuérta.

Quiguinibe, s.m. A cook . Cocin éro

406

Quiquiria, 3 .f . Bug. Chinche.

udpcr.

Quin s] . Cheese. Queso .

Quirfl is} Mod . Gr. rvpl.

Quiria, L} : An t. Hormiga.

Quiribo, am. Godh ther. Corn

Quirindia, adj . Most holy(female).San tisima. Dehla quirin dil .

Most blessed Virgin .

’ Maria

Quisi, 3 .f . Purse. Balsa. Pm .

Quisobu, am. Mon ey-bag, pouch.

Bolsillo .

R.

Race, mm. A crab. Cangréjo .

Rachar, v.a.n . To meet . Eu

con trar.

Rachi, s.f . Night . Ndebe. Sam .

Ran , Rod. Vim—Withoutdoubt, on e and the same withthe Bengalic Rat“, Sanscrit( I when ce the English Rod ,

Randar, v.a. To rob. Robar.

Randar, v.a. To write. Escribir.

Ran de, mm. Thief . Ladrdn .

Pm . as) .

etiam.

Rapipocha. A (as . Zorn .

Rapipdche, s.m. Dungeon . Cala

able.

Rati, s.j f B lood . Singre. San s.

liousn em. Rebeldia.

Reblandani. s.f2Ston e. Piedm.

Reblandéte, s.m. Mat, clout.

Reblan duy, any. Second . Se»

gnndo .

Reblan tequere, s.m. Join t. Co .

yun t'ttra.

Rebrin o , s.m. Respect . Respéto .

Rejeléndre, saw.

Refrin .

Rejouiez , s.f . Dough . Man .

Kelichi, s.j 2Net. Red .

A proverb.

Rem bg sJZProcurm . Alec

Apoat6lico .

Recife. s.f Heat . Cal6r.

Recu di, adj . Dn gged alon g.

Arrastrido .

Roche, s. Can e, reed . Cain .

Rechibilly, A little net. Re

decilla.

Rechipatis, my. Naked . Des

n tido, en cuéroc.

Rechitar, am. To patch , men d.

Remen dar.

Redundis, LP] . Chick-peas. Gar.

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 407

Resaron omomdj . Cheap . Barito .

Retahlejar, v.a. To flame, burn .

Alder.

Retaja, sj Cabbage. Col .

Retimo. Cloak . Cap6te.

B etejo, adi. Co n ten t, merry . Con

tén to .

Retréque, s.f I Pestilen ce, plague.

Peste.

Reutilar, v.a. To withdraw. Re

Keyi, s.f . Dust . Polvo . San s.

R0 . Vid Rom.

Rocamblo , s.m. A frien d. Amigo .

Kochima, s.m. River. Rio . Mod.

Gr. pedal .

Roi, s.f . Flour. Karina. Hits.

Ru-cc .

Rain , sf . Spoon . Cuehira.

Rom, suf . Spoon . Cuchira.

Rom. am. A husband, amarriedman , a Gypsy. Marido , hombre casndo , un Jitiin o . Sam.

Roma. sup] . The Husbands ; the

generic name of the n ation or

Romandifiipén , s.f . A marriage.

Romani, s.f . The Rommany orGypsy haemat Leagu de

los j itin os.

Rullitagar, o .u . To turn upsidedown . Trastomir.

Rumijele, sa t. Pilgrim; also ,

Rom . Romero .

dos, ix. nombre jen érico de lanacidn 6 seemde los Jitan os.

Romi, s .f . A married woman , afemale Gypsy. Mujer casida,

Jitfina.

Romalis, s.f . A Gypsy dance.

Dan u Jitina.

Romandiiiar, To marry .

species of plan t. La yerba delos JitAn oe, um plan ts .

Romny, suf . The face. La can .

Roscorre, sum. Lamb. Cordéro.

Rotufii, s.f . Mouth. Boca. Rm.

Ro t.

Rudelar, v.a. n . To answer. Res

pon der, con testar.Rujia, s.f 2 Rose. Rosa.

Rulisarra, suj iKn ee. Rodilla.

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 409

Sefiéba, s. Fowl, pigeon .

Serdafii, s.f . Razor. Navaja.

Sersen , rap. Spain . Espafia.

Servai'

ii, suf l Pilchard . Sardin a.

Serviche, sum. Morn ing-star.

Seems to be the

names of Agn i, the personifi

cation oiFire.

Sesé, n . adj . Spaniard, Span ish .

Espaii6l . Sesi, Spanishwoman , ’ Espai

'

i6la.

Sestroji, s.f . Shell , Husk . Caiscara.

Siarias. s.pl . Kn ees. Rodillas.

Sibica, suf . Trumpet, proboscis.

Tr6mpa.

Sicha, s.f 2Femalemon key . Mona.

Sichen , s.m. Kingdom. Reyn o .

Sicle, s.m. Age, cen tury . Siglo .

Sicobar, a.a. To extract, pull out.

Sacar. Properly, To lift. M od .

Gr. annwvw.

Sila, s.fZStrength . Fuerza.

Sillofi, s.f . Thorn . Espin a. Sam .

KG“

(pin , spit) . Hin . Soo l .Siln 6, adj . Stron g. Fuérte. Rm .

Siln oy.

Simache

}su Sign . Sefial . Gr.

Siméchi d epeiov.

Simbrés, s.pl . Eyebrows. Céjas .

Simprofie, mp. Joseph. José.

Sinar, o .u . To be. Ser,Estar.

Sinastra, suf . Capture, prize.

Présa.

Sin astro , s.m. Prison er. Préso .

Sam . vF-tT'

a’

Sin carfial, s.m. Slave. Esclavo .

Sin chulé, s.m. Roll of tobacco,cigar. Cigarro.

Singa, s.f2Singing, music. Can ter,

musica.

Singe, s.m. Horn . Cuérn o . Sam .

Sin palomi, ad] . Peeled . Decotticated . Pelado .

Sirbal6, s.m. Thimble. Dedal .Sirguedes }

s.m. Wedn esday. Mi

Sirquedis érco les.

Siroque, s.m. Hemp . Canamo .

SiscabeIAr, v .a. To teach. Eu

sefiér.

Siscun de , s.m. Wedn esday. M Ier

coles.

Sisla, suj : Vid. Sila.

Sisli, suj l Momen t. Momén to .

Orsisli, At the momen t. ’ Al

momen to .

Sistigui, s. Girdle. Cefiid6r. Sam.

Sitacoria, sf Kin d of tax, carved

.w.

ork . Talla.

Sixtiliar, v.a. To kin dle. Eu

cen dér.

Soba, suf . Nightmare. Pesadilla.

Sobadrar, a.a. To sweat. Sudar.

Sobelar, v.a. To sleep . Dormir.Sam . Gi l l (sleeping) .

Sobin doy, s. Sleep . Dormidura.

Per/iaps theproper sign ificationof Ma

‘

s word is, Dream, vision .

FromMe Russian , Sn obidenie.

Socabar, v.a.n . To inhabit, dwell .Habitat , morar. A lso, To be.

Socreteria, s.f 2 Synagogue. Sina

géga

THE ZINCALI

Schmir, o .u . To travel. go . Via

Maldici6n .

Chibér una so laja, ‘To curse .

’

Maldecir. Vid . Olajay.

mp] . Pan taloons, trow

Solares, apl . Powers. Podéres.

Sam . i t (power) . I foundthisword in a tran slation , apparen tlyan cien t. o f a church cantiele, which aCordovese Gypsyrepeated to me and which

Mfisro Uudeha l“Hol d l

”

Md sso Solh es t B oly Power-s t"

Mdq a-in so l “Holy lmmortals l”

W M .

“Seve ns. Lord.

”

De o amham do i “From all sil ic

tion !“

Solgia. Here Liébrc. Sam.

W . Arab. no n .

Sollbiri.

Samar, o .u . To sleep. Dormir.

Sorun je, my. Sorrowful . Aflijido .

Sorouji, s.f . Sorrow. Afiicci6n .

Sou, pa in f ul . Who , that. Que.

Sona har, To in habit,

(11 house) .Susi, s . Court, yard . Corral.Sosimbo , s.m. Oven . Homo .

Sosimbra , supl . Eye-lashes . Pee.

Sasque, ado . Where. Don de.

Souo ji. af J ninbe. fruit of

the jujube. Amaya. San s .

Sublimar, v .a. To set at liberty.loose. Soltir.

Sudo , ab . Asleep . Durmién do .

Suéti, s.f . World, people. Mun do,ju nta—This mrd rs M

Sagerih r, v.a. To put. Pon ér.

Sugilh , Justice. Justicia.

Sulan do. adj . Loose, light, easy .Sumo .

Sulastrihs, Chain , shackle.

Csdéna. Arab.

Sumi, Broth, soup . Caldo .

Sumuquelar, v.a. To cemen t.

Sungelar, o .u. To stink. Hedér.Sungl6, s.m. Mel6n .

Sun csisj . Spirit, soul. Espiritu,

Sundilir, o .u . To descen d . De

scendér.

Sungal6, s.m. Traitor, he-goat.

Sungar, v.a. To betray, in form

VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 41 1

HT .

Surdan , s.f . World. Mun do .

Sam. Herr.

Surdé, adj . Buff-coloured . An

teédo .

Surdéte, s.m. World. Mundo .

Surdinar, v.a. a.r. To raise, stand

up. Levan tar.

Susnlar, v.a. To satisfy. Satisfacér.

be detained. Deten ér. Hist.

Soostana (to rest) .

Sustiry, sf Lot, fortun e. Su6rte.

Ta, confirm . And. Y .- Chulo

ta-paque, Dollar and a-half.

Duro ymédio .

Tebastorre, s.f l The right-han d.

Tacux'

ii, s uj . A kind of leathercase . Petaca.

Tajufii, s.f . Box. Caja.

Talabi, s.f . Sedge . Espurto .

Talar6ris, s.pl . Garmen ts . Ves

tides . Sam . i t ];Tan bubian , s.m. Horse-jockey.

Tandal, s.m. Court, yard . Patio .

Tangle, s.m. April . Abril.

Tapillar, v .a. To drin k . Bebés.

Taquibaque , s. Ramrod . Baquéta.

Sam .

Tarquin o, s.m. Parable .

bola.

Taashar, v .a. To choak, sufiocate.

Para

Tamrbafii, sum. Mason . Albafiil .

Tasarden , adv. Late. Tarde.

Tasquifio, s.m. Million . Mill6n .

Sam . m .

Tatibari, s.f . The great orputrid

Di6s, Jesus.

Techn fao , adj . Ben t, crooked.

o .

Teehescarfl na. To cast . Echir.

Techorde, adj . Weak, in firm.

In valido .

Telejefii, 3 .f . Mat. Estéra.

Tellorre, s.m. Min ister. Min istro .

Temembléro , adv. Early . Tem

Tern ssibél, s.m. Worth , valour.

Val6r, valen tia. Sam .m .

Temeis, adj. Valien t. Valién te.

Tempan é , s .m. Piece, portion .

Pedéz o . Sam . (to divide) .Tetelar, v.a. To have, hold,possess. Ten ér. Sam. M

(holding) ~Ternaciha, an} : Rage, madness.

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VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE 4 13

Tnipo , s.m. Body. Cuerpo . R3 5 .

Truta, S-f : Return . Vuélta.

Tratar, v.a.n . To return . Volvér.

Tticue, pron . pars. Thou . Tn .

Tumhardo , r.m. Purgatory. Pur

Tufii, Oil-dask. Alcoa .

Tux-n o , s.m. Castle. Castillo .

Tum , sf Nail , claw. Ufia.

Tusn f , sf . Earthen jar. Bo tija.

Tuyalo, adj . Bad , evil. Malo .

V .

Vea, 3 .f . Garden , kitchen -garden .

Jardin , huérta.

Velar, v.a. To cut. Cortzlr.

Visibi, an} : Debt . Déuda.

Vriardao , par. par. Dressed,

adorn ed. Vestido , adornado .

U .

Uchagardf, sf Star. Estrella.

Uchi, sf Tongue. Lengua.

Udicire, 21. def Might or shouldhave. Rubiero .

Ulan dar, v.a. To hangup. Co lgfir.

Olan di, s.f . Hook to hang thingsupon . Colgadéro .

Ulaque , One of the districtsin to which a town is divided.

Ulicha, Street. Calle. Rats.

Ulitza.

Ulilla, tap. Seville. Seville.

Ulique, Festival. Fiesta.

Ululo, adj . Angry. En ojado.Uluya, Lf Fame . Fania.

Un cho, A particle, which the

Gypsies o f Estremadura are in

the habit of affixing to Span ishwords, in order to disguise

them, an d to preven t theirbeing easily understood e.g.

Favorun cho, favour’ Goz

un cho , ‘

jOYr &C.—Particule

que los Jid n os deEstremadura.suelen posponerspalabras Castellén as, para disfraearlas, y quen o se lee en tien do facilmén be.

Undabilar, n .a. To chew. Masd r.

Do-debél, s.m. God. Dim.

The first syllable o f this wordseems to be the 0m o f the

is on e of the names of the

Deity : an d is the commen cemen t of that mysterious sen

ten ce, ma m’

but xx'

M om

which, according to the creed

of the followers of the Gran d

Lama, con tain s the essen ce of

all prayer and by the con stan trepetition o f which they hapeto obtain the title of Bivangarit,

an d to ascend to the elevationof Bouddh.

Unga, aa‘v. Y ea, truly, yes, Si.

I n Me E ng'h

'

rb dialed . Auka.San s . WWI.

414

Ungachoba, s.f Syllable. Sflaba.

Ungla, .jZNail, claw. Ufia.

Un unique, .f Con fession . Con

Urapero , adj . Pruden t . Cuerdo,pruden te.

Urdifar, n .a. To put. Pon ér.

Urdiflar, n .a. To kin dle. Eu

cen der.

Urdiiii, 3 .f . Fan cy, presumption .

Fan tasia.

Urjiyar, v .a. To sufl'

er. Sufrir.

Ustilar, n .a. To take, to steal.

Tamar, robar.

Smoke. Humo .

Sugar. Azficar. Sam .

q (sugar-can e) .

Yaque Fire. Fuégo , lum

Y aquero ) bre.

Ag.

THE ZINCALI

Yb l'

rcho , s.m. Jew. Judio .

Y e-ref, s.m. The colour, form.

El color, la figura.

Yeru, s.m. Wolf . Lobo .

Y lo, s.m. Soul. Alma.

Olilo . s.m . fig.

Y ustique, m. Girdle, belt.

Zamborin o , s.m. Pumpkin , caja.

bash. Calabém.

Zarapia, : .f . The itch . Sama.

Zerocin . s.m. Sausage. Salchichon .

Zi, s.f . Hen . Gallin a.

Zibaora, s.f . Needle.

Zin -calo, s.m. Gypsy . J itan o .

APPEND IX

M ISCELLANIES IN THE GITANo

LANGUAGE

ADVERT ISEM ENTIT is with the view of preserving as man y as possible o f the

mon umen ts of the Span ish Gypsy ton gue that the authorin sertsthe following pieces ; they are for the most part, whetherorigin al or tran slated, the production s of the

‘Aficion ’o f Seville,

o f whom something has been said in the Preface to the

Spurious Gypsy Poetry o f An dalusia n ot the least remarkable,however, o f these pieces is a gen uin e Gypsy composition , thetran slation of the Apostles

’ Creed by the Gypsies of Cordova,made un der the circumstan ces detailed in the secon d part o fthe first volume. To all have been affixed tran slation s, moreor less literal, to assist those who may wish to form someacquain tan ce with the Gitan o lan guage.

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M ISCELLAN IES

FATHER our, who dwellest in the heaven , san ctified becomethy n ame ; come-to-us the thy kingdom, an d be

-don e thy will soin the earth as in the heaven the bread ouro f every daygiveus-it to-day, an d pardo n

-us ourdebts so as we-o thers pardon(to ) our debtors ; an d n ot let us fall in the temptation , butdeliver-us from wickedn ess — Amen .

I believe in God, Father all-powerfu l, creator o f the heavenan d the earth, an d in Christ his on ly Son our Lord

,who wen t

co n ceived by deed an d favour of the Spirit Holy, an d borno f blessed goddess divin e ; sofl

'

ered un der (o f) the might ofB roun s Alien icatos ;

l wen t crucified, dead an d buried ; anddescen ded to the con flagration s, an d on the third dayrevivedfrom amon g the dead, an d ascen ded to the heaven s, an d dwellsseated at the right-han d of God, Father all-powerful, fromthere he-has to come to impeach (to ) the living an d dead. I

believe in the Spirit Holy, the Holy Church Catho lic an d

Apostolic, the commun ion of the sain ts, the remission o f the

sin s, the re birth of the flesh, an d the life everlastin g— Amen ,

Jesus.

PRAY ER TO THE V IRGIN0 most holy Virgin , M o thero f all the Christian s in whom

I believe ; for the agon y which thou didst en dure at the foo to f the cro ss o f thymost blessed Son , 1 en treat thee, Virgin , thatthou wilt obtain forme, from thy Son , the remission of all the

crimes an d sin s which I mayhave committed in this world.

Amen , Jesus.

1 By M e two words, Pon tius Pilate is represen ted , but when ce theyare derived I know n ot.

3 Reborn .

THE Z INCAL I

Ostebé te berarbe Os telin da ! perdoripe sirles de sardafiaor Erafié sin sartute ; bresban tute sirles en rré sares las

rumiles, y bresban sin or frujero de tute po .— Tebléque .

Man jari Ostelin da, day de Ostebé, brichardila per gabéres

crejetaéres aocana y o n la ocana de n on rra beribé n l— An ar

an ia, Tel ue.

Chimuclan ior Bato,orChabal, orChan ispero man jaro ; sata

sia on orpresimelo , accan a, y gajeres o n los sicles de lo s sicles.

—Anaran ia.

OR CREDOSARTA LO CHIBELARON LOS CALES DE CORDOVAT I

Pachabélo en Un -debel batu tosaro-baro , que ha querdi cl

char y la chiqué ; y en Un -debe’ l chin oré su un ico chaboréerafio de aman gue, que chalé en el trupo de la M ajari por el

Duquen de Majoré, y abié del veo de la Majari; guillé curadodebajo de la sila de Pon tio Pilato el chin obaro ; guillé mu lo ygarabado ; se chalé alas jacharis al trin chibé se ha sicobadode los mules al char ; sin éla bejado a las bas te de U n -debélbarrea y de oteabiaraajuzgaralos mules y a lo s que n o lo

sin élan ; pachabélo en el Majaro ; la Cangrf M ajari barea ; eljalarde los Majaries lo meco de los grecos ; la resureccio n delamaas, y la ochique n o maréla.

REJELENDRES

Or soscabela juco y terable garipé n o le sin perfin é an elartelichi.

B us yes man upe cha machagarn o le pen dan chuchipo n losbrochabos.

Sacais sos n e dicobélan calochin n e bridaquélan .

Coin terelare trasardos e din astes n asti le buchare berrandanas adesquero con tiqué .

M ISCELLAN IES

God save thee, Maria ! full art thou o f grace ; the Lord is

with thee blessed art thou amongst all women , an d blessed isthe fruit o f thy womb .

— Jesus.

Ho ly Maria, mo ther o f God, pray for us sin n ers, n ow an d in

the houro f our death — Amen , Jesus.

Glory (to ) the Father, the Son , (an d) the Holy Ghost ; aswas in the begin n ing, n ow, an d for ever : in the ages o f the

ages.— Amen .

THE CREED

TRANSLATED B Y THE GYPSIES or CORDOVA

I believe in God the Father all-great, who has made the

heaven an d the earth ; an d in God the youn g, his on ly Son ,

the Lord o f us, who wen t in to the body of the blessed (maid)by (mean s o f) the Ho ly Ghost, an d came out of the womb o f

the blessed ; he was tormen ted ben eath the power o f Pon tiusPilate, the greatAlguazil ; was dead an d buried ; he wen t (down )to the fires on the third dayhe raised himself from the dead

un to the heaven he is seated at the major han d of God an d

from then ce he shall come to judge the dead an d those whoare n ot (dead). I believe in the blessed on e ; in the churchho ly an d great ; the ban quet o f the sain ts ; the remission o f

sin s the resurrection o f the flesh , an d the life which does n ot

die.

PROVERB SHe who is lean an d has scabs n eeds n ot carry a n et.1

When aman goes drun k the boys say to him suet.”

Eyes which see n ot break n o heart.

He who has a roof of glass let him n ot fling ston es at his

n eighbour.

,1 Poverty is always avoided .

‘

3 A drun kard reduces himself to the con dition o f a hog.

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M ISCELLANIES

ern s of Spain mayreeds come .

an d is worth more than a hun dred flying.

ayin g an d with the flail plying.

e to be the head of a mouse than the tail o f

believe, as Sain t Thomas says.

if a dwarf is to spit largely.anaged

—at mid-day the stew-pan ,’ an d at

seest me dressed in wool I am n o sheep.

tlsehood— B reeches o f silk an d stockin gs

'

alks fin ds a bon e.

1 makes a n oise has eitherwater or ston es.

HE LOVER’S JEALOUSY

lee ! 5 what mo tives hast thou (n ow that mym thee, having rested awhile from so man yrhich formerly it en dured, beholdin g the evil

[00 preparedst for me to recede thus from:casion to me to weep . Myagon y is great onen t acquain tan ce with a rich man for everyed for mo n ey’s sake. What I most feel, 0ls is, that thou aban don estme fora rich manbybeauty, an d also upon him who con verses

:epmymon ey foran o therwho lovesme more

do .

r pan o f glazed earth. in which bacon . beef, an d

stran gely with falsehood ; this is a gen uin e Gypsytwo which follow ; it is repeated throughout Spain

wear: a maul/a; the mean ing is. ask n othing, gain

THE Z INCAL I

OR PERS I BARARSE S IX CHOROGajeres s.n corbo rifian so scahar yes man u persibarad, per

sos saro se lin bidian odoros y besllf, y per esegrité n apn chelan

on sardanade saros los B en jes, techescan do grejos y o lajaisde susti

’

ri$05 10 resaron omé n iquilla murmo ; y an dial lo fen di

so s terclamos de querar sin techescarle yes sulibariaor Jelf, yn e pan chahar on caute man usardi, persosmm s yesque lilf.

LOS CHORESOn grejelo chiro begoreo yesque berban illa de chores a la

burda de yes mostipelo a o lebarachi— An dial 505 la prejenaronlos cambrais presimelaro n a cobadrar ; sar an doba lin aste

chan gan é or lan bro, se sustiiio de la charipé de lapa, utilo lapusca, y n iquilloplatan an do per orplatesquerode ormostipelo

4 la burda sos socabelaba pan di, y per or jobi de la clichi

chibelé orjun dré de la pusca, le d'

u‘

ié pesquibo a or lan guté, yle sumuquelé yes bruchasn o on la tesquéra aor Jojerian de losostilaéres y lo techescé de or grate a ostelé . An dial sos los

debus quimbilos dicobelaro n adesquero Jojerian o n chen sar

las can rriales de la B eriben , lo chibelaron espusifias a los

grastes, y n iquillaro n chapescan do , trutan do la romuy apala,

perbausalé de las machas 6 almedal les de liripio.

COTOR Y E GAB ICOTE MAJARO

OR SOS SARO LO HA CHI BAB O EN CHIPE CALLI OR KANDAB ORDE OCONOS PAPIRIS AUNSOS NARDIAN LO HA D INADO

AL SURDETE .

Y soscaban do dican do dic6 los B arbalos sos techescaban

desqueros man sis o n or Gaz ofilacio ; y dico tramisto yesquepispiricha chorrorita, sos techescaba duis chin orris sarabé llis,

M ISCELLANIES

THE EV I LS OF CONCUB INAGEI t is always a stran ge dan ger for a man to live in co n

cubin age, because all turn s to jealousy an d quarrellin g, an d atlast they live in the favour o f all the devils, voiding oaths an dcurses : so that what is cheap turn s out dear. So the best wecan do , is to cast a bridle o n love, an d trust to n o woman , forthey make aman mad .

THE ROB BERSOn a certain time arrived a ban d o f thieves at the gate

o f a farm-house at midn ight . So soo n as the dogs heardthem they began to bark, which causin g

2 the labourer to

awake, he raised himself from his bed with a start , took hismusket, an d wen t run n in g to the court-yard o f the farm-houseto the gate, which was shut, placed the barrel o f his musket tothe keyho le, gave his finger its desire,3 an d sen t a bullet in tothe forehead o f the captain of the robbers, castin g him downfrom his horse. Soon as the otherfellows saw theircaptain on

the groun d in the agon ies of death , they clapped spurs to theirhorses, an d ga110ped ofl

'

fleein g, turn ing their faces back on

accoun t of the flies oralmon ds of lead .

SPEC IMEN OF THE GOSPEL

FROM THE AUTHOR’S UNPUBLISHED TRANSLATION OF THENEW TESTAMENT

An d whilst looking he saw the rich who cast their treasuresin to the treasury ; an d he saw also a poor widow, who casttwo small coin s, an d he said : In truth I tell you, that this

3 With thatmotive awoke the labourer. Orig.

Gave its pleasure to the fin ger. rte. his fin gerwas itching to draw the

trigger, an d he humoured it .

4 They feared the sho t an d slugs , which are compared . an d n o t badly . toflies an d almon ds.

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M ISCELLANIES

poor widow has cast more than all the o thers ; because all

those have cast, as offerin gs to God , from that which to themabo un ded but she from herpoverty has cast all the substan cewhich she bad. An d he said to some, who said of the temple,that it was adorn ed with fair ston es, an d with gifts : Thesethin gs which ye see, days shall come, when ston e shall n o tremain upon ston e, which shall n ot be demo lished. An d theyasked him an d said : Master, when shall this be ? an d whatsign shall there be when this begin s ? He said : See, that yebe n ot deceived , because man y shall come in myname, sayin g :I am (he), an d the time is n ear : beware ye o f going afterthem : an d when ye shall hear (of) wars an d revolts do n ot

fear, because it is n eedful that this happen first, for the en d

shall n ot be immediately. Then he said to them Nation shallrise again st n ation , an d coun try again st coun try, an d thereshall be great tremblin gs o f earth amon g the town s, an d

pestilen ces an d famin es an d there shall be frightful thin gs,an d great sign s in the heaven : but before all this they shallmake ye captive, an d shall persecute, deliverin gye over to the

syn agogue, an d prison s an d they shall carry ye to the kin gs,an d the govern ors, on accoun t of myn ame : an d this shall

happen to you for tru th . Keep then firm in yourhearts, n ot tothin k before how ye have to an swer, for I will give you mouthan d wisdom, which all youren emies shall n ot be able to resist,orcon tradict. An d ye shall be delivered over by your fathers,an d bro thers, an d relation s, an d frien ds, an d they shall put todeath some o f you ; an d all shall hateyou formy n ame ; but n ot

o n e hairof yourheads shall perish . With your patien ce ye shallpossess yoursouls : but when ye shall see Jerusalemsurroun ded ,

then kn ow that its fall is n ear ; then those who are in Judea,let them escape to the moun tain s ; an d tho se who are in the

midst o f her, let them go out ; an d those who are in the fields,let them n ot en ter in to her ; because those are days o f

ven gean ce, that all the thin gs which are written may happenbut alas to the pregn an t an d those who give suck in those days,for there shall be great distress upo n the earth , an d it shallmove on ward again st this people ; an d they shall fall by theedge of the sword ; an d they shall be carried captive to all the

coun tries, an d Jerusalem shall be trodden by the n ation s, un tilare accomplished the times o f the nation s an d there shall besign s in the sun , an d in the

'

moon , an d in the stars ; an d in the

THE Z INCALI

chalabeé on la sueste per ordata sos bausalara Ia Ioria y desqueros gulas ; muquelztn do los tomares bifaos per dajiral6 delas buchis sos costufie abillaran s saro or surdéte ; perses los

solares de los otarpes quesan sar-chalabeaos y o c lin de dicaranaorChaboré e Man n abillarcostufie yesque min rric la sar baroasislar y Chimusolan o : bus presimelaren a chun dear cabahachis, dicad, y sustifiad bros jetés, persos pajes so scabela brasreden cion .

M ISCELLAN IES

earth trouble of n ation s from the fear which the sea an d its

billows shall cause ; leaving men fro zen with terror o f the

thin gs which shall come upon all the world ; because the

powers of the heaven s shall be shaken an d then they shall seethe Son of Man comin g upon a cloud with great power an dglory : when these thin gs begin to happen , look ye, an d raise

yourheads, foryourredemption is n ear.

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ENGL ISH ROMMANY

I am n o hin ditymush , bro ther, n o Irishman ; I laid out the

o ther day twen ty poun ds in buyin g rupen oe peam-en gries ;1

an d in the Chon g-gav,2 have a house o f myown with a yardbehin d it.Aml, f orsootlz, zf I go I can Moore aplace to lzgkt a

fire upon , an d rizall [ law n o n ecessity to ask leave of Mere Izere

Well, dear reader, this last is the tran slation of the Gypsysen ten ce which heads the chapter, an d which is a very characteristic specimen of the gen eral way of speakin g of the

En glish Gypsies.

The lan guage, as they gen erally speak it, is a broken jargon ,in which few of the grammatical peculiarities of the Romman yare to be distinguished. In fact, what has been said o f the

Span ish Gypsy dialect holds good with respect to the En glishas commo n ly spoken : yet the En glish dialect has in realitysufl

'

ered much less than the Span ish , an d still retain s itsorigin al syn tax to a certain exten t, its peculiar man n er o f

con jugatin g verbs, an d declin in g n oun s an d pron oun s. Imust

,however, qualify this last assertion , by observing that

in the gen uin e Romman y there are n o preposition s, but, on

the con trary, post-position s ; n ow,in the case of the En glish

dialect, these post-position s have been lost, an d their wan t,with the exception o f the gen itive, has been supplied withEn glish preposition s, as maybe seen by a short example

1 Silvertea-pots.

2 The Gypsy word fora certain town .3 As given byGrellman n .

THE Z INCAL I

PLURAL.

Hungarian Gypsy English Gypsy. E nglish

Jo le Yaun TheyLen te Len te Of them

Len Len To them

Len Len ThemLen der From Len de From them

The followin g comparison o f words selected at ran dom from

the English an d Span ish dialects of the Romman y will,perhaps, n ot be un in terestin g to the philo logist o r even to the

gen eral reader. Could a doubt be at presen t en tertain ed thatthe Gypsy lan guage is virtually the same in all parts o f the

world where it is Spoken , I con ceive that such a vo cabularywould at o n ce remove it.

As specimen s of how the En glish dialect maybe written , the

fo llowin g tran slation s o f the Lord’s Prayer an d B elief will

perhaps suflice.

ENGL ISH ROMMANY

THE LORD ’S PRAYER

M iry dad , odoi Oprey adrey tiro tatcho tan M edeveleskoe

sitiro n av awel tiro tem,be kairdo tiro lav acoi drey pov sé

odoiadreykosgo tan deyman de ke-divvus miry dirymorro ,ta fordel man sor so rn é pazzorrus tute, sé me fordel sor so

waviormushor paz zorrus aman de ma riggur man adreykek

dosch , leyman abri sorwafodu ; tiro se o tem, tiro or zooz li

wast, tiro or coraun i, kan aw ta ever-komi. Avali. Tatchipen .

LITERAL TRANSLATION

My Father, yon der up within thy good place ; god-like bethy n ame ; come thy kin gdom, be don e thy word here in

earth as yon der in good place. Give to me to -daymy dear

bread, an d forgive me all that I am in debted to thee, as Iforgive all that o ther men are in debted to me ; n ot lead

me in to any ill ; take me out (of) all evil ; thin e is the

kingdom, thin e the stron g han d, thin e the crown , n ow an d

evermore. Y ea. Tru th .

THE B ELIEF

M é apasaven n a drey mi-dovvel, Dad soro -ruslo , savo kedas

charves ta pov : apasaven n a drey o lescro yeck chavo moroaraun o Christos, lias medeveleskoe B aval-en gro , bean o of

wen dror o f medeveleskoe gairy Mary : kurredo tuley mecralliskoe geiro Pon tius Pilaten wast ; n asko pré rukh ,moren o

,chivios adrey o hev ; jas yov tuley o kalo

dro n ke wafudo tan , ben geskoe stariben ; jon gorasa o tritodivvus

,atchasa opré to tatcho tan , M i-dovvels kair bestela

kan aw odoi pré M i-dovvels tacho wast Dad soro -boro ; ava

sig to lel shoon aben Opre mestepen an d merripen . Apasa

ven n a en develeskoe B aval-en gro ; B oro develeskoe congri,

develeskoe pics o f sore tacho foky ketten ey, soror wafudu

pen es fordias, soror mulor jon gorella, kek merella apopli.

Avali, palor.

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ENGL ISH ROMMANY

I said, I will make thee my lawful wife,B ecause thou hast but two children

M ethin ks I will love thee un til my death,If thou but say thou wilt come with me .

Man y o ther specimen s o f the En glish Gypsy muse mightbe here adduced ; it is probable, however, that the abovewill have fully satisfied the curiosity of the reader. I t hasbeen in serted here for the purpose of showing that the Gypsieshave son gs in their own lan guage, a fact which has beenden ied. In its metre it resembles the an cien t Sclavon ianballads, with which it has an o ther feature in commo n — the

absen ce o f'

rhyme.

”ARK

Prin ted byT. an d A. CONSTA B LE , Prin ters to HerMajestyat the Edin burgh Un iversity Press

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