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diff --git a/old/rmlav10.txt b/old/rmlav10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4eb446c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rmlav10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7687 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow +The Project Gutenberg Etext Romany Dictionary, by George Borrow +The Project Gutenberg Etext Gypsy Dictionary, by George Borrow +#8 in our series by George Borrow + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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We need your donations. + + +Title: Romano Lavo-Lil +Title: Romany Dictionary +Title: Gypsy Dictionary + +Author: George Borrow + +July, 2001 [Etext #2733] + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow +The Project Gutenberg Etext Romany Dictionary, by George Borrow +The Project Gutenberg Etext Gypsy Dictionary, by George Borrow +******This file should be named rmlav10.txt or rmlav10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, rmlav11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, rmlav10a.txt + + +This etext was prepared by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk, +from the 1905 John Murray edition. + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk, +from the 1905 John Murray edition. + + + + + +ROMANO LAVO-LIL +WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY +OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE +WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND AN +ACCONT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR +PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND +OF VARIOS THINGS RELATING TO +GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND. + +by George Borrow + + + + +Contents: + +The English Gypsy Language +Romano Lavo-Lil: Word-book of the Romany +Rhymed List of Gypsy Verbs +Betie Rokrapenes: Little Sayings +Cotorres of Mi-dibble's Lil. Chiv'd Adrey Romanes: Pieces of +Scripture cast into Romany +The Lord's Prayer in the Gypsy Dialect of Transylvania +Lil of Romano Jinnypen: Book of the Wisdom of the Egyptians +Romane Navior of Temes and Gavior: Gypsy Names of Countries and +Towns +Thomas Rossar-Mescro, or Thomas Herne +Kokkodus Artarus +Mang, Prala: Beg on, Brother +English Gypsy Songs + Welling Kattaney: The Gypsy Meeting + Lelling Cappi: Making a Fortune + The Dui Chalor: The Two Gypsies + Miro Romany Chi: My Roman Lass + Ava, Chi: Yes, my Girl + The Temeskoe Rye: The Youthful Earl + Camo-Gillie: Love Song + Tugnis Amande: Woe is me + The Rye and the Rawne: The Squire and Lady + Romany Suttur Gillie: Gypsy Lullaby + Sharrafi Kralyissa: Our Blessed Queen + Plastra Lesti: Run for it! +Foreign Gypsy Songs + The Romany Songstress + L'Erajai: The Frair + Malbrun: Malbrouk +The English Gypsies + Tugney Beshor: Sorrowful Years + Their History +Gypsy Names +Fortune-Telling + The Hukni + Cauring +Metropolitan Gypsyries + Wandsworth + The Potteries + The Mount +Ryley Bosvil +Kirk Yetholm + + + + +"Can you rokra Romany? +Can you play the bosh? +Can you jal adrey the staripen? +Can you chin the cost?" + +"Can you speak the Roman tongue? +Can you play the fiddle? +Can you eat the prison-loaf? +Can you cut and whittle?" + +The Author of the present work wishes to state that the Vocabulary, +which forms part of it, has existed in manuscript for many years. It +is one of several vocabularies of various dialects of the Gypsy +tongue, made by him in different countries. The most considerable-- +that of the dialect of the Zincali or Rumijelies (Romany Chals) of +Spain--was published in the year 1841. Amongst those which remain +unpublished is one of the Transylvanian Gypsy, made principally at +Kolosvar in the year 1844. + +December 1, 1873. + +{Special Project Gutenberg note: In this book a lot of non-European +characters are used which cannot easily be reproduced. Rather than +omit these entirely I have commented where they occur in the text. +If there's sufficient demand I'll try to produce an updated text with +these characters. David Price, 28 June 2000} + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE + + + +The Gypsies of England call their language, as the Gypsies of many +other countries call theirs, Romany or Romanes, a word either derived +from the Indian Ram or Rama, which signifies a husband, or from the +town Rome, which took its name either from the Indian Ram, or from +the Gaulic word, Rom, which is nearly tantamount to husband or man, +for as the Indian Ram means a husband or man, so does the Gaulic Pom +signify that which constitutes a man and enables him to become a +husband. + +Before entering on the subject of the English Gypsy, I may perhaps be +expected to say something about the original Gypsy tongue. It is, +however, very difficult to say with certainty anything on the +subject. There can be no doubt that a veritable Gypsy tongue at one +time existed, but that it at present exists there is great doubt +indeed. The probability is that the Gypsy at present exists only in +dialects more or less like the language originally spoken by the +Gypsy or Zingaro race. Several dialects of the Gypsy are to be found +which still preserve along with a considerable number of seemingly +original words certain curious grammatical forms, quite distinct from +those of any other speech. Others are little more than jargons, in +which a certain number of Gypsy words are accommodated to the +grammatical forms of the languages of particular countries. In the +foremost class of the purer Gypsy dialects, I have no hesitation in +placing those of Russia, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Transylvania. They +are so alike, that he who speaks one of them can make himself very +well understood by those who speak any of the rest; from whence it +may reasonably be inferred that none of them can differ much from the +original Gypsy speech; so that when speaking of Gypsy language, any +one of these may be taken as a standard. One of them--I shall not +mention which--I have selected for that purpose, more from fancy than +any particular reason. + +The Gypsy language, then, or what with some qualification I may call +such, may consist of some three thousand words, the greater part of +which are decidedly of Indian origin, being connected with the +Sanscrit or some other Indian dialect; the rest consist of words +picked up by the Gypsies from various languages in their wanderings +from the East. It has two genders, masculine and feminine; o +represents the masculine and i the feminine: for example, boro rye, +a great gentleman; bori rani, a great lady. There is properly no +indefinite article: gajo or gorgio, a man or gentile; o gajo, the +man. The noun has two numbers, the singular and the plural. It has +various cases formed by postpositions, but has, strictly speaking, no +genitive. It has prepositions as well as postpositions; sometimes +the preposition is used with the noun and sometimes the postposition: +for example, cad o gav, from the town; chungale mannochendar, evil +men from, i.e. from evil men. The verb has no infinitive; in lieu +thereof, the conjunction 'that' is placed before some person of some +tense. 'I wish to go' is expressed in Gypsy by camov te jaw, +literally, I wish that I go; thou wishest to go, caumes te jas, thou +wishest that thou goest; caumen te jallan, they wish that they go. +Necessity is expressed by the impersonal verb and the conjunction +'that': hom te jay, I must go; lit. I am that I go; shan te jallan, +they are that they go; and so on. There are words to denote the +numbers from one up to a thousand. For the number nine there are two +words, nu and ennyo. Almost all the Gypsy numbers are decidedly +connected with the Sanscrit. + +After these observations on what may be called the best preserved +kind of Gypsy, I proceed to a lower kind, that of England. The +English Gypsy speech is very scanty, amounting probably to not more +than fourteen hundred words, the greater part of which seem to be of +Indian origin. The rest form a strange medley taken by the Gypsies +from various Eastern and Western languages: some few are Arabic, +many are Persian; some are Sclavo-Wallachian, others genuine +Sclavonian. Here and there a Modern Greek or Hungarian word is +discoverable; but in the whole English Gypsy tongue I have never +noted but one French word--namely, tass or dass, by which some of the +very old Gypsies occasionally call a cup. + +Their vocabulary being so limited, the Gypsies have of course words +of their own only for the most common objects and ideas; as soon as +they wish to express something beyond these they must have recourse +to English, and even to express some very common objects, ideas, and +feelings, they are quite at a loss in their own tongue, and must +either employ English words or very vague terms indeed. They have +words for the sun and the moon, but they have no word for the stars, +and when they wish to name them in Gypsy, they use a word answering +to 'lights.' They have a word for a horse and for a mare, but they +have no word for a colt, which in some other dialects of the Gypsy is +called kuro; and to express a colt they make use of the words tawno +gry, a little horse, which after all may mean a pony. They have +words for black, white, and red, but none for the less positive +colours--none for grey, green, and yellow. They have no definite +word either for hare or rabbit; shoshoi, by which they generally +designate a rabbit, signifies a hare as well, and kaun-engro, a word +invented to distinguish a hare, and which signifies ear-fellow, is no +more applicable to a hare than to a rabbit, as both have long ears. +They have no certain word either for to-morrow or yesterday, collico +signifying both indifferently. A remarkable coincidence must here be +mentioned, as it serves to show how closely related are Sanscrit and +Gypsy. Shoshoi and collico are nearly of the same sound as the +Sanscrit sasa and kalya, and exactly of the same import; for as the +Gypsy shoshoi signifies both hare and rabbit, and collico to-morrow +as well as yesterday, so does the Sanscrit sasa signify both hare and +rabbit, and kalya tomorrow as well as yesterday. + +The poverty of their language in nouns the Gypsies endeavour to +remedy by the frequent use of the word engro. This word affixed to a +noun or verb turns it into something figurative, by which they +designate, seldom very appropriately, some object for which they have +no positive name. Engro properly means a fellow, and engri, which is +the feminine or neuter modification, a thing. When the noun or verb +terminates in a vowel, engro is turned into mengro, and engri into +mengri. I have already shown how, by affixing engro to kaun, the +Gypsies have invented a word to express a hare. In like manner, by +affixing engro to pov, earth, they have coined a word for a potato, +which they call pov-engro or pov-engri, earth-fellow or thing; and by +adding engro to rukh, or mengro to rooko, they have really a very +pretty figurative name for a squirrel, which they call rukh-engro or +rooko-mengro, literally a fellow of the tree. Poggra-mengri, a +breaking thing, and pea-mengri, a drinking thing, by which they +express, respectively, a mill and a teapot, will serve as examples of +the manner by which they turn verbs into substantives. This method +of finding names for objects, for which there are properly no terms +in Gypsy, might be carried to a great length--much farther, indeed, +than the Gypsies are in the habit of carrying it: a slack-rope +dancer might be termed bittitardranoshellokellimengro, or slightly- +drawn-rope-dancing fellow; a drum, duicoshtcurenomengri, or a thing +beaten by two sticks; a tambourine, angustrecurenimengri, or a thing +beaten by the fingers; and a fife, muipudenimengri, or thing blown by +the mouth. All these compound words, however, would be more or less +indefinite, and far beyond the comprehension of the Gypsies in +general. + +The verbs are very few, and with two or three exceptions expressive +only of that which springs from what is physical and bodily, totally +unconnected with the mind, for which, indeed, the English Gypsy has +no word; the term used for mind, zi--which is a modification of the +Hungarian sziv--meaning heart. There are such verbs in this dialect +as to eat, drink, walk, run, hear, see, live, die; but there are no +such verbs as to hope, mean, hinder, prove, forbid, teaze, soothe. +There is the verb apasavello, I believe; but that word, which is +Wallachian, properly means being trusted, and was incorporated in the +Gypsy language from the Gypsies obtaining goods on trust from the +Wallachians, which they never intended to pay for. There is the verb +for love, camova; but that word is expressive of physical desire, and +is connected with the Sanscrit Cama, or Cupid. Here, however, the +English must not triumph over the Gypsies, as their own verb 'love' +is connected with a Sanscrit word signifying 'lust.' One pure and +abstract metaphysical verb the English Gypsy must be allowed to +possess--namely, penchava, I think, a word of illustrious origin, +being derived from the Persian pendashtan. + +The English Gypsies can count up to six, and have the numerals for +ten and twenty, but with those for seven, eight, and nine, perhaps +not three Gypsies in England are acquainted. When they wish to +express those numerals in their own language, they have recourse to +very uncouth and roundabout methods, saying for seven, dui trins ta +yeck, two threes and one; for eight, dui stors, or two fours; and for +nine, desh sore but yeck, or ten all but one. Yet at one time the +English Gypsies possessed all the numerals as their Transylvanian, +Wallachian, and Russian brethren still do; even within the last fifty +years there were Gypsies who could count up to a hundred. These were +tatchey Romany, real Gypsies, of the old sacred black race, who never +slept in a house, never entered a church, and who, on their death- +beds, used to threaten their children with a curse, provided they +buried them in a churchyard. The two last of them rest, it is +believed, some six feet deep beneath the moss of a wild, hilly +heath,--called in Gypsy the Heviskey Tan, or place of holes; in +English, Mousehold,--near an ancient city, which the Gentiles call +Norwich, and the Romans the Chong Gav, or the town of the hill. + +With respect to Grammar, the English Gypsy is perhaps in a worse +condition than with respect to words. Attention is seldom paid to +gender; boro rye and boro rawnie being said, though as rawnie is +feminine, bori and not boro should be employed. The proper Gypsy +plural terminations are retained in nouns, but in declension +prepositions are generally substituted for postpositions, and those +prepositions English. The proper way of conjugating verbs is seldom +or never observed, and the English method is followed. They say, I +dick, I see, instead of dico; I dick'd, I saw, instead of dikiom; if +I had dick'd, instead of dikiomis. Some of the peculiar features of +Gypsy grammar yet retained by the English Gypsies will be found noted +in the Dictionary. + +I have dwelt at some length on the deficiencies and shattered +condition of the English Gypsy tongue; justice, however, compels me +to say that it is far purer and less deficient than several of the +continental Gypsy dialects. It preserves far more of original Gypsy +peculiarities than the French, Italian, and Spanish dialects, and its +words retain more of the original Gypsy form than the words of those +three; moreover, however scanty it may be, it is far more copious +than the French or the Italian Gypsy, though it must be owned that in +respect to copiousness it is inferior to the Spanish Gypsy, which is +probably the richest in words of all the Gypsy dialects in the world, +having names for very many of the various beasts, birds, and creeping +things, for most of the plants and fruits, for all the days of the +week, and all the months in the year; whereas most other Gypsy +dialects, the English amongst them, have names for only a few common +animals and insects, for a few common fruits and natural productions, +none for the months, and only a name for a single day--the Sabbath-- +which name is a modification of the Modern Greek [Greek text: ]. + +Though the English Gypsy is generally spoken with a considerable +alloy of English words and English grammatical forms, enough of its +proper words and features remain to form genuine Gypsy sentences, +which shall be understood not only by the Gypsies of England, but by +those of Russia, Hungary, Wallachia, and even of Turkey; for +example:- + + +Kek man camov te jib bolli-mengreskoenaes, +Man camov te jib weshenjugalogonaes. + +I do not wish to live like a baptized person. {1} +I wish to live like a dog of the wood. {2} + + +It is clear-sounding and melodious, and well adapted to the purposes +of poetry. Let him who doubts peruse attentively the following +lines:- + + +Coin si deya, coin se dado? +Pukker mande drey Romanes, +Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + +Rossar-mescri minri deya! +Wardo-mescro minro dado! +Coin se dado, coin si deya? +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes; +Knau pukker tute mande. + +Petulengro minro dado, +Purana minri deya! +Tatchey Romany si men - +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes, +Ta tute's pukker'd mande. + + +The first three lines of the above ballad are perhaps the oldest +specimen of English Gypsy at present extant, and perhaps the purest. +They are at least as old as the time of Elizabeth, and can pass among +the Zigany in the heart of Russia for Ziganskie. The other lines are +not so ancient. The piece is composed in a metre something like that +of the ancient Sclavonian songs, and contains the questions which two +strange Gypsies, who suddenly meet, put to each other, and the +answers which they return. + +In using the following Vocabulary the Continental manner of +pronouncing certain vowels will have to be observed: thus ava must +be pronounced like auva, according to the English style; ker like +kare, miro like meero, zi like zee, and puro as if it were written +pooro. + + + +ROMANO LAVO-LIL--WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY + +A + +ABRI, ad. prep. Out, not within, abroad: soving abri, sleeping +abroad, not in a house. Celtic, Aber (the mouth or outlet of a +river). + +Acai / Acoi, ad. Here. + +Adje, v. n. To stay, stop. See Atch, az. + +Adrey, prep. Into. + +Ajaw, ad. So. Wallachian, Asha. + +Aladge, a. Ashamed. Sans. Latch, laj. + +Aley, ad. Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin aley, to buy off, +ransom. Hun. Ala, alat. + +Amande, pro. pers. dat. To me. + +An, v. a. imp. Bring: an lis opre, bring it up. + +Ana, v. a. Bring. Sans. Ani. + +Ando, prep. In. + +Anglo, prep. Before. + +Apasavello, v. n. I believe. + +Apopli, ad. Again. Spanish Gypsy, Apala (after). Wal. Apoi (then, +afterwards). + +Apre, ad. prep. Up: kair lis apre, do it up. Vid. Opre. + +Aranya / Araunya, s. Lady. Hungarian Gypsy, Aranya. See Rawnie. + +Artav / Artavello, v. a. To pardon, forgive. Wal. Ierta. Span. +Gyp. Estomar. + +Artapen, s. Pardon, forgiveness. + +Artaros. Arthur. + +Asa / Asau, ad. Also, likewise, too: meero pal asau, my brother +also. + +Asarlas, ad. At all, in no manner. + +Asa. An affix used in forming the second person singular of the +present tense; e.g. camasa, thou lovest. + +Astis, a. Possible, it is possible: astis mangue, I can; astis +lengue, they can. + +Asha / Ashaw, ad. So: ashaw sorlo, so early. Wal. Asha. See Ajaw. + +Atch, v. n. To stay, stop. + +Atch opre. Keep up. + +Atraish, a. part. Afraid. Sans. Tras (to fear), atrasit +(frightened). See Traish. + +Av, imperat. of Ava, to come: av abri, come out. + +Ava, ad. Yes. Sans. Eva. + +Ava, v. a. To come. + +Avata acoi. Come thou here. + +Avali, ad. Yes. Wal. Aieva (really). + +Avava. An affix by which the future tense of a verb is formed, e.g. +mor-avava, I will kill. See Vava. + +Aukko, ad. Here. + +Az, v. n. To stay. + +B + +BAL, s. Hair. Tibetian, Bal (wool). Sans. Bala (hair). + +Baleneskoe, a. Hairy. + +Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Balanser, s. The coin called a sovereign. + +Ballivas, s. Bacon. Span. Gyp. Baliba. + +Bangalo, a. Devilish. See Beng, bengako. + +Bango, a. Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the left hand; +to saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear bodily like a +Bow-street runner. Sans. Pangu (lame). Hun. Pang, pango (stiff, +lazy, paralysed). + +Bar, s. A stone, a stoneweight, a pound sterling. Span. Gyp. Bar. +Hun. Gyp. Bar. Hindustani, Puthur. Wal. Piatre. Fr. Pierre. Gr. +[Greek: ] (weight). + +Bareskey, a. Stony. + +Bark, s. Breast, woman's breast. + +Bas / Base, s. Pound sterling. Wal. Pes (a weight, burden). + +Bas-engro, s. A shepherd. Run. Bacso. + +Bashadi, s. A fiddle. + +Bata, s. A bee. Sans. Pata. + +Bau, s. Fellow, comrade. See Baw. + +Baul, s. Snail. See Bowle. + +Baulo, s. Pig, swine. The proper meaning of this word is anything +swollen, anything big or bulky. It is connected with the English +bowle or bole, the trunk of a tree; also with bowl, boll, and belly; +also with whale, the largest of fish, and wale, a tumour; also with +the Welsh bol, a belly, and bala, a place of springs and eruptions. +It is worthy of remark that the English word pig, besides denoting +the same animal as baulo, is of the same original import, being +clearly derived from the same root as big, that which is bulky, and +the Turkish buyuk, great, huge, vast. + +Baulie-mas, s. Pork, swine's flesh. + +Bavano. Windy, broken-winded. + +Bavol, s. Wind, air. Sans. Pavana. See Beval. + +Bavol-engro, s. A wind-fellow; figurative name for a ghost. + +Baw, bau, s. Fellow, comrade: probably the same as the English +country-word baw, bor. Ger. Bauer. Av acoi, baw, Come here, +fellow. Boer, in Wallachian, signifies a boyard or lord. + +Beano, part. pass. Born. + +Beano abri. Born out of doors, like a Gypsy or vagrant. + +Bebee, s. Aunt. Rus. Baba (grandmother, old woman, hag); Baba Yaga, +the female demon of the Steppes. + +Beng / Bengui, s. Devil. Sans. Pangka (mud). According to the +Hindu mythology, there is a hell of mud; the bengues of the Gypsies +seem to be its tenants. + +Bengako tan, s. Hell. Lit. place belonging to devils. + +Bengeskoe potan. Devil's tinder, sulphur. + +Bengeskoe / Benglo, a. Devilish. + +Bengree, s. Waistcoat. Span. Gyp. Blani. Wal. (Blani fur). + +Berro, bero, s. A ship, a hulk for convicts. Span. Gyp. Bero, las +galeras, the galleys; presidio, convict garrison. + +Ber-engro, s. A sailor. + +Bero-rukh, s. A mast. + +Bersh / Besh, s. A year. Sans. Varsha. He could cour drey his +besh, he could fight in his time. + +Bershor, pl. Years. + +Besh, v. n. To sit: beshel, he sits. + +Beshaley / Beshly, Gypsy name of the Stanley tribe. + +Besh-engri, s. A chair. See Skammen. + +Beti, a. Little, small. + +Beval, s. Wind. See Bavol. + +Bi, prep. Without: bi luvvu, without money. + +Bicunyie, a. Alone, undone: meklis or mukalis bicunyie, let it +alone. + +Bikhin / Bin v. a. To sell. Hin. Bikna. + +Bikhnipen, s. Sale. + +Birk, s. Woman's breast. See Bark. + +Bis, a. Twenty. + +Bisheni, s. The ague. + +Bitch / Bitcha, v. a. To send. Sans. Bis, bisa. + +Bitched / Bitcheno, part. pass. Sent + +Bitcheno pawdel. Sent across, transported. + +Bitti, s. a. Small, piece, a little. This word is not true Gypsy. + +Bloen / Blowing, A cant word, but of Gypsy origin, signifying a +sister in debauchery, as Pal denotes a brother in villainy. It is +the Plani and Beluni of the Spanish Gypsies, by whom sometimes Beluni +is made to signify queen; e.g. Beluni de o tarpe (tem opre), the +Queen of Heaven, the Virgin. Blower is used by Lord Byron, in his +'Don Juan.' Speaking of the highwayman whom the Don shoots in the +vicinity of London, he says that he used to go to such-and-such +places of public resort with--his blowen. + +Bob, s. A bean. Wal. Bob: pl. bobbis, bobs. + +Boccalo, a. Hungry: boccale pers, hungry bellies. + +Bokht, s. Luck, fortune: kosko bokht, good luck. Sans. Bhagya. +Pers. Bakht. + +Bokra, s. A sheep. Hun. Birka. + +Bokra-choring. Sheep-stealing. + +Bokkar-engro, s. A shepherd: bokkar-engro drey, the dude, man in +the moon. + +Bokkari-gueri, s. Shepherdess. + +Bokkeriskoe, a. Sheepish, belonging to a sheep: bokkeriskey pire, +sheep's feet. + +Bolla, v. a. To baptize. + +Bonnek, s. Hold: lel bonnek, to take hold. + +Booko, s. Liver. See Bucca. + +Bolleskoe divvus. Christmas-day; query, baptismal day. Wal. Botez +(baptism). + +Bollimengreskoenaes. After the manner of a Christian. + +Boogones, s. Smallpox, pimples. See Bugnior. + +Bor, s. A hedge. + +Boona, a. Good. Lat. Bonus. Wal. Boun. + +Booty, s. Work. + +Bori, a. fem. Big with child, enceinte. + +Booty, v. a. To work, labour. + +Boro, a. Great, big. Hin. Bura. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (heavy). + +Borobeshemeskeguero, s. Judge, great-sitting-fellow. + +Boro Gav. London, big city. See Lundra. + +Boronashemeskrutan. Epsom race-course. + +Bosh, s. Fiddle. Pers. [Persian: ] Bazee, baz (play, joke), whence +the English cant word 'bosh.' See Bashadi. + +Boshomengro, s. Fiddler. + +Bosno / Boshno, s. A cock, male-bird. Sans. Puchchin. Wal. Bosh +(testicle). Gaelic, Baois (libidinousness). + +Boshta, s. A saddle. + +Bostaris, s. A bastard. + +Bovalo, a. Rich. Sans. Bala (strong). + +Bowle, s. Snail. See Baul. + +Brishen / Brisheno, s. Rain. Hun. Gyp. Breshino. Sans. Vrish. +Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Brisheneskey, a. Rainy: brisheneskey rarde, a rainy night; +brisheneskey chiros, a time of rain. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Bucca, s. Liver. Sans. Bucca (heart). Wal. Phikat. + +Bucca naflipen, s. Liver-complaint. + +Buchee, s. Work, labour. See Butsi. + +Buddigur, s. A shop. Span. Bodega. + +Buddikur divvus, s. Shopping-day: Wednesday, Saturday. + +Bugnes / Bugnior, s. pl. Smallpox, blisters. Gael. Boc (a pimple), +bolg (a blister), bolgach (small-pox). Wal. Mougour (a bud). Fr. +Bourgeon. + +Buklo, a. Hungry: buklo tan, hungry spot, a common. Hun. Gyp. +Buklo tan (a wilderness). + +Bul, s. Rump, buttock. + +Bungshoror / Bungyoror, s. pl. Corks. + +Busnis / Busnior, s. pl. Spurs, prickles. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(pain, torment). + +Buroder, ad. More: ad. ne buroder, no more. + +Bute, a. ad. Much, very. Hin. But. + +Butsi / Buty, s. Work, labour. + +Butying. Working. + +C + +CAEN / Cane, v. n. To stink. + +Caenipen / Canipen, s. A stench. + +Caeninaflipen, s. Stinking sickness, the plague, gaol-fever. The +old cant word Canihen, signifying the gaol-fever, is derived from +this Gypsy term. + +Candelo / Cannelo, a. Stinking: cannelo mas, stinking meat. Sans. +Gandha (smell). + +Callico / Collico, s. To-morrow, also yesterday: collico sorlo, to- +morrow morning. Sans. Kalya. Hin. Kal (to-morrow, yesterday). + +Cana, ad. Now: cana sig, now soon. See Kanau, knau. + +Cam, s. The sun. Hin. Khan. Heb. Khama (the sun), kham (heat). + +Cam. To wish, desire, love. + +Cam / Camello / Camo, v. a. To love. Sans. Cama (love). Cupid; +from which Sanscrit word the Latin Amor is derived. + +Cambori / Cambri, a. Pregnant, big with child. + +Camlo / Caumlo, Lovel, name of a Gypsy tribe. Lit. amiable. With +this word the English "comely" is connected. + +Camo-mescro, s. A lover; likewise the name Lovel. + +Can, s. The sun. + +Can, s. An ear. See Kaun. + +Cana, ad. Now: cana sig, now soon. See Kanau. + +Canafi / Canapli, Turnip. + +Canairis. A Gypsy name. + +Canior / Caunor, s. pl. Pease. + +Canni. A hen. Span. Gyp. Cani. Hun. Gyp. Cackni. Gael. Cearc. + +Cannis. Hens. + +Cappi, s. Booty, gain, fortune: to lel cappi, to acquire booty, +make a capital, a fortune. + +Cas, s. Hay: cas-stiggur, haystack; cas kairing, hay-making. + +Cas, s. Cheese. Lat. Caseus. This word is used by the pikers or +tramps, as well as by the Gypsies. See Kael. + +Catches / Catsau, s. pl. Scissors. Hun. Kasza. Wal. Kositsie +(sickle). Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Rus. Kosa. + +Cato, prep. To; more properly From. Hun. Gyp. Cado. Wal. Katre +(towards). + +Cavo, pron. dem. This. + +Cavocoi. This here. + +Cavocoiskoenoes. In this manner. + +Caur, v. a. To filch, steal in an artful manner by bending down. +Heb. [Hebrew: ] Cara, incurvavit se. Eng. Cower. + +Cayes, s. Silk. Pers. [Persian:] Span. Gyp. Quequesa. Sans. +Kauseya. + +Chal, s. Lad, boy, son, fellow. Connected with this word is the +Scottish Chiel, the Old English Childe, and the Russian Chelovik. +See Romani chal. + +Charo, s. Plate, dish. + +Chavali, s.f. Girl, damsel. + +Chavi, s.f. Child, girl, daughter. + +Cham, s. Leather: chameskie rokunies, leather breeches. Sans. +Charma (skin). + +Chavo, s. m. Child, son: pl. chaves. Cheaus is an old French +hunting term for the young ones of a fox. + +Charos / Cheros, s. Heaven. Wal. Cher. + +Chauvo, s. See Chavo. + +Chaw, s. Grass. + +Chawhoktamengro, s. Grasshopper. See Hokta. + +Chee, a. No, none: chee butsi, no work. See Chi, chichi. + +Chericlo, s. Bird. See Chiriclo. + +Chiricleskey tan, s. Aviary, birdcage. + +Chi, s.f. Child, daughter, girl: Romany chi, Gypsy girl. + +Chi / Chichi / Chiti, s. Nothing. + +Chin, v. a. To cut: chin lis tuley, cut it down. Sans. Chun (to +cut off). Hin. Chink. Gaelic, Sgian (a knife). + +Chin the cost. To cut the stick; to cut skewers for butchers and +pegs for linen-lines, a grand employment of the Gypsy fellows in the +neighbourhood of London. + +China-mengri, s.f. A letter; a thing incised, marked, written in. + +China-mengro, s. Hatchet. Lit. cutting-thing. + +Chinipen, s. A cut. + +Ching / Chingaro, v. a. To fight, quarrel. + +Chinga-guero, s. A warrior. + +Chingaripen, s. War, strife. Sans. Sangara. + +Chingring, part. pres. Fighting, quarrelling. + +Chik, s. Earth, dirt. Span. Gyp. Chique. Hin. Chikkar. + +Chiklo, a. Dirty. + +Chiriclo, s. m. Bird. Hin. Chiriya. + +Chiricli, s.f. Hen-bird. + +Chiros, s. Time. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Chiv / Chiva / Chuva, v. a. To cast, fling, throw, place, put: chiv +lis tuley, fling it down; chiv oprey, put up. Rus. Kyio (to forge, +cast iron). Sans. Kship. + +Chiving tulipen prey the chokkars. Greasing the shoes. + +Chofa, s.f. Petticoat. + +Chohawni, s. Witch. See Chovahano. + +Chohawno, s. Wizard. + +Chok, s. Watch, watching. + +Chok-engro, s. Watchman. + +Chok, s. Shoe: chokkor, chokkors, shoes. Hun. Czoko (wooden shoe). + +Choko-mengro. Shoemaker. + +Choka, s. Coat. + +Chokni / Chukni, s. Whip. Wal. Chokini (a strap, leather). Hun. +Csakany (a mace, sledge hammer). Hun. Gyp. Chokano (a staff). Wal. +Chokan, chokinel (a hammer). + +Chukni wast, s. The whip-hand, the mastery. + +Chollo, a. s. Whole. + +Chomany, s. Something. Span. Gyp. Cormuni (some); chimoni +(anything). Wal. Chineba (some one). For every chomany there's a +lav in Romany: there's a name in Gypsy for everything. + +Chong, s. Knee. Hun. Czomb. Sans. Chanu. Lat. Genu. + +Chongor, pl. Knees. + +Choom / Choomava, v. a. To kiss. Sans. Chumb. Choomande, kiss me. +Span. Gyp. Chupendi (a kiss), a corruption of Choomande. + +Choomia, s. A kiss. + +Choomo-mengro, one of the tribe Boswell. + +Choon, s. Moon. Hun. Gyp. Chemut. Sans. Chandra. + +Choot, s. Vinegar. See Chute. + +Chore, v. a. To steal. Sans. Chur. + +Chore, s. Thief. Hin. Chor. + +Chories, pl. Thieves. + +Chor-dudee-mengri, s. [Greek: ] (thieves' lantern, dark lantern). + +Choredo, a. Poor, poverty stricken. Sans. Daridra. + +Choredi, fem. of Choredo. + +Choriness, s. Poverty. + +Choro, a. Poor. Span. Gyp. Chororo. Hin. Shor. + +Chovahan, v. a. To bewitch. + +Chovahani / Chowian, s.f. Witch. + +Chovahano, s. Wizard. + +Choveno, a. Poor, needy, starved. Perhaps derived from the Russian +Tchernoe (black, dirty, wretched); or from the Hungarian Csunya +(hateful, frightful); whence the Chungalo of the Hungarian, and also +of the Spanish Gypsies. + +Choveni, fem. of Choveno. + +Choveno ker, s. Workhouse, poorhouse. + +Chukkal, s. Dog. Span. Gyp. Chuquel. Sans. Kukkura. Basque, +Chacurra. See Juggal. + +Chumba, s. Bank, hill. Russ. Xolm (a hill). + +Chungarava / Chungra, v. a. To spit. Wal. Ckouina. Hun. Gyp. +Chudel (he spits). + +Churi, s. Knife. Sans. Chhuri. Hin. Churi. + +Churi-mengro, s. Knife-grinder, cutler. + +Churo-mengro, s. A soldier, swordsman. + +Chute, s. Vinegar. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Otset. + +Chute-pavi, s. Cyder; perhaps a crab-apple. Lit. vinegar-apple. + +Chuvvenhan, s. Witch. See Chovahani. + +Cinerella. Female Gypsy name. + +Cocal, s. Bone. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Cocalor, pl. Bones. + +Coco / Cocodus, s. Uncle. Hin. Caucau. + +Cocoro / Cocoros, a. pro. Alone, self: tu cocoro, thyself. + +Coin, pro. interrog. Who? Hin. Kaun. + +Collor, s. pl. Shillings: dui collor a crookos, two shillings a +week. In Spanish Germania or cant, two ochavos, or farthings, are +called: dui cales. + +Comorrus, s. A room, hall. Hun. Kamara. Hin. Cumra. Ger. Kammer. + +Cong, congl, v. a. To comb. + +Congli / Congro, s.f. A comb. Sans. Kanagata. + +Congri, s.f. A church. + +Coor / Coorava, v. a. To fight. Irish, Comhrac [courac]. Welsh, +Curaw (to beat). + +Coorapen, s. Fight, a beating: I shall lel a curapen, I shall get a +beating. + +Cooroboshno, s. A fighting cock. + +Cooromengro, s. Fighter, boxer, soldier. + +Coppur, s. Blanket. Rus. Kover (a carpet). Wal. Kovor, id. + +Corauni / Corooni, s. A crown: mekrauliskie corauni, royal crown. +Wal. Coroan. + +Cori, s. Thorn. Membrum virile. Span. Carajo [caraco]. Gascon, +Quirogau. + +Coro / Coru, s. Pot, pitcher, cup: coru levinor, cup of ale; boro +coro, a quart. Span. Gyp. Coro. Hin. Ghara. + +Coro-mengro, s. Potter. + +Coro-mengreskey tem. Staffordshire. + +Corredo, a. Blind. Span. Gyp. Corroro. Pers. [Persian:] Wal. Kior +(one-eyed). + +Cosht / Cost, s. Stick. Sans. Kashtha. + +Cost-engres, s. pl. Branch-fellows, people of the New Forest, +Stanleys. + +Coshtno, a. Wooden. + +Covar / Covo, s. Thing: covars, things; covar-bikhning-vardo, a +caravan in which goods are carried about for sale. + +Crafni, s. Button. Ger. Knopf. + +Crafni-mengro, s. Buttonmaker. + +Creeor, s. pl. Ants, pismires. Span. Gyp. Ocrianse (the ant), +quiria (ant). + +Cricni / Crookey / Crookauros / Crookos, s. Week. See Curco. + +Cuesni, s. Basket. See Cushnee. + +Culvato (Gypsy name). Claude. + +Curaken, s. Fighting. See Coorapen. + +Curepen, s. Trouble, affliction: curepenis, afflictions. + +Curkey / Curko, s. Week, Sunday. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Curlo, s. Throat. Pers. [Persian: ] Chin his curlo, cut his +throat. + +Curlo-mengri, s. A ruff, likewise a pillow; anything belonging to +the throat or neck. + +Cushnee / Cushni / Cusnee, s. Basket. Wal. Koshnitse. + +Cuttor, s. A piece, a guinea-piece: dui cuttor, two guineas; will +you lel a cuttor, will you take a bit? sore in cuttors, all in rags. + +D + +DAD, s. Father. Welsh, Tad. Wal. Tat. Rus. Gyp. Dad. + +Dado, s. Father. Rus. Gyp. Dado. + +Dand, s. Tooth. Sans. Danta. + +Danior, pl. Teeth. + +Dand, v. a. To bite. + +Daya / Dieya, s. Mother, properly nurse. Sans. Dhayas (fostering). +Pers. [Persian: ] Daya. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. Rus. Gyp. Daia. +Wal. Doika. + +Deav, v. a. Give. Sans. Da. Wal. Da. + +Del. He gives. + +Del-engro, s. A kicking-horse. + +Del-oprey, v. a. To read. + +Denne, ad. Than. + +Der. An affix, by which the comparative is formed; e.g. Wafodu, bad: +wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Desch, a. Ten. Sans. Dasan. Wal. Zetche. + +Desh ta yeck. Eleven. + +Desh ta dui. Twelve. + +Desh ta trin. Thirteen. + +Desh ta store. Fourteen. + +Desh ta pansch. Fifteen. + +Desh ta sho. Sixteen. + +Desh ta eft. Seventeen. + +Deshko. Eighteen (?): deshko hori, eighteenpence; properly, Desh ta +octo hori. + +Devel, s. God. Sans. Deva. Lith. Dewas. Lat. Deus. See Dibble, +Dovvel, Dubbel. + +Develeskoe, s. Holy, divine. Sans. Deva. + +Deyed, pret. of Deav. He gave. + +Dibble, s. God. See Devel. + +Dic / Dico, v. n. To look: dic tuley, look down; dicking misto, +looking well. Sans. Iksh (to see, look). Gaelic, Dearcam (to see); +dearc (eye). + +Dickimengro, s. Overlooker, overseer. + +Dicking hev, s. A window, seeing-hole. + +Die, s. Mother. Rus. Gyp. Die. See Daya. + +Dikkipen, s. Look, image. Sans. Driksha (aspect). Welsh, Drych +(aspect). + +Diklo, s. Cloth, sheet, shift. + +Dinnelo, s. A fool, one possessed by the devil. Wal. Diniele (of +the devil); louat diniele (possessed by the devil). + +Dinneleskoe, a. Foolish. + +Dinneleskoenoes. Like a fool. + +Dinnelipenes, s. pl. Follies, nonsense. + +Diverous. A Gypsy name. + +Diviou, a. Mad: jawing diviou, going mad. Sans. Deva (a god, a +fool). + +Diviou-ker, s. Madhouse. + +Diviou kokkodus Artaros. Mad Uncle Arthur. + +Divvus, s. Day. Sans. Divasa. + +Divveskoe / Divvuskoe, a. Daily: divvuskoe morro, daily bread. + +Diximengro, s. Overseer. See Dickimengro. + +Dook, v. a. To hurt, bewitch: dook the gry, bewitch the horse. +Wal. Deokira (to fascinate, bewitch). See Duke, dukker. + +Dooriya / Dooya, s. Sea. Pers. [Persian: ] Irish, Deire (the +deep). Welsh, Dwr (water). Old Irish, Dobhar. + +Dooriya durril, s. Currant, plum. Lit. Sea-berry. + +Dooriya durrileskie guyi, s. Plum pudding. + +Dori, s. Thread, lace: kaulo dori, black lace. Hin. Dora. + +Dosch / Dosh, s. Evil, harm: kek dosh, no harm. Sans. Dush (bad). + +Dosta, s. Enough. Wal. Destoul. Rus. Dostaet (it is sufficient). +See Dusta. + +Dou, imp. Give: dou mande, give me. See Deav. + +Dou dass. Cup and saucer. See Dui das. + +Dovo, pro. dem. That: dovo si, that's it. + +Dovor. Those, they: wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Dov-odoy / Dovoy-oduvva, ad. Yonder. + +Dov-odoyskoenaes. In that manner. + +Doovel, s. God. See Duvvel. + +Drab / Drav, s. Medicine, poison. Pers. [Persian: ] Daru. Wal. +Otrav. + +Drab-engro / Drav-engro, s. A pothecary, poison-monger. + +Drab, v. a. To poison. Wal. Otribi. + +Drey, prep. In. + +Dubble, s. God: my dearie Dubbleskey, for my dear God's sake. + +Dude, s. The moon. + +Dudee, s. A light, a star. Sans. Dyuti. + +Dude-bar, s. Diamond, light-stone. + +Drom, s. Road. Wal. Drom. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Drom-luring, s. Highway robbery. + +Dui, a. Two. + +Duito, s. Second. + +Duito divvus, s. Tuesday. Lit. Second day. + +Dui das / Dui tas, s. Cup and saucer. + +Duke, v. a. To hurt, bewitch. Sans. Duhkha (pain). Heb. Dui +(languor, deadly faintness). + +Dukker, v. a. To bewitch, tell fortunes. Wal. Deokiea (to +fascinate, enchant). + +Dukker drey my vast. Tell my fortune by my hand. + +Dukkering, s. Fortune-telling. Wal. Deokiere (fascination). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (fortune). + +Dukkipen, s. Fortune-telling. + +Dukker, v. n. To ache: my sherro dukkers, my head aches. See Duke, +dukker. + +Dum / Dumo, s. Black. Pers. [Persian: ] (tail). + +Dur, ad. Far. Sans. Dur. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Dur-dicki mengri, s. Telescope. Lit. far-seeing-thing. + +Durro, ad. Far. + +Durro-der, ad. Farther. + +Durriken, s. Fortune-telling. + +Durril, s. Any kind of berry, a gooseberry in particular. + +Durrilau / Durilyor, pl. Berries. + +Durrileskie guyi, s. Gooseberry pudding. + +Dusta, a. s. Enough, plenty: dusta foky, plenty of people. See +Dosta. + +Duvvel, s. God. + +E + +EANGE, s. Itch. + +Ebyok, s. The sea. Sans. Aapa (water). Wal. Ape. + +Eft, a. Seven. Few of the English Gypsies are acquainted with this +word; consequently, the generality, when they wish to express the +number seven, without being understood by the Gorgios or Gentiles, +say Dui trins ta yeck, two threes and one. + +En. A kind of genitive particle used in compound words, being placed +between a noun and the particle 'gro' or 'guero,' which signifies a +possessor, or that which governs a thing or has to do with it: e.g. +lav-en-gro, a linguist or man of words, lit. word-of-fellow; wesh-en- +gro, a forester, or one who governs the wood; gurush-en-gre, things +costing a groat, lit. groat-of-things. + +Engri. A neuter affix, composed of the particles 'en' and 'gro,' +much used in the formation of figurative terms for things for which +there are no positive names in English Gypsy: for example, yag- +engri, a fire-thing, which denotes a gun; poggra-mengri, a breaking- +thing or mill; 'engri' is changed into 'mengri' when the preceding +word terminates in a vowel. + +Engro. A masculine affix, used in the formation of figurative names; +for example, kaun-engro, an ear-fellow, or creature with ears, +serving to denote a hare; ruk-engro, or ruko-mengro, a tree-fellow, +denoting a squirrel; it is also occasionally used in names for +inanimate objects, as pov-engro, an earth-thing or potato. See +Guero. + +Escunyo, s. A wooden skewer, a pin. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Escunyes, pl. Skewers. + +Escunye-mengro, s. A maker of skewers. + +Eskoe, fem. Eskie. A particle which affixed to a noun turns it into +an adjective: e.g. Duvel, God; duveleskoe, divine. It seems to be +derived from the Wal. Esk, Easkie. + +Eskey. An affix or postposition, signifying, for the sake of: e.g. +Mi-dubble-eskey, for God's sake. + +Ever-komi, ad. Evermore. + +F + +FAKE, v. a. To work, in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick pockets. + +Fakement, s. A robbery, any kind of work: a pretty fakement that, a +pretty piece of work. A scoundrel--you ratfelo fakement, you +precious scoundrel; a man of any kind--he's no bad fakement after +all; a girl, St. Paul's Cathedral--what a rinkeny fakement, what a +pretty girl, what a noble church. + +Fashono, a. False, fashioned, made up. Wal. Fatche (to make); fatze +(face, surface). + +Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made in reality of brass or +copper. + +Fashono wangust engre. Makers of false rings. + +Fenella. A female Gypsy name. + +Ferreder, a. Better, more. Gaelic, Feairde. + +Feter, ad. Better. Pers. [Persian: ] Span. Gyp. Feter. + +Figis, s. Fig. + +Figis-rookh, s. Fig-tree. + +Filisen, s. Country-seat. + +Fino, a. Fine. This word is not pure Gypsy: fino covar, a fine +thing. + +Floure, s. Flower; a female Gypsy name. + +Fordel, v. a. Forgive; generally used for Artav, or Artavello, q.v., +and composed of the English 'for' and the Gypsy 'del.' + +Fordias / Fordios, part. pass. Forgiven. + +Foros, s. City. See Vauros. + +Ful, s. Dung: ful-vardo, muck cart. + +Fuzyanri, s. Fern. Hun. Fuz (willow), facska (a shrub), fuszar (a +stem). + +G + +GAD, s. A shirt: pauno gad, a clean shirt. + +Gare, v. n., v. a. To take care, beware; to hide, conceal. Sans. +Ghar, to cover. + +Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which you hid. + +Garrivava, v. a. I hide or shall hide, take care: to gare his +nangipen, to hide his nakedness. + +Gav, s. A town, village. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Gav-engro, s. A constable, village officer, beadle, citizen. + +Gillie, s. A song. Sans. Kheli. + +Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to denote newspapers; because these +last serve, as songs did in the old time, to give the world +information of remarkable events, such as battles, murders, and +robberies. + +Gilyava. I sing, or shall sing. Hin. Guywuya. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Gin, v. a. To count, reckon. Sans. Gan. Hin. Ginna. + +Ginnipen, s. A reckoning. + +Giv, s. Wheat. Sans. Yava (barley). See Jobis. + +Giv-engro, s. Wheat-fellow, figurative name for farmer. + +Giv-engro ker, s. Farmhouse. + +Giv-engro puv, s. Farm. + +Godli, s. A warrant, perhaps hue and cry. See Gudlie. Span. Gyp. +Gola (order). + +Gono, s. A sack. Hin. Gon. + +Gorgio, s. A Gentile, a person who is not a Gypsy; one who lives in +a house and not in a tent. It is a modification of the Persian word +[Persian: ] Cojia, which signifies a gentleman, a doctor, a +merchant, etc. Span. Gyp. Gacho. + +Gorgiken rat. Of Gentile blood. + +Gorgie, s. A female Gentile or Englishwoman. + +Gorgikonaes, ad. After the manner of the Gentiles. + +Gooee, s. Pudding. See Guyi. + +Gran, s. A barn: I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran, I slept one night +within a barn (Gypsy song). + +Gran-wuddur, s. A barn door. + +Gran-wuddur-chiriclo. Barn-door fowl. + +Grasni / Grasnakkur, s. Mare, outrageous woman: what a grasni shan +tu, what a mare you are! Grasnakkur is sometimes applied to the +mayor of a town. + +Grestur / Gristur, s. A horse. Span. Gyp. Gras, graste. + +Gry, s. A horse. Sans. Kharu. Hin. Ghora. Irish and Scottish +Gaelic, Greadh. + +Gry-choring, s. Horse-stealing. + +Gry-engro, s. Horse-dealer. + +Gry-nashing. Horse-racing. + +Gudlee / Godli, s. Cry, noise, shout. Hin. Ghooloo. Irish, Gul. +Rus. Gyl=gool (shout); Golos (voice). + +Grommena / Grovena / Grubbena, s. and v. Thunder, to thunder. Sans. +Garjana. Rus. Groin (thunder). Heb. Ream, raemah. Gaelic, Gairm (a +cry). + +Gudlo, a., s. Sweet; honey, sugar. + +Gudlo-pishen, s. Honey-insect, bee. See Bata. + +Gue. An affix, by which the dative case is formed: e.g. Man, I; +mangue, to me. + +Guero, s. A person, fellow, that which governs, operates. Sans. +Kara (a maker). Pers. [Persian: ] Welsh, Gwr (a man). In the +Spanish cant language, Guro signifies an alguazil, a kind of civil +officer. See Engro. + +Gueri, s.f. Female person, virgin: Mideveleskey gueri Mary, Holy +Virgin Mary. + +Gush / Gurush / Gurushi, a. Groat: gurushengri, a groat's worth. + +Guveni, s. Cow. Sans. Go. + +Guveni-bugnior, s. Cow-pox. + +Guveno, s. A bull. Sans. Gavaya. Gaelic, Gavuin, gowain (year-old +calf). + +Guyi, s. Pudding, black pudding. Hin. Gulgul. Span. Gyp. Golli. + +Guyi-mengreskie tan, s. Yorkshire. Lit. pudding-eaters' country; in +allusion to the puddings for which Yorkshire is celebrated. + +H + +Ha / Haw, v. a. To eat. + +Habben, s. Food, victuals. + +Hal, v. a. To eat: mande can't hal lis, I can't eat it. Sans. +Gala. + +Hanlo, s. A landlord, innkeeper. Span. Gyp. Anglano. + +Hatch, v. a. To burn, light a fire. + +Hatchipen, s. A burning. + +Hatch, v. n. To stay, stop. See Adje, atch, az. + +Hatchi-witchu, s. A hedgehog. This is a compound word from the Wal. +Aritche, a hedgehog, and the Persian Besha, a wood, and signifies +properly the prickly thing of the wood. In Spanish Gypsy, one of the +words for a pig or hog is Eriche, evidently the Wallachian Aritche, a +hedgehog. + +Hekta, s. Haste: kair hekta, make haste; likewise a leap. See +Hokta. Sans. Hat'ha (to leap). + +Heres / Heris, s. pl. Legs. Span. Gyp. Jerias. Coshtni herri (a +wooden leg). + +Hetavava, v. a. To slay, beat, hit, carry off, plunder: if I can +lel bonnek of tute hetavava tute, if I can lay hold of you I will +slay you. Heb. Khataf (rapuit). Sans. Hat'ha (to ill-use, rapere). + +Hev, s. Hole: pawnugo hev, a water hole, a well; hev, a window; +hevior, windows. Sans. Avata. + +Heviskey, a. Full of holes: heviskey tan, a place full of holes. + +Hin, s. Dirt, ordure. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Gounoiou. Irish, +Gaineamh (sand). + +Hin, v. a. To void ordure. Sans. Hanna. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Hindity-mengre / Hindity-mescre, s. pl. Irish. Dirty, sordid +fellows. + +Hoffeno, s. A liar. + +Hok-hornie-mush, s. A policeman. Partly a cant word. + +Hokka, v. n. To lie, tell a falsehood: hokka tute mande, if you +tell me a falsehood. + +Hokkano, s. A lie. Sans. Kuhana (hypocrisy). + +Hokta, v. a. To leap, jump. See Hekta. + +Hokta-mengro, s. Leaper, jumper. + +Hoofa, s. A cap. + +Hor / Horo, s. A penny. Span. Gyp. Corio an ochavo (or farthing). + +Horry, s. pl. Pence: shohorry, showhawry, sixpence. + +Horsworth, s. Pennyworth. + +Horkipen, s. Copper. Hun. Gyp. Harko. + +Huffeno, s. A liar. See Hoffeno. + +Hukni, s. Ringing the changes, the fraudulent changing of one thing +for another. + +I + +I, pro. She, it. + +I. A feminine and neuter termination: e.g. Yag engri, a fire-thing +or gun; coin si, who is she? so si, what is it? + +Inna / Inner, prep. In, within: inner Lundra, in London. Span. +Gyp. Enre. + +Iouzia, s. A flower. + +Is, conj. If; it is affixed to the verb--e.g. Dikiomis, if I had +seen. + +Iv, s. Snow. Hun. Gyp. Yiv. Span. Gyp. Give. + +Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, s. Snow-thing, snowball. + +Iuziou, a. Clean. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (sound, healthy). See +Roujio. + +J + +JAL. To go, walk, journey. This verb is allied to various words in +different languages signifying movement, course or journey: --to the +Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to stroll, to walk +about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol of the Norse, and +the Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to Christmas-tide, but +which properly mean the circular journey which the sun has completed +at that season: for what are Jol and Yule but the Ygul of the +Hebrews? who call the zodiac 'Ygul ha mazaluth,' or the circle of the +signs. It is, moreover, related to the German Jahr and the English +Year, radically the same words as Jol, Yule, and Ygul, and of the +same meaning--namely, the circle travelled by the sun through the +signs. + +Ja, v. imp. Go thou! + +Jal amande. I shall go. + +Jal te booty. Go to work. + +Jalno / Java / Jaw, v.a. I go. Sans. Chara. + +Jas, jasa. Thou goest: tute is jasing, thou art going. + +Jal, 3rd pers. pres. He goes. + +Jalla, f. She goes. + +Jalno ando pawni, v. a. I swim. Lit. I go in water. + +Jaw, ad. So: jaw si, so it is. See Ajaw, asa, asha. + +Jib, s. Tongue. Sans. Jihva. + +Jib, v. n. To live, to exist. Sans. Jiv. Rus. Jit. Lithuanian, +Gywenu. + +Jibben, s. Life, livelihood. Sans. Jivata (life), Jivika +(livelihood). Rus. Jivot, Tchivot. + +Jivvel, v. n. He lives: kai jivvel o, where does he live? + +Jin / Jinava, v. n. To know. Sans. Jna. + +Jinnepen, s. Wisdom, knowledge. Sans. Jnapti (understanding). + +Jinney-mengro, s. A knowing fellow, a deep card, a Grecian, a wise +man, a philosopher. + +Jinney-mengreskey rokrapenes. Sayings of the wise: the tatcho drom +to be a jinney-mengro is to dick and rig in zi, the true way to be a +wise man is to see and bear in mind. + +Jongar, v. n. To awake. Sans. Jagri. Hin. Jugana. + +Jobis, s. Oats. Sans. Java (barley). Wal. Obia. See Giv. + +Joddakaye, s. Apron; anything tied round the middle or hips. Sans. +Kata (the hip, the loins), Kataka (a girdle). + +Ju, s. A louse. Sans. Yuka. + +Juvalo, a. Lousy. + +Juvior, s. pl. Lice. + +Juggal / Jukkal, s. Dog. Sans. Srigala (jackal). + +Jukkalor. Dogs. + +Jukkaelsti cosht, s. Dog-wood; a hard wood used for making skewers. + +Juva / Juvali, Woman, wife. + +Juvli, s. Girl. See Chavali. + +K + +KAEL, s. Cheese. + +Kaes, s. Cheese. + +Kah / Kai, ad. Where: kai tiro ker, where's your house? kai si the +churi, where is the knife? Sans. Kva. + +Kair, v. a. To do. Sans. Kri, to do; kara (doing). + +Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort. + +Kairipen, s. Work, labour. Sans. Karman. + +Kakkaratchi, s. Magpie; properly a raven. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Kanau / Knau, ad. Now. + +Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. Span. Gyp. Acarar (to call). +See Koring. + +Kaulo, a. Black. Sans. Kala. Arab. [Arabic: ] + +Kaulo chiriclo, s. A blackbird. + +Kaulo cori, s. A blackthorn. + +Kaulo durril, s. Blackberry. + +Kaulo Gav, s. Black-town, Birmingham. + +Kaulo guero, s. A black, negro. + +Kaulo guereskey tem, s. Negroland, Africa. + +Kaulo-mengro, s. A blacksmith. + +Kaulo ratti. Black blood, Gypsy blood: kaulo ratti adrey leste, he +has Gypsy blood in his veins. + +Kaun, s. An ear. Sans. Karna. + +Kaun-engro, s. An ear-fellow, thing with long ears; a figurative +name for a hare. + +Ke, prep. Unto. Likewise a postposition--e.g. lenke, to them. + +Keir / Ker, s. A house. Sans. Griha. + +Ker / Kerey / Ken, ad. Home, homeward: java keri, I will go home. + +Keir-poggring. House-breaking. + +Keir-rakli, s. A housemaid. + +Kek, ad. a. No, none, not: kek tatcho, it is not true. + +Kekkeno, a. None, not any: kekkeni pawni, no water. + +Kekkeno mushe's poov, s. No man's land; a common. + +Kekkauvi, s.f. Kettle. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Kekkauviskey saster, s. Kettle-iron; the hook by which the kettle is +suspended over the fire. + +Kekko, ad. No, it is not, not it, not he. + +Kekkomi. No more. See Komi, Ever-komi. + +Kek-cushti. Of no use; no good. See Koshto. + +Kem, s. The sun. See Cam. + +Ken. A particle affixed in English Gypsy to the name of a place +terminating in a vowel, in order to form a genitive; e.g. Eliken bori +congri, the great church of Ely. See En. + +Ken, s. A house, properly a nest. Heb. [Hebrew: ] Kin. + +Kenyor, s. pl. Ears. See Kaun. + +Ker / Kerava v. a. To do; make: kair yag, make a fire. Sans. Kri. +Pers. [Perisan: ] Gaelic, Ceaird (a trade), ceard (a tinker). Lat. +Cerdo (a smith). English, Char, chare (to work by the day). + +Kerdo. He did. + +Kedast, 2nd pers. pret. Thou didst. + +Kedo, part. pass. Done. + +Kerri-mengro, s. Workman. + +Kerrimus, s. Doing, deed: mi-Doovel's kerrimus, the Lord's doing. +Sans. Karman (work). + +Kerrit, p. pass. Cooked, boiled. Anglo-Indian word, Curried. Fr. +Cuire. Gaelic, Greidh (to cook victuals). + +Kettaney, ad. Together. Wal. Ketziba (many). See Kisi. + +Kidda, v. a. To pluck. + +Kil, v. a. To dance, play. Hin. Kelna. Sans. Kshvel. + +Killi-mengro, s. A dancer, player. + +Kil, s. Butter. + +Kin, v. a. To buy: kinning and bikkning, buying and selling. Heb. +Kana (he bought). + +Kin aley. To ransom, redeem, buy off. + +Kinnipen, s. A purchase. + +Kinnipen-divvus, s. Purchasing-day, Saturday. + +Kindo, a. Wet. + +Kipsi, s. Basket. Span. Gyp. Quicia. + +Kinyo. Tired. Span. Gyp. Quinao. + +Kisaiya. A female Gypsy name. + +Kisi, ad. How much, to what degree: kisi puro shan tu, how old are +you? Wal. Kitze. Span. Gyp. Quichi. Sans. Kati (how many?) + +Kisseh / Kissi, s. A purse. Sans. Kosa. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Kistur, v. a. To ride. Wal. Keleri. + +Kistri-mengro / Kistro-mengro, s. Rider, horseman. + +Kitchema, s. Public-house, inn. Hun. Korcsma. Wal. Keirtchumie. + +Kitchema-mengro, s. Innkeeper. + +Klism / Klisn, s. A key. Rus. Cliotche. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(shutting up). + +Klism-engri, s. A lock. Lit. key-thing. + +Klism-hev, s. A keyhole. + +Klop, s. A gate, seemingly a cant word; perhaps a bell. Wal. +Klopot. + +Kokkodus. Uncle: kokkodus Artaros, Uncle Arthur. + +Komi, adv. More: ever-komi, evermore. + +Koosho, a. Good: kooshi gillie, a good song. Sans. Kusala. + +Kora / Kore, v. a. To riot. Wal. Kiorei (to cry out, bawl, make a +tumult). Heb. Kara (he convoked, cried out). + +Koring, part. pres. Rioting. Heb. Kirivah (proclamation). + +Kora-mengro, s. A rioter. + +Kore, v. a. To hawk goods about, to cry out, to proclaim. + +Koring lil, s. Hawking-licence. + +Koring chiriclo, s. The cuckoo. + +Koshto, a. Good. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Koshtipen, s. Goodness, advantage, profit: kek koshtipen in +dukkering knau, it is of no use to tell fortunes now. + +Kosko, a. Good. + +Koskipen, s. Goodness. + +Krallis, s. King. Rus. Korol. Hun. Kiraly. Wal. Kraiu. + +Kushto, a. Good: kushto si for mangui, I am content. + +L + +LA, pro. pers. Her; accusative of 'i' or ' yoi,' she. + +Laki, pro. poss. Her: laki die, her mother. + +Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of 'i.' + +Later. From her; ablative of 'i.' + +Lati. Genitive of 'i'; frequently used as the accusative--e.g. cams +tu lati, do you love her? + +Lang / Lango, a. Lame. Sans. Lang. Pers. [Persian: ] Lenk. + +Lashi / Lasho, Louis. Hungarian, Lajos, Lazlo. Scotch, Lesley. + +Latch, v. a. To find. Wal. Aphla. + +Lav, s. Word. Sans. Lapa (to speak). Eng. Lip. + +Lavior, pl. Words. + +Lav-chingaripen, s. Dispute, word-war. + +Lav-engro, s. Word-master, linguist. + +Len, pro. pers. pl. To them: se len, there is to them, the have. + +Lendar, ablative. From them. + +Lende / Lunde, gen. and acc. Of them, them. + +Lensar. With them. + +Lengue, pro. poss. Their: lengue tan, their tent. + +Les, pro. pers. To him; dative of 'yo,' he: pawno stadj se les, he +has a white hat. + +Lescro, pro. poss. His, belonging to him: lescro prala, his +brother. + +Leste. Of him, likewise him; genitive and accusative of 'yo.' + +Lester. From him. + +Leste's. His: leste's wast, his hand; properly, lescro wast. + +Lesti. Her or it: pukker zi te lesti, tell her your mind; he can't +rokkra lesti, he can't speak it. + +Leav / Ley, v. a. To take. Wal. Loua. + +Lel. He takes. + +Lel cappi. Get booty, profit, capital. + +Lennor, s. Summer, spring. + +Levinor, s. Ale; drinks in which there is wormwood. Heb. Laenah +(wormwood). Irish, Lion (ale). + +Levinor-ker, s. Alehouse. + +Levinor-engri. Hop. Lit. ale-thing. + +Levinor-engriken tem. Kent. Lit. hop-country. + +Li, pron. It: dovo se li, that's it. + +Lidan, v. a. You took; 2nd pers. pret. of Ley. + +Lil, s. Book; a letter or pass. Hun. Level. Sans. Likh (to write). +Hindustani, Likhan (to write). + +Lillai, s. Summer. Hun. Gyp. Nilei. + +Linnow, part. pass. Taken, apprehended. + +Lis, pro. dat. To it: adrey lis, in it. + +Lollo / Lullo, a. Red. Pers. [Persian: ] Lal. + +Lolle bengres, s. pl. Red waistcoats, Bow Street runners. + +Lollo matcho, s. Red herring. Lit. red fish. + +Lolli plaishta, s. A red cloak. + +Lolli, s. A farthing. + +Lon / Lun, s. Salt. Sans. Lavana. Hin. Lon. + +Lou, pro. It: oprey-lou, upon it. Wal. Lou. + +Loure, v. a. To steal. See Luripen. + +Lubbeny, s. Harlot. Rus. Liabodieitza (adultress), liobodeinoe +(adulterous). Sans. Lubha (to inflame with lust, to desire). The +English word Love is derived from this Sanscrit root. + +Lubbenipen, s. Harlotry. + +Lubbenified. Become a harlot. + +Lundra. London. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Luripen, s. Robbery, a booty. Lit. a seizure. Wal. Luare (seizure, +capture), Louarea Parizouloui (the capture of Paris). + +Lutherum, s. Sleep, repose, slumber. + +Luvvo, s. Money, currency. Rus. Lovok (convenient, handy, quick, +agile). In Spanish Gypsy, a real (small coin) is called Quelati, a +thing which dances, from Quelar, to dance. + +Luvvo-mengro, s. Money-changer, banker. + +Luvvo-mengro-ker, s. Banker's house, bank. + +M + +Ma, ad. Not; only used before the imperative: ma muk, let not. +Sans. Ma. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Maas, s. Sans. Mansa Mans. Rus. Maso. See Mas. + +Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, s. Butcher. + +Mailla, s. Ass, donkey. Wal. Megaroul. Sans. Baluya. + +Mailla and posh. Ass and foal. + +Malleco, a. False. + +Maluno / Maloney, s. Lightning. Rus. Molniya. + +Mam, s. Mother. Wal. Moume. Welsh, Mam. Irish and Scottish +Gaelic, Muime (a nurse). + +Man, pron. pers. I; very seldom used. Hin. Muen. + +Mande, pron. pers. oblique of Man; generally used instead of the +nominative Man. + +Mander. Ablative of Man, from me: ja mander, go from me. + +Mande's. My. Mande's wast, my hand; used improperly for miro. + +Mangue. Dative of Man, to me; sometimes used instead of the +nominative. + +Mansa. With me. + +Mang, v. a. To beg. Hin. Mangna. Sans. Marg. + +Mango-mengro, s. A beggar. + +Mangipen, s. The trade of begging. Sans. Margana (begging). + +Manricley, s. A cake. Span. Gyp. Manricli. + +Manush, s. Man. Sans. Manasha. Span. Gyp. Manus. See Monish. + +Manushi, s. Woman, wife. Sans. Manushi. + +Maricli, s. A cake. See Maricley. + +Mash, s. Umbrella. A cant word. + +Matcho, s. A fish. Sans. Matsya. Hin. Muchee. + +Matcheneskoe Gav. Yarmouth. Lit. the fishy town. + +Matcheneskoe guero, s. A fisherman. + +Matchka, s.f. A cat. Hun. Macska. + +Matchko, s. m. A he-cat. + +Mattipen, s. Drunkenness. Sans. Matta (to be intoxicated). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (intoxication). Welsh, Meddwy (to intoxicate). + +Matto, a. Drunk, intoxicated. Welsh, Meddw. + +Matto-mengro, s. Drunkard. + +Mea, s. Mile: dui mear, two miles. Wal. Mie. + +Mea-bar, s. Milestone. + +Medisin, s. Measure, bushel. Sans. Mana. + +Mek, v. n. Leave, let: meklis, leave off, hold your tongue, have +done. Sans. Moksh. + +Men, pr. We; pl. of Man. + +Men, s. Neck. Gaelic, Muineal. Welsh, Mwng. Mandchou, Meifen. + +Men-pangushi, s. Neckcloth. See Pangushi. + +Mengro. A word much used in composition. See Engro and Mescro. + +Mensalli, s. A table. Wal. Masi. + +Mer / Merava, v. n. To die. Sans. Mri. + +Merricley, s. A cake. See Manricley. + +Merripen, s. Death. Sans. Mara. + +Merripen, s. Life, according to the Gypsies, though one feels +inclined to suppose that the real signification of the word is Death; +it may, however, be connected with the Gaulic or Irish word Mairam, +to endure, continue, live long: Gura' fada mhaireadh tu! may you +long endure, long life to you! In Spanish Gypsy Merinao signifies an +immortal. + +Mescro. A particle which, affixed to a verb, forms a substantive +masculine:- e.g. Camo, I love; camo-mescro, a lover. Nash, to run; +nashi-mescro, a runner. It is equivalent to Mengro, q.v. + +Messalli, s. A table. Wal. Masi. + +Mestipen, s. Life, livelihood, living, fortune, luck, goodness. +Span. Gyp. Mestipen, bestipen. Wal. Viatsie. + +Mi, pron. I, my. + +Mi cocoro, pron. poss. I myself, I alone. + +Mi dearie Dubbeleskey. For my dear God's sake. + +Mi develeskie gueri, s.f. A holy female. + +Mi develeskie gueri Mary. Holy Virgin Mary. + +Mi develeskoe Baval Engro. Holy Ghost. + +Mi dubbelungo, a. Divine. + +Mi duvvelungo divvus, s. Christmas Day. + +Millior, s. Miles; panj millior, five miles. + +Minge / Mintch, s. Pudendum muliebre. + +Miro, pron. poss. My, mine. + +Miri, pron. poss. f. My, mine. + +Misto / Mistos, ad. Well. + +Misto dusta. Very well. + +Mistos amande. I am glad. + +Mitch, s. See Minge. + +Mizella. Female Gypsy name. + +Mokkado, a. Unclean to eat. Wal. Mourdar (dirty). + +Monish, s. Man. See Manush. + +Mol, s. Wine. See Mul. + +Mollauvis, s. Pewter. + +Moomli, s. Candle, taper. See Mumli. + +Moomli-mengro, s. Candlestick, lantern. + +Moar, v. a. To grind. See Morro. + +More / Morava, v. a. To kill, slay. Sans. Mri. Wal. Omori. + +Moreno, part. pass. Killed, slain. + +More, v. a. To shave, shear. Hun. Gyp. Murinow. + +Mormusti, s.f. Midwife. Wal. Maimoutsi. Rus. Mameichka (nurse). + +Moro, pron. poss. Our: moro dad, our father. + +Morro, s. Bread. Lit. that which is ground. See Moar. Span. Gyp. +Manro. Hun. Gyp. Manro, also Gheum: sin gheum manro, gheum is manro +(bread). Rus. Gyp. Morroshka (a loaf). + +Morro-mengro, s. A baker. + +Mort, s. Woman, concubine; a cant word. + +Mosco / Moshko, A fly. Lat. Musca. Wal. Mouskie. Span. Gyp. +Moscabis (fly-blown, stung with love, picado, enamorado). + +Moskey, s. A spy: to jal a moskeying, to go out spying. Fr. +Mouchard. + +Mufta, s.f. Box, chest. See Muktar. + +Mui, s. Face, mouth: lollo leste mui, his face is red. Sans. Mukha +(face, mouth). Fr. Mot (a word). Provenzal, Mo. + +Muk, v. n. To leave, let. See Mek. + +Mukkalis becunye. Let it be. + +Muktar / Mukto, s. Box, chest. + +Mul, s. Wine. Pers. Mul. + +Mul divvus. Christmas Day. Lit. wine day. + +Mul-engris, s. pl. Grapes: mul-engri tan, vineyard. + +Mulleni muktar, s. Coffin. Lit. dead-chest. + +Mullodustie mukto. Id. + +Mulleno hev, s. Grave. + +Mulleno ker, s. Sepulchre, cemetery. + +Mullo, s., a. Dead man, dead. + +Mullo mas, s. Dead meat; flesh of an animal not slain, but which +died alone. + +Mumli, s.f. Candle. + +Mumli-mescro, s. Chandler. + +Munjee, s. A blow on the mouth, seemingly a cant word. Hin. Munh, +mouth. Ger. Mund. + +Murces / Mursior, s. pl. Arms. Span. Gyp. Murciales. + +Muscro, s. Constable. See Muskerro. + +Mush, s. Man. Rus. Mouge. Finnish, Mies. Tibetian, Mi. Lat. Mas +(a male). + +Mushi, s. Woman. + +Mushipen, s. A little man, a lad. Toulousian, Massip (a young man), +massipo (a young woman). + +Muskerro, s. Constable. + +Muskerriskoe cost, s. Constable's staff. + +Mutra, s. Urine. + +Mutrava, v. a. To void urine. Sans. Mutra. + +Mutra-mengri, s. Tea. + +Mutzi, s. Skin. Span. Gyp. Morchas. + +Mutzior, s. pl. Skins. + +N + +NA, ad. Not. + +Naflipen, s. Sickness. Span. Gyp. Nasallipen. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Naflo, a. Sick. + +Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we have no girls. + +Naior, s. pl. Nails of the fingers or toes. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Nangipen, s. Nakedness. + +Nango, a. Naked. + +Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name. + +Nash, v. a. To run. Span. Gyp. Najar. + +Nashimescro, s. Runner, racer. + +Nashimescro-tan, s. Race-course. + +Nash, v. a. To lose, destroy, to hang. Sans. Nasa. Span. Gyp. +Najabar (to lose). Sans. Nakha (to destroy). Eng. Nacker (a killer +of old horses). + +Nashado, part. pret. Lost, destroyed, hung. + +Nashimescro, s. Hangman. + +Nashko, part. pass. Hung: nashko pre rukh, hung on a tree. + +Nasho, part. pass. Hung. + +Nastis, a. Impossible. See Astis. + +Nav, s. Name. Hun. Nev. + +Naval, s. Thread. Span. Gyp. Nafre. + +Naes / Nes, postpos. According to, after the manner of: +gorgikonaes, after the manner of the Gentiles; Romano-chalugo-naes, +after the manner of the Gypsies. + +Ne, ad. No, not: ne burroder, no more; ne riddo, not dressed. + +Nevo, a. New. + +Nevi, a. fem. New: nevi tud from the guveni, new milk from the cow. + +Nevey Rukhies. The New Forest. Lit. new trees. + +Nevi Wesh. The New Forest. + +Nick, v. a. To take away, steal. Span. Gyp. Nicabar. + +Nick the cost. To steal sticks for skewers and linen-pegs. + +Nogo, s. Own, one's own; nogo dad, one's own father; nogo tan, one's +own country. + +Nok, s. Nose. Hin. Nakh. + +Nok-engro, s. A glandered horse. Lit. a nose-fellow. + +Nokkipen, s. Snuff. + +O + +O, art. def. The. + +O, pron. He. + +Odoi, ad. There. Hun. Ott, oda. + +Oduvvu, pron. dem. That. Span. Gyp. Odoba. + +Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, s. pl. Stockings. Span. Gyp. Olibias. +Wal. Chorapul. + +Opral / Opre / Oprey, prep. Upon, above. Wal. Pre, asoupra. + +Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, pl. shock- +or. It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the plural termination of +Wallachian neuter nouns ending in 'e.' + +Ora, s.f. A watch. Hun. Ora. + +Ora, s. An hour: so si ora, what's o'clock? + +Orlenda. Gypsy female name. Rus. Orlitza (female eagle). + +Os. A common termination of Gypsy nouns. It is frequently appended +by the Gypsies to English nouns in order to disguise them. + +Owli, ad. Yes. See Avali. + +P + +PA, prep. By: pa mui, by mouth. Rus. Po. + +Padlo, ad. Across: padlo pawnie, across the water, transported. + +Pahamengro, s. Turnip. + +Pailloes, s. Filberts. + +Pal, s. Brother. + +Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog. + +Palal, prep. ad. Behind, after, back again: av palal, come back, +come again: palal the welgorus, after the fair. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(again). Rus. Opiat (id.). + +Pali, ad. Again, back. + +Pand, v. a. To bind. Sans. Bandh. + +Pandipen, s. Pinfold, prison, pound. + +Pandlo, part. pass. Bound, imprisoned, pounded. + +Pand opre, v. a. To bind up. + +Pandlo-mengro, s. Tollgate, thing that's shut. + +Pangushi, s.f. Handkerchief. + +Pani, s. Water. See Pawni. + +Panishey shock, s. Watercress. Lit. water-cabbage. See Shok. + +Panj, a. Five. See Pansch. + +Pani-mengro, s. Sailor, waterman. + +Panni-mengri, s. Garden. + +Panno, s. Cloth. Lat. Pannus. Wal. Penzie. + +Pansch, s. Five. Hin. Panch. + +Pappins / Pappior, s. pl. Ducks. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Paracrow, v. a. To thank: paracrow tute, I thank you. + +Parava / Parra, v. a. To change, exchange. See Porra. + +Parriken, s. Trust, credit. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (trusted goods). + +Parno, a. White. See Pauno. + +Pas, s. Half. See Posh. + +Pasherro, s. Halfpenny; pl. pasherie. Pers. [Persian: ] Pasheez +(a farthing). + +Pas-more, v. a. Half-kill. + +Patch, s. Shame. Span. Gyp. Pachi, modesty, virginity. Sans. +Putcha. + +Patnies, s. pl. Ducks. + +Patrin, s. A Gypsy trail; handfuls of leaves or grass cast by the +Gypsies on the road, to denote to those behind the way which they +have taken. + +Pattin, s. A leaf. Span. Gyp. Patia. Sans. Patra. + +Pattinor. Leaves. + +Paub / Paubi, s. An apple. Hung. Gyp. Paboy. + +Paub tan, s. Orchard. + +Pauno, a. White. Sans. Pandu. Gaelic, Ban. + +Pauno gad. Clean shirt. + +Pauno sherro. Grey head, white head. + +Pauno, s. Flour. Lit. what is white. The Latin 'panis' seems to be +connected with this word. + +Pauno-mengro, s. A miller, white fellow. + +Pauno-mui, s. Pale face; generally applied to a vain, foolish girl, +who prefers the company of the pallid Gentiles to that of the dark +Romans. + +Pauvi, s. An apple. + +Pauvi-pani, s. Cyder, apple-water. + +Pawdel, ad. Across, over: pawdel puve and pawni, across land and +water; pawdel the chumba, over the hill. + +Pawnee / Pawni, s. Water. Sans. Paniya. Hin. Panie. Eng. Pond. +See Pani. + +Pawnugo, a. Watery: pawnugo hev, water-hole, well. + +Pazorrhus, part. pass. Indebted. See Pizarris. + +Peava, v. a. To drink. Sans. Pa. + +Pea-mengri, s. Tea-pot. Wal. Bea. Lit. drinking thing. + +Peeapen, s. Health: ako's your peeapen! here's your health! + +Pea-mengro, s. Drunkard. + +Pedloer, s. Nuts; prop. Acorns. Pers. Peleed. + +Peerdie, s. Female tramper. + +Peerdo, s. Male tramper. + +Pek'd / Pekt, part. pass. Roasted. Span. Gyp. Peco. Sans. Paka +(cooking). Pers. Pekhtan. Rus. Petsch (oven). + +Pele, s. pl. Testicles. Sans. P'hala. + +Pelengo gry / Pelengro gry, s. Stone-horse. + +Pen, a particle affixed to an adjective or a verb when some property +or quality, affection or action is to be expressed, the termination +of the first word being occasionally slightly modified: for example, +Kosko, good, koskipen, goodness; Tatcho, true, tatchipen, truth; +Camo, I love, camipen, love; Chingar, to fight, chingaripen, war. It +is of much the same service in expressing what is abstract and ideal +as Engro, Mescro, and Engri are in expressing what is living and +tangible. It is sometimes used as a diminutive, e.g. Mushipen, a +little fellow. + +Pen, s. Sister. + +Pen / Penav, v. a. To say, speak. Wal. Spoune. + +Penchava, v. n. To think. Pers. Pendashten. Sans. Vi-cit. + +Penliois, s. Nuts. See Pedloer. + +Per, s. Belly. + +Per, v. n. To fall. Span. Gyp. Petrar. Sans. Pat. + +Per tuley. To fall down. + +Perdo, a. Full. Sans. Purva, to fill. + +Pes / Pessa, v. a. To pay. Span. Gyp. Plaserar. Rus. Platit. Wal. +Pleti. Hun. Fizetni. + +Pes apopli. To repay. + +Petul, s. A horse-shoe. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Potkoavie. Heb. +Bedel (tin). + +Petul-engro, s. Horseshoe-maker, smith, tinker; the name of a Gypsy +tribe. + +Pi, v. a. To drink. Sans. Piva (drinking). See Peava. + +Pias, s. Fun. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (to play). + +Pikkis / Pikkaris, s. pl. Breasts. See Birk, bark. Wal. Piept. + +Pikko, s. Shoulder. + +Pios, part. pass. Drunken. Only employed when a health is drunk: +e.g. aukko tu pios adrey Romanes, your health is drunk in Romany. + +Pire, s. pl. Feet. + +Pire, s. pl. Trampers. + +Pire-gueros, s. pl. Travellers, trampers. Lit. foot-fellows. + +Pireni, s.f. Sweetheart. + +Pireno, s. m. Sweetheart. + +Piro, v. a. To walk: pirel, he walks. + +Piro-mengro, s. Walker. + +Pirry, s. Pot, boiler. This is a west-country Gypsy word. Span. +Gyp. Piri. Sans. Pithara, patra. + +Pishen, s. Flea, any kind of insect: guldo pishen, honey-insect, +bee, honey. + +Pivli, s. A widow. + +Pivlo, s. A widower. + +Pivley-gueri, s. A widowed female. + +Pivley-guero, s. A widowed fellow. + +Pivley-raunie, s. A widow lady. + +Piya-mengro, s. Drunkard. See Pea-mengro. + +Pizarris / Pizaurus, part. pass. Trusted, credited, in debt. Sans. +Vishvas (to trust). Wal. Se bizoui (to trust, to credit). Mod. Gr. +[Greek: ] (he who has been credited). Span. Gyp. Bisarar (to owe), +bisauras (debts), pista (an account). + +Pizarri-mengro, s. A trusted person, a debtor. + +Plakta, s. Sheet: bero-rukiskie plakta, a ship's sail. + +Plashta, s. Cloak: lolli plashta, red cloak. Span. Gyp. Plata. +Plakta and plashta are probably both derived from the Wallachian +postat, a sheet. + +Plastra, v. a. To run. + +Plastra lesti. Run it; run for your life. + +Plastra-mengro, s. a. A Bow Street runner, a pursuer. In Spanish +Gypsy, Plastani means a company which pursues robbers. + +Poggado, part. pass. Broken. + +Poggado bavol-engro, s. Broken-winded horse. + +Poggado habben, s. Broken victuals. + +Poggra, v. a. To break. Wal. Pokni. + +Poggra-mengri, s. A mill. Lit. a breaking thing. + +Poknies, s. Justice of the peace. Rus. Pokoio (to pacify). + +Pokiniskoe ker, s. House of a justice of the peace. + +Pooshed / Poosheno, part. pass. Buried: mulo ta poosheno, dead and +buried. + +Por, s. Feather. Pers. Par. Sans. Parna. + +Por-engro, s. Pen-master, penman, one able to write. + +Por-engri-pen, s. Penmanship, writing. + +Porior, s. pl. Feathers. + +Pordo, a. Heavy. Wal. Povarie (a weight). Lat. Pondus. + +Porra, v. a. To exchange. + +Posh, s. Half. + +Posherro / Poshoro, s. Halfpenny. + +Possey-mengri, s. Pitchfork; improperly used for any fork. The +literal meaning is a straw-thing; a thing used for the removal of +straw. See Pus. + +Potan, s. Tinder. Wal. Postabh (sheet, cloth). Sans. Pata (cloth). + +Poov / Pov, s. Earth, ground. Sans. Bhu. + +Poov, v. To poov a gry, to put a horse in a field at night. + +Pov-engro, s. An earth thing, potato. + +Pov-engreskoe, a. Belonging to the potato. + +Povengreskoe gav. Potato town--Norwich. + +Povengreskoe tem. Potato country--Norfolk. + +Povo-guero, s. Mole, earth-fellow. + +Praio, a. Upper: praio tem, upper country, heaven. Span. Gyp. +Tarpe (heaven). See Opre. + +Prala, s. Brother. + +Pude, v. a. To blow. + +Pude-mengri, s. Blowing thing, bellows. + +Pudge, s. Bridge. Wal. Pod, podoul. Pers. Pul. Sans. Pali. + +Pukker, v. a. To tell, declare, answer, say, speak. Span. Gyp. +Pucanar (to proclaim). Hin. Pukar, pukarnar. + +Pur, s. Belly. See Per. + +Pureno, a. Ancient, old: pureno foky, the old people. Sans. Purvya +(ancient). + +Puro, a. Old. Sans. Pura. + +Puro dad, s. Grandfather. + +Purrum, s. Leek, onion. Lat. Porrum. + +Purrum / Purrun, n. pr. Lee, or Leek; the name of a numerous Gypsy +tribe in the neighbourhood of London. Wal. Pur (onion). Lat. +Porrum. Sans. Purana (ancient). + +Pus, s. Straw. Sans. Busa, chaff. + +Putch, v. a. To ask. Hin. Puchhna. + +Putsi, s. Purse, pocket. Sans. Puta, pocket. Wal. Pountsi. Old +cant, Boung. + +Putsi-lil, s. Pocket-book. + +Puvvo, s. Earth, ground. See Poov. + +Puvvesti churi, s. a. Plough. + +R + +RAIA, s. Gentleman, lord. See Rye. + +Rak, v. n. To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of yourself. +Sans. Raksh (to guard, preserve). + +Rakli, s.f. Girl. + +Raklo, s. Boy, lad. + +Ran, s. Rod: ranior, rods. Sans. Ratha (cane, ratan). + +Rarde, s. Night. Sans. Ratri. + +Rardiskey, a. Nightly. + +Rardiskey kair poggring, s. Housebreaking by night, burglary. + +Rashengro, s. Clergyman. + +Rashi, s. Clergyman, priest. Sans. Rishi (holy person). + +Rashieskey rokkring tan, s. Pulpit. + +Ratcheta, s. A goose, duck. See Retsa. + +Ratti, s. Blood. Sans. Rudhira. + +Ratniken chiriclo, s. Nightingale. + +Rawnie, s. Lady. + +Rawniskie dicking gueri, s. Lady-like looking woman. + +Rawniskie tatti naflipen, s. The lady's fever, maladie de France. + +Retza, s. Duck. Wal. Rierzoiou. See Rossar-mescro. Hun. Recze. + +Reyna. A female Gypsy name. + +Riddo, part. pass. Dressed. Span. Gyp. Vriardao. + +Rig / Riggur / Riggurava, v. a. To bear, carry, bring. + +Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind. + +Rig to zi. To bring to mind. + +Rinkeno, a. Handsome. + +Rivipen, s. Dress. Lit. linen clothes, women's dress. Wal. Ruphe. +Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (a tailor). In Spanish Gypsy clothes are called +Goneles, from the Wallachian Khainele. + +Rodra, v. a. To search, seek. + +Roi, s. Spoon. + +Rokra, v. a. To talk, speak. Rus. Rek (he said). Lat. Loquor. + +Rokrenchericlo, s. Parrot, magpie. + +Rokrenguero, s. A lawyer, talker. Gaelic, Racaire (a chatterer). + +Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows' town--Norwich. + +Rokunyes, s. Trousers, breeches. Hun. Gyp. Roklia (gown). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (cloth). + +Rom, s. A husband. Sans. Rama (a husband), Rama (an incarnation of +Vishnu), Rum (to sport, fondle). Lat. Roma (City of Rama). Gaelic, +Rom (organ of manhood). Eng. Ram (aries, male sheep). Heb. Ream +(monoceros, unicorn). + +Rommado, part. pass. s. Married, husband. + +Romm'd, part. pass. Married. + +Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. See Chal. + +Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy. + +Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language. + +Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. Wal. Roumainesk +(Roumainean, Wallachian.) + +Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman. + +Romipen, s. Marriage. + +Rook / Rukh, s. Tree. Sans. Vriksha. Hun. Gyp. Rukh. Span. Gyp. +Erucal (an olive-tree). + +Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree. + +Rooko-mengro, s. Squirrel. Lit. tree-fellow. + +Roshto, a. Angry. Wal. Resti (to be angry). + +Rossar-mescro, s. Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, or Herne. Lit. +duck-fellow. + +Roujiou, a. Clean. See Iuziou. + +Rove, v. n. To weep. Sans. Rud. + +Rup, s. Silver. Sans. Raupya. Hin. Rupee. + +Rupenoe, a. Silver: rupenoe pea-mengri, silver tea-pots. + +Ruslipen, s. Strength. + +Ruslo, a. Strong. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (roborabo). Rus. Rosluy +(great, huge of stature). Hun. Ero (strength), eros (strong). + +Rye, s. A lord, gentleman. Sans. Raj, Raya. + +Ryeskoe, a. Gentlemanly. + +Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man. + +Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, s. The House of Commons. Lit. the +gentlemen's talking house. + +S + +SACKI. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Sainyor, s. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Sal, v. n. To laugh; properly, he laughs. Span. Gyp. Asaselarse. +Sans. Has. + +Salla. She laughs. + +Salivaris, s.f. Bridle. See Sollibari. + +Sap / Sarp, s. Snake, serpent. Wal. Sharpele. Span. Gyp. +Chaplesca. + +Sappors, s. pl. Snakes. + +Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in the +hedge. + +Sapnis, s. Soap. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Sipoun. + +Sar, postpos., prepos. With: mensar, with us; sar amande, with me. + +Sar, conjunct. As. + +Sar, ad. How. + +Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar shin, meeri rawnie? +How are you, sir? How are you, madam? + +Sas. If it were. See Is. + +Sas, s. Nest. See Tass. + +Sarla, s. Evening: koshti sarla, good evening. See Tasarla. Wal. +Seara. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Saster, s. Iron. + +Saster-mengri, s. A piece of iron worn above the knee by the skewer- +makers whilst engaged in whittling. + +Saster-mengro, s. Ironmonger. + +Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, shoe-nails. + +Sau, adv. How. + +Sau kisi. How much? + +Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, v. a. To swear. + +Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely. + +Sauloholomus, s. Oath. Span. Gyp. Solaja (a curse). Arab. [Arabic: +] Salat (prayer). Lat. Solemnis. Fr. Serment. Wal. Jourirnint +(oath). + +Savo, pron. Who, that, which. + +Saw, v. n. I laugh. Sawschan tu, you laugh. + +Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. Sans. Kshump (to go). + +Scourdilla, s.f. Platter. Lat. Scutella. + +Scunyes / Scunyor, s. pl. Pins, skewers. See Escunyes. + +Se, 3rd pers. sing. pres. Is, there is: kosko guero se, he is a +good fellow; se les, there is to him, he has. + +Shab, v. a. Cut away, run hard, escape. Hun. Szabni. This word is +chiefly used by the tobair coves, or vagrants. + +Shan. You are, they are. See Shin. + +Shauvo, v. To get with child. See Shuvvli. + +Shehaury. Sixpence. See Shohaury. + +Shello, s. Rope. Span. Gyp. Jele. + +Shello-hokta-mengro, s. Rope-dancer. + +Sher-engro, s. A head-man, leader of a Gypsy tribe. + +Sher-engri, s. A halter. + +Shero, s. A head. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Sherro's kairipen, s. Learning, head-work. + +Sheshu, s. Hare, rabbit. See Shoshoi. + +Sherrafo, a. Religious, converted. Arab. Sherif. + +Shilleno / Shillero / Shillo, a. Cold: shillo chik, cold ground. + +Shillipen, s. Cold. + +Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou? + +Sho, s. Thing. + +Sho, a. Six. + +Shohaury, s. Sixpence. + +Shok, s. Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. Span. Gyp. Chaja. + +Shom, v. 1st pers. pres. I am. Used in the pure Roman tongue to +express necessity: e.g. shom te jav, I must go. Lat. Sum. Hun. +Gyp. Hom. + +Shoob, s. Gown. Rus. Shoob. See Shubbo. + +Shoon, v. n. To hear. Pers. Shiniden. Sans. Sru. + +Shoonaben, s. Hearing, audience. To lel shoonaben of the covar, to +take hearing of the matter. + +Shoshoi, s. A hare or rabbit, but generally used by the Gypsies for +the latter. Sans. Sasa (a hare or rabbit). Hun. Gyp. Shoshoi. + +Shubbo, s. A gown. Rus. Shoob. Wal. Djoube. + +Shubley patnies, s. pl. Geese. + +Shun. A female Gypsy name. + +Shuvvali, a. Enceinte, with child. + +Si, 3rd pers. sing. pres. It is, she is: tatchipen si, it is truth; +coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi your nav, what is your name? + +Sicovar, ad. Evermore, eternally. Hun. Gyp. Sekovar. + +Si covar ajaw. So it is. + +Sig, ad. Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. Span. Gyp. Singo. Hun. +Sieto. + +Sig, s. Haste. + +Sikker, v. a. To show: sikker-mengri, a show. + +Simen, s. a. Equal, alike. Sans. Samana. + +Simen. We are, it is we. Wal. Semeina (to resemble). + +Simmeno, s. Broth. See Zimmen. + +Simmer, v. a. Pledge, pawn. + +Simmery-mengre, s. pl. Pawnbrokers. + +Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well dressed. + +Siva, v. a. To sew. Sans. Siv. + +Siva-mengri, s. A needle, sewing-thing. + +Siva-mengri, s. Sempstress. + +Siva-mengro, s. Tailor. + +Skammen, s. Chair. Wal. Skaun. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Skammen-engro, s. Chair-maker. + +Skraunior, s. pl. Boots. + +Slom / Slum, v. a. Follow, trace, track. Rus. Sliedovat. + +Smentini, s. Cream. Wal. Zmentenie. Rus. Smetana. + +So, pron. rel. Which, what: so se tute's kairing, what are you +doing? + +Sollibari, s. Bridle. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Sonakey / Sonneco, s. Gold. Sans. Svarna. + +Sore / Soro, a. All, every. Sans. Sarva. + +Sorlo, a. Early. Arab. [Arabic:] Sohr, Sahr (morning, day-break). +Wal. Zorile. + +Soro-ruslo, a. Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, Father Almighty. + +Se se? Who is it? + +So si? What is it? So si ora, what's o'clock? + +Soskey, ad. Wherefore, for what. + +Sovaharri, s. Carpet, blanket. + +Sove, v. n. To sleep. Hun. Gyp. Sovella (he sleeps). Span. Gyp. +Sobelar (to sleep). Danish, Sove (to sleep). + +Sove tuley. To lie down. + +Sovie, s. Needle. See Su. + +Soving aley. Lying down to sleep. + +Spikor, s. pl. Skewers. Wal. Spik. + +Spinyor, s. pl. Carrots. + +Spinyor, s. pl. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Stadj, s. Hat. + +Stanya / Stanye, s. A stable. Hun. Sanya. Wal. Staula, steinie +(sheepfold). + +Stanya-mengro, s. Groom, stable-fellow. + +Stardo, part. pass. Imprisoned. + +Staripen, s. Prison. + +Staro-mengro, s. Prisoner. + +Stannyi / Staunyo, s. A deer. + +Stiggur, s. Gate, turnpike. Old cant, Giger (a door). + +Stiggur-engro, s. Turnpike-keeper. + +Stor, a. Four. + +Storey, s. Prisoner. + +Stuggur, s. A stack. + +Su, s. Needle. Hun. Tu. + +Subie / Subye, s. Needle: subye ta naval, needle and thread. + +Sueti, s. People. Lithuanian, Swetas. + +Sungella, v. It stinks. + +Sutta / Suttur / Suta, s. Sleep. Sans. Subta (asleep). Hin. Sutta +(sleeping). Lat. Sopitus. + +Suttur-gillie, s. Sleep-song, lullaby. + +Swegler / Swingle, s. Pipe. + +Syeira. A female Gypsy name. + +T + +Ta, conj. And. + +Talleno, a. Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel petticoat. + +Tan, s. Place, tent. Hun. Tanya. + +Tard / Tardra, v. a. To raise, build, pull, draw: the kair is +tardrad opre, the house is built; tard the chaw opre, pull up the +grass. Hin. Torna (to pluck). Wal. Tratze. Gaelic, Tarruinn. + +Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers. + +Tas, s. Cup, nest of a bird. See Dui tas, doo das. + +Tasarla / Tasorlo, s. To-morrow. Lit. to-early. See Sorlo. + +Tasarla, s. The evening. This word must not be confounded with the +one which precedes it; the present is derived from the Wallachian +Seari (evening), whilst the other is from the Arabic Sohr, Sahar +(morning). + +Tassa-mengri, s. A frying-pan. See Tattra-mengri. + +Tatchipen, s. Truth. Sans. Satyata. + +Tatcho, a. True. Sans. Sat. + +Tatti-pani / Tatti-pauni, s. Brandy. Lit. hot water. + +Tatti-pen, s. Heat. + +Tatto, a. Hot, warm. Sans. Tapta. Tap (to be hot). Gaelic, Teth. + +Tatto yeck, s. A hot un, or hot one; a stinging blow given in some +very sensitive part. + +Tattra-mengri, s. A frying-pan. + +Tawno m. / Tawnie f., a. Little, small, tiny. Sans. Tarana (young). +Wal. Tienir (young). Lat. Tener. Span. Gyp. Chinoro. + +Tawnie yecks, s. pl. Little ones, grandchildren. + +Te, prep. To: te lesti, to her; this word is not properly Gypsy. + +Te, conjunct. That: te jinnen, that they may know, an optative +word; O beng te poggar his men, may the devil break his neck. Wal. +Ci. + +Tel, v. a. imp. Hold: tel te jib, hold your tongue. + +Tem, s. Country. + +Temeskoe, a. Belonging to a country. + +Temno, a. Dark. Rus. Temnoy. Sans. Tama (darkness). + +Ten, s. See Tan. + +Tikno, s. A child. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Tikno, a. Small, little. Span. Gyp. Chinoro. Lat. Tener. + +Tippoty, a. Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey mande, bearing malice +against me. + +Tiro, pron. Thine. + +Tobbar, s. The Road; a Rapparee word. Boro-tobbarkillipen (the Game +of High Toby--highway robbery). Irish, Tobar (a source, fountain). + +Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Tororo, s. A poor fellow, a beggar, a tramp. Sans. Daridra. + +Tove, v. a. To wash: tovipen, washing. Sans. Dhav. + +Toving divvus, s. Washing day, Monday. + +Traish, v. a. To frighten, terrify: it traishes mande, it frightens +me. + +Trihool, s. Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy cross. Span. Gyp. +Trijul. Hin. Trisool. + +Trin, a. Three. + +Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three groats. + +Tringurushengre, s. pl. Things costing a shilling. + +Tringush, s. Shilling. + +Trito, a. Third. Sans. Tritiya. + +Truffeni. Female Gypsy name: Truffeni Kaumlo, Jack Wardomescres +dieyas nav--Truffeni Lovel, the name of John Cooper's mother. Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] + +Truppior, s. pl. Stays. + +Trupo, s. Body. Wal. Troup. Rus. Trup + +Trushni, s. Faggot. + +Trusno, a. Thirsty, dry. Sans. Trishnaj. + +Tu, pron. Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, mother! + +Tud, s. Milk. Sans. Duh (to milk). + +Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid. + +Tug, a. Sad, afflicted. + +Tugnipen, s. Affliction. + +Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad. + +Tugno, a. Sad, mournful. + +Tule / Tuley, prep. Below, under: tuley the bor, under the hedge. +Slavonian, doly. + +Tulipen, s. Fat, grease. + +Tulo, a. Fat. + +Tute, pron. Accusative of Tu; generally used instead of the +nominative. + +Tuv, s. Smoke, tobacco. + +Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, a. Smoky. Span. Gyp. Chibalo (a cigar). + +V + +VANGUS, s. Finger. Sans. Angula. + +Vangustri, s. Ring. Sans. Angulika, anguri. See Wangustri. + +Vaneshu, s. Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not at all. + +Var, s. Flour: var-engro, a miller. See Waro. + +Vardo, s. Cart. See Wardo. + +Vassavo / Vassavy, a. Bad, evil. + +Vast, s. Hand. + +Vava. An affix, by which the future of a verb is formed, as Heta- +vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or will be. + +Vellin, s. A bottle. + +Vauros, s. A city. Hun. Varos. Sans. Puri. Hin. Poor. Wal. +Orash. + +Venor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. See Wendror, + +W + +WAFO, a. Another. Sans. Apara. + +Wafo divvus, s. Yesterday. Lit. the other day. + +Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land. + +Wafo temeskoe mush, s. A foreigner, another countryman. + +Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners. + +Wafodu / Wafudo, a. Bad, evil. + +Wafoduder. Worse: wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Wafodu-pen, s. Wickedness. + +Wafodu guero, s. The Evil One, Satan. + +Wafodu tan, s. Hell, bad place. + +Wangar, s. Coals, charcoal. Sans. Angara. See Wongar. + +Wangustri, s. Ring. + +Warda, v. To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, take care of +yourself. + +Wardo, s. Cart. Sans. Pattra. + +Wardo-mescro, s. Carter, cartwright, cooper, name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Waro, s. Flour. + +Waro-mescro, s. Miller. + +Wast, s. Hand. See Vast. Wastrors, hands. Gaelic, Bas (the palm +of the hand). + +Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, s. A fair. Wal. Bieltchiou. + +Wel, v. a. He comes; from Ava. Sometimes used imperatively; e.g. +Wel adrey, come in. + +Welling pali. Coming back, returning from transportation. + +Wen, s. Winter. + +Wendror, s. pl. Bowels, inside. Wal. Pentetche. Lat. Venter. + +Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Werriga, s. Chain. Rus. Veriga. Wal. Verigie (bolt). + +Wesh, s. Forest, wood. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Wesh-engro, s. Woodman, gamekeeper. + +Weshen-juggal, s. Fox. Lit. dog of the wood. + +Woddrus / Wuddrus, s. Bed. Hun. Gyp. Patos. Wal. Pat. The Spanish +Gypsies retain the pure Indian word Charipe. + +Wongar, s. Coal. Also a term for money; probably because Coal in +the cant language signifies money. See Wangar. + +Wongar-camming mush, s. A miser. Lit. one who loves coal. + +Wuddur, s. Door. Span. Gyp. Burda. Wal. Poartie. + +Wuddur-mescro, s. Doorkeeper. + +Wust, v. a. To cast, throw. + +Wusto-mengro, s. Wrestler, hurler. + +Y + +YACK, s. Eye. Sans. Akshi. Germ. Auge. Rus. Oko. Lithuanian, +Akis. Lat. Oculus. + +Yackor. Eyes. + +Yag, s. Fire. Sans. Agni. Rus. Ogon. Lithuanian, Ugnis. Lat. +Ignis. Irish, An (water, fire). + +Yag-engri, s. Gun, fire-thing. + +Yag- engro / Yago-mengro, s. Gamekeeper, sportsman, fireman. + +Yag-kairepenes, s. Fireworks. + +Yag-vardo, s. Fire-car, railroad carriage. + +Yarb, s. Herb. + +Yarb-tan, s. Garden. + +Yeck, a. One. Sans. Eka. Hin. Yak. + +Yeckoro, a. Only: yeckoro chavo, only son. + +Yeckorus, ad. Once. + +Yo, pron. He. + +Yoi, pron. She. Sometimes used for La or Las, her; e.g. Mande +putch'd yoi, I asked she, her. + +Yokki, a. Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki woman--a female +expert at filching, ringing the changes, telling fortunes, and other +Gypsy arts. Sans. Yoga (artifice, plan), Yuj (to combine, put +together, plan). + +Yora, s. Hour. See Ora. + +Yoro, s. An egg. Wal. Ou. + +Z + +ZI, s. The heart, mind. Hun. Sziv. Sans. Dhi. + +Zimmen, s. Broth. Wal. Zmenteni (cream). + +Zoomi, s. f. Broth, soup. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Zamie (juice). + +Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from +various races, a made-up person. Sans. Sangkara, compositus (made- +up). + + + +RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS + + + +To dick and jin, +To bikn and kin; +To pee and hal, +And av and jal; +To kair and poggra, +Shoon and rokra; +To caur and chore, +Heta and cour, +Moar and more, +To drab and dook, +And nash on rook; +To pek and tove, +And sove and rove, +And nash on poove; +To tardra oprey, +And chiv aley; +To pes and gin, +To mang and chin, +To pootch and pukker, +Hok and dukker; +To besh and kel, +To del and lel, +And jib to tel; +Bitch, atch, and hatch, +Roddra and latch; +To gool and saul, +And sollohaul; +To pand and wustra, +Hokta and plastra, +Busna and kistur, +Maila and grista; +To an and riggur; +To pen and sikker, +Porra and simmer, +Chungra and chingra, +Pude and grommena, +Grovena, gruvena; +To dand and choom, +Chauva and rom, +Rok and gare, +Jib and mer +With camova, +And paracrova, +Apasavello +And mekello, +And kitsi wasror, +Sore are lavior, +For kairing chomany, +In jib of Romany. + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES--LITTLE SAYINGS + + + +If foky kek jins bute, +Ma sal at lende; +For sore mush jins chomany +That tute kek jins. + +Whatever ignorance men may show, +From none disdainful turn; +For every one doth something know +Which you have yet to learn. + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES + + + +So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos? +It is my Dovvel's kerrimus, and we can't help asarlus. +Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opre mande. +If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute. +Misto kedast tute. +Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro. + +The plastra-mengro sollohaul'd bango. +Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey Bare-mescrey. +You jin feter dovey oduvu. +Will you pes for a coro levinor? +Ma pi kekomi. +Ma rokra kekomi. +Bori shil se mande. +Tatto tu coccori, pen. +Kekkeno pawni dov odoi. +Sore simensar si men. + +Tatto ratti se len. +Wafudu lavior you do pen, miry deary Dovvel. +Kair pias to kair the gorgies sal. +Nai men chior. +So se drey lis? +Misto sis riddo. +Muk man av abri. +Ma kair jaw. +Si covar ajaw. +An men posseymengri. +Colliko sorlo me deavlis. +Pukker zi te lesti. +Soving lasa. +Tatto si can. +Mande kinyo, nastis jalno durroder. +Ma muk de gorgey jinnen sore lidan dovvu luvvu so garridan. +Dui trins ta yeck ta pas. +Pes apopli. +Chiv'd his vast adrey tiro putsi. +Penchavo chavo savo shan tu. + +I'd sooner shoon his rokrapen than shoon Lally gil a gillie. +Kekkeno jinava mande ne burreder denne chavo. +Aukko tu pios adrey Romanes. + + +LITTLE SAYINGS + + +What must I do, mother, to make you well? +It is my God's doing, and we can't help at all. + +My God above, look down upon me! +If I could get hold of you, I would slay you. +Thou hast done well. +That is a fine thing, you bloody dog, if it were mine. +The Bow-street runner swore falsely. +I will go into the New Forest to see the old Stanleys. +You know better than that. +Will you pay for a pot of ale? +Don't drink any more. +Do not speak any more. +I have a great cold. +Warm thyself, sister. +There is no water there. +We are all relations: all who are with us are ourselves. +They have hot blood. +Evil words you do speak, O my dear God. +Make fun, to make the Gentiles laugh. +I have no girls. +What is in it? +Thou art well dressed. +Let me come out. +Don't do so. +The thing is so: so it is. +Bring me a fork. +To-morrow morning I will give it. +Tell her your mind. +Sleeping with her. +The sun is hot. +I am tired, I can go no farther. +Don't let the Gentiles know all the money you took which you hid. +Seven pound ten. +Pay again. +Put his hand into your pocket. +The boy is thinking who you are. + +I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally sing. +I know no more than a child. +Here's your health in Romany! + + + +COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE'S LIL CHIV'D ADREY ROMANES +PIECES OF SCRIPTURE CAST INTO ROMANY + + + +THE FIRST DAY--Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4 + + +Drey the sherripen Midibble kair'd the temoprey ta the puv; +Ta the puv was chungalo, ta chichi was adrey lis; +Ta temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put. +Ta Midibble's bavol-engri besh'd oprey the panior; +Ta Midibble penn'd: Mook there be dute! ta there was dute. +Ta Midibble dick'd that the doot was koosho-koshko. +Ta Midibble chinn'd enrey the dute ta the temnopen; +Ta Midibble kor'd the dute divvus, ta the temnopen kor'd yo rarde; +Ta the sarla, ta the sorlo were yeckto divvus. + + +THE FIFTH DAY--Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23 + + +Then Midibble penn'd; Mook sore the panior +Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta, +Ta prey puv be bute dosta chiricles +To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe. + +Then Midibble kair'd the borie baulo-matches, +Ta sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis, +The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd Midibble, + +The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd he lende: +Then Midibble dick'd that sore was koosho-koshko, +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + +Penn'd Midibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer, +Per with covars the panior ta durior, +Ta prey puv be burreder the chiricles! + +Then was sarla ta sorlo panschto divvus. + + +THE CREATION OF MAN--Genesis i. 27, 28 + + +Then Mi-dibble kair'd Manoo drey his dikkipen, +Drey Mi-dibble's dikkipen kair'd he leste; +Mush and mushi kair'd Dibble lende +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + +Penn'd Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer; +Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo +And oprey sore the puvo be krallior, + +Oprey the dooiya and its matches, +And oprey the chiricles of the tarpe, +And oprey soro covar that's jibbing +And peers prey the mui of the puvo. + + +THE LORD'S PRAYER + + +Meery dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey the tem oprey, be sharrafo teero +nav, te awel teero tem, be kedo sore so caumes oprey ye poov, sar +kairdios drey the tem oprey. Dey man to divvus meery divvuskey +morro; ta for-dey mande mande's pizzaripenes, sar mande fordeava +wafor mushes lende's pizzaripenes; ma mook te petrav drey kek +tentacionos, but lel mande abri from sore wafodupen; for teero se o +tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, ta yi corauni knaw ta ever-komi. +Si covar ajaw. + + +THE APOSTLES' CREED + + +Apasavello drey Mi-dovel; Dad sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, ta +cav acoi tuley: ta drey lescro yekkero Chauvo Jesus Christus moro +erray, beano of wendror of Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by +the wast of Poknish Pontius Pilatos; was nash'd oprey ye Trihool; was +mored, and chived adrey ye puve; jall'd tuley ye temno drom ke wafudo +tan, bengeskoe starriben; ta prey ye trito divvus jall'd yo oprey ke +koshto tan, Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey Mi-dovels tatcho +wast, Dad sore-ruslo; cad odoy avellava to lel shoonapen oprey jibben +and merripen; Apasavello drey Mi-dibbleskey Ducos; drey the Bori Mi- +develesky Bollisky Congri; that sore tatcho fokey shall jib in +mestepen kettaney; that Mi-dibble will fordel sore wafudopenes; that +soror mulor will jongor, and there will be kek merripen asarlus. Si +covar ajaw. Avali. + + +THE LORD'S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA + + +Miro gulo Devel, savo hal ote ando Cheros, te avel swuntunos tiro +nav; te avel catari tiro tem; te keren saro so cames oppo puv, sar +ando Cheros. De man sekhonus miro diveskoe manro, ta ierta mangue +saro so na he plaskerava tuke, sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue +saro so na plaskerelen mangue. Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo +camoben; tama lel man abri saro doschdar. Weika tiro sin o tem, tiri +yi potea, tiri yi proslava akana ta sekovar. + +Te del amen o gulo Del eg meschibo pa amara choribo. + +Te vas del o Del amengue; te n'avel man pascotia ando drom, te na +hoden pen mandar. + +Ja Develehi! +Az Develehi! +Ja Develeskey! +Az Develeskey! +Heri Devlis! + + +My sweet God, who art there in Heaven, may thy name come hallowed; +may thy kingdom come hither; may they do all that thou wishest upon +earth, as in Heaven. Give me to-day my daily bread, and forgive me +all that I cannot pay thee, as I shall forgive other men all that +they do not pay me. Do not let me fall into evil desire; but take me +out from all wickedness. For thine is the kingdom, thine the power, +thine the glory now and ever. + +May the sweet God give us a remedy for our poverty. + +May God help us! May no misfortune happen to me in the road, and may +no one steal anything me. + +Go with God! +Stay with God! +Go, for God's sake! +Stay, for God's sake! +By God! + + + +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN + + + +The tawno fokey often putches so koskipen se drey the Romano jib? +Mande pens ye are sore dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se adrey lis, ta +dusta, dosta of moro foky would have been bitcheno or nash'd, but for +the puro, choveno Romano jib. A lav in Romany, penn'd in cheeros to +a tawnie rakli, and rigg'd to the tan, has kair'd a boro kisi of +luvvo and wafor covars, which had been chor'd, to be chived tuley +pov, so that when the muskerres well'd they could latch vanisho, and +had kek yeckly to muk the Romano they had lell'd opre, jal his drom, +but to mang also his artapen. + +His bitchenipenskie cheeros is knau abri, and it were but kosko in +leste to wel ken, if it were yeckly to lel care of lescri puri, +choveny romady; she's been a tatchi, tatchi romady to leste, and kek +man apasavello that she has jall'd with a wafu mush ever since he's +been bitcheno. + +When yeck's tardrad yeck's beti ten oprey, kair'd yeck's beti yag +anglo the wuddur, ta nash'd yeck's kekauvi by the kekauviskey saster +oprey lis, yeck kek cams that a dikkimengro or muskerro should wel +and pen: so's tute kairing acai? Jaw oprey, Romano juggal. + +Prey Juliken yeckto Frydivvus, anglo nango muyiskie staunyi naveni +kitchema, prey the chong opral Bororukeskoe Gav, drey the Wesh, tute +dickavavasa bute Romany foky, mushor ta juvar, chalor ta cheiar. + +Jinnes tu miro puro prala Rye Stanniwix, the puro rye savo rigs a +bawlo-dumo-mengri, ta kair'd desh ta stor mille barior by covar- +plastring? + +He jall'd on rokkring ta rokkring dinneleskoenaes till mande pukker'd +leste: if tute jasas on dovodoiskoenaes mande curavava tute a tatto +yeck prey the nok. + +You putches mande so si patrins. Patrins are Romany drom sikkering +engris, by which the Romany who jal anglo muk lende that wels palal +jin the drom they have jall'd by: we wusts wastperdes of chaw oprey +the puv at the jalling adrey of the drom, or we kairs sar a wangust a +trihool oprey the chik, or we chins ranior tuley from the rukhies, +and chivs lende oprey drey the puv aligatas the bor; but the tatcho +patrin is wast-perdes of leaves, for patrin or patten in puro Romano +jib is the uav of a rukheskoe leaf. + +The tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to shoon, dick, and rig in +zi. + +The mush savo kek se les the juckni-wast oprey his jib and his zi is +keck kosko to jal adrey sweti. + +The lil to lel oprey the kekkeno mushe's puvior and to keir the +choveno foky mer of buklipen and shillipen, is wusted abri the +Raioriskey rokkaring ker. + +The nav they dins lati is Bokht drey Cuesni, because she rigs about a +cuesni, which sore the rardies when she jals keri, is sure to be +perdo of chored covars. + +Cav acoi, pralor, se the nav of a lil, the sherrokairipen of a puro +kladjis of Roumany tem. The Borobeshemescrotan, or the lav- +chingaripen between ye jinneynengro ta yi sweti; or the merripenskie +rokrapen chiv'd by the zi oprey the trupo. + +When the shello was about his men they rigg'd leste his artapen, and +muk'd leste jal; but from dovo divvus he would rig a men-pangushi +kekkomi, for he penn'd it rigg'd to his zee the shello about his men. + +Jack Vardomescro could del oprey dosta to jin sore was oprey the mea- +bars and the drom-sikkering engris. + +The Romano drom to pek a chiriclo is to kair it oprey with its porior +drey chik, and then to chiv it adrey the yag for a beti burroder than +a posh ora. When the chik and the hatch'd porior are lell'd from the +chiriclesky trupos, the per's chinn'd aley, and the wendror's wusted +abri, 'tis a hobben dosta koshto for a crallissa to hal without lon. + +When Gorgio mushe's merripen and Romany Chal's merripen wels +kettaney, kek kosto merripen see. + +Yeckorus he pukker'd mande that when he was a bis beschengro he mored +a gorgio, and chived the mulo mas tuley the poov; he was lell'd oprey +for the moripen, but as kekkeno could latch the shillo mas, the +pokiniuses muk'd him jal; he penn'd that the butsi did not besh pordo +pre his zi for bute chiros, but then sore on a sudden he became +tugnis and atraish of the mulo gorgio's bavol-engro, and that often +of a rarde, as he was jalling posh motto from the kitchema by his +cocoro, he would dick over his tatcho pikko and his bango pikko, to +jin if the mulo mush's bavol-engro was kek welling palal to lel +bonnek of leste. + +Does tute jin the Romano drom of lelling the wast? + +Avali, prala. + +Sikker mande lis. + +They kairs it ajaw, prala. + +A chorredo has burreder peeas than a Romany Chal. + +Tute has shoon'd the lav pazorrus. Dovodoy is so is kored +gorgikonaes "Trusted." Drey the puro cheeros the Romano savo lelled +lovvu, or wafor covars from lescro prala in parriken, ta kek pess'd +leste apopli, could be kair'd to buty for leste as gry, mailla or +cost-chinnimengro for a besh ta divvus. To divvus kek si covar ajaw. +If a Romano lelled lovvu or wafu covars from meero vast in parriken, +ta kek pessed mande apopli, sar estist for mande te kair leste buty +as gry, mailla, or cost-chinnimengro for mande for yek divvus, kek to +pen for sore a besh? + +Do you nav cavacoi a weilgorus? Ratfelo rinkeno weilgorus cav acoi: +you might chiv lis sore drey teero putsi. + +Kek jinnipenskey covar se to pen tute's been bango. If tute pens +tute's been bango, foky will pen: Estist tute's a koosho koshko +mushipen, but tatchipe a ratfelo dinnelo. + +Car's tute jibbing? + +Mande's kek jibbing; mande's is atching, at the feredest; mande's a +pirremengri, prala! + +Cauna Romany foky rokkerelan yeck sar wafu penelan pal ta pen; cauna +dado or deya rokkerelan ke lendes chauves penelan meero chauvo or +meeri chi; or my child, gorgikonaes, to ye dui; cauna chauves +rokkerelan te dad or deya penelan meero dad or meeri deya! + +Meero dado, soskey were creminor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that puvo- +baulor might jib by haIling lende. Meero dado, soskey were +puvobaulor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that tute and mande might jib by +lelling lende. Meero dado, soskey were tu ta mande kair'd? Meero +chauvo, that creminor might jib by halling mende. + +Sore giv-engres shan dinneles. When they shoons a gav-engro drey the +tem pen: Dov-odoy's a fino grye! they pens: Kekkeno grye se; grasni +si; whether the covar's a grasni or kekkeni. Kek jinellan the +dinneles that a grasni's a grye, though a grye is kek a grasni. + +Kekkeni like Romano Will's rawnie for kelling drey a chauro. + +Cauna Constance Petulengri merr'd she was shel ta desch beshor puri. + +Does tute jin Rawnie Wardomescri? + +Mande jins lati misto, prala. + +Does tute cam lati? + +Mande cams lati bute, prala; and mande has dosta, dosta cheeros +penn'd to the wafor Romany Chals, when they were rokkering wafudo of +lati: She's a rawnie; she lels care of sore of you; if it were kek +for lati, you would sore jal to the beng. + +So kerella for a jivipen? + +She dukkers, prala; she dukkers. + +Can she dukker misto? + +There's kekkeny Romany juva tuley the can for dukkering sar Rawnie +Wardomescri; nastis not to be dukker'd by lati; she's a tatchi +chovahan; she lels foky by the wast and dukkers lende, whether they +cams or kek. + +Kek koskipen si to jal roddring after Romany Chals. When tute cams +to dick lende nestist to latch yeck o' lende; but when tute's +penching o' wafor covars tute dicks o' lende dosta dosta. + +Mande will sollohaul neither bango nor tatcho against kekkeno; if +they cams to latch abri chomoni, muk lende latch it abri their +cokkore. + +If he had been bitcheno for a boro luripen mande would have penn'd +chi; but it kairs mande diviou to pentch that he was bitcheno, all +along of a bori lubbeny, for trin tringurishis ta posh. + +When he had kair'd the moripen, he kair'd sig and plastrar'd adrey +the wesh, where he gared himself drey the hev of a boro, puro rukh; +but it was kek koskipen asarlus; the plastra-mengres slomm'd his pire +sore along the wesh till they well'd to the rukh. + +Sau kisi foky has tute dukker'd to divvus? + +Yeck rawnie coccori, prala; dov ody she wels palal; mande jins lati +by the kaulo dori prey laki shubba. + +Sau bute luvvu did she del tute? + +Yeck gurush, prala; yeck gurush coccoro. The beng te lilly a truppy! + +Shoon the kosko rokkrapen so Micail jinney-mengro penn'd ke Rawnie +Trullifer: Rawnie Trollopr, you must jib by your jibben: and if a +base se tukey you must chiv lis tuley. + +Can you rokkra Romanes? +Avali, prala! +So si Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskey tudlogueri? +Mande don't jin what you pens, prala. +Then tute is kek Romano lavomengro. + + + + +BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS + + +The young people often ask: What good is there in the Romany tongue? +I answers: Ye are all fools! There is plenty, plenty of good in it, +and plenty, plenty of our people would have been transported or hung, +but for the old, poor Roman language. A word in Romany said in time +to a little girl, and carried to the camp, has caused a great purse +of money and other things, which had been stolen, to be stowed +underground; so that when the constables came they could find +nothing, and had not only to let the Gypsy they had taken up go his +way, but also to beg his pardon. + +His term of transportation has now expired, and it were but right in +him to come home, if it were only to take care of his poor old wife: +she has been a true, true wife to him, and I don't believe that she +has taken up with another man ever since he was sent across. + +When one's pitched up one's little tent, made one's little fire +before the door, and hung one's kettle by the kettle-iron over it, +one doesn't like that an inspector or constable should come and say: +What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog. + +On the first Friday of July, before the public-house called the Bald- +faced Stag, on the hill above the town of the great tree in the +Forest, you will see many Roman people, men and women, lads and +lasses. + +Do you know my old friend Mr. Stanniwix, the old gentleman that wears +a pigtail, and made fourteen thousand pounds by smuggling? + +He went on talking and talking foolishness till I said to him: If +you goes on in that 'ere way I'll hit you a hot 'un on the nose. + +You ask me what are patrins. Patrin is the name of the signs by +which the Gypsies who go before show the road they have taken to +those who follow behind. We flings handfuls of grass down at the +head of the road we takes, or we makes with the finger a cross-mark +on the ground, we sticks up branches of trees by the side the hedge. +But the true patrin is handfuls of leaves flung down; for patrin or +patten in old Roman language means the leaf of a tree. + +The true way to be a wise man is to hear, see, and bear in mind. + +The man who has not the whip-hand of his tongue and his temper is not +fit to go into company. + +The Bill to take up the no-man's lands (comons), and to make the poor +people die of hunger and cold, has been flung out of the House of +Commons. + +The name they gives her is "Luck in a basket," because she carries +about a basket, which every night, when she goes home, is sure to be +full of stolen property. + +This here, brothers, is the title of a book, the head-work of an old +king of Roumany land: the Tribunal, or the dispute between the wise +man and the world: or, the death-sentence passed by the soul upon +the body. + +When the rope was about his neck they brought him his pardon, and let +him go; but from that day he would wear a neck-kerchief no more, for +he said it brought to his mind the rope about his neck. + +Jack Cooper could read enough to know all that was upon the +milestones and the sign-posts. + +The Roman way to cook a fowl is to do it up with its feathers in +clay, and then to put it in fire for a little more than half an hour. +When the clay and the burnt feathers are taken from the fowl, the +belly cut open, and the inside flung out, 'tis a food good enough for +a queen to eat without salt. + +When the Gentile way of living and the Gypsy way of living come +together, it is anything but a good way of living. + +He told me once that when he was a chap of twenty he killed a +Gentile, and buried the dead meat under ground. He was taken up for +the murder, but as no one could find the cold meat, the justices let +him go. He said that the job did not sit heavy upon his mind for a +long time, but then all of a sudden he became sad, and afraid of the +dead Gentile's ghost; and that often of a night, as he was coming +half-drunk from the public-house by himself, he would look over his +right shoulder and over his left shoulder, to know if the dead man's +ghost was not coming behind to lay hold of him. + +Do you know the Gypsy way of taking the hand? +Aye, aye, brother. +Show it to me. +They does it so, brother. + +A tramp has more fun than a Gypsy. + +You have heard the word pazorrus. That is what is called by the +Gentiles "trusted," or in debt. In the old time the Roman who got +from his brother money or other things on trust, and did not pay him +again, could be made to work for him as horse, ass, or wood cutter +for a year and a day. At present the matter is not so. If a Roman +got money, or other things, from my hand on credit, and did not repay +me, how could I make him labour for me as horse, ass, or stick-cutter +for one day, not to say for a year? + +Do you call this a fair? A very pretty fair is this: you might put +it all into your pocket. + +It is not a wise thing to say you have been wrong. If you allow you +have been wrong, people will say: You may be a very honest fellow, +but are certainly a very great fool. + +Where are you living? + +Mine is not living; mine is staying, to say the best of it; I am a +traveller, brother! + +When Roman people speak to one another, they say brother and sister. +When parents speak to their children, they say, my son, or my +daughter, or my child, gorgiko-like, to either. When children speak +to their parents, they say, my father, or my mother. + +My father, why were worms made? My son, that moles might live by +eating them. My father, why were moles made? My son, that you and I +might live by catching them. My father, why were you and I made? My +son, that worms might live by eating us. + +All farmers are fools. When they hear a citizen in the country say: +That's a fine horse! they say: 'Tis no horse, 'tis a mare; whether +the thing's a horse or not. The simpletons don't know that a mare's +a horse, though a horse is not a mare. + +No one like Gypsy Will's wife for dancing in a platter. + +When Constance Smith died, she was a hundred ten years old. + +Do you know Mrs. Cooper? + +I knows her very well, brother. + +Do you like her? + +I loves her very much, brother; and I have often, often said to the +other Gypsies, when they speaking ill of her: She's a gentlewoman; +takes care of all of you; if it were not for her, you would all go to +the devil. + +What does she do for a living? + +She tells fortunes, brother; she tells fortunes. + +Is she a good hand at fortune-telling? + +There's no Roman woman under the sun so good at fortune-telling as +Mrs. Cooper; it is impossible not to have your fortune told by her; +she's a true witch; she takes people by the hand, and tells their +fortunes, whether they will or no. + +'Tis no use to go seeking after Gypsies. When you wants to see them +'tis impossible to find one of them; but when you are thinking of +other matters you see plenty, plenty of them. + +I will swear neither falsely nor truly against any one; if they +wishes to find out something, let them find it out themselves. + +If he had been transported for a great robbery, I would have said +nothing; but it makes me mad to think that he has been sent away, all +along of a vile harlot, for the value of three-and-sixpence. + +When he had committed the murder he made haste, and ran into the +wood, where he hid himself in the hollow of a great old tree; but it +was no use at all; the runners followed his track all along the +forest till they came to the tree. + +How many fortunes have you told to-day? + +Only one lady's, brother; yonder she's coming back; I knows her by +the black lace on her gown. + +How much money did she give you? + +Only one groat, brother; only one groat. May the devil run away with +her bodily! + +Hear the words of wisdom which Mike the Grecian said to Mrs. +Trullifer: Mrs. Trollopr, you must live by your living; and if you +have a pound you must spend it. + +Can you speak Romany? +Aye, aye, brother! +What is Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskeytudlogueri? +I don't know what you say, brother. +Then you are no master of Romany. + + + +ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR +GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS + + + +Baulo-mengreskey tem Swineherds' country, Hampshire +Bitcheno padlengreskey tem Transported fellows' country, Botany +Bay +Bokra-mengreskey tem Shepherds' country, Sussex +Bori-congriken gav Great church town, York +Boro-rukeneskey gav Great tree town, Fairlop +Boro gueroneskey tem Big fellows' country, Northumberland +Chohawniskey tem Witches' country, Lancashire +Choko-mengreskey gav Shoemakers' town, Northampton +Churi-mengreskey gav Cutlers' town, Sheffield +Coro-mengreskey tem Potters' country, Staffordshire +Cosht-killimengreskey tem Cudgel players' country, Cornwall +Curo-mengreskey gav Boxers' town, Nottingham +Dinelo tem Fools' country, Suffolk +Giv-engreskey tem Farmers' country, Buckinghamshire +Gry-engreskey gav Horsedealers' town, Horncastle +Guyo-mengreskey tem Pudding-eaters' country, Yorkshire +Hindity-mengreskey tem Dirty fellows' country, Ireland +Jinney-mengreskey gav Sharpers' town, Manchester +Juggal-engreskey gav Dog-fanciers' town, Dudley +Juvlo-mengreskey tem Lousy fellows' country, Scotland +Kaulo gav The black town, Birmingham +Levin-engriskey tem Hop country, Kent +Lil-engreskey gav Book fellows' town, Oxford +Match-eneskey gav Fishy town, Yarmouth +Mi-develeskey gav My God's town, Canterbury +Mi-krauliskey gav Royal town, London +Nashi-mescro gav Racers' town, Newmarket +Pappin-eskey tem Duck country, Lincolnshire +Paub-pawnugo tem Apple-water country, Herefordshire +Porrum-engreskey tem Leek-eaters' country, Wales +Pov-engreskey tem Potato country, Norfolk +Rashayeskey gav Clergyman's town, Ely +Rokrengreskey gav Talking fellows' town, Norwich +Shammin-engreskey gav Chairmakers' town, Windsor +Tudlo tem Milk country, Cheshire +Weshen-eskey gav Forest town, Epping +Weshen-juggal-slommo-mengreskey tem Fox-hunting fellows' country, +Leicestershire +Wongareskey gav Coal town, Newcastle +Wusto-mengresky tem Wrestlers' country, Devonshire + + +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO + + + +Prey Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey the besh yeck mille ochto shel +shovardesh ta trin, mande jaw'd to dick Thomas Rossar-mescro, a puro +Romano, of whom mande had shoon'd bute. He was jibbing drey a tan +naveno Rye Groby's Court, kek dur from the Coromengreskoe Tan ta +Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick'd leste he was beshing prey +the poov by his wuddur, chiving misto the poggado tuleskey part of a +skammin. His ker was posh ker, posh wardo, and stood drey a corner +of the tan; kek dur from lesti were dui or trin wafor ker-wardoes. +There was a wafudo canipen of baulor, though mande dick'd kekkeney. +I penn'd "Sarshin?" in Romany jib, and we had some rokrapen kettaney. +He was a boro mush, as mande could dick, though he was beshing. But +though boro he was kek tulo, ta lescre wastes were tarney sar yek +rawnie's. Lollo leste mui sar yeck weneskoe paub, ta lescro bal +rather lollo than parno. Prey his shero was a beti stadj, and he was +kek wafudo riddo. On my putching leste kisi boro he was, ta kisi +puro, he penn'd that he was sho pire sore but an inch boro, ta +enyovardesh ta dui besh puro. He didn't jin to rokkra bute in +Romano, but jinn'd almost sore so mande rokkar'd te leste. Moro +rokkrapen was mostly in gorgiko jib. Yeck covar yecklo drey lescro +drom of rokkring mande pennsch'd kosko to rig in zi. In tan of +penning Romany, sar wafor Romany chals, penn'd o Roumany, a lav which +sig, sig rigg'd to my zi Roumain, the tatcho, puro nav of the +Vallackiskie jib and foky. He seem'd a biti aladge of being of +Romany rat. He penn'd that he was beano drey the Givengreskey Tem, +that he was kek tatcho Romano, but yeckly posh ta posh: lescro dado +was Romano, but lescri daya a gorgie of the Lilengreskoe Gav; he had +never camm'd bute to jib Romaneskoenaes, and when tarno had been a +givengreskoe raklo. When he was boro he jall'd adrey the +Lilengrotemskey militia, and was desh ta stor besh a militia +curomengro. He had jall'd bute about Engli-tem and the juvalo- +mengreskey, Tem, drey the cheeros of the puri chingaripen, and had +been adrey Monseer-tem, having volunteered to jal odoy to cour agen +the parley-woo gueros. He had dick'd Bordeaux and the boro gav +Paris. After the chingaripen, he had lell'd oprey skamminengring, +and had jall'd about the tem, but had been knau for buter than +trianda beshor jibbing in Lundra. He had been romado, but his romadi +had been mullee bute, bute cheeros; she had dinn'd leste yeck chavo, +so was knau a heftwardesh beshengro, dicking bute puroder than yo +cocoro, ta kanau lying naflo of a tatti naflipen drey yeck of the +wardes. He penn'd that at yeck cheeros he could kair dosta luvvu by +skammin-engring, but kanau from his bori puripen could scarcely kair +yeck tringurushee a divvus. "Ladjipen si," I penn'd, "that a mush so +puro as tute should have to booty." "Kosko zi! kosko zi!" he penn'd; +"Paracrow Dibble that mande is dosta ruslo to booty, and that mande +has koskey camomescres; I shan't be tugnis to jib to be a shel +beshengro, though tatchipen si if mande was a rye mande would kair +kek booty." His chaveskoe chavo, a trianda ta pansch beshengro, +well'd kanau ta rokkar'd mansar. He was a misto dicking ta rather +misto riddo mush, sar chimouni jinneymengreskey drey lescro mui. He +penn'd that his dadeskoe dad was a fino puro mush, savo had dick'd +bute, and that dosta, dosta foky well'd odoy to shoon lescre +rokkrapenes of the puro cheeros, of the Franciskie ta Amencanskie +chingaripenes, and of what yo had dick'd drey wafu tems. That +tatchipen to pen there was a cheeros when his drom was dur from +kosko, for that he camm'd to cour, sollohaul ta kair himself motto, +but that kanau he was a wafu mush, that he had muk'd sore curopen and +wafudo rokkrapen, and, to corauni sore, was yeck tee-totaller, yo +cocoro having kair'd leste sollohaul that he would pi kekomi neither +tatti panie nor levinor: that he jall'd sore the curques either to +congri or Tabernacle, and that tho' he kek jinn'd to del oprey he +camm'd to shoon the Miduveleskoe lil dell'd oprey to leste; that the +panishkie ryor held leste drey boro camopen, and that the congriskoe +rashi, and oprey sore Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a boro opinionos +of leste, ta penn'd that he would hal the Miduveleskoe habben sar +moro Araunyo Jesus drey the kosko tem opral. Mande putch'd whether +the Romany Chals well'd often to dick leste? He penn'd that they +well'd knau and then to pen Koshto divvus and Sarshin? but dov' odoy +was sore; that neither his dadeskoe dad nor yo cocoro camm'd to dick +lende, because they were wafodu foky, perdo of wafodupen and bango +camopen, ta oprey sore bute envyous; that drey the wen they jall'd +sore cattaney to the ryor, and rokkar'd wafodu of the puno mush, and +pukker'd the ryor to let lester a coppur which the ryor had lent +leste, to kair tatto his choveno puro truppo drey the cheeros of the +trashlo shillipen; that tatchipen si their wafodupen kaired the puro +mush kek dosh, for the ryor pukker'd lende to jal their drom and be +aladge of their cocore, but that it was kek misto to pensch that yeck +was of the same rat as such foky. After some cheeros I dinn'd the +puro mush a tawno cuttor of rupe, shook leste by ye wast, penn'd that +it would be mistos amande to dick leste a shel-beshengro, and jaw'd +away keri. + + +THOMAS HERNE + + +On the twenty-second day of June, in the year one thousand eight +hundred and sixty-three, I went to see Thomas Herne, an old Gypsy, of +whom I had heard a great deal. He was living at a place called Mr. +Groby's Court, not far from the Potteries and the Shepherd's Bush. +When I saw him, he was sitting on the ground by his door, mending the +broken bottom of a chair. His house was half-house half-waggon, and +stood in a corner of the court; not far from it were two or three +other waggon-houses. There was a disagreeable smell of hogs, though +I saw none. I said, "How you do?" in the Gypsy tongue, and we had +discourse together. He was a tall man, as I could see, though he was +sitting. But, though tall, he was not stout, and his hands were +small as those of a lady. His face was as red as a winter apple, and +his hair was rather red than grey. He had a small hat on his head, +and he was not badly dressed. On my asking him how tall he was, and +how old, he said that he was six foot high, all but an inch, and that +he was ninety-two years old. He could not talk much Gypsy, but +understood almost all that I said to him. Our discourse was chiefly +in English. One thing only in his manner of speaking I thought +worthy of remembrance. Instead of saying Romany, like other Gypsies, +he said Roumany, a word which instantly brought to my mind Roumain, +the genuine, ancient name of the Wallachian tongue and people. He +seemed to be rather ashamed of being of Gypsy blood. He told me that +he was born in Buckinghamshire, that he was no true Gypsy, but only +half-and-half: his father was a Gypsy, but his mother was a Gentile +of Oxford; he had never had any particular liking for the Gypsy +manner of living, and when little had been a farmer's boy. When he +grew up he enlisted into the Oxford militia, and was fourteen years a +militia soldier. He had gone much about England and Scotland in the +time of the old war, and had been in France, having volunteered to go +thither to fight against the French. He had seen Bordeaux and the +great city of Paris. After war he had taken up chair-making, and had +travelled about the country, but had been now for more than thirty +years living in London. He had been married, but his wife had long +been dead. She had borne him a son, who was now a man seventy years +of age, looking much older than himself, and at present lying sick of +a burning fever in one of the caravans. He said that at one time he +could make a good deal of money by chair-making, but now from his +great age could scarcely earn a shilling a day. "What a shame," said +I, "that a man so old as you should have to work at all!" "Courage! +courage!" he cried; "I thank God that I am strong enough to work, and +that I have good friends; I shan't be sorry to live to be a hundred +years old, though true it is that if I were a gentleman I would do no +work." His grandson, a man of about five-and-thirty, came now and +conversed with me. He was a good-looking and rather well-dressed +man, with something of a knowing card in his countenance. He said +that his grandfather was a fine old man, who had seen a great deal, +and that a great many people came to hear his stories of the old +time, of the French and American wars, and of what he had seen in +other countries. That, truth to say, there was a time when his way +was far from commendable, for that he loved to fight, swear, and make +himself drunk; but that now he was another man, that he had abandoned +all fighting and evil speaking, and, to crown all, was a tee- +totaller, he himself having made him swear that he would no more +drink either gin or ale: that he went every Sunday either to church +or Tabernacle, and that, though he did not know how to read, he loved +to hear the holy book read to him; that the gentlemen of the parish +entertained a great regard for him, and that the church clergyman +and, above all, Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a high opinion of him, +and said that he would partake of the holy banquet with our Lord +Jesus in the blessed country above. On my inquiring whether the +Gypsies came often to see him, he said that they came now and then to +say "Good day" and "How do you do?" but that was all; that neither +his grandfather nor himself cared to see them, because they were evil +people, full of wickedness and left-handed love, and, above all, very +envyous; that in the winter they all went in a body to the gentlemen +and spoke ill of the old man, and begged the gentlemen to take from +him a blanket which the gentlemen had lent him to warm his poor old +body with in the time of the terrible cold; that it is true their +wickedness did the old man no harm, for the gentlemen told them to go +away and be ashamed of themselves, but that it was not pleasant to +think that one was of the same blood as such people. After some time +I gave the old man a small piece of silver, shook him by the hand, +said that I should be glad to see him live to be a hundred, and went +away home. + + + +KOKKODUS ARTARUS + + + +Drey the puro cheeros there jibb'd a puri Romani juva, Sinfaya laki +nav. Tatchi Romani juva i; caum'd to rokkra Romany, nav'd every mush +kokkodus, ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was laki; lescro nav +Artaros; dinnelo or diviou was O; romadi was lesgue; but the rommadi +merr'd, mukking leste yeck chavo. Artaros caum'd to jal oprey the +drom, and sikker his nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At last the +ryor chiv'd leste drey the diviou ker. The chavo jibb'd with his +puri deya till he was a desch ta pantsch besh engro. Yeck divvus a +Romani juva jalling along the drom dick'd the puri juva beshing tuley +a bor roving: What's the matter, Sinfaya, pukker'd i? + +My chavo's chavo is lell'd oprey, deya. +What's he lell'd oprey for? +For a meila and posh, deya. +Why don't you jal to dick leste? +I have nash'd my maila, deya. +O ma be tugni about your maila; jal and dick leste. + +I don't jin kah se, deya! diviou kokkodus Artaros jins, kek mande. +Ah diviou, diviou, jal amande callico. + + + +MANG, PRALA + + + +Romano chavo was manging sar bori gudli yeck rye te del les pasherro. +Lescri deya so was beshing kek dur from odoy penn'd in gorgikey +rokrapen: Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye kinyo with your +gudli! and then penn'd sig in Romany jib: Mang, Prala, mang! Ta o +chavo kair'd ajaw till the rye chiv'd les yeck shohaury. + +[Something like the following little anecdote is related by the +Gypsies in every part of Continental Europe.] + + +BEG ON, BROTHER + + +A Gypsy brat was once pestering a gentleman to give him a halfpenny. +The mother, who was sitting nigh, cried in English: Leave off, you +dog, and come here! don't trouble the gentleman with your noise; and +then added in Romany: Beg on, brother! and so the brat did, till the +gentleman flung him a sixpence. + + + +ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS + + + +WELLING KATTANEY + + + +Coin si deya, coin se dado? +Pukker mande drey Romanes, +Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + +Rossar-mescri minri deya! +Vardo-mescro minro dado! +Coin se dado, coin si deya? +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes; +Knau pukker tute mande. + +Petuiengro minro dado! +Purana minri deya! +Tatchey Romany si men - +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes, +Ta tute's pukker'd mande. + + +THE GYPSY MEETING + + +Who's your mother, who's your father? +Do thou answer me in Romany, +And I will answer thee. + +A Hearne I have for mother! +A Cooper for my father! +Who's your father, who's your mother? +I have answer'd thee in Romany, +Now do thou answer me. + +A Smith I have for father! +A Lee I have for mother! +True Romans both are we - +For I've answer'd thee in Romany, +And thou hast answer'd me. + + +LELLING CAPPI + + +"Av, my little Romany chel! +Av along with mansar! +Av, my little Romany chel! +Koshto si for mangue." + +"I shall lel a curapen, +If I jal aley; +I shall lel a curapen +From my dear bebee." + +"I will jal on my chongor, +Then I'll pootch your bebee. +'O my dear bebee, dey me your chi, +For koshto si for mangue.' + +"'Since you pootch me for my chi, +I will dey you lati.'" +Av, my little Romany chel! +We will jal to the wafu tem: + +"I will chore a beti gry, +And so we shall lel cappi." +"Kekko, meero mushipen, +For so you would be stardo; + +"But I will jal a dukkering, +And so we shall lel cappi." +"Koshto, my little Romany chel! +Koshto si for mangue." + + +MAKING A FORTUNE + + +"Come along, my little gypsy girl, +Come along, my little dear; +Come along, my little gypsy girl - +We'll wander far and near." + +"I should get a leathering +Should I with thee go; +I should get a leathering +From my dear aunt, I trow." + +"I'll go down on my two knees, +And I will beg your aunt. +'O auntie dear, give me your child; +She's just the girl I want!' + +"'Since you ask me for my child, +I will not say thee no!' +Come along, my little gypsy girl! +To another land we'll go: + +"I will steal a little horse, +And our fortunes make thereby." +"Not so, my little gypsy boy, +For then you'd swing on high; + +"But I'll a fortune-telling go, +And our fortunes make thereby." +"Well said, my little gypsy girl, +You counsel famously." + + +LELLING CAPPI--No.2 + + +"Av, my little Rumni chel, +Av along with mansar; +We will jal a gry-choring +Pawdle across the chumba. + +"I'll jaw tuley on my chongor +To your deya and your bebee; +And I'll pootch lende that they del +Tute to me for romadi." + +"I'll jaw with thee, my Rumni chal, +If my dye and bebee muk me; +But choring gristurs traishes me, +For it brings one to the rukie. + +"'Twere ferreder that you should ker, +Petuls and I should dukker, +For then adrey our tanney tan, +We kek atraish may sova." + +"Kusko, my little Rumni chel, +Your rokrapen is kusko; +We'll dukker and we'll petuls ker +Pawdle across the chumba. + +"O kusko si to chore a gry +Adrey the kaulo rarde; +But 'tis not kosko to be nash'd +Oprey the nashing rukie." + + +MAKING A FORTUNE--No.2 + + +"Come along, my little gypsy girl, +Come along with me, I pray! +A-stealing horses we will go, +O'er the hills so far away. + +"Before your mother and your aunt +I'll down upon my knee, +And beg they'll give me their little girl +To be my Romadie." + +"I'll go with you, my gypsy boy, +If my mother and aunt agree; +But a perilous thing is horse-stealinge, +For it brings one to the tree. + +"'Twere better you should tinkering ply, +And I should fortunes tell; +For then within our little tent +In safety we might dwell." + +"Well said, my little gypsy girl, +I like well what you say; +We'll tinkering ply, and fortunes tell +O'er the hills so far away. + +"'Tis a pleasant thing in a dusky night +A horse-stealing to go; +But to swing in the wind on the gallows-tree, +Is no pleasant thing, I trow." + + +THE DUI CHALOR + + +Dui Romany Chals were bitcheney, +Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee. +Plato for kawring, +Lasho for choring +The putsi of a bori rawnee. + +And when they well'd to the wafu tem, +The tem that's pawdle the bori pawnee, +Plato was nasho +Sig, but Lasho +Was lell'd for rom by a bori rawnee. + +You cam to jin who that rawnie was, +'Twas the rawnie from whom he chor'd the putsee: +The Chal had a black +Chohauniskie yack, +And she slomm'd him pawdle the bori pawnee. + + +THE TWO GYPSIES + + +Two Gypsy lads were transported, +Were sent across the great water. +Plato was sent for rioting, +And Louis for stealing the purse +Of a great lady. + +And when they came to the other country, +The country that lies across the great water, +Plato was speedily hung, +But Louis was taken as a husband +By a great lady. + +You wish to know who was the lady, +'Twas the lady from whom he stole the purse: +The Gypsy had a black and witching eye, +And on account of that she followed him +Across the great water. + + +MIRO ROMANY CHl + + +As I was a jawing to the gav yeck divvus +I met on the drom miro Romany chi; +I pootch'd las whether she come sar mande, +And she penn'd tu sar wafo rommadis; +O mande there is kek wafo romady, +So penn'd I to miro Romany chi, +And I'll kair tute miro tatcho romadi +If you but pen tu come sar mande. + + +MY ROMAN LASS + + +As I to the town was going one day +My Roman lass I met by the way; +Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot? +Said she: Another wife you've got. +Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried: +No wife have I in the world so wide, +And you my wedded wife shall be +If you will consent to come with me. + + +AVA, CHI + + +Hokka tute mande +Mande pukkra bebee +Mande shauvo tute - +Ava, Chi! + + +YES, MY GIRL + + +If to me you prove untrue, +Quickly I'll your auntie tell +I've been over-thick with you - +Yes, my girl, I will. + + +THE TEMESKOE RYE + + +Penn'd the temeskoe rye to the Romany chi, +As the choon was dicking prey lende dui: +Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni, +Mook man choom teero gudlo mui. + + +THE YOUTHFUL EARL + + +Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy girl, +As the moon was casting its silver shine: +Brown little lady, Egyptian lady, +Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine. + + +CAMO-GILLIE + + +Pawnie birks +My men-engni shall be; +Yackors my dudes +Like ruppeney shine: +Atch meery chi! +Ma jal away: +Perhaps I may not dick tute +Kek komi. + + +LOVE-SONG + + +I'd choose as pillows for my head +Those snow-white breasts of thine; +I'd use as lamps to light my bed +Those eyes of silver shine: +O lovely maid, disdain me not, +Nor leave me in my pain: +Perhaps 'twill never be my lot +To see thy face again. + + +TUGNIS AMANDE + + +I'm jalling across the pani - +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran, +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +She pootch'd me on the collico, +A choring mas and morro, +To jaw with lasa to the show, +For she would be the ruin of me. + +And when I jaw'd odoy with lasa, +A choring mas and morro, +Sig she chor'd a rawnie's kissi, +And so she was the ruin of me. + +They lell'd up lata, they lell'd up mande, +A choring mas and morro, +And bitch'd us dui pawdle pani, +So she has been the ruin of me. + +I'm jalling across the pani, +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + + +WOE IS ME + + +I'm sailing across the water, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +I slept one night within a barn, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +Next morning she would have me go, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +To see with her the wild-beast show, +For she would be the ruin of me. + +I went with her to see the show, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +To steal a purse she was not slow, +And so she was the ruin of me. + +They took us up, and with her I, +A-stealing bread and meat so free: +Am sailing now to Botany, +So she has been the ruin of me. + +I'm sailing across the water, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + + +THE RYE AND RAWNIE + + +The rye he mores adrey the wesh +The kaun-engro and chiriclo; +You sovs with leste drey the wesh, +And rigs for leste the gono. + +Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh +Are chiriclo and chiricli; +Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh +Are pireno and pireni. + + +THE SQUIRE AND LADY + + +The squire he roams the good greenwood, +And shoots the pheasant and the hare; +Thou sleep'st with him in good green wood, +And dost for him the game-sack bear. + +I see, I see upon the tree +The little male and female dove; +Below the tree I see, I see +The lover and his lady love. + + +ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE + + +Jaw to sutturs, my tiny chal; +Your die to dukker has jall'd abri; +At rarde she will wel palal +And tute of her tud shall pie. + +Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw! +I'm teerie deya's purie mam; +As tute cams her tud canaw +Thy deya meerie tud did cam. + + +GYPSY LULLABY + + +Sleep thee, little tawny boy! +Thy mother's gone abroad to spae, +Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy +When home she comes at close of day. + +Sleep thee, little tawny guest! +Thy mother is my daughter fine; +As thou dost love her kindly breast, +She once did love this breast of mine. + + +SHARRAFI KRALYISSA + + +Finor coachey innar Lundra, +Bonor coachey innar Lundra, +Finor coachey, bonor coachey +Mande dick'd innar Lundra. + +Bonor, finor coachey +Mande dick'd innar Lundra +The divvus the Kralyissa jall'd +To congri innar Lundra. + + +OUR BLESSED QUEEN + + +Coaches fine in London, +Coaches good in London, +Coaches fine and coaches good +I did see in London. + +Coaches good and coaches fine +I did see in London, +The blessed day our blessed Queen +Rode to church in London. + + +PLASTRA LESTI! + + +Gare yourselves, pralor! +Ma pee kek-komi! +The guero's welling - +Plastra lesti! + + +RUN FOR IT! + + +Up, up, brothers! +Cease your revels! +The Gentile's coming - +Run like devils! + + + +FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS + + + +Oy die-la, oy mama-la oy! +Cherie podey mangue penouri. +Russian Gypsy Song. + + +THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS +FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY + + +Her temples they are aching, +As if wine she had been taking; +Her tears are ever springing, +Abandoned is her singing! +She can neither eat nor nest +With love she's so distress'd; +At length she's heard to say: +"Oh here I cannot stay, +Go saddle me my steed, +To my lord I must proceed; +In his palace plenteously +Both eat and drink shall I; +The servants far and wide, +Bidding guests shall run and ride. +And when within the hall the multitude I see, +I'll raise my voice anew, and sing in Romany." + + + +L'ERAJAI + + + +Un erajai +Sinaba chibando un sermon; +Y lle falta un balicho +Al chindomar de aquel gao, +Y lo chanelaba que los Cales +Lo abian nicabao; +Y penela l'erajai, "Chaboro! +Guillate a tu quer +Y nicabela la peri +Que terela el balicho, +Y chibela andro +Una lima de tun chabori, +Chabori, +Una lima de tun chabori." + + +THE FRIAR +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY + + +A Friar +Was preaching once with zeal and with fire; +And a butcher of the town +Had lost a flitch of bacon; +And well the friar knew +That the Gypsies it had taken; +So suddenly he shouted: "Gypsy, ho! +Hie home, and from the pot! +Take the flitch of bacon out, +The flitch good and fat, +And in its place throw +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat, +Of thy brat, +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat." + + +MALBRUN + + +Chalo Malbrun chingarar, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Chalo Malbrun chingarar; +No se bus trutera! +No se bus trutera! + +La romi que le camela, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +La romi que le camela +Muy curepenada esta, +Muy curepenada esta. + +S'ardela a la felicha, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +S'ardela a la felicha +Y baribu dur dica, +Y baribu dur dica. + +Dica abillar su burno, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Dica abillar su burno, +En ropa callarda, +En ropa callarda. + +"Burno, lacho quirbo; +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Burno, lacho quiribo, +Que nuevas has dinar? +Que nuevas has dinar?" + +"Las nuevas que io terelo, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Las nuevas que io terelo +Te haran orobar, +Te haran orobar. + +"Mero Malbrun mi eray, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Mero Malbrun mi eray +Mero en la chinga, +Mero en la chinga. + +"Sinaba a su entierro, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Sinaba a su entierro +La plastani sara, +La plastani sara. + +"Seis guapos jundunares, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Seis guapos jundunares +Le llevaron cabanar, +Le llevaron cabanar. + +"Delante de la jestari, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Delante de la jestari +Chalo el sacrista, +Chalo el sacrista. + +"El sacrista delante, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +El sacrista delante, +Y el errajai pala, +Y el errajai pala. + +"Al majaro ortalame, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Al majaro ortalame +Le llevaron cabanar, +Le llevaron cabanar. + +"Y ote le cabanaron +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Y ote le cabanaron +No dur de la burda, +No dur de la burda. + +"Y opre de la jestari +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Guillabela un chilindrote; +Soba en paz, soba! +Soba en paz, soba! + + + +MALBROUK +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION + + + +Malbrouk is gone to the wars, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Malbrouk is gone to the wars; +He'll never return no more! +He'll never return no more! + +His lady-love and darling, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera +His lady-love and darling +His absence doth deplore, +His absence doth deplore. + +To the turret's top she mounted, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +To the turret's top she mounted +And look'd till her eyes were sore, +And look'd till her eyes were sore. + +She saw his squire a-coming, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +She saw his squire a-coming; +And a mourning suit he wore, +And a mourning suit he wore. + +"O squire, my trusty fellow; +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +O squire, my trusty fellow, +What news of my soldier poor? +What news of my soldier poor?" + +"The news which I bring thee, lady, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +The news which I bring thee, lady, +Will cause thy tears to shower, +Will cause thy tears to shower. + +"Malbrouk my master's fallen, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Malbrouk my master's fallen, +He fell on the fields of gore, +He fell on the fields of gore. + +"His funeral attended, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +His funeral attended +The whole reg'mental corps, +The whole reg'mental corps. + +"Six neat and proper soldiers, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Six neat and proper soldiers +To the grave my master bore, +To the grave my master bore. + +"The parson follow'd the coffin, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +The parson follow'd the coffin, +And the sexton walk'd before, +And the sexton walk'd before. + +"They buried him in the churchyard, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +They buried him in the churchyard, +Not far from the church's door, +Not far from the church's door. + +"And there above his coffin, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +There sings a little swallow: +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er, +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er." + + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSIES + + + + +TUGNEY BESHOR + + + +The Romany Chals +Should jin so bute +As the Puro Beng +To scape of gueros +And wafo gorgies +The wafodupen. + +They lels our gryor, +They lels our wardoes, +And wusts us then +Drey starripenes +To mer of pishens +And buklipen. + +Cauna volelan +Muley pappins +Pawdle the len +Men artavavam +Of gorgio foky +The wafodupen. +Ley teero sollohanloinus opreylis! + + + +SORROWFUL YEARS + + + +The wit and the skill +Of the Father of ill, +Who's clever indeed, +If they would hope +With their foes to cope +The Romany need. + +Our horses they take, +Our waggons they break, +And us they fling +Into horrid cells, +Where hunger dwells +And vermin sting. + +When the dead swallow +The fly shall follow +Across the river, +O we'll forget +The wrongs we've met, +But till then O never: +Brother, of that be certain. + + +The English Gypsies call themselves Romany Chals and Romany Chies, +that is, Sons and Daughters of Rome. When speaking to each other, +they say "Pal" and "Pen"; that is, brother and sister. All people +not of their own blood they call "Gorgios," or Gentiles. Gypsies +first made their appearance in England about the year 1480. They +probably came from France, where tribes of the race had long been +wandering about under the names of Bohemians and Egyptians. In +England they pursued the same kind of merripen {3} which they and +their ancestors had pursued on the Continent. They roamed about in +bands, consisting of thirty, sixty, or ninety families, with light, +creaking carts, drawn by horses and donkeys, encamping at night in +the spots they deemed convenient. The women told fortunes at the +castle of the baron and the cottage of the yeoman; filched gold and +silver coins from the counters of money-changers; caused the death of +hogs in farmyards, by means of a stuff called drab or drao, which +affects the brain, but does not corrupt the blood; and subsequently +begged, and generally obtained, the carcases. The men plied +tinkering and brasiery, now and then stole horses, and occasionally +ventured upon highway robbery. The writer has here placed the Chies +before the Chals, because, as he has frequently had occasion to +observe, the Gypsy women are by far more remarkable beings than the +men. It is the Chi and not the Chal who has caused the name of Gypsy +to be a sound awaking wonder, awe, and curiosity in every part of the +civilised world. Not that there have never been remarkable men of +the Gypsy race both abroad and at home. Duke Michael, as he was +called, the leader of the great Gypsy horde which suddenly made its +appearance in Germany at the beginning of the fifteenth century, was +no doubt a remarkable man; the Gitano Condre, whom Martin del Rio met +at Toledo a hundred years afterwards, who seemed to speak all +languages, and to be perfectly acquainted with the politics of all +the Courts of Europe, must certainly have been a remarkable man; so, +no doubt, here at home was Boswell; so undoubtedly was Cooper, called +by the gentlemen of the Fives Court--poor fellows! they are all gone +now--the "wonderful little Gypsy";--but upon the whole the poetry, +the sorcery, the devilry, if you please to call it so, are vastly on +the side of the women. How blank and inanimate is the countenance of +the Gypsy man, even when trying to pass off a foundered donkey as a +flying dromedary, in comparison with that of the female Romany, +peering over the wall of a par-yard at a jolly hog! + + +Sar shin Sinfye? +Koshto divvus, Romany Chi! +So shan tute kairing acoi? + +Sinfye, Sinfye! how do you do? +Daughter of Rome, good day to you! +What are you thinking here to do? + + +After a time the evil practices of the Gypsies began to be noised +about, and terrible laws were enacted against people "using the +manner of Egyptians"--Chies were scourged by dozens, Chals hung by +scores. Throughout the reign of Elizabeth there was a terrible +persecution of the Gypsy race; far less, however, on account of the +crimes which they actually committed, than from a suspicion which was +entertained that they harboured amidst their companies priests and +emissaries of Rome, who had come to England for the purpose of sowing +sedition and inducing the people to embrace again the old discarded +superstition. This suspicion, however, was entirely without +foundation. The Gypsies call each other brother and sister, and are +not in the habit of admitting to their fellowship people of a +different blood and with whom they have no sympathy. There was, +however, a description of wandering people at that time, even as +there is at present, with whom the priests, who are described as +going about, sometimes disguised as serving-men, sometimes as broken +soldiers, sometimes as shipwrecked mariners, would experience no +difficulty in associating, and with whom, in all probability, they +occasionally did associate--the people called in Acts of Parliament +sturdy beggars and vagrants, in the old cant language Abraham men, +and in the modern Pikers. These people have frequently been +confounded with the Gypsies, but are in reality a distinct race, +though they resemble the latter in some points. They roam about like +the Gypsies, and, like them, have a kind of secret language. But the +Gypsies are a people of Oriental origin, whilst the Abrahamites are +the scurf of the English body corporate. The language of the Gypsies +is a real language, more like the Sanscrit than any other language in +the world; whereas the speech of the Abrahamites is a horrid jargon, +composed for the most part of low English words used in an +allegorical sense--a jargon in which a stick is called a crack; a +hostess, a rum necklace; a bar-maid, a dolly-mort; brandy, rum booze; +a constable, a horny. But enough of these Pikers, these Abrahamites. +Sufficient to observe that if the disguised priests associated with +wandering companies it must have been with these people, who admit +anybody to their society, and not with the highly exclusive race the +Gypsies. + +For nearly a century and a half after the death of Elizabeth the +Gypsies seem to have been left tolerably to themselves, for the laws +are almost silent respecting them. Chies, no doubt, were +occasionally scourged for cauring, that is filching gold and silver +coins, and Chals hung for grychoring, that is horse-stealing; but +those are little incidents not much regarded in Gypsy merripen. They +probably lived a life during the above period tolerably satisfactory +to themselves--they are not an ambitious people, and there is no word +for glory in their language--but next to nothing is known respecting +them. A people called Gypsies are mentioned, and to a certain extent +treated of, in two remarkable works--one a production of the +seventeenth, the other of the eighteenth century--the first entitled +the 'English Rogue, or the Adventures of Merriton Latroon,' the other +the 'Life of Bamfield Moore Carew'; but those works, though clever +and entertaining, and written in the raciest English, are to those +who seek for information respecting Gypsies entirely valueless, the +writers having evidently mistaken for Gypsies the Pikers or +Abrahamites, as the vocabularies appended to the histories, and which +are professedly vocabularies of the Gypsy language, are nothing of +the kind, but collections of words and phrases belonging to the +Abrahamite or Piker jargon. At the commencement of the last century, +and for a considerable time afterwards, there was a loud cry raised +against the Gypsy women for stealing children. This cry, however, +was quite as devoid of reason as the suspicion entertained of old +against the Gypsy communities of harbouring disguised priests. Gypsy +women, as the writer had occasion to remark many a long year ago, +have plenty of children of their own, and have no wish to encumber +themselves with those of other people. A yet more extraordinary +charge was, likewise, brought against them--that of running away with +wenches. Now, the idea of Gypsy women running away with wenches! +Where were they to stow them in the event of running away with them? +and what were they to do with them in the event of being able to stow +them? Nevertheless, two Gypsy women were burnt in the hand in the +most cruel and frightful manner, somewhat about the middle of the +last century, and two Gypsy men, their relations, sentenced to be +hanged, for running away with a certain horrible wench of the name of +Elizabeth Canning, who, to get rid of a disgraceful burden, had left +her service and gone into concealment for a month, and on her return, +in order to account for her absence, said that she had been run away +with by Gypsies. The men, however, did not undergo their sentence; +for, ere the day appointed for their execution arrived, suspicions +beginning to be entertained with respect to the truth of the wench's +story, they were reprieved, and, after a little time, the atrocious +creature, who had charged people with doing what they neither did nor +dreamt of doing, was tried for perjury, convicted, and sentenced to +transportation. Yet so great is English infatuation that this +Canning, this Elizabeth, had a host of friends, who stood by her, and +swore by her to the last, and almost freighted the ship which carried +her away with goods, the sale of which enabled her to purchase her +freedom of the planter to whom she was consigned, to establish +herself in business, and to live in comfort, and almost in luxury, in +the New World during the remainder of her life. + +But though Gypsies have occasionally experienced injustice; though +Patricos and Sherengroes were hanged by dozens in Elizabeth's time on +suspicion of harbouring disguised priests; though Gypsy women in the +time of the Second George, accused of running away with wenches, were +scorched and branded, there can be no doubt that they live in almost +continual violation of the laws intended for the protection of +society; and it may be added, that in this illegal way of life the +women have invariably played a more important part than the men. Of +them, amongst other things, it may be said that they are the most +accomplished swindlers in the world, their principal victims being +people of their own sex, on whose credulity and superstition they +practise. Mary Caumlo, or Lovel, was convicted a few years ago at +Cardiff of having swindled a surgeon's wife of eighty pounds, under +pretence of propitiating certain planets by showing them the money. +Not a penny of the booty was ever recovered by the deluded victim; +and the Caumli, on leaving the dock, after receiving sentence of a +year's imprisonment, turned round and winked to some brother or +sister in court, as much as to say: "Mande has gared the luvvu; +mande is kek atugni for the besh's starripen"--"I have hid the money, +and care nothing for the year's imprisonment." Young Rawnie P. of +N., the daughter of old Rawnie P., suddenly disappeared with the +whole capital of an aged and bedridden gentlewoman, amounting to +nearly three hundred pounds, whom she had assured that if she were +intrusted with it for a short time she should be able to gather +certain herbs, from which she could make decoctions, which would +restore to the afflicted gentlewoman all her youthful vigour. Mrs. +Townsley of the Border was some time ago in trouble at Wick, only +twenty-five miles distant from Johnny Groat's House, on a charge of +fraudulently obtaining from a fisherman's wife one shilling, two +half-crowns, and a five-pound note by promising to untie certain +witch-locks, which she had induced her to believe were entwined in +the meshes of the fisherman's net, and would, if suffered to remain, +prevent him from catching a single herring in the Firth. These +events occurred within the last few years, and are sufficiently +notorious. They form a triad out of dozens of a similar kind, in +some of which there are features so odd, so strangely droll, that +indignation against the offence is dispelled by an irresistible +desire to laugh. + +But Gypsyism is declining, and its days are numbered. There is a +force abroad which is doomed to destroy it, a force which never +sleepeth either by day or night, and which will not allow the Roman +people rest for the soles of their feet. That force is the Rural +Police, which, had it been established at the commencement instead of +towards the middle of the present century, would have put down +Gypsyism long ago. But, recent as its establishment has been, +observe what it has produced. Walk from London to Carlisle, but +neither by the road's side, nor on heath or common, will you see a +single Gypsy tent. True Gypsyism consists in wandering about, in +preying upon the Gentiles, but not living amongst them. But such a +life is impossible in these days; the Rural Force will not permit it. +"It is a hard thing, brother," said old Agamemnon Caumlo to the +writer, several years ago; "it is a hard thing, after one has pitched +one's little tent, lighted one's little fire, and hung one's kettle +by the kettle-iron over it to boil, to have an inspector or constable +come up, and say, 'What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you +Gypsy dog!'" A hard thing, indeed, old Agamemnon; but there is no +help for it. You must e'en live amongst the Gorgios. And for years +past the Gypsies have lived amongst the Gorgios, and what has been +the result? They do not seem to have improved the Gentiles, and have +certainly not been improved by them. By living amongst the Gentiles +they have, to a certain extent, lost the only two virtues they +possessed. Whilst they lived apart on heaths and commons, and in +shadowy lanes, the Gypsy women were paragons of chastity, and the +men, if not exactly patterns of sobriety, were, upon the whole, very +sober fellows. Such terms, however, are by no means applicable to +them at the present day. Sects and castes, even of thieves and +murderers, can exist as long as they have certain virtues, which give +them a kind of respect in their own eyes; but, losing those virtues, +they soon become extinct. When the salt loses its savour, what +becomes of it? The Gypsy salt has not altogether lost its savour, +but that essential quality is every day becoming fainter, so that +there is every reason to suppose that within a few years the English +Gypsy caste will have disappeared, merged in the dregs of the English +population. + + + +GYPSY NAMES + + + +There are many curious things connected with the Gypsies, but perhaps +nothing more so than what pertains to their names. They have a +double nomenclature, each tribe or family having a public and a +private name, one by which they are known to the Gentiles, and +another to themselves alone. Their public names are quite English; +their private ones attempts, some of them highly singular and +uncouth, to render those names by Gypsy equivalents. Gypsy names may +be divided into two classes, names connected with trades, and +surnames or family names. First of all, something about trade names. + +There are only two names of trades which have been adopted by English +Gypsies as proper names, Cooper and Smith: these names are expressed +in the English Gypsy dialect by Vardo-mescro and Petulengro. The +first of these renderings is by no means a satisfactory one, as +Vardo-mescro means a cartwright, or rather a carter. To speak the +truth, it would be next to impossible to render the word 'cooper' +into English Gypsy, or indeed into Gypsy of any kind; a cooper, +according to the common acceptation of the word, is one who makes +pails, tubs, and barrels, but there are no words in Gypsy for such +vessels. The Transylvanian Gypsies call a cooper a bedra-kero or +pail-maker, but bedra is not Gypsy, but Hungarian, and the English +Gypsies might with equal propriety call a cooper a pail-engro. On +the whole the English Gypsies did their best when they rendered +'cooper' into their language by the word for 'cartwright.' + +Petulengro, the other trade name, is borne by the Gypsies who are +known to the public by the English appellation of Smith. It is not +very easy to say what is the exact meaning of Petulengro: it must +signify, however, either horseshoe-fellow or tinker: petali or +petala signifies in Gypsy a horseshoe, and is probably derived from +the Modern Greek [Greek: ]; engro is an affix, and is either derived +from or connected with the Sanscrit kara, to make, so that with great +feasibility Petulengro may be translated horseshoe-maker. But bedel +in Hebrew means 'tin,' and as there is little more difference between +petul and bedel than between petul and petalon, Petulengro may be +translated with almost equal feasibility by tinker or tin-worker, +more especially as tinkering is a principal pursuit of Gypsies, and +to jal petulengring signifies to go a-tinkering in English Gypsy. +Taken, however, in either sense, whether as horseshoe-maker or tin- +worker (and, as has been already observed, it must mean one or the +other), Petulengro may be considered as a tolerably fair rendering of +the English Smith. + +So much for the names of the Gypsies which the writer has ventured to +call the trade names; now for those of the other class. These are +English surnames, and for the most part of a highly aristocratic +character, and it seems at first surprising that people so poor and +despised as Gypsies should be found bearing names so time-honoured +and imposing. There is, however, a tolerable explanation of the +matter in the supposition that on their first arrival in England the +different tribes sought the protection of certain grand powerful +families, and were permitted by them to locate themselves on their +heaths and amid their woodlands, and that they eventually adopted the +names of their patrons. Here follow the English names of some of the +principal tribes, with the Romany translations or equivalents:- + +BOSWELL.--The proper meaning of this word is the town of Bui. The +initial Bo or Bui is an old Northern name, signifying a colonist or +settler, one who tills and builds. It was the name of a great many +celebrated Northern kempions, who won land and a home by hard blows. +The last syllable, well, is the French ville: Boswell, Boston, and +Busby all signify one and the same thing--the town of Bui--the well +being French, the ton Saxon, and the by Danish; they are half- +brothers of Bovil and Belville, both signifying fair town, and which +ought to be written Beauville and Belville. The Gypsies, who know +and care nothing about etymologies, confounding bos with buss, a +vulgar English verb not to be found in dictionaries, which signifies +to kiss, rendered the name Boswell by Chumomisto, that is, Kisswell, +or one who kisses well--choom in their language signifying to kiss, +and misto well--likewise by choomomescro, a kisser. Vulgar as the +word buss may sound at present, it is by no means of vulgar origin, +being connected with the Latin basio and the Persian bouse. + +GREY.--This is the name of a family celebrated in English history. +The Gypsies who adopted it, rendered it into their language by Gry, a +word very much resembling it in sound, though not in sense, for gry, +which is allied to the Sanscrit ghora, signifies a horse. They had +no better choice, however, for in Romany there is no word for grey, +any more than there is for green or blue. In several languages there +is a difficulty in expressing the colour which in English is called +grey. In Celtic, for instance, there is no definite word for it; +glas, it is true, is used to express it, but glas is as frequently +used to express green as it is to express grey. + +HEARNE, HERNE.--This is the name of a family which bears the heron +for its crest, the name being either derived from the crest, or the +crest from the name. There are two Gypsy renderings of the word-- +Rossar-mescro or Ratzie-mescro, and Balorengre. Rossar-mescro +signifies duck-fellow, the duck being substituted for the heron, for +which there is no word in Romany. The meaning of Balor-engre is +hairy people; the translator or translators seeming to have +confounded Hearne with 'haaren,' old English for hairs. The latter +rendering has never been much in use. + +LEE.--The Gypsy name of this tribe is Purrum, sometimes pronounced +Purrun. The meaning of Purrurn is an onion, and it may be asked what +connection can there be between Lee and onion? None whatever: but +there is some resemblance in sound between Lee and leek, and it is +probable that the Gypsies thought so, and on that account rendered +the name by Purrum, which, if not exactly a leek, at any rate +signifies something which is cousin-german to a leek. It must be +borne in mind that in some parts of England the name Lee is spelt +Legh and Leigh, which would hardly be the case if at one time it had +not terminated in something like a guttural, so that when the Gypsies +rendered the name, perhaps nearly four hundred years ago, it sounded +very much like 'leek,' and perhaps was Leek, a name derived from the +family crest. At first the writer was of opinion that the name was +Purrun, a modification of pooro, which in the Gypsy language +signifies old, but speedily came to the conclusion that it must be +Purrum, a leek or onion; for what possible reason could the Gypsies +have for rendering Lee by a word which signifies old or ancient? +whereas by rendering it by Purrum, they gave themselves a Gypsy name, +which, if it did not signify Lee, must to their untutored minds have +seemed a very good substitute for Lee. The Gypsy word pooro, old, +belongs to Hindostan, and is connected with the Sanscrit pura, which +signifies the same. Purrum is a modification of the Wallachian pur, +a word derived from the Latin porrum, an onion, and picked up by the +Gypsies in Roumania or Wallachia, the natives of which region speak a +highly curious mixture of Latin and Sclavonian. + +LOVEL.--This is the name or title of an old and powerful English +family. The meaning of it is Leo's town, Lowe's town, or Louis' +town. The Gypsies, who adopted it, seem to have imagined that it had +something to do with love, for they translated it by Camlo or Caumlo, +that which is lovely or amiable, and also by Camomescro, a lover, an +amorous person, sometimes used for 'friend.' Camlo is connected with +the Sanscrit Cama, which signifies love, and is the appellation of +the Hindoo god of love. A name of the same root as the one borne by +that divinity was not altogether inapplicable to the Gypsy tribe who +adopted it: Cama, if all tales be true, was black, black though +comely, a Beltenebros, and the Lovel tribe is decidedly the most +comely and at the same time the darkest of all the Anglo-Egyptian +families. The faces of many of them, male and female, are perfect +specimens of black beauty. They are generally called by the race the +Kaulo Camloes, the Black Comelies. And here, though at the risk of +being thought digressive, the writer cannot forbear saying that the +darkest and at one time the comeliest of all the Caumlies, a +celebrated fortune-teller, and an old friend of his, lately expired +in a certain old town, after attaining an age which was something +wonderful. She had twenty-one brothers and sisters, and was the +eldest of the family, on which account she was called "Rawnie P., +pooroest of bis ta dui," Lady P.--she had married out of the family-- +eldest of twenty-two. + +MARSHALL.--The name Marshall has either to do with marshal, the title +of a high military personage, or marches, the borders of contiguous +countries. In the early Norman period it was the name of an Earl of +Pembroke. The Gypsies who adopted the name seem in translating it to +have been of opinion that it was connected with marshes, for they +rendered it by mokkado tan engre, fellows of the wet or miry place, +an appellation which at one time certainly became them well, for they +are a northern tribe belonging to the Border, a country not very long +ago full of mosses and miry places. Though calling themselves +English, they are in reality quite as much Scotch as English, and as +often to be found in Scotland as the other country, especially in +Dumfriesshire and Galloway, in which latter region, in Saint +Cuthbert's churchyard, lies buried 'the old man' of the race,-- +Marshall, who died at the age of 107. They sometimes call themselves +Bungyoror and Chikkeneymengre, cork-fellows and china people, which +names have reference to the occupations severally followed by the +males and females, the former being cutters of bungs and corks, and +the latter menders of china. + +STANLEY.--This is the name or title of an ancient English family +celebrated in history. It is probably descriptive of their original +place of residence, for it signifies the stony lea, which is also the +meaning of the Gaelic Auchinlech, the place of abode of the Scottish +Boswells. It was adopted by an English Gypsy tribe, at one time very +numerous, but at present much diminished. Of this name there are two +renderings into Romany; one is Baryor or Baremescre, stone-folks or +stonemasons, the other is Beshaley. The first requires no comment, +but the second is well worthy of analysis, as it is an example of the +strange blunders which the Gypsies sometimes make in their attempts +at translation. When they rendered Stanley by Beshaley or Beshley, +they mistook the first syllable stan for 'stand,' but for a very good +reason rendered it by besh, which signifies 'to sit, and the second +for a word in their own language, for ley or aley in Gypsy signifies +'down,' so they rendered Stanley by Beshley or Beshaley, which +signifies 'sit down.' Here, of course, it will be asked what reason +could have induced them, if they mistook stan for 'stand,' not to +have rendered it by the Gypsy word for 'stand'? The reason was a +very cogent one, the want of a word in the Gypsy language to express +'stand'; but they had heard in courts of justice witnesses told to +stand down, so they supposed that to stand down was much the same as +to sit down, whence their odd rendering of Stanley. In no dialect of +the Gypsy, from the Indus to the Severn, is there any word for +'stand,' though in every one there is a word for 'sit,' and that is +besh, and in every Gypsy encampment all along the vast distance, +Beshley or Beshaley would be considered an invitation to sit down. + +So much for the double-name system in use among the Gypsies of +England. There is something in connection with the Gypsies of Spain +which strangely coincides with one part of it--the translation of +names. Among the relics of the language of the Gitanos or Spanish +Gypsies are words, some simple and some compound, which are evidently +attempts to translate names in a manner corresponding to the plan +employed by the English Romany. In illustration of the matter, the +writer will give an analysis of Brono Aljenicato, the rendering into +Gitano of the name of one frequently mentioned in the New Testament, +and once in the Apostles' Creed, the highly respectable, but much +traduced individual known to the English public as Pontius Pilate, to +the Spanish as Poncio Pilato. The manner in which the rendering has +been accomplished is as follows: Poncio bears some resemblance to +the Spanish puente, which signifies a bridge, and is a modification +of the Latin pons, and Pilato to the Spanish pila, a fountain, or +rather a stone pillar, from the top of which the waters of a fountain +springing eventually fall into a stone basin below, the two words-- +the Brono Aljenicato--signifying bridge-fountain, or that which is +connected with such a thing. Now this is the identical, or all but +the identical, way in which the names Lee, Lovel, and Stanley have +been done into English Romany. A remarkable instance is afforded in +this Gitano Scripture name, this Brono Aljenicato, of the +heterogeneous materials of which Gypsy dialects are composed: Brono +is a modification of a Hindoo or Sanscrit, Aljenicato of an Arabic +root. Brono is connected with the Sanscrit pindala, which signifies +a bridge, and Aljenicato is a modification of the Gypsy aljenique, +derived from the Arabic alain, which signifies the fountain. But of +whatever materials composed, a fine-sounding name is this same Brono +Aljenicato, perhaps the finest sounding specimen of Spanish Gypsy +extant, much finer than a translation of Pontius Pilate would be, +provided the name served to express the same things, in English, +which Poncio Pilato serves to express in Spanish, for then it would +be Pudjico Pani or Bridgewater; for though in English Gypsy there is +the word for a bridge, namely pudge, a modification of the Persian +pul, or the Wallachian podul, there is none for a fountain, which can +be only vaguely paraphrased by pani, water. + + + +FORTUNE-TELLING + + + +Gypsy women, as long as we have known anything of Gypsy history, have +been arrant fortune-tellers. They plied fortune-telling about France +and Germany as early as 1414, the year when the dusky bands were +first observed in Europe, and they have never relinquished the +practice. There are two words for fortune-telling in Gypsy, bocht +and dukkering. Bocht is a Persian word, a modification of, or +connected with, the Sanscrit bagya, which signifies 'fate.' +Dukkering is the modification of a Wallaco-Sclavonian word signifying +something spiritual or ghostly. In Eastern European Gypsy, the Holy +Ghost is called Swentuno Ducos. + +Gypsy fortune-telling is much the same everywhere, much the same in +Russia as it is in Spain and in England. Everywhere there are three +styles--the lofty, the familiar, and the homely; and every Gypsy +woman is mistress of all three and uses each according to the rank of +the person whose vast she dukkers, whose hand she reads, and adapts +the luck she promises. There is a ballad of some antiquity in the +Spanish language about the Buena Ventura, a few stanzas of which +translated will convey a tolerable idea of the first of these styles +to the reader, who will probably with no great reluctance dispense +with any illustrations of the other two:- + + +Late rather one morning +In summer's sweet tide, +Goes forth to the Prado +Jacinta the bride: + +There meets her a Gypsy +So fluent of talk, +And jauntily dressed, +On the principal walk. + +"O welcome, thrice welcome, +Of beauty thou flower! +Believe me, believe me, +Thou com'st in good hour." + +Surprised was Jacinta; +She fain would have fled; +But the Gypsy to cheer her +Such honeyed words said: + +"O cheek like the rose-leaf! +O lady high-born! +Turn thine eyes on thy servant, +But ah, not in scorn. + +"O pride of the Prado! +O joy of our clime! +Thou twice shalt be married, +And happily each time. + +"Of two noble sons +Thou shalt be the glad mother, +One a Lord Judge, +A Field-Marshal the other." + + +Gypsy females have told fortunes to higher people than the young +Countess Jacinta: Modor--of the Gypsy quire of Moscow--told the +fortune of Ekatarina, Empress of all the Russias. The writer does +not know what the Ziganka told that exalted personage, but it appears +that she gave perfect satisfaction to the Empress, who not only +presented her with a diamond ring--a Russian diamond ring is not +generally of much value--but also her hand to kiss. The writer's old +friend, Pepita, the Gitana of Madrid, told the bahi of Christina, the +Regentess of Spain, in which she assured her that she would marry the +son of the King of France, and received from the fair Italian a +golden ounce, the most magnificent of coins, a guerdon which she +richly merited, for she nearly hit the mark, for though Christina did +not marry the son of the King of France, her second daughter was +married to a son of the King of France, the Duke of M-, one of the +three claimants of the crown of Spain, and the best of the lot; and +Britannia, the Caumli, told the good luck to the Regent George on +Newmarket Heath, and received 'foive guineas' and a hearty smack from +him who eventually became George the Fourth--no bad fellow by the by, +either as regent or king, though as much abused as Pontius Pilate, +whom he much resembled in one point, unwillingness to take life--the +sonkaype or gold-gift being, no doubt, more acceptable than the +choomape or kiss-gift to the Beltenebrosa, who, if a certain song be +true, had no respect for gorgios, however much she liked their +money:- + + +Britannia is my nav; +I am a Kaulo Camlo; +The gorgios pen I be +A bori chovahaunie; +And tatchipen they pens, +The dinneleskie gorgies, +For mande chovahans +The luvvu from their putsies. + +Britannia is my name; +I am a swarthy Lovel; +The Gorgios say I be +A witch of wondrous power; +And faith they speak the truth, +The silly, foolish fellows, +For often I bewitch +The money from their pockets. + + +Fortune-telling in all countries where the Gypsies are found is +frequently the prelude to a kind of trick called in all Gypsy +dialects by something more or less resembling the Sanscrit kuhana; +for instance, it is called in Spain jojana, hokano, and in English +hukni. It is practised in various ways, all very similar; the +defrauding of some simple person of money or property being the +object in view. Females are generally the victims of the trick, +especially those of the middle class, who are more accessible to the +poor woman than those of the upper. One of the ways, perhaps the +most artful, will be found described in another chapter. + + + +THE HUKNI + + + +The Gypsy makes some poor simpleton of a lady believe that if the +latter puts her gold into her hands, and she makes it up into a +parcel, and puts it between the lady's feather-bed and mattress, it +will at the end of a month be multiplied a hundredfold, provided the +lady does not look at it during all that time. On receiving the +money she makes it up into a brown paper parcel, which she seals with +wax, turns herself repeatedly round, squints, and spits, and then +puts between the feather-bed and mattress--not the parcel of gold, +but one exactly like it, which she has prepared beforehand, +containing old halfpence, farthings, and the like; then, after +cautioning the lady by no means to undo the parcel before the stated +time, she takes her departure singing to herself:- + + +O dear me! O dear me! +What dinnelies these gorgies be. + + +The above artifice is called by the English Gypsies the hukni, and by +the Spanish hokhano baro, or the great lie. Hukni and hokano were +originally one and the same word; the root seems to be the Sanscrit +huhana, lie, trick, deceit. + + + +CAURING + + + +The Gypsy has some queer, old-fashioned gold piece; this she takes to +some goldsmith's shop, at the window of which she has observed a +basin full of old gold coins, and shows it to the goldsmith, asking +him if he will purchase it. He looks at it attentively, and sees +that it is of very pure gold; whereupon he says that he has no +particular objection to buy it; but that as it is very old it is not +of much value, and that he has several like it. "Have you indeed, +Master?" says the Gypsy; "then pray show them to me, and I will buy +them; for, to tell you the truth, I would rather buy than sell pieces +like this, for I have a great respect for them, and know their value: +give me back my coin, and I will compare any you have with it." The +goldsmith gives her back her coin, takes his basin of gold from the +window, and places it on the counter. The Gypsy puts down her head, +and pries into the basin. "Ah, I see nothing here like my coin," +says she. "Now, Master, to oblige me, take out a handful of the +coins and lay them on the counter; I am a poor, honest woman, Master, +and do not wish to put my hand into your basin. Oh! if I could find +one coin like my own, I would give much money for it; barributer than +it is worth." The goldsmith, to oblige the poor, simple, foreign +creature (for such he believes her to be), and, with a considerable +hope of profit, takes a handful of coins from the basin and puts them +upon the counter. "I fear there is none here like mine, Master," +says the Gypsy, moving the coins rapidly with the tips of her +fingers. "No, no, there is not one here like mine--kek yeck, kek +yeck--not one, not one. Stay, stay! What's this, what's this? So +se cavo, so se cavo? Oh, here is one like mine; or if not quite +like, like enough to suit me. Now, Master, what will you take for +this coin?" The goldsmith looks at it, and names a price +considerably above the value; whereupon she says: "Now, Master, I +will deal fairly with you: you have not asked me the full value of +the coin by three three-groats, three-groats, three-groats; by trin +tringurushis, tringurushis, tringurushis. So here's the money you +asked, Master, and three three-groats, three shillings, besides. God +bless you, Master! You would have cheated yourself, but the poor +woman would not let you; for though she is poor she is honest": and +thus she takes her leave, leaving the goldsmith very well satisfied +with his customer--with little reason, however, for out of about +twenty coins which he laid on the counter she had filched at least +three, which her brown nimble fingers, though they seemingly scarcely +touched the gold, contrived to convey up her sleeves. This kind of +pilfering is called by the English Gypsies cauring, and by the +Spanish ustilar pastesas, or stealing with the fingers. The word +caur seems to be connected with the English cower, and the Hebrew +kara, a word of frequent occurrence in the historical part of the Old +Testament, and signifying to bend, stoop down, incurvare. + + + +METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES--WANDSWORTH, 1864 + + + +What may be called the grand Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the Surrey +side of the Thames. Near the borders of Wandsworth and Battersea, +about a quarter of a mile from the river, is an open piece of ground +which may measure about two acres. To the south is a hill, at the +foot of which is a railway, and it is skirted on the north by the +Wandsworth and Battersea Road. This place is what the Gypsies call a +kekkeno mushes puv, a no man's ground; a place which has either no +proprietor, or which the proprietor, for some reason, makes no use of +for the present. The houses in the neighbourhood are mean and +squalid, and are principally inhabited by artisans of the lowest +description. This spot, during a considerable portion of the year, +is the principal place of residence of the Metropolitan Gypsies, and +of other people whose manner of life more or less resembles theirs. +During the summer and autumn the little plain, for such it is, is +quite deserted, except that now and then a wretched tent or two may +be seen upon it, belonging to some tinker family, who have put up +there for a few hours on their way through the metropolis; for the +Gypsies are absent during summer, some at fairs and races, the men +with their cocoa-nuts and the women busy at fortune-telling, or at +suburban places of pleasure--the former with their donkeys for the +young cockneys to ride upon, and the latter as usual dukkering and +hokkering, and the other travellers, as they are called, roaming +about the country following their particular avocations, whilst in +the autumn the greater part of them all are away in Kent, getting +money by picking hops. As soon, however, as the rains, the +precursors of winter, descend, the place begins to be occupied, and +about a week or two before Christmas it is almost crammed with the +tents and caravans of the wanderers; and then it is a place well +worthy to be explored, notwithstanding the inconvenience of being up +to one's ankles in mud, and the rather appalling risk of being bitten +by the Gypsy and travelling dogs tied to the tents and caravans, in +whose teeth there is always venom and sometimes that which can bring +on the water-horror, for which no European knows a remedy. The +following is an attempt to describe the odd people and things to be +met with here; the true Gypsies, and what to them pertaineth, being +of course noticed first. + +On this plain there may be some fifteen or twenty Gypsy tents and +caravans. Some of the tents are large, as indeed it is highly +necessary that they should be, being inhabited by large families--a +man and his wife, a grandmother a sister or two and half a dozen +children, being, occasionally found in one; some of them are very +small, belonging to poor old females who have lost their husbands, +and whose families have separated themselves from them, and allow +them to shift for themselves. During the day the men are generally +busy at their several avocations, chinning the cost, that is, cutting +the stick for skewers, making pegs for linen-lines, kipsimengring or +basket-making, tinkering or braziering; the children are playing +about, or begging halfpence by the road of passengers; whilst the +women are strolling about, either in London or the neighbourhood, +engaged in fortune-telling or swindling. Of the trades of the men, +the one by far the most practised is chinning the cost, and as they +sit at the door of the tents, cutting and whittling away, they +occasionally sweeten their toil by raising their voices and singing +the Gypsy stanza in which the art is mentioned, and which for +terseness and expressiveness is quite equal to anything in the whole +circle of Gentile poetry: + + +Can you rokra Romany? +Can you play the bosh? +Can you jal adrey the staripen? +Can you chin the cost? + +Can you speak the Roman tongue? +Can you play the fiddle? +Can you eat the prison-loaf? +Can you cut and whittle? + + +These Gypsies are of various tribes, but chiefly Purruns, +Chumomescroes and Vardomescroes, or Lees, Boswells and Coopers, and +Lees being by far the most numerous. The men are well made, active +fellows, somewhat below the middle height. Their complexions are +dark, and their eyes are full of intelligence; their habiliments are +rather ragged. The women are mostly wild-looking creatures, some +poorly clad, others exhibiting not a little strange finery. There +are some truly singular beings amongst those women, which is more +than can be said with respect to the men, who are much on a level, +and amongst whom there is none whom it is possible to bring +prominently out, and about whom much can be said. The women, as has +been already observed, are generally out during the day, being +engaged in their avocations abroad. There is a very small tent about +the middle of the place; it belongs to a lone female, whom one +frequently meets wandering about Wandsworth or Battersea, seeking an +opportunity to dukker some credulous servant-girl. It is hard that +she should have to do so, as she is more than seventy-five years of +age, but if she did not she would probably starve. She is very short +of statue, being little more than five feet and an inch high, but she +is wonderfully strongly built. Her head is very large, and seems to +have been placed at once upon her shoulders without any interposition +of neck. Her face is broad, with a good-humoured expression upon it, +and in general with very little vivacity; at times, however, it +lights up, and then all the Gypsy beams forth. Old as she is, her +hair, which is very long, is as black as the plumage of a crow, and +she walks sturdily, though with not much elasticity, on her short, +thick legs, and, if requested, would take up the heaviest man in +Wandsworth or Battersea and walk away with him. She is, upon the +whole, the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen; see her once and you will +never forget her. Who is she? you ask. Who is she? Why, Mrs. +Cooper, the wife of Jack Cooper, the fighting Gypsy, once the terror +of all the Light Weights of the English Ring; who knocked West +Country Dick to pieces, and killed Paddy O'Leary, the fighting pot- +boy, Jack Randall's pet. Ah, it would have been well for Jack if he +had always stuck to his true, lawful Romany wife, whom at one time he +was very fond of, and whom he used to dress in silks and satins, and +best scarlet cloth, purchased with the money gained in his fair, +gallant battles in the Ring! But he did not stick to her, deserting +her for a painted Jezebel, to support whom he sold his battles, by +doing which he lost his friends and backers; then took from his poor +wife all he had given her, and even plundered her of her own +property, down to the very blankets which she lay upon; and who +finally was so infatuated with love for his paramour that he bore the +blame of a crime which she had committed, and in which he had no +share, suffering ignominy and transportation in order to save her. +Better had he never deserted his tatchie romadie, his own true +Charlotte, who, when all deserted him, the painted Jezebel being the +first to do so, stood by him, supporting him with money in prison, +and feeing counsel on his trial from the scanty proceeds of her +dukkering. All that happened many years ago; Jack's term of +transportation, a lengthy one, has long, long been expired, but he +has not come back, though every year since the expiration of his +servitude he has written her a letter, or caused one to be written to +her, to say that he is coming, that he is coming; so that she is +always expecting him, and is at all times willing, as she says, to +re-invest him with all the privileges of a husband, and to beg and +dukker to support him if necessary. A true wife she has been to him, +a tatchie romadie, and has never taken up with any man since he left +her, though many have been the tempting offers that she has had, +connubial offers, notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance. Only +one wish she has now in this world, the wish that he may return; but +her wish, it is to be feared, is a vain one, for Jack lingers and +lingers in the Sonnakye Tem, golden Australia, teaching, it is said, +the young Australians to box, tempted by certain shining nuggets, the +produce of the golden region. It is pleasant, though there is +something mournful in it, to visit Mrs. Cooper after nightfall, to +sit with her in her little tent after she has taken her cup of tea, +and is warming her tired limbs at her little coke fire, and hear her +talk of old times and things: how Jack courted her 'neath the trees +of Loughton Forest, and how, when tired of courting, they would get +up and box, and how he occasionally gave her a black eye, and how she +invariably flung him at a close; and how they were lawfully married +at church, and what a nice man the clergyman was, and what funny +things he said both before and after he had united them; how stoutly +West Country Dick contended against Jack, though always losing; how +in Jack's battle with Paddy O'Leary the Irishman's head in the last +round was truly frightful, not a feature being distinguishable, and +one of his ears hanging down by a bit of skin; how Jack vanquished +Hardy Scroggins, whom Jack Randall himself never dared fight. Then, +again, her anecdotes of Alec Reed, cool, swift-hitting Alec, who was +always smiling, and whose father was a Scotchman, his mother an +Irishwoman, and who was born in Guernsey; and of Oliver, old Tom +Oliver, who seconded Jack in all his winning battles, and after whom +he named his son, his only child, Oliver, begotten of her in lawful +wedlock, a good and affectionate son enough, but unable to assist +her, on account of his numerous family. Farewell, Mrs. Cooper, true +old Charlotte! here's a little bit of silver for you, and a little +bit of a gillie to sing: + + +Charlotta is my nav, +I am a puro Purrun; +My romado was Jack, +The couring Vardomescro. +He muk'd me for a lubbeny, +Who chor'd a rawnie's kissi; +He penn'd 'twas he who lell'd it, +And so was bitched pawdel. + +Old Charlotte I am called, +Of Lee I am a daughter; +I married Fighting Jack, +The famous Gypsy Cooper. +He left me for a harlot, +Who pick'd a lady's pocket; +He bore the blame to save her, +And so was sent to Bot'ny. + + +Just within the bounds of the plain, and close by the road, may +occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat appearance. It +comes and goes suddenly, and is seldom seen there for more than three +days at a time. It belongs to a Gypsy female who, like Mrs. Cooper, +is a remarkable person, but is widely different from Mrs. Cooper in +many respects. Mrs. Cooper certainly does not represent the beau +ideal of a Gypsy female, this does--a dark, mysterious, beautiful, +terrible creature! She is considerably above the middle height, +powerfully but gracefully made, and about thirty-seven years of age. +Her face is oval, and of a dark olive. The nose is Grecian, the +cheek-bones rather high; the eyes somewhat sunk, but of a lustrous +black; the mouth small, and the teeth exactly like ivory. Upon the +whole the face is exceedingly beautiful, but the expression is evil-- +evil to a degree. Who she is no one exactly knows, nor what is her +name, nor whether she is single woman, wife, or widow. Some say she +is a foreign Gypsy, others from Scotland, but she is neither--her +accent is genuine English. What strikes one as most singular is the +power she possesses of appearing in various characters--all Romany +ones it is true, but so different as seemingly to require three +distinct females of the race to represent them: sometimes she is the +staid, quiet, respectable Gypsy; sometimes the forward and impudent; +at others the awful and sublime. Occasionally you may see her +walking the streets dressed in a black silk gown, with a black silk +bonnet on her head; over her left arm is flung a small carpet, a +sample of the merchandise which is in her caravan, which is close at +hand, driven by a brown boy; her address to her customers is highly +polite; the tones of her voice are musical, though somewhat deep. At +Fairlop, on the first Friday of July, in the evening, she may be +found near the Bald-faced Hind, dressed in a red cloak and a large +beaver; her appearance is bold and reckless--she is dukkering low +tradesmen and servant girls behind the trees at sixpence a head, or +is bandying with the voice of a raven slang and obscenity with +country boors, or with the blackguard butcher-boys who throng in from +Whitechapel and Shoreditch to the Gypsy Fair. At Goodwood, a few +weeks after, you may see her in a beautiful half-riding dress, her +hair fantastically plaited and adorned with pearls, standing beside +the carriage of a Countess, telling the fortune of her ladyship with +the voice and look of a pythoness. She is a thing of incongruities; +an incomprehensible being! nobody can make her out; the writer +himself has tried to make her out but could not, though he has spoken +to her in his deepest Romany. It is true there is a certain old +Gypsy, a friend of his, who thinks he has made her out. "Brother," +said he one day, "why you should be always going after that woman I +can't conceive, unless indeed you have lost your wits. If you go +after her for her Romany you will find yourself in the wrong box: +she may have a crumb or two of Romany, but for every crumb that she +has I am quite sure you have a quartern loaf. Then as for her +beauty, of which it is true she has plenty, and for which half a +dozen Gorgios that I knows of are running mad, it's of no use going +after her for that, for her beauty she keeps for her own use and that +of her master the Devil; not but that she will sell it--she's sold it +a dozen times to my certain knowledge--but what's the use of buying a +thing, when the fool who buys it never gets it, never has the +'joyment of it, brother? She is kek tatcho, and that's what I like +least in her; there's no trusting her, neither Gorgio nor Romano can +trust her: she sells her truppos to a Rye-gorgio for five bars, and +when she has got them, and the Gorgio, as he has a right to do, +begins to kelna lasa, she laughs and asks him if he knows whom he has +to deal with; then if he lels bonnek of lati, as he is quite +justified in doing, she whips out a churi, and swears if he doesn't +leave off she will stick it in his gorlo. Oh! she's an evil mare, a +wafodu grasni, though a handsome one, and I never looks at her, +brother, without saying to myself the old words: + + +"Rinkeno mui and wafodu zee +Kitzi's the cheeros we dicks cattane." +A beautiful face and a black wicked mind +Often, full often together we find. + + +Some more particular account than what has been already given of the +habitations of these Wandsworth Gypsies, and likewise of their way of +life, will perhaps not be unacceptable here. + +To begin with the tents. They are oblong in shape and of very simple +construction, whether small or great. Sticks or rods, called in the +Gypsy language ranior, between four and five feet in length, and +croming or bending towards the top, are stuck in the ground at about +twenty inches from each other, a rod or two being omitted in that +part where the entrance is intended to be. The cromes or bends serve +as supporters of a roof, and those of the side rods which stand over +against one another are generally tied together by strings. These +rods are covered over with coarse brown cloths, pinned or skewered +together; those at the bottom being fastened to the ground by pegs. +Around the tent is generally a slight embankment, about two or three +inches high, or a little trench about the same depth, to prevent +water from running into the tent in time of rain. Such is the tent, +which would be exactly like the Indian wigwam but for the cloth which +forms the covering: the Indians in lieu of cloth using bark, which +they carry about with them in all their migrations, though they leave +the sticks standing in the ground. + +The furniture is scanty. Like the Arabs, the Gypsies have neither +chairs nor tables, but sit cross-legged, a posture which is perfectly +easy to them, though insufferable to a Gorgio, unless he happens to +be a tailor. When they eat, the ground serves them for a board, +though they occasionally spread a cloth upon it. Singularly enough, +though they have neither chairs nor tables, they have words for both. +Of pots, pans, plates, and trenchers, they have a tolerable quantity. +Each grown-up person has a churi, or knife, with which to cut food. +Eating-forks they have none, and for an eating-fork they have no +word, the term pasengri signifying a straw- or pitch-fork. Spoons +are used by them generally of horn, and are called royis. They have +but two culinary articles, the kekkauvi and pirry, kettle and boiler, +which are generally of copper, to which, however, may perhaps be +added the kekkauviskey saster, or kettle-iron, by which the kettle +and boiler are hung over the fire. As a fireplace they have a large +iron pan on three legs, with holes or eyes in the sides, in order +that the heat of the fire may be cast around. Instead of coals they +use coke, which emits no flame and little smoke, and casts a +considerable heat. Every tent has a pail or two, and perhaps a small +cask or barrel, the proper name for which is bedra, though it is +generally called pani-mengri, or thing for water. At the farther end +of the tent is a mattress, with a green cloth, or perhaps a sheet +spread upon it, forming a kind of couch, on which visitors are +generally asked to sit down:- Av adrey, Romany Rye, av adrey ta besh +aley pawdle odoy! Come in, Gypsy gentleman (said a polite Gypsy one +day to the writer); come in and sit down over yonder! They have a +box or two in which they stow away their breakable articles and +whatever things they set any particular value upon. Some of them +have small feather-beds, and they are generally tolerably well +provided with blankets. + +The caravans are not numerous, and have only been used of late years +by any of the English Gypsy race. The caravan called by the Gypsies +keir vardo, or waggon-house, is on four wheels, and is drawn by a +horse or perhaps a couple of donkeys. It is about twelve feet long +by six broad and six high. At the farther end are a couple of +transverse berths, one above the other, like those in the cabin of a +ship; and a little way from these is a curtain hanging by rings from +an iron rod running across, which, when drawn, forms a partition. On +either side is a small glazed window. The most remarkable object is +a stove just inside the door, on the left hand, with a metal chimney +which goes through the roof. This stove, the Gypsy term for which is +bo, casts, when lighted, a great heat, and in some cases is made in a +very handsome fashion. Some caravans have mirrors against the sides, +and exhibit other indications of an aiming at luxury, though in +general they are dirty, squalid places, quite as much as or perhaps +more than the tents, which seem to be the proper and congenial homes +of the Gypsies. + +The mode of life of these people may be briefly described. They have +two regular meals--breakfast and supper. The breakfast consists of +tea, generally of the best quality, bread, butter, and cheese; the +supper, of tea and a stew. In spring time they occasionally make a +kind of tea or soup of the tender leaves of a certain description of +nettle. This preparation, which they call dandrimengreskie zimmen, +or the broth of the stinging-thing, is highly relished by them. They +get up early, and go to bed betimes. After breakfast the men sit +down to chin the cost, to mend chairs or make baskets; the women go +forth to hok and dukker, and the children to beg, or to go with the +donkeys to lanes and commons to watch them, whilst they try to fill +their poor bellies with grass and thistles. These children sometimes +bring home hotchiwitches, or hedgehogs, the flesh of which is very +sweet and tender, and which their mothers are adepts at cooking. + +The Gypsies, as has been already observed, are not the sole occupiers +of Wandsworth grounds. Strange, wild guests are to be found there, +who, without being Gypsies, have much of Gypsyism in their habits, +and who far exceed the Gypsies in number. To pass them by without +notice would be unpardonable. They may be divided into three +classes: Chorodies, Kora-mengre, and Hindity-mengre. Something +about each:- + +The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and +outcasts who roamed about England long before its soil was trodden by +a Gypsy foot. They are a truly detestable set of beings; both men +and women being ferocious in their appearance, and in their +conversation horrible and disgusting. They have coarse, vulgar +features, and hair which puts one wonderfully in mind of refuse flax, +or the material of which mops are composed. Their complexions, when +not obscured with grime, are rather fair than dark, evidencing that +their origin is low, swinish Saxon, and not gentle Romany. Their +language is the frowsiest English, interlarded with cant expressions +and a few words of bastard Romany. They live in the vilest tents, +with the exception of two or three families, who have their abode in +broken and filthy caravans. They have none of the comforts and +elegancies of the Gypsies. They are utterly destitute of civility +and good manners, and are generally squalid in their dress, though +the women sometimes exhibit not a little dirty tawdriness. The +trades of the men are tinkering and basket-making, and some few "peel +the stick." The women go about with the articles made by their +husbands, or rather partners, and sometimes do a little in the +fortune-telling line--pretty prophetesses! The fellows will +occasionally knock a man down in the dark, and rob him; the women +will steal anything they can conveniently lay their hands on. +Singular as it may seem to those not deeply acquainted with human +nature, these wretches are not without a kind of pride. "We are no +Gypsies--not we! no, nor Irish either. We are English, and decent +folks--none of your rubbish!" The Gypsies hold them, and with +reason, in supreme contempt, and it is from them that they got their +name of Chorodies, not a little applicable to them. Choredo, in +Gypsy, signifies a poor, miserable person, and differs very little in +sound from two words, one Sanscrit and the other Hebrew, both +signifying, like the Gypsy term, something low, mean, and +contemptible. + +Kora-mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the country +villages and the streets of London, with caravans hung about with +various common articles, such as mats, brooms, mops, tin pans and +kettles. These low hawkers seem to be of much the same origin as the +Chorodies, and are almost equally brutal and repulsive in their +manners. The name Kora-mengre is Gypsy, and signifies fellows who +cry out and shout, from their practice of shouting out the names of +their goods. The word kora, or karra, is by no means bad Hebrew: +kora, in the Holy Language, signifies he cried out, called, or +proclaimed: and a partridge is called in Hebrew kora, from its +continually crying out to its young, when leading them about to feed. +Koran, the name of the sacred book of the Mahomedans, is of the same +root. + +Lastly come the Hindity-mengre, or Filthy People. This term has been +bestowed upon the vagrant Irish by the Gypsies, from the dirty ways +attributed to them, though it is a question whether the lowest Irish +are a bit more dirty in their ways than the English Chorodies, or +indeed so much, and are certainly immeasurably superior to them in +many respects. There are not many of them here, seldom more than two +families, and sometimes, even during the winter, not a single Irish +tent or cart is to be seen. The trade they ostensibly drive is +tinkering, repairing old kettles, and making little pots and pans of +tin. The one, however, on which they principally depend, is not +tinkering, but one far more lucrative, and requiring more cleverness +and dexterity; they make false rings, like the Gypsy smiths, the +fashiono vangustengre of old, and whilst speaking Celtic to one whom +they deem their countryman, have no hesitation in acknowledging +themselves to be "Cairdean droich oir," workers of false gold. The +rings are principally made out of old brass buttons; those worn by +old Chelsea pensioners being considered the very best for the +purpose. Many an ancient Corporal Trim, alter having spent all his +money at the public-house, and only become three-parts boozy, has +been induced by the Hindity-mengro to sell all his buttons at the +rate of three-halfpence a-piece, in order to have wherewithal to make +himself thoroughly royal. Each of these Hindity-mengre has his blow- +pipe, and some of them can execute their work in a style little +inferior to that of a first-rate working goldsmith. The rings, after +being made, are rubbed with a certain stuff out of a phial, which +gives them all the appearance of gold. This appearance, however, +does not long endure, for after having been worn two or three months, +the ring loses its false appearance entirely, and any one can see +that it is worthless metal. A good many of these rings are disposed +of at good prices by the Hindity women, the wives of these false-gold +workers, to servant girls and the wives of small shopkeepers, and not +a few, at a lower rate, to certain gentry who get their livelihood by +the honourable profession of ring-dropping. + +What is ring-dropping? + +Ring-dropping is this. A gentleman overtakes you as you are walking +in some quiet street, passes by you, and at the distance of some +fifteen yards stops, and stooping down, seemingly picks up something, +which he inspects, and then uttering a "Dear me!" he turns to you, +and says, "Sir, we have been fortunate to-day. See! I have picked +up this valuable!" He then shows you a small case, in which is a +large ring, seemingly of the finest gold, with a little label +attached to it, on which is marked 2 pounds 15s. "Now, sir," he +continues, "I said we were fortunate, because as we were close to +each other, I consider you as much entitled to gain by this windfall +as myself. I'll tell you how it shall be: the price of the ring, +which was probably dropped by some goldsmith's man, is, as you see, +two pound fifteen; however, as I am in a hurry, you shall only give +me a quid, a pound, and then the valuable shall be all your own; it +shall indeed, sir!" And then he stares you in the face. Such is +ring-dropping, to which many silly but greedy individuals, fall +victims; giving a pound for a fine-looking ring, which, however, with +its scarlet case--for the case is always of a scarlet colour--is not +worth sixpence. The best thing you can do in such a case is to put +your thumb to your nose, flattening your hand and sticking out your +fingers far apart, moving on at the same time, or to utter the +cabalistic word "hookey"; in either case the ring-dropper will at +once drop astern, with a half-stifled curse, for he knows that he has +to do with "no flat," and that you are "awake to his little game." +Doing so is much better than moving rapidly on, and affecting to take +no notice of him, for then he will infallibly follow you to the end +of the street, offering you the ring on more reasonable terms at +every step, perhaps concluding at last, as a ring-dropper once did to +the writer, "I'll tell you what, sir; as I am in a hurry, and rather +hard up, you shall have the valuable for a bull, for a crown; you +shall indeed, sir, so help me--" + +Three of the most famous of the Hindity smiths have been immortalised +by the Gypsies in the following bit of verse: + + +Mickie, Huwie and Larry, +Trin Hindity-mengre fashiono vangust-engre. + +Mickie, Huwie and Larry bold, +Three Irish brothers, as I am told, +Who make false rings, that pass for gold. + + +Of these fashiono-vangust brothers, the most remarkable is Mike--Old +Mike, as he is generally called. He was born in the county Kerry, +and educated at a hedge-school, where he learned to read and write +English, after a fashion, and acquired the seventeen letters of the +Irish alphabet, each of which is named after a particular tree. +Leaving school he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, from whom he ran +away, and enlisted into the service of that illustrious monarch, +George the Third, some of whose battles he had the honour of fighting +in the Peninsula and France. Discharged from the army at the Peace, +with the noble donation of thirty shillings, or one month's pay, he +returned to Ireland, took to himself a wife, and commenced tinker. +Becoming dissatisfied with his native soil he passed over to England, +and settling for some time at "Brummagem," took lessons from certain +cunning smiths in the art of making fashiono vangusties. The next +forty years of his life he spent in wandering about Britain, attended +by his faithful partner, who not only disposed of his tin articles +and false rings, but also bore him seventeen children, all of whom +are alive, somewhere or other, and thriving too, one of them indeed +having attained to the dignity of American senator. Some of his +adventures, during his wanderings, were in the highest degree +extraordinary. Of late years he has chiefly resided in the vicinity +of London, spending his winters at Wandsworth, and his summers on the +Flats, near Epping Forest; in one or the other of which places you +may see Old Mike on a Sunday evening, provided the weather is +tolerably fine, seated near his little caravan, with his wife by his +side--not the wife who bore him the seventeen children, who has been +dead for some years, but his second wife, a nice, elderly Irish ban +from the county of Cork, who can tell fortunes, say her prayers in +Irish, and is nearly as good a hand at selling her lord and master's +tin articles and false rings as her predecessor. Lucky for Mike that +he got such a second partner! and luckier still that at his age of +seventy-nine he retains all his faculties, and is able to work for +his daily bread, with at least the skill and cunning of his two +brothers, both of whom are much younger men than himself, whose +adventures have been somewhat similar to his own, and who, singularly +enough, have come to live near him in his latter days. Both these +brothers are highly remarkable men. Huwie is the most civil-spoken +person in or about London, and Larry a man of the most terrible +tongue, and perhaps the most desperate fighter ever seen; always +willing to attack half a dozen men, if necessary, and afraid of no +one in the world, save one--Mike, old Mike, who can tame him in his +fiercest moods by merely holding up his finger. Oh, a truly +remarkable man is old Mike! and a pleasure and an advantage it is to +any one of a philosophical mind to be acquainted with him, and to +listen to him. He is much more than a fashiono-vangust-engro. +Amongst other things he is a theologian--Irish theologian--and quite +competent to fill the chair of theology at the University of +Maynooth. He can tell you a great many things connected with a +certain person, which, with all your research, you would never find +in Scripture. He can tell you how the Saviour, when hanging on the +cross, became athirst, and told St. Peter, who stood at the foot of +it, to fetch Him a cup of water from a dirty puddle in the +neighbourhood, and how St. Peter--however, better not relate the +legend, though a highly curious one. Then he can repeat to you +blessed verses, as he calls them, by dozens; not of David, but of one +quite as good, as he will tell you, namely, Timothy O'Sullivan; and +who, you will say, was Timothy O'Sullivan? Why, Ty Gaelach, to be +sure. And who was Ty Gaelach? An Irish peasant-poet of the last +century, who wrote spiritual songs, some of them by no means bad +ones, and who was called Gaelach, or Gael, from his abhorrence of the +English race and of the English language, of which he scarcely +understood a word. Then is Ty Irish for Timothy? Why, no! though +very stupidly supposed to be so. Ty is Teague, which is neither +Greek nor Irish, but a glorious old Northern name, carried into +Ireland by the brave old heathen Danes. Ty or Teague is the same as +Tycho. Ty or Teague Gaelach is as much as to say Tycho Gaelach; and +Tycho Brahe is as much as to say Teague Brahe. + + + +THE POTTERIES, 1864 + + + +The second great Gypsyry is on the Middlesex side of the river, and +is distant about three miles, as the crow flies, from that of +Wandsworth. Strange as it may seem, it is not far distant from the +most fashionable part of London; from the beautiful squares, noble +streets, and thousand palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, though +only a small part of the enormous metropolis, can show more beautiful +edifices, wealth, elegance, and luxury, than all foreign capitals put +together. After passing Tyburnia, and going more than halfway down +Notting Hill, you turn to the right, and proceed along a tolerably +genteel street till it divides into two, one of which looks more like +a lane than a street, and which is on the left hand, and bears the +name of Pottery Lane. Go along this lane, and you will presently +find yourself amongst a number of low, uncouth-looking sheds, open at +the sides, and containing an immense quantity of earthen chimney- +pots, pantiles, fancy-bricks, and similar articles. This place is +called the Potteries, and gives the name of Pottery Lane to the lane +through which you have just passed. A dirty little road goes through +it, which you must follow, and presently turning to your left, you +will enter a little, filthy street, and going some way down it, you +will see, on your right hand, a little, open bit of ground, chock- +full of crazy, battered caravans of all colours--some yellow, some +green, some red. Dark men, wild-looking, witch-like women, and +yellow-faced children are at the doors of the caravans, or wending +their way through the narrow spaces left for transit between the +vehicles. You have now arrived at the second grand Gypsyry of +London--you are amongst the Romany Chals of the Potteries, called in +Gypsy the Koromengreskoe Tan, or the place of the fellows who make +pots; in which place certain Gypsies have settled, not with the view +of making pots, an employment which they utterly eschew, but simply +because it is convenient to them, and suits their fancy. + +A goodly collection of Gypsies you will find in that little nook, +crowded with caravans. Most of them are Tatchey Romany, real +Gypsies, "long-established people, of the old order." Amongst them +are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, Herons, or duck-people; Chumo-mescroes +or Bosvils; a Kaulo Camlo (a Black Lovel) or two, and a Beshaley or +Stanley. It is no easy thing to find a Stanley nowadays, even in the +Baulo Tem, or Hampshire, which is the proper home of the Stanleys, +for the Bugnior, pimples or small-pox, has of late years made sad +havoc amongst the Stanleys; but yonder tall old gentlewoman, +descending the steps of a caravan, with a flaming red cloak and a +large black beaver bonnet, and holding a travelling basket in her +hand, is a Tatchey Beshaley, a "genuine" Stanley. The generality, +however, of "them Gyptians" are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, or duck- +people; and, speaking of the Hearnes, it is but right to say that he +who may be called the Gypsy Father of London, old Thomas Ratzie- +mescro, or Hearne, though not exactly residing here, lives close by +in a caravan, in a little bit of a yard over the way, where he can +breathe more freely, and be less annoyed by the brats and the young +fellows than he would be in yonder crowded place. + +Though the spot which it has just been attempted to describe, may be +considered as the head-quarters of the London Gypsies, on the +Middlesex side of the Thames, the whole neighbourhood, for a mile to +the north of it, may to a certain extent be considered a Gypsy +region--that is, a district where Gypsies, or gentry whose habits +very much resemble those of Gypsies, may at any time be found. No +metropolitan district, indeed, could be well more suited for Gypsies +to take up their abode in. It is a neighbourhood of transition; of +brickfields, open spaces, poor streets inhabited by low artisans, +isolated houses, sites of intended tenements, or sites of tenements +which have been pulled down; it is in fact a mere chaos, where there +is no order and no regularity; where there is nothing durable, or +intended to be durable; though there can be little doubt that within +a few years order and beauty itself will be found here, that the +misery, squalidness, and meanness will have disappeared, and the +whole district, up to the railroad arches which bound it on the west +and north, will be covered with palaces, like those of Tyburnia, or +delightful villas, like those which decorate what is called Saint +John's Wood. At present, however, it is quite the kind of place to +please the Gypsies and wandering people, who find many places within +its bounds where they can squat and settle, or take up their quarters +for a night or two without much risk of being interfered with. Here +their tents, cars, and caravans may be seen amidst ruins, half-raised +walls, and on patches of unenclosed ground; here their children may, +throughout the day, be seen playing about, flinging up dust and dirt, +some partly naked, and others entirely so; and here, at night, the +different families, men, women, and children, may be seen seated +around their fires and their kettles, taking their evening meal, and +every now and then indulging in shouts of merriment, as much as to +say, - + + +What care we, though we be so small? +The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall; + + +which is quite true. The Gypsy tent must make way for the palace, +but after a millennium or two, the Gypsy tent is pitched on the ruins +of the palace. + +Of the open spaces above mentioned, the most considerable is one +called Latimer's Green. It lies on the north-western side of the +district, and is not far from that place of old renown called the +Shepherd's Bush, where in the good ancient times highwaymen used to +lurk for the purpose of pouncing upon the travellers of the Oxford +Road. It may contain about five or six acres, and, though nominally +under the control of trustees, is in reality little more than a "no +man's ground," where anybody may feed a horse, light a fire, and boil +a kettle. It is a great resort of vagrant people, less of Gypsies +than those who call themselves travellers, and are denominated by the +Gypsies Chorodies, and who live for the most part in miserable +caravans, though there is generally a Gypsy tent or two to be seen +there, belonging to some Deighton or Shaw, or perhaps Petulengro, +from the Lil-engro Tan, as the Romany call Cambridgeshire. Amidst +these Chorody caravans and Gypsy tents may frequently be seen the +ker-vardo, the house on wheels, of one who, whenever he takes up his +quarters here, is considered the cock of the walk, the king of the +place. He is a little under forty years of age, and somewhat under +five feet ten inches in height. His face is wonderfully like that of +a mastiff of the largest size, particularly in its jowls; his neck is +short and very thick, and must be nearly as strong as that of a bull; +his chest is so broad that one does not like to say how broad it is; +and the voice which every now and then proceeds from it has much the +sound of that of the mighty dog just mentioned; his arms are long and +exceedingly muscular, and his fists huge and bony. He wears a low- +crowned, broad-brimmed hat, a coarse blue coat with short skirts, +leggings, and high-lows. Such is the kral o' the tan, the rex loci, +the cock of the green. But what is he besides? Is he Gypsy, +Chorody, or Hindity mush? I say, you had better not call him by any +one of those names, for if you did he would perhaps hit you, and +then, oh dear! That is Mr. G. A., a travelling horse-dealer, who +lives in a caravan, and finds it frequently convenient to take up his +abode for weeks together on Latimer's Green. He is a thorough-bred +Englishman, though he is married to a daughter of one of the old, +sacred Gypsy families, a certain Lurina Ratziemescri, duck or heron +female, who is a very handsome woman, and who has two brothers, dark, +stealthy-looking young fellows, who serve with almost slavish +obedience their sister's lord and husband, listening uncomplainingly +to his abuse of Gypsies, whom, though he lives amongst them and is +married to one by whom he has several children, he holds in supreme +contempt, never speaking of them but as a lying, thievish, cowardly +set, any three of whom he could beat with one hand; as perhaps he +could, for he is a desperate pugilist, and has three times fought in +"the ring" with good men, whom, though not a scientific fighter, he +beat with ease by dint of terrible blows, causing them to roar out. +He is very well to do in the world; his caravan, a rather stately +affair, is splendidly furnished within; and it is a pleasure to see +his wife, at Hampton Court races, dressed in Gypsy fashion, decked +with real gems and jewels and rich gold chains, and waited upon by +her dark brothers dressed like dandy pages. How is all this expense +supported? Why, by horsedealing. Mr. G. is, then, up to all kinds +of horsedealers' tricks, no doubt. Aye, aye, he is up to them, but +he doesn't practise them. He says it's of no use, and that honesty +is the best policy, and he'll stick to it; and so he does, and finds +the profit of it. His traffic in horses, though confined entirely to +small people, such as market-gardeners, travellers, show-folks, and +the like, is very great; every small person who wishes to buy a +horse, or to sell a horse, or to swop a horse, goes to Mr. G., and +has never reason to complain, for all acknowledge that he has done +the fair thing by them; though all agree that there is no +overreaching him, which indeed very few people try to do, deterred by +the dread of his manual prowess, of which a Gypsy once gave to the +writer the following striking illustration: --"He will jal oprey to a +gry that's wafodu, prawla, and coure leste tuley with the courepen of +his wast." (He will go up to a vicious horse, brother, and knock him +down with a blow of his fist.) + +The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the west and +north serve as a resort for Gypsies, who erect within them their +tents, which are thus sheltered in summer from the scorching rays of +the sun, and in winter from the drenching rain. In what close +proximity we sometimes find emblems of what is most rude and simple, +and what is most artificial and ingenious! For example, below the +arch is the Gypsy donkey-cart, whilst above it is thundering the +chariot of fire which can run across a county in half an hour. The +principal frequenters of these arches are Bosvils and Lees; the +former are chiefly tinkers, and the latter esconyemengres, or skewer- +makers. The reason for this difference is that the Bosvils are +chiefly immigrants from the country, where there is not much demand +for skewers, whereas the Lees are natives of the metropolis or the +neighbourhood, where the demand for skewers has from time immemorial +been enormously great. It was in the shelter of one of these arches +that the celebrated Ryley Bosvil, the Gypsy king of Yorkshire, +breathed his last a few years ago. + + + +THE MOUNT + + + +Before quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is another +place to which it will be necessary to devote a few words, though it +is less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery. It is +situated in the East of London, a region far more interesting to the +ethnologist and the philologist than the West, for there he will find +people of all kinds of strange races,--the wildest Irish; Greeks, +both Orthodox and Papistical; Jews, not only Ashkenazim and +Sephardim, but even Karaite; the worst, and consequently the most +interesting, description of Germans, the sugar-bakers; lots of +Malays; plenty of Chinamen; two or three dozen Hottentots, and about +the same number of Gypsies, reckoning men, women, and children. Of +the latter, and their place of abode, we have now only to do, leaving +the other strange, odd people to be disposed of on some other +occasion. + +Not far from Shoreditch Church, and at a short distance from the +street called Church Street, on the left hand, is a locality called +Friars' Mount, but generally for shortness called The Mount. It +derives its name from a friary built upon a small hillock in the time +of Popery, where a set of fellows lived in laziness and luxury on the +offerings of foolish and superstitious people, who resorted thither +to kiss and worship an ugly wooden image of the Virgin, said to be a +first-rate stick at performing miraculous cures. The neighbourhood, +of course, soon became a resort for vagabonds of every description, +for wherever friars are found rogues and thieves are sure to abound; +and about Friars' Mount, highwaymen, coiners, and Gypsies dwelt in +safety under the protection of the ministers of the miraculous image. +The friary has long since disappeared, the Mount has been levelled, +and the locality built over. The vice and villainy, however, which +the friary called forth still cling to the district. It is one of +the vilest dens of London, a grand resort for housebreakers, +garotters, passers of bad money, and other disreputable people, +though not for Gypsies; for however favourite a place it may have +been for the Romany in the old time, it no longer finds much favour +in their sight, from its not affording open spaces where they can +pitch their tents. One very small street, however, is certainly +entitled to the name of a Gypsy street, in which a few Gypsy families +have always found it convenient to reside, and who are in the habit +of receiving and lodging their brethren passing through London to and +from Essex and other counties east of the metropolis. There is +something peculiar in the aspect of this street, not observable in +that of any of the others, which one who visits it, should he have +been in Triana of Seville, would at once recognise as having seen in +the aspect of the lanes and courts of that grand location of the +Gypsies of the Andalusian capital. + +The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their +brethren in the other Gypsyries of London. They chin the cost, make +skewers, baskets, and let out donkeys for hire. The chief difference +consists in their living in squalid houses, whilst the others inhabit +dirty tents and caravans. The last Gypsy of any note who resided in +this quarter was Joseph Lee; here he lived for a great many years, +and here he died, having attained the age of ninety. During his +latter years he was generally called Old Joe Lee, from his great age. +His wife or partner, who was also exceedingly old, only survived him +a few days. They were buried in the same grave, with much Gypsy +pomp, in the neighbouring churchyard. They were both of pure Gypsy +blood, and were generally known as the Gypsy king and queen of +Shoreditch. They left a numerous family of children and +grandchildren, some of whom are still to be found at the Mount. This +old Joe Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey witch--that +is, he professed secrets which enabled him to make any wretched +animal of either species exhibit for a little time the spirit and +speed of "a flying drummedary." He was illustriously related, and +was very proud on that account, especially in being the brother's son +of old James, the cauring mush, whose exploits in the filching line +will be remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum, or Lee, +continues in existence. + + + +RYLEY BOSVIL + + + +Ryley Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a country where, as the +Gypsies say, "there's a deadly sight of Bosvils." He was above the +middle height, exceedingly strong and active, and one of the best +riders in Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a thorough +Gypsy, versed in all the arts of the old race, had two wives, never +went to church, and considered that when a man died he was cast into +the earth, and there was an end of him. He frequently used to say +that if any of his people became Gorgios he would kill them. He had +a sister of the name of Clara, a nice, delicate, interesting girl, +about fourteen years younger than himself, who travelled about with +an aunt; this girl was noticed by a respectable Christian family, +who, taking a great interest in her, persuaded her to come and live +with them. She was instructed by them in the rudiments of the +Christian religion, appeared delighted with her new friends, and +promised never to leave them. After the lapse of about six weeks +there was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who said he +wanted Clara. Clara went out trembling, had some discourse with the +man in an unknown tongue, and shortly returned in tears, and said +that she must go. "What for?" said her friends. "Did you not +promise to stay with us?" "I did so," said the girl, weeping more +bitterly; "but that man is my brother, who says I must go with him, +and what he says must be." So with her brother she departed, and her +Christian friends never saw her again. What became of her? Was she +made away with? Many thought she was, but she was not. Ryley put +her into a light cart, drawn by "a flying pony," and hurried her +across England, even to distant Norfolk, where he left her, after +threatening her, with three Gypsy women who were devoted to him. +With these women the writer found her one night encamped in a dark +wood, and had much discourse with her, both on Christian and Egyptian +matters. She was very melancholy, bitterly regretted having been +compelled to quit her Christian friends, and said that she wished she +had never been a Gypsy. The writer, after exhorting her to keep a +firm grip of her Christianity, departed, and did not see her again +for nearly a quarter of a century, when he met her on Epsom Downs, on +the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat all the English +steeds. She was then very much changed, very much changed indeed, +appearing as a full-blown Egyptian matron, with two very handsome +daughters flaringly dressed in genuine Gypsy fashion, to whom she was +giving motherly counsels as to the best means to hok and dukker the +gentlefolks. All her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the +dogs, for when the writer spoke to her on that very important +subject, she made no answer save by an indescribable Gypsy look. On +other matters she was communicative enough, telling the writer, +amongst other things, that since he saw her she had been twice +married, and both times very well, for that her first husband, by +whom she had the two daughters whom the writer "kept staring at," was +a man every inch of him, and her second, who was then on the Downs +grinding knives with a machine he had, though he had not much +manhood, being nearly eighty years old, had something much better, +namely a mint of money, which she hoped shortly to have in her own +possession. + +Ryley, like most of the Bosvils, was a tinker by profession; but, +though a tinker, he was amazingly proud and haughty of heart. His +grand ambition was to be a great man among his people, a Gypsy King. +To this end he furnished himself with clothes made after the +costliest Gypsy fashion: the two hinder buttons of the coat, which +was of thick blue cloth, were broad gold pieces of Spain, generally +called ounces; the fore-buttons were English "spaded guineas"; the +buttons of the waistcoat were half-guineas, and those of the collar +and the wrists of his shirt were seven-shilling gold pieces. In this +coat he would frequently make his appearance on a magnificent horse, +whose hoofs, like those of the steed of a Turkish sultan, were cased +in shoes of silver. How did he support such expense? it may be +asked. Partly by driving a trade in wafodu luvvu, counterfeit coin, +with which he was supplied by certain honest tradespeople of +Brummagem; partly and principally by large sums of money which he +received from his two wives, and which they obtained by the practice +of certain arts peculiar to Gypsy females. One of his wives was a +truly remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or Smith tribe; +her Christian name, if Christian name it can be called, was Xuri or +Shuri, and from her exceeding smartness and cleverness she was +generally called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri,--that is, smart or +clever Shuri, yocky being a Gypsy word, signifying 'clever.' She +could dukker--that is, tell fortunes--to perfection, by which alone +during the racing season she could make a hundred pounds a month. +She was good at the big hok, that is, at inducing people to put money +into her hands, in the hope of its being multiplied; and, oh dear! +how she could caur--that is, filch gold rings and trinkets from +jewellers' cases; the kind of thing which the Spanish Gypsy women +call ustilar pastesas, filching with the hands. Frequently she would +disappear, and travel about England, and Scotland too, dukkering, +hokking, and cauring, and after the lapse of a month return and +deliver to her husband, like a true and faithful wife, the proceeds +of her industry. So no wonder that the Flying Tinker, as he was +called, was enabled to cut a grand appearance. He was very fond of +hunting, and would frequently join the field in regular hunting +costume, save and except that, instead of the leather hunting-cap, he +wore one of fur with a gold band around it, to denote that though he +mixed with Gorgios he was still a Romany-chal. Thus equipped and +mounted on a capital hunter, whenever he encountered a Gypsy +encampment he would invariably dash through it, doing all the harm he +could, in order, as he said, to let the juggals know that he was +their king and had a right to do what he pleased with his own. +Things went on swimmingly for a great many years, but, as prosperity +does not continue for ever, his dark hour came at last. His wives +got into trouble in one or two expeditions, and his dealings in +wafodu luvvu began to be noised about. Moreover, by his grand airs +and violent proceedings he had incurred the hatred of both Gorgios +and Gypsies, particularly of the latter, some of whom he had ridden +over and lamed for life. One day he addressed his two wives:- + + +"The Gorgios seek to hang me, +The Gypsies seek to kill me: +This country we must leave." + +Shuri. + +I'll jaw with you to heaven, +I'll jaw with you to Yaudors - +But not if Lura goes." + +Lura. + +"I'll jaw with you to heaven, +And to the wicked country, +Though Shuri goeth too." + +Ryley. + +"Since I must choose betwixt ye, +My choice is Yocky Shuri, +Though Lura loves me best." + +Lura. + +"My blackest curse on Shuri! +Oh, Ryley, I'll not curse you, +But you will never thrive." + + +She then took her departure with her cart and donkey, and Ryley +remained with Shuri. + + +Ryley. + +"I've chosen now betwixt ye; +Your wish you now have gotten, +But for it you shall smart." + + +He then struck her with his fist on the cheek, and broke her jawbone. +Shuri uttered no cry or complaint, only mumbled: + + +"Although with broken jawbone, +I'll follow thee, my Ryley, +Since Lura doesn't jal." + + +Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire, and wended their way +to London, where they took up their abode in the Gypsyry near the +Shepherd's Bush. Shuri went about dukkering and hokking, but not +with the spirit of former times, for she was not quite so young as +she had been, and her jaw, which was never properly cured, pained her +much. Ryley went about tinkering, but he was unacquainted with +London and its neighbourhood, and did not get much to do. An old +Gypsy-man, who was driving about a little cart filled with skewers, +saw him standing in a state of perplexity at a place where four roads +met. + + +Old Gypsy. + +"Methinks I see a brother! +Who's your father? Who's your mother? +And what may be your name?" + +Ryley. + +"A Bosvil was my father; +A Bosvil was my mother; +And Ryley is my name." + +Old Gypsy. + +"I'm glad to see you, brother! +I am a Kaulo Camlo. {4} +What service can I do?" + +Ryley. + +"I'm jawing petulengring, {5} +But do not know the country; +Perhaps you'll show me round." + +Old Gypsy. + +"I'll sikker tute, prala! +I'm bikkening esconyor; {6} +Av, av along with me!" + + +The old Gypsy showed Ryley about the country for a week or two, and +Ryley formed a kind of connection, and did a little business. He, +however, displayed little or no energy, was gloomy and dissatisfied, +and frequently said that his heart was broken since he had left +Yorkshire. + +Shuri did her best to cheer him, but without effect. Once, when she +bade him get up and exert himself, he said that if he did it would be +of little use, and asked her whether she did not remember the parting +prophecy of his other wife that he would never thrive. At the end of +about two years he ceased going his rounds, and did nothing but smoke +under the arches of the railroad, and loiter about beershops. At +length he became very weak, and took to his bed; doctors were called +in by his faithful Shuri, but there is no remedy for a bruised +spirit. A Methodist came and asked him, "What was his hope?" "My +hope," said he, "is that when I am dead I shall be put into the +ground, and my wife and children will weep over me." And such, it +may be observed, is the last hope of every genuine Gypsy. His hope +was gratified. Shuri and his children, of whom he had three--two +stout young fellows and a girl--gave him a magnificent funeral, and +screamed, shouted, and wept over his grave. They then returned to +the "Arches," not to divide his property amongst them, and to quarrel +about the division, according to Christian practice, but to destroy +it. They killed his swift pony--still swift, though twenty-seven +years of age--and buried it deep in the ground, without depriving it +of its skin. They then broke the caravan and cart to pieces, making +of the fragments a fire, on which they threw his bedding, carpets, +curtains, blankets, and everything which would burn. Finally, they +dashed his mirrors, china, and crockery to pieces, hacked his metal +pots, dishes and what-not to bits, and flung the whole on the blazing +pile. Such was the life, such the death, and such were the funeral +obsequies of Ryley Bosvil, a Gypsy who will be long remembered +amongst the English Romany for his buttons, his two wives, his grand +airs, and last, and not least, for having been the composer of +various stanzas in the Gypsy tongue, which have plenty of force, if +nothing else, to recommend them. One of these, addressed to Yocky +Shuri, runs as follows: + + +Tuley the Can I kokkeney cam +Like my rinkeny Yocky Shuri: +Oprey the chongor in ratti I'd cour +For my rinkeny Yocky Shuri! + + +Which may be thus rendered: + + +Beneath the bright sun, there is none, there is none, +I love like my Yocky Shuri: +With the greatest delight, in blood I would fight +To the knees for my Yocky Shuri! + + +KIRK YETHOLM + + + +There are two Yetholms--Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at +the distance of about a quarter of a mile from each other, and +between them is a valley, down which runs a small stream, called the +Beaumont River, crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there +is not much to be said. It is a long, straggling place, on the road +between Morbuttle and Kelso, from which latter place it is distant +about seven miles. It is comparatively modern, and sprang up when +the Kirk town began to fall into decay. Kirk Yetholm derives the +first part of its name from the church, which serves for a place of +worship not only for the inhabitants of the place, but for those of +the town also. The present church is modern, having been built on +the site of the old kirk, which was pulled down in the early part of +the present century, and which had been witness of many a strange +event connected with the wars between England and Scotland. It +stands at the entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn to +the village after ascending the steep road which leads from the +bridge. The place occupies the lower portion of a hill, a spur of +the Cheviot range, behind which is another hill, much higher, rising +to an altitude of at least 900 feet. At one time it was surrounded +by a stone wall, and at the farther end is a gateway overlooking a +road leading to the English border, from which Kirk Yetholm is +distant only a mile and a quarter; the boundary of the two kingdoms +being here a small brook called Shorton Burn, on the English side of +which is a village of harmless, simple Northumbrians, differing +strangely in appearance, manner, and language from the people who +live within a stone's throw of them on the other side. + +Kirk Yetholm is a small place, but with a remarkable look. It +consists of a street, terminating in what is called a green, with +houses on three sides, but open on the fourth, or right side to the +mountain, towards which quarter it is grassy and steep. Most of the +houses are ancient, and are built of rude stone. By far the most +remarkable-looking house is a large and dilapidated building, which +has much the appearance of a ruinous Spanish posada or venta. There +is not much life in the place, and you may stand ten minutes where +the street opens upon the square without seeing any other human +beings than two or three women seated at the house doors, or a +ragged, bare-headed boy or two lying on the grass on the upper side +of the Green. It came to pass that late one Saturday afternoon, at +the commencement of August, in the year 1866, I was standing where +the street opens on this Green, or imperfect square. My eyes were +fixed on the dilapidated house, the appearance of which awakened in +my mind all kinds of odd ideas. "A strange-looking place," said I to +myself at last, "and I shouldn't wonder if strange things have been +done in it." + +"Come to see the Gypsy toon, sir?" said a voice not far from me. + +I turned, and saw standing within two yards of me a woman about forty +years of age, of decent appearance, though without either cap or +bonnet. + +"A Gypsy town, is it?" said I; "why, I thought it had been Kirk +Yetholm." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, if it is Kirk Yetholm, must it not be a Gypsy +toon? Has not Kirk Yetholm ever been a Gypsy toon?" + +Myself.--"My good woman, 'ever' is a long term, and Kirk Yetholm must +have been Kirk Yetholm long before there were Gypsies in Scotland, or +England either." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, your honour may be right, and I dare say is; for +your honour seems to be a learned gentleman. Certain, however, it is +that Kirk Yetholm has been a Gypsy toon beyond the memory of man." + +Myself.--"You do not seem to be a Gypsy." + +Woman.--"Seem to be a Gypsy! Na, na, sir! I am the bairn of decent +parents, and belong not to Kirk Yetholm, but to Haddington." + +Myself.--"And what brought you to Kirk Yetholm?" + +Woman.--"Oh, my ain little bit of business brought me to Kirk +Yetholm, sir." + +Myself.--"Which is no business of mine. That's a queer-looking house +there." + +Woman.--"The house that your honour was looking at so attentively +when I first spoke to ye? A queer-looking house it is, and a queer +kind of man once lived in it. Does your honour know who once lived +in that house?" + +Myself.--"No. How should I? I am here for the first time, and after +taking a bite and sup at the inn at the town over yonder I strolled +hither." + +Woman.--"Does your honour come from far?" + +Myself.--"A good way. I came from Strandraar, the farthest part of +Galloway, where I landed from a ship which brought me from Ireland." + +Woman.--"And what may have brought your honour into these parts?" + +Myself.--"Oh, my ain wee bit of business brought me into these +parts." + +"Which wee bit of business is nae business of mine," said the woman, +smiling. "Weel, your honour is quite right to keep your ain counsel; +for, as your honour weel kens, if a person canna keep his ain counsel +it is nae likely that any other body will keep it for him. But to +gae back to the queer house, and the queer man that once 'habited it. +That man, your honour, was old Will Faa." + +Myself.--"Old Will Faa!" + +Woman.--"Yes. Old Will Faa, the Gypsy king, smuggler, and innkeeper; +he lived in that inn." + +Myself.--"Oh, then that house has been an inn?" + +Woman.--"It still is an inn, and has always been an inn; and though +it has such an eerie look it is sometimes lively enough, more +especially after the Gypsies have returned from their summer +excursions in the country. It's a roaring place then. They spend +most of their sleight-o'-hand gains in that house." + +Myself.--"Is the house still kept by a Faa?" + +Woman.--"No, sir; there are no Faas to keep it. The name is clean +dead in the land, though there is still some of the blood remaining." + +Myself.--"I really should like to see some of the blood." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, you can do that without much difficulty; there +are not many Gypsies just now in Kirk Yetholm; but the one who they +say has more of his blood than any one else happens to be here. I +mean his grandbairn--his daughter's daughter; she whom they ca' the +'Gypsy Queen o' Yetholm,' and whom they lead about the toon once a +year, mounted on a cuddy, with a tin crown on her head, with much +shouting, and with mony a barbaric ceremony." + +Myself.--"I really should like to see her." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, there's a woman behind you, seated at the +doorway, who can get your honour not only the sight of her, but the +speech of her, for she is one of the race, and a relation of hers; +and, to tell ye the truth, she has had her eye upon your honour for +some time past, expecting to be asked about the qeeen, for scarcely +anybody comes to Yetholm but goes to see the queen; and some gae so +far as to say that they merely crowned her queen in hopes of bringing +grist to the Gypsy mill." + +I thanked the woman, and was about to turn away, in order to address +myself to the other woman seated on the step, when my obliging friend +said, "I beg your pardon, sir, but before ye go I wish to caution +you, when you get to the speech of the queen, not to put any +speerings to her about a certain tongue or dialect which they say the +Gypsies have. All the Gypsies become glum and dour as soon as they +are spoken to about their language, and particularly the queen. The +queen might say something uncivil to your honour, should you ask her +questions about her language." + +Myself.--"Oh, then the Gypsies of Yetholm have a language of their +own?" + +Woman.--"I canna say, sir; I dinna ken whether they have or not; I +have been at Yetholm several years, about my ain wee bit o' business, +and never heard them utter a word that was not either English or +broad Scotch. Some people say that they have a language of their +ain, and others say that they have nane, and moreover that, though +they call themselves Gypsies, they are far less Gypsy than Irish, a +great deal of Irish being mixed in their veins with a very little of +the much more respectable Gypsy blood. It may be sae, or it may be +not; perhaps your honour will find out. That's the woman, sir, just +behind ye at the door. Gud e'en. I maun noo gang and boil my cup +o'tay." + +To the woman at the door I now betook myself. She was seated on the +threshold, and employed in knitting. She was dressed in white, and +had a cap on her head, from which depended a couple of ribbons, one +on each side. As I drew near she looked up. She had a full, round, +smooth face, and her complexion was brown, or rather olive, a hue +which contrasted with that of her eyes, which were blue. + +"There is something Gypsy in that face," said I to myself, as I +looked at her; "but I don't like those eyes." + +"A fine evening," said I to her at last. + +"Yes, sir," said the woman, with very little of the Scotch accent; +"it is a fine evening. Come to see the town?" + +"Yes," said I; "I am come to see the town. A nice little town it +seems." + +"And I suppose come to see the Gypsies, too," said the woman, with a +half smile. + +"Well," said I, "to be frank with you, I came to see the Gypsies. +You are not one, I suppose?" + +"Indeed I am," said the woman, rather sharply, "and who shall say +that I am not, seeing that I am a relation of old Will Faa, the man +whom the woman from Haddington was speaking to you about; for I heard +her mention his name?" + +"Then," said I, "you must be related to her whom they call the Gypsy +queen." + +"I am, indeed, sir. Would you wish to see her?" + +"By all means," said I. "I should wish very much to see the Gypsy +queen." + +"Then I will show you to her, sir; many gentlefolks from England come +to see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm. Follow me, sir!" + +She got up, and, without laying down her knitting-work, went round +the corner, and began to ascend the hill. She was strongly made, and +was rather above the middle height. She conducted me to a small +house, some little way up the hill. As we were going, I said to her, +"As you are a Gypsy, I suppose you have no objection to a coro of +koshto levinor?" {7} + +She stopped her knitting for a moment, and appeared to consider, and +then resuming it, she said hesitatingly, "No, sir, no! None at all! +That is, not exactly!" + +"She is no true Gypsy, after all," said I to myself. + +We went through a little garden to the door of the house, which stood +ajar. She pushed it open, and looked in; then, turning round, she +said: "She is not here, sir; but she is close at hand. Wait here +till I go and fetch her." She went to a house a little farther up +the hill, and I presently saw her returning with another female, of +slighter build, lower in stature, and apparently much older. She +came towards me with much smiling, smirking, and nodding, which I +returned with as much smiling and nodding as if I had known her for +threescore years. She motioned me with her hand to enter the house. +I did so. The other woman returned down the hill, and the queen of +the Gypsies entering, and shutting the door, confronted me on the +floor, and said, in a rather musical, but slightly faltering voice: + +"Now, sir, in what can I oblige you?" + +Thereupon, letting the umbrella fall, which I invariably carry about +with me in my journeyings, I flung my arms three times up into the +air, and in an exceedingly disagreeable voice, owing to a cold which +I had had for some time, and which I had caught amongst the lakes of +Loughmaben, whilst hunting after Gypsies whom I could not find, I +exclaimed: + +"Sossi your nav? Pukker mande tute's nav! Shan tu a mumpli-mushi, +or a tatchi Romany?" + +Which, interpreted into Gorgio, runs thus: + +"What is your name? Tell me your name! Are you a mumping woman, or +a true Gypsy?" + +The woman appeared frightened, and for some time said nothing, but +only stared at me. At length, recovering herself, she exclaimed, in +an angry tone, "Why do you talk to me in that manner, and in that +gibberish? I don't understand a word of it." + +"Gibberish!" said I; "it is no gibberish; it is Zingarrijib, Romany +rokrapen, real Gypsy of the old order." + +"Whatever it is," said the woman, "it's of no use speaking it to me. +If you want to speak to me, you must speak English or Scotch." + +"Why, they told me as how you were a Gypsy," said I. + +"And they told you the truth," said the woman; "I am a Gypsy, and a +real one; I am not ashamed of my blood." + +"If yer were a Gyptian," said I, "yer would be able to speak Gyptian; +but yer can't, not a word." + +"At any rate," said the woman, "I can speak English, which is more +than you can. Why, your way of speaking is that of the lowest +vagrants of the roads." + +"Oh, I have two or three ways of speaking English," said I; "and when +I speaks to low wagram folks, I speaks in a low wagram manner." + +"Not very civil," said the woman. + +"A pretty Gypsy!" said I; "why, I'll be bound you don't know what a +churi is!" + +The woman gave me a sharp look; but made no reply. + +"A pretty queen of the Gypsies!" said I; "why, she doesn't know the +meaning of churi!" + +"Doesn't she?" said the woman, evidently nettled; "doesn't she?" + +"Why, do you mean to say that you know the meaning of churi?" + +"Why, of course I do," said the woman. + +"Hardly, my good lady," said I; "hardly; a churi to you is merely a +churi." + +"A churi is a knife," said the woman, in a tone of defiance; "a churi +is a knife." + +"Oh, it is," said I; "and yet you tried to persuade me that you had +no peculiar language of your own, and only knew English and Scotch: +churi is a word of the language in which I spoke to you at first, +Zingarrijib, or Gypsy language; and since you know that word, I make +no doubt that you know others, and in fact can speak Gypsy. Come; +let us have a little confidential discourse together." + +The woman stood for some time, as if in reflection, and at length +said: "Sir, before having any particular discourse with you, I wish +to put a few questions to you, in order to gather from your answers +whether it is safe to talk to you on Gypsy matters. You pretend to +understand the Gypsy language: if I find you do not, I will hold no +further discourse with you; and the sooner you take yourself off the +better. If I find you do, I will talk with you as long as you like. +What do you call that?"--and she pointed to the fire. + +"Speaking Gyptianly?" said I. + +The woman nodded. + +"Whoy, I calls that yog." + +"Hm," said the woman: "and the dog out there?" + +"Gyptian-loike?" said I. + +"Yes." + +"Whoy, I calls that a juggal." + +"And the hat on your head?" + +"Well, I have two words for that: a staury and a stadge." + +"Stadge," said the woman, "we call it here. Now what's a gun?" + +"There is no Gypsy in England," said I, "can tell you the word for a +gun; at least the proper word, which is lost. They have a word--yag- +engro--but that is a made-up word signifying a fire-thing." + +"Then you don't know the word for a gun," said the Gypsy. + +"Oh dear me! Yes," said I; "the genuine Gypsy word for a gun is +puschca. But I did not pick up that word in England, but in Hungary, +where the Gypsies retain their language better than in England: +puschca is the proper word for a gun, and not yag-engro, which may +mean a fire-shovel, tongs, poker, or anything connected with fire, +quite as well as a gun." + +"Puschca is the word, sure enough," said the Gypsy. "I thought I +should have caught you there; and now I have but one more question to +ask you, and when I have done so, you may as well go; for I am quite +sure you cannot answer it. What is Nokkum?" + +"Nokkum," said I; "nokkum?" + +"Aye," said the Gypsy; "what is Nokkum? Our people here, besides +their common name of Romany, have a private name for themselves, +which is Nokkum or Nokkums. Why do the children of the Caungri Foros +call themselves Nokkums?" + +"Nokkum," said I; "nokkum? The root of nokkum must be nok, which +signifieth a nose." + +"A-h!" said the Gypsy, slowly drawing out the monosyllable, as if in +astonishment. + +"Yes," said I; "the root of nokkum is assuredly nok, and I have no +doubt that your people call themselves Nokkum because they are in the +habit of nosing the Gorgios. Nokkums means Nosems." + +"Sit down, sir," said the Gypsy, handing me a chair. "I am now ready +to talk to you as much as you please about Nokkum words and matters, +for I see there is no danger. But I tell you frankly that had I not +found that you knew as much as, or a great deal more than, myself, +not a hundred pounds, nor indeed all the money in Berwick, should +have induced me to hold discourse with you about the words and +matters of the Brown children of Kirk Yetholm." + +I sat down in the chair which she handed me; she sat down in another, +and we were presently in deep discourse about matters Nokkum. We +first began to talk about words, and I soon found that her knowledge +of Romany was anything but extensive; far less so, indeed, than that +of the commonest English Gypsy woman, for whenever I addressed her in +regular Gypsy sentences, and not in poggado jib, or broken language, +she would giggle and say I was too deep for her. I should say that +the sum total of her vocabulary barely amounted to three hundred +words. Even of these there were several which were not pure Gypsy +words--that is, belonging to the speech which the ancient Zingary +brought with them to Britain. Some of her bastard Gypsy words +belonged to the cant or allegorical jargon of thieves, who, in order +to disguise their real meaning, call one thing by the name of +another. For example, she called a shilling a 'hog,' a word +belonging to the old English cant dialect, instead of calling it by +the genuine Gypsy term tringurushi, the literal meaning of which is +three groats. Then she called a donkey 'asal,' and a stone 'cloch,' +which words are neither cant nor Gypsy, but Irish or Gaelic. I +incurred her vehement indignation by saying they were Gaelic. She +contradicted me flatly, and said that whatever else I might know I +was quite wrong there; for that neither she nor any one of her people +would condescend to speak anything so low as Gaelic, or indeed, if +they possibly could avoid it, to have anything to do with the +poverty-stricken creatures who used it. It is a singular fact that, +though principally owing to the magic writings of Walter Scott, the +Highland Gael and Gaelic have obtained the highest reputation in +every other part of the world, they are held in the Lowlands in very +considerable contempt. There the Highlander, elsewhere "the bold +Gael with sword and buckler," is the type of poverty and +wretchedness; and his language, elsewhere "the fine old Gaelic, the +speech of Adam and Eve in Paradise," is the designation of every +unintelligible jargon. But not to digress. On my expressing to the +Gypsy queen my regret that she was unable to hold with me a regular +conversation in Romany, she said that no one regretted it more than +herself, but that there was no help for it; and that slight as I +might consider her knowledge of Romany to be, it was far greater than +that of any other Gypsy on the Border, or indeed in the whole of +Scotland; and that as for the Nokkums, there was not one on the Green +who was acquainted with half a dozen words of Romany, though the few +words they had they prized high enough, and would rather part with +their heart's blood than communicate them to a stranger. + +"Unless," said I, "they found the stranger knew more than +themselves." + +"That would make no difference with them," said the queen, "though it +has made a great deal of difference with me. They would merely turn +up their noses, and say they had no Gaelic. You would not find them +so communicative as me; the Nokkums, in general, are a dour set, +sir." + +Before quitting the subject of language it is but right to say that +though she did not know much Gypsy, and used cant and Gaelic terms, +she possessed several words unknown to the English Romany, but which +are of the true Gypsy order. Amongst them was the word tirrehi, or +tirrehai, signifying shoes or boots, which I had heard in Spain and +in the east of Europe. Another was calches, a Wallachian word +signifying trousers. Moreover, she gave the right pronunciation to +the word which denotes a man not of Gypsy blood, saying gajo, and not +gorgio, as the English Gypsies do. After all, her knowledge of +Gentle Romany was not altogether to be sneezed at. + +Ceasing to talk to her about words, I began to question her about the +Faas. She said that a great number of the Faas had come in the old +time to Yetholm, and settled down there, and that her own forefathers +had always been the principal people among them. I asked her if she +remembered her grandfather, old Will Faa, and received for answer +that she remembered him very well, and that I put her very much in +mind of him, being a tall, lusty man, like himself, and having a +skellying look with the left eye, just like him. I asked her if she +had not seen queer folks at Yetholm in her grandfather's time. +"Dosta dosta," said she; "plenty, plenty of queer folk I saw at +Yetholm in my grandfather's time, and plenty I have seen since, and +not the least queer is he who is now asking me questions." "Did you +ever see Piper Allen?" said I; "he was a great friend of your +grandfather's." "I never saw him," she replied; "but I have often +heard of him. He married one of our people." "He did so," said I, +"and the marriage-feast was held on the Green just behind us. He got +a good, clever wife, and she got a bad, rascally husband. One night, +after taking an affectionate farewell of her, he left her on an +expedition, with plenty of money in his pocket, which he had obtained +from her, and which she had procured by her dexterity. After going +about four miles he bethought himself that she had still some money, +and returning crept up to the room in which she lay asleep, and stole +her pocket, in which were eight guineas; then slunk away, and never +returned, leaving her in poverty, from which she never recovered." I +then mentioned Madge Gordon, at one time the Gypsy queen of the +Border, who used, magnificently dressed, to ride about on a pony shod +with silver, inquiring if she had ever seen her. She said she had +frequently seen Madge Faa, for that was her name, and not Gordon; but +that when she knew her, all her magnificence, beauty, and royalty had +left her; for she was then a poor, poverty-stricken old woman, just +able with a pipkin in her hand to totter to the well on the Green for +water. Then with much nodding, winking, and skellying, I began to +talk about Drabbing bawlor, dooking gryes, cauring, and hokking, and +asked if them 'ere things were ever done by the Nokkums: and +received for answer that she believed such things were occasionally +done, not by the Nokkums, but by other Gypsies, with whom her people +had no connection. + +Observing her eyeing me rather suspiciously, I changed the subject; +asking her if she had travelled much about. She told me she had, and +that she had visited most parts of Scotland, and seen a good bit of +the northern part of England. + +"Did you travel alone?" said I. + +"No," said she; "when I travelled in Scotland I was with some of my +own people, and in England with the Lees and Bosvils." + +"Old acquaintances of mine," said I; "why only the other day I was +with them at Fairlop Fair, in the Wesh." + +"I frequently heard them talk of Epping Forest," said the Gypsy; "a +nice place, is it not?" + +"The loveliest forest in the world!" said I. "Not equal to what it +was, but still the loveliest forest in the world, and the +pleasantest, especially in summer; for then it is thronged with grand +company, and the nightingales, and cuckoos, and Romany chals and +chies. As for Romany-chals there is not such a place for them in the +whole world as the Forest. Them that wants to see Romany-chals +should go to the Forest, especially to the Bald-faced Hind on the +hill above Fairlop, on the day of Fairlop Fair. It is their +trysting-place, as you would say, and there they musters from all +parts of England, and there they whoops, dances, and plays; keeping +some order nevertheless, because the Rye of all the Romans is in the +house, seated behind the door:- + + +Romany Chalor +Anglo the wuddur +Mistos are boshing; +Mande beshello +Innar the wuddur +Shooning the boshipen." + +Roman lads +Before the door +Bravely fiddle; +Here I sit +Within the door +And hear them fiddle. + + +"I wish I knew as much Romany as you, sir," said the Gypsy. "Why, I +never heard so much Romany before in all my life." + +She was rather a small woman, apparently between sixty and seventy, +with intelligent and rather delicate features. Her complexion was +darker than that of the other female; but she had the same kind of +blue eyes. The room in which we were seated was rather long, and +tolerably high. In the wall, on the side which fronted the windows +which looked out upon the Green, were oblong holes for beds, like +those seen in the sides of a cabin. There was nothing of squalor or +poverty about the place. + +Wishing to know her age, I inquired of her what it was. She looked +angry, and said she did not know. + +"Are you forty-nine?" said I, with a terrible voice, and a yet more +terrible look. + +"More," said she, with a smile; "I am sixty-eight." + +There was something of the gentlewoman in her: on my offering her +money she refused to take it, saying that she did not want it, and it +was with the utmost difficulty that I persuaded her to accept a +trifle, with which, she said, she would buy herself some tea. + +But withal there was hukni in her, and by that she proved her Gypsy +blood. I asked her if she would be at home on the following day, for +in that case I would call and have some more talk with her, and +received for answer that she would be at home and delighted to see +me. On going, however, on the following day, which was Sunday, I +found the garden-gate locked and the window-shutters up, plainly +denoting that there was nobody at home. + +Seeing some men lying on the hill, a little way above, who appeared +to be observing me, I went up to them for the purpose of making +inquiries. They were all young men, and decently though coarsely +dressed. None wore the Scottish cap or bonnet, but all the hat of +England. Their countenances were rather dark, but had nothing of the +vivacious expression observable in the Gypsy face, but much of the +dogged, sullen look which makes the countenances of the generality of +the Irish who inhabit London and some other of the large English +towns so disagreeable. They were lying on their bellies, +occasionally kicking their heels into the air. I greeted them +civilly, but received no salutation in return. + +"Is So-and-so at home?" said I. + +"No," said one, who, though seemingly the eldest of the party, could +not have been more than three-and-twenty years of age; "she is gone +out." + +"Is she gone far?" said I. + +"No," said the speaker, kicking up his heels. + +"Where is she gone to?" + +"She's gone to Cauldstrame." + +"How far is that?" + +"Just thirteen miles." + +"Will she be at home to-day?" + +"She may, or she may not." + +"Are you of her people?" said I. + +"No-h," said the fellow, slowly drawing out the word. + +"Can you speak Irish?" + +"No-h; I can't speak Irish," said the fellow, tossing up his nose, +and then flinging up his heels. + +"You know what arragod is?" said I. + +"No-h!" + +"But you know what ruppy is?" said I; and thereupon I winked and nodded. + +"No-h;" and then up went the nose, and subsequently the heels. + +"Good day," said I; and turned away; I received no counter- +salutation; but, as I went down the hill, there was none of the +shouting and laughter which generally follow a discomfited party. +They were a hard, sullen, cautious set, in whom a few drops of Gypsy +blood were mixed with some Scottish and a much larger quantity of low +Irish. Between them and their queen a striking difference was +observable. In her there was both fun and cordiality; in them not +the slightest appearance of either. What was the cause of this +disparity? The reason was they were neither the children nor the +grandchildren of real Gypsies, but only the remote descendants, +whereas she was the granddaughter of two genuine Gypsies, old Will +Faa and his wife, whose daughter was her mother; so that she might be +considered all but a thorough Gypsy; for being by her mother's side a +Gypsy, she was of course much more so than she would have been had +she sprung from a Gypsy father and a Gentile mother; the qualities of +a child, both mental and bodily, depending much less on the father +than on the mother. Had her father been a Faa, instead of her +mother, I should probably never have heard from her lips a single +word of Romany, but found her as sullen and inductile as the Nokkums +on the Green, whom it was of little more use questioning than so many +stones. + +Nevertheless, she had played me the hukni, and that was not very +agreeable; so I determined to be even with her, and by some means or +other to see her again. Hearing that on the next day, which was +Monday, a great fair was to be held in the neighbourhood of Kelso, I +determined to go thither, knowing that the likeliest place in all the +world to find a Gypsy at is a fair; so I went to the grand cattle- +fair of St. George, held near the ruined castle of Roxburgh, in a +lovely meadow not far from the junction of the Teviot and Tweed; and +there sure enough, on my third saunter up and down, I met my Gypsy. +We met in the most cordial manner--smirks and giggling on her side, +smiles and nodding on mine. She was dressed respectably in black, +and was holding the arm of a stout wench, dressed in garments of the +same colour, who she said was her niece, and a rinkeni rakli. The +girl whom she called rinkeni or handsome, but whom I did not consider +handsome, had much of the appearance of one of those Irish girls, +born in London, whom one so frequently sees carrying milk-pails about +the streets of the metropolis. By the bye, how is it that the +children born in England of Irish parents account themselves Irish +and not English, whilst the children born in Ireland of English +parents call themselves not English but Irish? Is it because there +is ten times more nationality in Irish blood than in English? After +the smirks, smiles, and salutations were over, I inquired whether +there were many Gypsies in the fair. "Plenty," said she, "plenty +Tates, Andersons, Reeds, and many others. That woman is an Anderson- +-yonder is a Tate," said she, pointing to two common-looking females. +"Have they much Romany?" said I. "No," said she, "scarcely a word." +"I think I shall go and speak to them," said I. "Don't," said she; +"they would only be uncivil to you. Moreover, they have nothing of +that kind--on the word of a rawnie they have not." + +I looked in her eyes; there was nothing of hukni in them, so I shook +her by the hand; and through rain and mist, for the day was a +wretched one, trudged away to Dryburgh to pay my respects at the tomb +of Walter Scott, a man with whose principles I have no sympathy, but +for whose genius I have always entertained the most intense admiration. + + + +Footnotes: + + + +{1} A Christian. + +{2} A fox. + +{3} "Merripen" means life, and likewise death; even as "collico" +means to-morrow as well as yesterday, and perhaps "sorlo," evening as +well as morning. + +{4} A Black Lovel. + +{5} Going a-tinkering. + +{6} I'll show you about, brother! I'm selling skewers. + +{7} A cup of good ale. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow + |