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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Dissertation on the Gipseys - - -Author: Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb Grellmann - - - -Release Date: July 24, 2020 [eBook #62745] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISSERTATION ON THE GIPSEYS*** - - -Transcribed from the William Ballintine 1807 edition by David Price, -email ccx074@pglaf.org, using scans from the British Library. - - [Picture: Book cover] - - - - - - DISSERTATION - ON THE - GIPSEYS: - - - REPRESENTING THEIR - -_MANNER OF LIFE_, _SICKNESS_, _DEATH_, _& BURIAL_, -_FAMILY ECONOMY_, _RELIGION_, -_OCCUPATIONS & TRADES_, _LANGUAGE_, -_MARRIAGES & EDUCATION_, _SCIENCES & ARTS_, _&c._ _&c._ - _&c._ - - WITH - - AN HISTORICAL ENQUIRY - - CONCERNING THEIR - - _ORIGIN & FIRST APPEARANCE IN EUROPE_. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - FROM THE GERMAN OF - H. M. G. GRELLMANN. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - LONDON: - - PRINTED BY WILLIAM BALLINTINE, - _Duke-street_, _Adelphi_, _Strand_: - - SOLD BY EFFINGHAM WILSON, - OPPOSITE THE CHAPTER COFFEE-HOUSE, ST. PAUL’S. - - 1807. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -THE following Dissertation has already appeared in an English dress, -having been, some years since, translated by the late M. Raper, Esq. -F.R.S. and A.S. for the purpose, as he states in his preface, of -affording “such of his countrymen as were unacquainted with the German -language an opportunity of learning from what part of the world it is -probable the Gipseys came among us.” The original work, and Mr. Raper’s -translation, are burthened with many notes—Greek, Latin, French, German, -English—shewing the sources whence the information was derived, most of -which, for obvious reasons, are omitted in the present edition; such only -being retained as were thought indispensable, or particularly -interesting. - -_July_, 1807. - - - - -CONTENTS. - -INTRODUCTION P. 1 - SECTION THE FIRST. - - DESCRIPTION OF THE GIPSEYS, THEIR MANNER OF LIFE, THEIR CUSTOMS, AND - PROPERTIES. - CHAPTER I. - Page -_Various Appellations of these People_ 1 - CHAPTER II. -_On the Dispersion of the Gipseys_, _and their Numbers in 3 -Europe_ - CHAPTER III. -_The Properties of their Bodies_ 10 - CHAPTER IV. -_On their Food and Beverage_ 15 - CHAPTER V. -_On the Dress of the Gipseys_ 25 - CHAPTER VI. -_On the Family Economy of the Gipseys_ 31 - CHAPTER VII. -_Their Occupations and Trades_ 38 - CHAPTER VIII. -_On their Marriages and Education_ 61 - CHAPTER IX. -_On their Sickness_, _Death_, _and Burial_ 68 - CHAPTER X. -_Political Regulations peculiar to the Gipseys_ 72 - CHAPTER XI. -_On the Religion of the Gipseys_ 79 - CHAPTER XII. -_Their Language_, _Sciences_, _and Arts_ 83 - CHAPTER XIII. -_Character and Capacities of the Gipseys_; _whether they 89 -are an Advantage or a Detriment to States_ - CHAPTER XIV. -_Concerning the Toleration of the Gipseys by the different 93 -States of Europe_ - CHAPTER XV. -_Essay on the Improvement of the Gipseys_ 102 - SECTION THE SECOND. - - ON THE ORIGIN OF THE GIPSEYS. - CHAPTER I. -_The first Appearance of Gipseys in Europe_ 109 - CHAPTER II. -_On the Sanctity_, _Passports_, _and Difference of the 117 -former from the latter Gipseys_ - CHAPTER III. -_Presumed Origin of the Gipseys_ 137 - CHAPTER IV. -_On the Egyptian Descent of the Gipseys_ 147 - CHAPTER V. -_The Gipseys come from Hindostan_ 170 - CHAPTER VI. -_The Gipseys are of the Caste called Suders_ 199 -SUPPLEMENT 209 - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -THE Gipseys are a singular phenomenon in Europe; whether we contemplate -their habitations, attend at their meals, or merely look in their faces, -they always appear particular, and we are each moment struck with -something new and extraordinary. - -What appears most worthy of remark is, that neither time, climate, nor -example, has, in general, hitherto, made any alteration. For the space -of between three and four hundred years, they have gone wandering about, -like pilgrims and strangers: they are found in eastern and western -countries, as well among the rude as civilised, the indolent as active, -people: yet they remain ever, and in all places, what their fathers -were—Gipseys. Africa makes them no blacker, nor Europe whiter: they -neither learn to be lazy in Spain, nor diligent in Germany: in Turkey, -Mahomet, and among Christians, Christ, remain equally without adoration. -Around, on every side, they see fixed dwellings, with settled -inhabitants; they, nevertheless, proceed in their own way, and continue, -for the most part, unsocial wandering robbers. - -When we search for similar cases, among all the different people who have -quitted their mother country, and inhabited a foreign one, we do not meet -with a single instance that exactly agrees with that of the Gipseys. -History certainly does record accounts of people that have migrated, and -remained the same in a strange country; but then this constancy has been -on account of religion, either permitted by the regents, or maintained by -their victorious arms: though this last circumstance has existed much -less frequently than might be imagined. Many instances have occurred in -which, the people subdued being more enlightened than their conquerors, -the latter have adopted the manners of the former. The Romans became -Greeks on the conquest of Greece; and the Franks assumed the manners of -the Gauls when in possession of their country: the Mantcheous vanquished -the Chinese; but Chinese customs prevailed over those of the Mantcheous. -How, then, does it happen that the Gipseys, who never either established -their manners and customs by force, or obtained any toleration from -governments under which they lived, remain unchanged, and resemble each -other exactly, in every place? There are two causes, to which this -coincidence is principally owing: one is the place whence they originate, -with their consequent mode of thinking; the other arises from the -circumstances which have hitherto attended their situation. - -The Gipseys are unquestionably of eastern origin, and have eastern -notions. There is a principle inherent in uncivilised people, -particularly those of Oriental countries, which occasions them to be -strongly attached to their own habits: hence every custom, every -conception, which has once been current among them, be it ever so -pernicious or ridiculous, is invariably preserved; or any affection which -has once predominated in their minds, retains its dominion even for ages. -Innovations do not easily succeed with people living in a state bordering -on that of nature; the least deviation from custom is observed, and often -resented with impetuosity. For any new thing to take root it must either -be introduced by cunning and force, or be attended with the most -favourable circumstances. This latter was the case with Christianity. -Providence had called Greeks and Romans into the east, and, by -innumerable vicissitudes, had rendered that country ripe for further -instruction: then came the great Sower—CHRIST scattered the seed, and it -prospered. Mahomet, on the contrary, before he became strong enough to -enforce conviction with the sword, brought about his purpose by art: -knowing that the weak side of his countrymen was their veneration for -every thing handed down from their forefathers, he gave his new religion -the colouring of antiquity. - -Mahomet says, “We have swerved from the religion of our founder Abraham, -and have introduced novelties among us. Abraham worshipped only one God; -we have many Gods. I am sent to retrench these novelties, and to bring -you back to the religion of your forefathers.” This was the first ground -on which he went. When the Ishmaelite would not acquiesce in the charge -of having fallen off from Abraham’s religion, Mahomet proceeded: “Ye are -illiterate people; ye have no books: the inhabitants of the neighbouring -countries have books, which contain the religion of Abraham.” The -Arabians applied to the Jews and Christians, for information on this -head; and as the event turned in favour of the pretended prophet, they -yielded without contradiction. Mahomet proceeded in teaching, and again -appealed to the people with books: the Arabians, too, continued asking -questions, being more tractable whenever his assertions were confirmed; -but when the contrary happened, a dispute arose, in which the prophet -could only get the better by defending the antiquity of his madness at -the expence of truth, accusing both the Jews and Christians with having -falsified their books. - -The same means that helped Mahomet with the Arabians, have been, in -latter times, very serviceable to the Jesuits, in China. How would these -cunning fathers have obtained admission for their religion among the -Chinese, had they not referred to Confucius, in aid of their doctrines? -These are only instances of changes in religion; but the case is -precisely the same in other things. In the eastern nations, no -improvement is adopted, be it of what kind it may, merely because it is -an improvement. The Chinese are acquainted with the use of glass; yet -their mirrors are always made of metal, and their windows of -oyster-shells. Mechanical watches have been for ages used at the court -of Pekin; but the bulk of the nation depend upon fire and water. {v} - -It is evident from the above, that the Gipseys, by reason of their -eastern origin, and consequent way of thinking, are not easily made to -change their principles and habits. When we further consider the -circumstances under which these people have hitherto existed, we want -nothing more to make us comprehend why they have remained, to the present -time, what they were at their first arrival in Europe. - -Figure to yourself a person, in whom custom, and deep-rooted affections, -are the only, and at the same time strong, impulses to action; in whose -soul no new unwonted thoughts arise, in consequence of his own -reflections, nor find easy admittance when proposed by others:—leave this -man entirely to himself; do not permit any of those means to be used -which are requisite to give a new turn to his ideas, and deep-rooted -prejudices:—he must necessarily remain the same; and his latest posterity -will continue like him: this is exactly the case with the Gipseys. -Unused to reflect, fettered by habits, they arrived in our quarter of the -globe. No state has, hitherto, done any thing for the express purpose of -instructing or reforming them; except the Empress Theresa, by her -regulations, which were never put in execution. On their first arrival, -they procured passports, and free quarters, by their holy lies. They -dispersed, begged, deceived the common people, by fortune telling: they -stole: and for a long time no attention was paid to them. At last the -evil grew too enormous; the complaints against them became so loud, that -government was constrained to take official notice of them. Exemplary -punishments were judged necessary: hanging and beheading were not -sufficiently efficacious; and it was then thought expedient to banish -them;—a proceeding more likely to render them worse than better, and even -in other respects liable to many objections; still the custom has -prevailed, down to the latest times. The neighbour, to whom these -unpolished guests were sent, sooner or later, followed the same method of -disengaging the evil, till, in the end, they were persecuted by almost -all kingdoms and governments. Many states afterwards relaxing in their -severity, the Gipseys were suffered to creep in, a few at a time, and -were permitted to remain quiet: yet every one of them stood in fear, -innocent or guilty, lest he might be taken unawares, merely because he -was Gipsey, and delivered over to the executioner. They had been -accustomed, in their own country, to live remote from cities and towns: -now they became still more uniformly inhabitants of the forests, and -outcasts; as, in consequence of the search which was made after them, or -at least threatened to be made, they judged themselves to be more secure -in deserts and concealment, than they would have been if frequenting -places of established abode, and having free intercourse with the -civilised inhabitants: whereby they were divested of the most, perhaps -only, probable means of inducing them to change their manners. And yet, -had they not sequestered themselves from other people, or had they been -more inclined to mix in society, it is not likely, without some direct -interference of government, that they would have been rendered better. -There were two great obstacles to be surmounted:—first, by mere -intercourse, it would have been, generally speaking, difficult to -eradicate the prejudices and customs from their Oriental minds: secondly, -being Gipseys, people would not willingly have established any -correspondence with them. Let us reflect how different they are from -Europeans: the one is white, the other black;—this clothes himself, the -other goes half naked;—this shudders at the thought of eating carrion, -the other regales on it as a dainty. Moreover these people are famed, -and were even from their first appearance in Europe, for being -plunderers, thieves, and incendiaries: the European, in consequence, not -merely dislikes, but hates them. For the reasons above stated, the -Gipseys have been, at different periods, driven from all the countries of -Europe; and only a few simple people occasionally made a nearer -acquaintance, in order to consult them on matters of superstition. - -Such is the state of what has been done, and attempted, for the -improvement of the Gipseys; whereas, so soon as it was discovered that -they were strangers, who thought of nothing less than of returning into -their own country, if any plan had been acted upon for their reformation, -and only half the wise regulations left behind by the Empress Theresa in -her states for the management of these people been adopted, and duly -enforced, they would long ago have been divested of the rude nature of -their ancestors, and have ceased to be the uncultivated branches of a -wild stock. On the contrary, having always been either left to -themselves or persecuted, it could not be otherwise, but that they must -remain for ever, and in all places, the same. - -Perhaps it is reserved for our age, in which so much has been attempted -for the benefit of mankind, to humanise a people who, for centuries, have -wandered in error and neglect: and it may be hoped, that while we are -endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of our African brethren, the -civilisation of the Gipseys, who form so large a portion of humanity, -will not be overlooked. It cannot be denied, that, considering the -multitude of them, their reform must be an object of very serious -consideration to many states. Suppose, according to a rough estimate, -that the Gipseys in Hungary and Transylvania, including the Banat, amount -to upwards of one hundred thousand; what a difference would it not make, -in those countries, if one hundred thousand inhabitants, mostly loungers, -beggars, cheats, and thieves, who now reap where they have not sown, -consuming the fruits of others’ labour, were to become industrious useful -subjects! Their reformation would be a difficult task, as the attempts -made by the Empress Theresa evinced:—a boy (for you must begin with -children, and not meddle with the old stock, on whom no efforts will have -effect) would frequently seem in the most promising train to -civilisation; on a sudden his wild nature would appear, a relapse follow, -and he became a perfect Gipsey again. But the measure is not, therefore, -impossible: Was not the case precisely the same with the Saxons, whom -Charles the Great converted to Christianity? Let the state resolving to -appropriate the Gipsey tribe only persevere in its endeavours; some -effect will be gained on the second generation, and with the third or -fourth, the end will certainly be accomplished. - -By an attentive observation, we may perceive that the Gipseys are endued -with very good capacities, which promise to make a profitable return, for -much trouble bestowed upon them. In the first Section one attempt, made -on this speculation, is produced, and it is hoped it will be found -sufficiently complete, to exhibit the leading features of their -character. - -The origin of the Gipseys has remained a perfect philosopher’s stone till -a late period. For more than two hundred years, people have been anxious -to discover who these guests were, that, under the name of Gipseys, came, -unknown and uninvited, into Europe, in the fifteenth century, and have -chosen to remain here ever since. No enquirer ever broached an opinion -that met with his successor’s approbation; a fourth scarcely heard what a -third had said, before he passed sentence and advanced something new. We -have no reason to wonder at the miscarriage of these enquiries, which -were neither more nor less than a collection of conjectures founded on -imaginary proofs and partial speculation.—An author set to work, to -discover a country whence the Gipseys came, or a people to whom they -could belong; he found out a place which had been named, for instance, -Zeugitana, or a people who bore some faint resemblance to the Gipseys. -As one coal lights another, so these two similarities became perfectly -applicable to the people whose origin he was seeking; he stopped here, -and published his discovery. - -Several investigators laid their foundation on hearsay, and -unauthenticated evidence; they then endeavoured to assist this testimony -by modelling the extraneous circumstances which could not be passed over, -in order to make them coincide; if, notwithstanding all this, -difficulties still occurred, they borrowed Alexander’s sword, and cut the -knot which no milder means could undo. - -That this has been the mode of proceeding hitherto, will be frequently -proved in the course of the work. Even had the imagination not magnified -any thing, nor modelled circumstances agreeably to its own fancy, yet the -following, which is taken for granted, “_that two people resembling each -other in one or two particulars_, _must be descended from the same -stock_,” is an over-hasty conclusion. In the first place, reject that -the most different nations may agree in some points; further, make the -allowance for various parts of the world producing inhabitants of similar -shape and colour;—What, then, remains to prove that the Gipseys are -descended from any one of the people from whom they have been traced? - -There are no records, or historical sources, leading to a direct -discovery of the origin of the Gipseys; those which have been thought so, -are not genuine. Nothing, therefore, remains, but to seek the truth, -through circuitous tracks; by this means, it may certainly be found. A -man must not go to tombstones, recently erected, in German church-yards, -nor adduce a single custom, or the name of a country bearing a -resemblance to that of Gipsey, as grounds of proof; and, on the other -hand, overlook a hundred difficulties, or even positive contradictions. -But if _the language of the Gipseys_, _their name_, _the conformation of -their bodies and minds_, _their customs and religious principles_, _mark -a country where it is possible for them to have been indigenous_; _when -History and Chronology corroborate the supposition_, _and there is not -any other country in the world to which the Gipseys_, _all these -particulars taken together_, _could belong_; then the country, where -these circumstances meet, must, in all probability, be their true mother -country. - -Whether their Hindostan origin has so much in its favour, is more than we -dare venture to affirm; as it is very possible for the judgment to be so -deceived, that we may believe what does not, in fact, exist. However, on -perusing the subsequent pages, our readers will judge if, like our -predecessors, we have erred, or have discovered the truth. - - - - -SECTION I. -DESCRIPTION OF THE GIPSEYS, THEIR MANNER OF LIFE, THEIR CUSTOMS AND -PROPERTIES. - - -CHAPTER I. - - -_Various Appellations of these People_. - -IT is not uncommon for the same people to be called by different names, -in different nations; such is the case with the Gipseys. The French -received their first accounts of them from Bohemia; which occasioned -their giving them the name of Bohemians (_Bohémiens_); the Dutch, -supposing they came from Egypt, called them Heathens (_Heydens_). In -Denmark, Sweden, and some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of: the -Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propensity the Gipseys have to -thieving, adopted the name _Charami_ (robbers) for them. In Hungary, -they were formerly called Pharaohites (_Pharaoh nepek_, Pharaoh’s -people); and the vulgar, in Transylvania, continue that name for them. -The English do not differ much from these latter (calling them -Egyptians—Gipseys); any more than the Portuguese and Spaniards -(_Gitanos_). The Clementines, in Smyrnia, use the appellation _Madjub_; -and the inhabitants of the lesser Bucharia, that of _Diajii_. The name -of Zigeuner has obtained the most general adoption: the Gipseys are so -called not only in all Germany, Italy, and Hungary (_Tzigany_), but -frequently in Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia (_Cyganis_). -Moreover the Turks, and other eastern nations, have no other than this -name for them (_Tschingenés_); and perhaps the before-cited Diajii of the -Bucharians may be the very same. It has been said, they call themselves -Moors; but that is false; Moor is only an adjunct, not the name of any -people: it is really a pity, since this name would have been so fair a -pretence to make Amorites of them, as some writers have done! It is not -by any means proved, that the modern Greeks called them _Athingans_; this -opinion is supported more by the arbitrary assertions of some learned -men, than by real facts: which is also the case with the rest of the -catalogue of names that have been dispersed, in various treatises on the -origin of the Gipseys; as will be hereafter demonstrated. - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -_On the Dispersion of the Gipseys_, _and their Numbers in Europe_. - -THE numerous hordes of Gipseys, widely dispersed over the face of the -earth, are incredible. They wander about in Asia; in the interior part -of Africa, they plunder the merchants of Agades; {3} and, like locusts, -have overrun most of the countries of Europe. America seems to be the -only part of the world where they are not known; no mention appearing to -be made of them by authors who have written on that quarter of the globe. -It would be superfluous to dilate on the history of those in Asia and -Africa, as we have no minute accounts of them; we shall therefore confine -ourselves to those in Europe. - -There are but few countries, here, which are entirely free from Gipseys; -although, for centuries, every state has been endeavouring to rid itself -of them. Under King Henry VIII, and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, -they suffered a general persecution in England: there are, nevertheless, -great numbers still to be found there. About thirty years ago, they even -threatened to set the town of Northampton on fire, because the -magistrates had arrested some of their young people, whose release they -solicited in vain: several of the ringleaders were hanged: they had in -the mean time shewn plainly, that their race was very far from being -annihilated. It is not uncommon, in the county of Bedford particularly, -to see them lying in byplaces, to the number of forty or fifty together: -but they are cautious how they travel about in companies, and are rarely -seen in towns or villages but by one at a time. - -Spain, especially the southern provinces, contains so many of these -people, that they rove about in large troops, threatening to plunder and -murder travellers whom they happen to meet in lonely places: at a -distance from the cities, and where no place of refuge is near, danger is -always to be apprehended. Swinburne rates their number very high; he -asserts, that the loss of the Gipseys would immediately be perceived by -the apparent diminution of population. Now as Spain contains eleven -millions of people, how considerable a draft must there be to render it -perceptible! Twiss also mentions a great many, but sums up a determinate -number, 40,000; which is certainly considerable, but probably twice -twenty, or even twice forty, thousand too few;—unless we charge -Swinburne, and others, with having greatly exaggerated;—even admitting, -that he means to be understood as speaking of the southern provinces -only. - -In France, before the revolution, there were but few, for the obvious -reason, that every Gipsey who could be apprehended, fell a sacrifice to -the police. Lorrain and Alsatia were indeed exceptions; they being very -numerous there, especially in the forests of Lorrain. Here they seem to -have met with milder treatment; yet, according to the assurances of a -traveller, many of them were to be found in the gaols of Lorrain. They -increased the more in this district, in consequence of their having been -very assiduously looked after, and driven from the dominions of a late -Duke of Deuxponts, whither his successor would not suffer them to return. - -They were universally to be found in Italy, insomuch that even Sicily and -Sardinia were not free. But they were most numerous in the dominions of -the church; probably because _there_ was the worst police, with much -superstition: by the former they were left undisturbed, and the latter -enticed them to deceive the ignorant, as it afforded them an opportunity -of obtaining a plentiful contribution by their fortune-telling, and -enchanted amulets. There was a general law throughout Italy, that no -Gipsey should remain more than two nights in any one place: by this -regulation, it is true, no place retained its guest long; but no sooner -was one gone, than another came in his room: it was a continual circle, -and quite as convenient to them as a perfect toleration would have been. -Italy rather suffered than benefited by this law; as, by keeping these -people in constant motion, they would do more mischief there than in -places where they were permitted to remain stationary. - -They are very scarce in many parts of Germany; as well as in Switzerland -and the Low-countries. A person may live many years in Upper Saxony, or -in the districts of Hanover and Brunswic, without seeing a single Gipsey: -when one happens to stray into a village, or town, he occasions as much -disturbance as if the black gentleman with his cloven foot had appeared; -he frights children from their play, and draws the attention of the older -people; till the police officers get hold of him, and make him again -invisible. In other provinces, on the contrary, particularly on the -Rhine, a Gipsey is a very common sight. Some years ago there were such -numbers of them in the dutchy of Wirtemburg, that they seen lying about -every where: but as, according to custom, they either lived by thieving, -by fortune-telling or other tricks, plundering the illiterate people of -their money, the government ordered detachments of soldiers to drive them -from their holes and lurking-places throughout the country; and then -transported the congregated swarm, in the same manner as they were -treated by the Duke of Deuxponts, as before related. - -In Poland and Lithuania, as well as in Courland, there is an amazing -number of Gipseys. Their wayvode in Courland is distinguished from the -principals of hordes in other countries; being not only very much -respected by his own people, but, even by the Courland nobility, is -esteemed a man of high rank, and is frequently to be met with at -entertainments and card parties in the first families, where he is always -a welcome guest. His dress is uncommonly rich, in comparison with others -of his tribe; generally silk in summer, and constantly velvet in winter. -The common Gipseys, on the contrary, are, in every particular, exactly -like their brethren in other countries: even with regard to religion, -they shew the same levity and indifference;—they suffer their children to -be several times baptised; now they profess themselves to be Catholics, -then Lutherans, and presently after nothing at all. - -That they are to be found in Denmark, and Sweden, is certain, but how -numerous they are in those countries we cannot affirm; and therefore -proceed to the south-east of Europe. - -The countries in this part seem to be the general rendezvous of the -Gipseys: their number amounts in Hungary, according to a probable -statement, to upwards of 50,000; and in the districts of the Banat, -Grisellini assures us, that when Count Clary occupied the situation of -president, they were reckoned at 5500: yet they appear to be still more -numerous in Transylvania. It is not only Mr. Benko, a German writer, who -says they swarm upon the land like locusts, but we have also certain -calculation, wherein their numbers are estimated at between 35 and -36,000. - -Cantemir says, the Gipseys are dispersed all over Moldavia, where every -baron has several families of them subject to him: in Wallachia, and the -Sclavonian countries, they are quite as numerous. In Wallachia and -Moldavia they are divided into two classes—the princely, and bojarish: -the former, according to Sulzer, amounts to many thousands; but that is -trifling, in comparison with the latter, as there is not a single bojar -in Wallachia who has not at least three or four of them for slaves; the -rich have often some hundreds each, under their command. - -Bessarabia, all Tartary, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, swarm with them; -even in Constantinople they are innumerable. In Romania, a large tract -of Mount Hæmus, which they inhabit has acquired from them the name -_Tschenghe Valkan_ (Gipsey Mountain). This district extends from the -city Aydos, quite to Philippopolis, and contains more Gipseys than any -other province in the Turkish empire. - -From what has been advanced, the reader will be enabled to form some -conception, how considerable a class of people the Gipseys are in Europe; -independent of their numbers in Egypt, and some parts of Asia. - -If we could obtain an exact estimate of them in the different countries, -or if the unsettled life of these people did not render it extremely -difficult, perhaps impossible, to procure such information, the immense -number would probably greatly exceed what we have any idea of. At a -moderate calculation, without being extravagant, they might be reckoned -at between 7 and 800,000. What a serious matter of consideration when we -reflect, that the greatest part of these people are idlers, cheats, and -thieves! What a field does this open for the contemplation of -governments!—But more of this in another place. - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -_The Properties of their Bodies_. - -HAD the Gipseys made but a temporary appearance, and we could only be -acquainted with them from the publications of former centuries, it would -be difficult to entertain any other idea than that they were a herd of -monsters and beelzebubs. We find in those books frequent mention of a -_savage people_, _black horrid men_. But now that they have continued to -our time, and we have an opportunity of seeing, with our own eyes, how -they are formed, and what appearance they make, they are so fortunate as -to have authors who commend their beauty, and take great pains to set -forth their advantages; though many, indeed most of the moderns, their -colour and looks being the same, perfectly agree with the writers of past -centuries, in their accounts of them. Both parties may be in the right, -when we consider, that what appears beautiful in the eyes of one person, -is possibly ugly and deformed in the eyes of another: this depends -entirely upon habit and familiarity. For this reason, the dark brown, or -olive coloured, skin of the Gipseys, with their white teeth appearing -between their red lips, may be a disgusting sight to an European, -unaccustomed to such objects. Let us only ask, As children, have we not, -at some time or other, run affrighted from a Gipsey? The case will be -entirely altered, if we divest ourselves of the idea that a black skin is -disagreeable. Their white teeth; their long black hair, on which they -pride themselves very highly, and will not suffer to be cut off; their -lively black rolling eyes;—are, without dispute, properties which must be -ranked among the list of beauties, even by the modern civilised European -world. They are neither overgrown giants, nor diminutive dwarfs: their -limbs are formed in the justest proportion. Large bellies are, among -them, as uncommon as hump-backs, blindness, or other corporeal defects. -When Grisellini asserts that the breasts of the Gipsey women, at the time -of their nursing, increase to a larger size than the child they support, -it is an assertion destitute of proof, and parallel with many other -arguments he adduces to prove the Gipseys are Egyptians. Probably he may -have confounded himself, by thinking of the Hottentots; the circumstance -above mentioned being true of them, though not of the Gipseys. Every -Gipsey is naturally endued with agility, great suppleness in, and the -free use of, his limbs: these qualities are perceptible in his whole -deportment, but in an extraordinary degree whenever he happens to be -surprised in an improper place: in the act of thieving, with a stolen -goose or fowl in his hand, he runs off so nimbly, that, unless his -pursuer be on horseback, the Gipsey is sure to escape. These people are -blessed with an astonishingly good state of health. Neither wet nor dry -weather, heat nor cold, let the extremes follow each other never so -quickly, seems to have any effect on them. Gipseys are fond of a great -degree of heat; their supreme luxury is, to lie day and night so near the -fire, as to be in danger of burning: at the same time they can bear to -travel in the severest cold bareheaded, with no other covering than a -torn shirt, or some old rags carelessly thrown over them, without fear of -catching cold, cough, or any other disorder. - -By endeavouring to discover the causes of these bodily qualities of the -Gipseys, we find them, or at least some of them, very evidently arising -from their education and manner of life. They are lean; but how should -they be corpulent? as they are seldom guilty of excess in eating or -drinking; for if they get a full meal to-day, they must not repine should -they be under the necessity of keeping fast to-morrow and the next day. -They have iron constitutions, because they have been brought up hardily. -The pitiless mother takes her three-months-old child upon her back, and -wanders about in fair or foul weather, in heat or cold, without troubling -her head what may happen to it. When a boy attains the age of three -years, his lot becomes still harder. While an infant, and his age -reckoned by weeks and months, he was at least wrapped up closely in rags; -but now, deprived even of these, he is, equally with his parents, exposed -to the rigour of the elements, for want of covering: he is now put to -trial how far his legs will carry him, and must be content to travel -about, with, at most, no other defence for his feet than thin socks. -Thus he grows up, and acquires his good health by hardship and misery. -We may as easily account for the colour of the Gipsey’s skin. The -Laplanders, Samoieds, as well as the Siberians, likewise, have brown -yellow-coloured skins, in consequence of living, from their childhood, in -smoke and dirt, in the same manner as the Gipseys: these would, long ago, -have been divested of their swarthy complexions, if they had discontinued -their filthy mode of living. Only observe a Gipsey from his birth, till -he reaches man’s estate; and you must be convinced that their colour is -not so much owing to their descent, as to the nastiness of their bodies. -In summer, the child is exposed to the scorching sun; in winter, it is -shut up in a smoky hut. It is not uncommon for mothers to smear their -children over with a black ointment, and leave them to fry in the sun or -near the fire. They seldom trouble themselves about washing, or other -modes of cleaning themselves. Experience also shews us, that the dark -colour of the Gipseys, which is continued from generation to generation, -is more the effect of education, and manner of life, than descent. Among -those who profess music in Hungary, or serve in the Imperial army, where -they have learnt to pay more attention to order and cleanliness, there -are many to be found whose extraction is not at all discernible in their -colour; though they had, probably, remained to the age of twelve or -fourteen years under the care of their filthy parents; and must -necessarily, when they first adopted a different mode of life, have borne -the marks of the dirt contracted during this period. How much less, -then, should we be able to distinguish a Gipsey if taken when a child -from its sluttish mother, and brought up under some cleanly person! By -the same reasoning we may account for their white teeth and sound limbs; -namely, from their manner of life. The former are evidences of their -spare diet: the latter prove them to have been reared more according to -the dictates of nature, than those of art and tenderness. - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -_On their Food and Beverage_. - -THOSE Gipseys who are more connected with civilised people are not -remarkable in their diet; though it is to be observed of them, that they -are by no means particular in their cookery. The others, on the -contrary, have their table furnished in a very irregular and -extraordinary way. Sometimes they fast, or at best have only bread and -water to subsist upon: at other times they regale on fowls and geese. -The greatest luxury to them is, when they can procure a roast of cattle -that have died of any distemper. It is the same to them, whether it be -the carrion of a sheep, hog, cow, or other beast, horse-flesh only -excepted: they are so far from being disgusted with it, that to eat their -fill of such a meal is to them the height of epicurism. When any person -censures their taste, or shews surprise at it, they answer, “The flesh of -a beast which God kills, must be better than that of one killed by the -hand of man:” they therefore embrace every opportunity of getting such -dainties. That they take carrion from the laystalls, as is affirmed of -the Gipseys in Hungary, is not probable, any more than that they eat -horse flesh. But if a beast out of a herd die, and they find it before -it become rotten and putrefied; or if a farmer give them notice of a cow -dead in the stable; they proceed, without hesitation, to get possession -of the booty. They are particularly fond of animals that have been -destroyed by fire; therefore, whenever a conflagration has happened, -either in town or country, the next day the Gipseys, from every -neighbouring quarter, assemble, and draw the suffocated, half consumed, -beasts out of the ashes. Men, women, and children, in troops, are -extremely busy, joyfully carrying the flesh home to their dwellings: they -return several times, provide themselves plentifully with this roast -meat, and gluttonise in their huts as long as their noble fare lasts. -Their manner of dressing this delicious food is curious:—they boil or -roast what is intended for the first day; if they have more than they can -devour at once, the remainder is either dried in the sun, or smoked in -their huts, and eaten without any further preparation. - -Something might here be introduced concerning their relish for human -flesh, and the instances which some years ago happened in Hungary might -be adduced as proofs, {16} were it not likely to be objected, that these -examples are at variance with common experience, as well as with the old -accounts handed down to us concerning these people. We shall, therefore, -not insist on this accusation: but entirely give up the point of Gipseys -being men-eaters, except just hinting, that it would be expedient for -governments to be watchful. But the instances in Hungary do not appear, -by any means, so casual and uncommon as people may imagine.—What, -according to the strictest examination, has been done, not by _one_, but -_many_; not by _ten_, but even _two hundred_, and perhaps by _thousands_; -not _yesterday_ and _to-day_, but _many years back_; finally, not _by the -whole body together_, but _single parties by themselves_, _in different -places_: Shall these things be deemed only casual excesses? Should it be -asserted, in addition to this, that eating human flesh is in practice and -allowed, in the country whence they originate; we might with greater -probability mention this shocking fact, of feeding on human flesh, as a -prevailing custom among the Gipseys. This circumstance is expressly -mentioned in histories: which assure us, that among the particular class -of people from whom the Gipseys sprung, it is a long-established custom -for the nearest relations and friends to kill and eat each other. It is -unnecessary to bring proof of it in this place, as it belongs to the -second section: let it suffice just to have hinted the matter, in order -that it may be known towards what people we are to look for the origin of -the Gipseys. As to the objection, that among all the crimes with which -they have been charged, in the older writings, _eating human flesh_ is -not positively alledged against them, it may be obviated by more than one -answer. In the first place, let it be observed, history relates, and the -event in Hungary confirms, that they murder one another; further, -consider their wandering mode of life; lastly, that they generally abide -in byplaces: and all may be easily accounted for. A hundred fathers may -sacrifice their children to their voluptuousness, and the crime still -remain concealed. The absent person is not missed; as nobody watches -over a family continually in motion, and every-where a stranger. Just as -unlikely is it, that information should be given to government. There is -no reason to suppose any of their own people would think it their duty to -inform; as, not being contrary to their usual practice, they do not -esteem it wrong. It is very possible for them to have destroyed many -other people, without the circumstances being recorded in the courts of -justice, or noticed in the annual publications. Who ever thought to -enquire of them after any traveller that, far distant from his own -country, might have fallen into their hands and been cut off? Or how are -the remains of the poor victim to be traced, if they devour what is -eatable, and burn the bones? {19} - -Those Hungarian wretches have, according to their own account, for twelve -years gratified their horrid cravings, undiscovered by the magistrates, -in a country where the police is by no means bad: perhaps they might have -continued unsuspected for ever, had they not laid their unlucky hands on -the people of the country, thereby bringing on a strict enquiry, and -rendering the discovery more easy. Nor do the older writings seem to be -entirely silent on this head; at least there is an appearance of -something of the kind in them. Many authors mention the Gipseys stealing -people, and accuse them particularly of lying in wait for young children. -Others again deny this, saying, that the Gipseys have brats enough of -their own, and therefore have not the least reason to covet strange -children. How does the matter look, if we suppose they did not want to -rear these children, but to sacrifice them to their inordinate -appetite?—and the Hungarian intelligence expressly says, they were -particularly fond of young subjects. What renders the truth of this -accusation in the old writings suspicious, is, that before even a single -Gipsey had set his foot in Europe, the Jews lay under the same -imputation. Perhaps in this, as in many other instances, the calumny -invented against the Jews might be afterwards transferred to the Gipseys. -This alone considered, the imputation of kidnapping children might become -doubtful; but then occurs the weighty circumstance, that it has been -judicially proved in England; and, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, an -act of parliament was passed on the occasion. Enough of this; let people -reason upon the cannibal appetite of the Gipseys as they please, there -will always remain ground for suspicion. - -After having shewn how little delicate they are in satisfying their -appetites, we should scarcely expect to find them squeamish with regard -to articles of diet that are highly esteemed among civilised people. But -Griselini gives a long catalogue of things which, he says, are -disagreeable to a Gipsey’s palate; among which, he particularly mentions -beans and onions, red bream, pearch, lampreys, with every kind of -wild-fowl. Whereas the fact is, Gipseys not only eat beans and onions, -but are very fond of them; and as for the red bream, pearch and lampreys, -pheasants, partridges, &c. their only reason for abstaining from them is, -the difficulty of procuring them: in which they are not singular; many -other people being in the same predicament. - -The Gipseys are not much accustomed to baking of bread; that is an -article which they usually buy, beg or steal, or go entirely without. If -by chance they do bake, the business is performed quite in the eastern -method:—a wood fire is made on the ground, which soon becomes embers; in -the mean time the mother kneads her dough, forms it into small cakes, -lays them on the hot ashes, and thus they are baked. - -To eat with a knife and fork, is no part of a Gipsey’s politeness; nor is -a table or plate thought necessary: even a dish is frequently dispensed -with. The whole kitchen and table apparatus consists of an earthen pot, -an iron pan (which is also used as a dish), a knife, and a spoon. When -the meal is ready, all the family sit around the pot or pan, the boiled -or roast is divided into pieces, on which they fall-to; their teeth and -fingers serving them for knives and forks, as does the ground for table -and plates. - -The common beverage of the Gipseys is water; now and then beer, when it -costs them nothing. Wine is too expensive, nor is it particularly -grateful to them. The case is very different when brandy comes in -question, of which they are immoderately fond. They feel great pleasure -in intoxicating themselves; which being easiest and soonest effected with -brandy, it is in their esteem the only liquor worth purchasing: all they -can earn goes that way: and whenever by chance they become possessed of a -penny, it is expended at the first house where brandy is to be met with. -Every christening, wedding, or other occasion of rejoicing, is solemnised -with brandy: if they have plenty of it, they, as it were, drive the world -before them; each trying, by screaming or holloing, to express his -felicity and consummate happiness. - -But, however great the thirst the Gipseys have for brandy, it is even -exceeded by their immoderate love of tobacco. This is not, as might be -supposed, peculiar to the men; for the women sometimes exceed them in it: -and they not only smoke it, but chew and swallow the very leaves and -stalks, with great avidity. That it may sooner reach its place of -destination, and stimulate the gums and tongue more forcibly, they use a -pipe not longer than ones finger: this pipe is made of wood, for -economical reasons—as it absorbs the moisture, and thereby becomes a very -great Gipsey delicacy; for having smoked it as long as they choose, they -gnaw it with astonishing greediness, till not a splinter remains. It is -immaterial, whether the pipe be smoked by the person himself or another, -to bring it to the proper degree of perfection: he accepts it, as a -valuable present, from any body; and is so chary of it, that it -frequently lasts him many days. The Gipsey will abstain from food for -more than a day, when he can procure a leaf of tobacco, or a piece of his -pungent pipe, which he chews, drinks a little water, and is happy. This -surely exceeds every thing that has been related of the most famous -smoker! - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -_On the Dress of the Gipseys_. - -IT cannot be expected that the description of the dress of a set of -people whose whole economy belongs to the class of beggars, should -exhibit any thing but poverty and want. The first of them that came to -Europe appeared ragged and miserable—unless we perhaps allow their -leaders to have been an exception;—in like manner their descendants have -continued for hundreds of years, and still remain. This is particularly -remarkable in the countries about the mouth of the Danube, which abound -with Gipseys; namely, Transylvania, Hungary, and Turkey in Europe, where -they dress even more negligently than in other parts. - -The Gipseys consider a covering for the head as perfectly useless: the -wind will not easily blow his hat off, who never wears any thing of the -kind, excepting when he has a mind to make a figure, and even then a -rough cap usually supplies its place. During the winter, if the female -Gipseys do not knit socks, which those in Moldavia and Wallachia do, with -wooden needles, he winds a couple of rags round his feet, which in summer -are laid aside as unnecessary. He is not better furnished with linen, as -the women neither spin, sew, nor wash. For want of change, what he once -puts on his body, remains till it falls off of itself. His whole dress -often consists of only a pair of breeches and a torn shirt. - -We are not to suppose, from what is said above, that the Gipseys are -indifferent about dress; on the contrary, they love fine clothes to an -extravagant degree: the want proceeds from necessity, which is become -with them a second nature, forgetting that labour and care are the means -to procure clothes, as well as nourishment. Whenever an opportunity -offers of acquiring a good coat, either by gift, purchase, or theft, the -Gipsey immediately bestirs himself to become master of it: possessed of -the prize, he puts it on directly, without considering in the least, -whether it suits the rest of his apparel. If his dirty shirt had holes -in it as big as a barn door, or his breeches were so out of condition -that one might perceive their antiquity at the first glance; were he -unprovided with shoes, stockings, or a covering for the head; neither of -these defects would prevent his strutting about in a laced coat, feeling -himself of still greater consequence in case it happened to be a red one. -Martin Kelpius therefore says, that the Gipseys in Transylvania spend all -their earnings in alehouses and in clothes. It would excite laughter in -the sternest philosopher, to see a Gipsey parading about, with a beaver -hat, a silk or red cloth coat, at the same time his breeches torn, and -his shoes or boots, if perchance he have either, covered with patches. - -Benko, also, assures us, that this kind of state is common in -Transylvania; and adds, the Gipseys are particularly fond of clothes made -after the Hungarian fashion, or which had been worn by people of -distinction. The habits and properties of the Gipseys in Hungary are -precisely the same. The following passage, which appeared in the -Imperial Gazettes, is very much to the purpose: “Notwithstanding these -people are so wretched, that they have nothing but rags to cover them, -which do not at all fit, and are scarcely sufficient to hide their -nakedness, yet they betray their foolish taste and vain ostentation -whenever they have an opportunity.” - -In Transylvania, some of them wear the Wallachian dress; but in Hungary -they are so attached to the habits of the country, that a Gipsey had -rather go half naked, or wrap himself up in a sack, than he would -condescend to wear a foreign garb, even though a very good one were given -to him. Green is a favourite colour with the Gipseys; but scarlet is -held in so great esteem by them, that a man cannot appear abroad in a red -habit, though worn out, without being surrounded by a crowd old and -young, who, in the open street, are solicitous to purchase of him, be it -coat, pellisse, or breeches. Unless severely pinched by the cold, or in -case of the greatest necessity, they will not deign to put on a boor’s -coat: they rather choose to buy for their own use cast-off clothes; and -if they happen to be ornamented with lace or loops, they strut about in -such dresses, as proudly as if they were not merely lords of the -district, but of the whole creation. Thus all the money they can spare, -is expended in obtaining a sort of clothes not at all becoming their -station, and which answer no other purpose, but to betray their weak -silly notions, and expose them to the ridicule of the more sensible part -of mankind. They do not pay the least regard to symmetry, nor care what -reasonable people think of their dress: provided they can only get -something shining to put on, that will catch the eye, they give -themselves no concern if the rest of their clothing be very bad, or -though they be nearly in a state of nudity. It is no uncommon spectacle -to see a Gipsey parading the streets in an embroidered pellisse, or laced -coat decorated with silver buttons, with a dirty ragged shirt, -barefooted, and without a hat; or with a pair of embroidered scarlet -breeches on, and perhaps no other covering but half a shirt. - -Nothing pleases Hungarian Gipseys more than a pair of yellow -(_tschischmen_) boots, and spurs: no sooner do the latter glitter on his -feet, but he bridles up, and marches consequentially about, often eying -his fine boots, at the same time totally regardless of his breeches, -which may have lost a portion before or behind, or be in some other -respects quite shabby. - -The usual dress of the women is no better than that of the men; indeed -they have generally been thought rather to go beyond them in filth and -nastiness. Their appearance is truly disgusting to any civilised person: -their whole covering consists of, either a piece of linen thrown over the -head and wound round the thighs, or an old shift hung over them, through -which their smoky hides appear in numberless places. Sometimes, in -winter, they wrap themselves in a piece of woollen stuff like a cloak. -Occasionally, their dress partakes of the other sex; as they do not -hesitate to wear breeches, or other male habilament. They use the same -covering for the feet as the men;—either a pair of coarse socks, knit -with wooden needles, which is commonly done in Moldavia and Wallachia; or -they sew them up in rags, which remain on till the stuff perishes and -falls off, or till spring arrives, at which season both men and women go -barefooted. {29} - -The women are as fond of dress as the men, and equally ridiculous in -their choice of it; they are often seen in a _dress cap_, while their -rotten linen jacket scarcely serves to cover their nakedness. In Spain, -they plaster their temples with great patches of black silk; and hang all -sorts of trumpery in their ears, besides a number of baubles about the -neck. - -The Gipseys were at very little trouble respecting the dress of their -children; these ran about naked, in the true Calmuc style, till ten years -of age, when the boys got breeches, and the girls aprons. But this -nuisance is at an end in the Imperial dominions, both in Germany and -Hungary, where an order to suppress it was issued out by the emperor -Joseph. - -Before we dismiss the subject of dress, we may mention a laudable custom -established among the Gipseys, in order to save their clothes when they -have quarreled, and mean to fight. Before they proceed to action, a -truce takes place for a minute or two, to give the combatants time to -strip to their shirts, that their apparel may not suffer in the fray: -then the storm breaks loose, and each lays on the other as hard as he -can. The custom has this use in it, that whenever any body appears in a -ragged coat, he may affirm, on his honour, that it was not rendered so in -a Gipsey brawl. - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -_On the Family Economy of the Gipseys_. - -THAT these people are still the rude unpolished creatures that nature -formed them, or, at most, have only advanced one degree towards humanity, -is evinced, with other circumstances, by their family economy. - -Many of the Gipseys are stationary, having regular habitations, according -to their situation in life. To this class belong those who keep -public-houses in Spain; and others in Transylvania and Hungary, who -follow some regular business; which latter have their own miserable huts -near Hermanstadt, Cronstadt, Bistritz, Grosswaradein, Debrezin, Eperies, -Karchau, and other places. There are also many slaves, to particular -bojars, in Moldavia and Wallachia, who do not wander any more than the -others. But by far the greatest number of these people lead a very -different kind of life: ignorant of the comforts attending a fixed place -of residence, they rove from one district to another in hordes, having no -habitations but tents, holes in the rocks, or caves; the former shade -them in summer, the latter screen them in winter. Many of these savage -people, particularly in Germany and Spain, do not even carry tents with -them, but shelter themselves, from the heat of the sun, in forests shaded -by the rocks, or behind hedges: they are very partial to willows, under -which they erect their sleeping place, at the close of the evening. Some -live in their tents (in their language called _tschater_) during both -summer and winter; which indeed the Gipseys generally prefer. In -Hungary, even those who have discontinued their rambling way of life, and -built houses for themselves, seldom let a spring pass, without taking -advantage of the first settled weather, to set up a tent for their summer -residence; under this each one enjoys himself, with his family, nor -thinks of his house till the winter returns, and the frost and snow drive -him back to it again. - -The wandering Gipsey, in Hungary and Transylvania, endeavours to procure -a horse; in Turkey, an ass serves to carry his wife, a couple of -children, with his tent. When he arrives at a place he likes, near a -village or city, he unpacks, pitches his tent, ties his animal to a stake -to graze, and remains some weeks there: or if he do not find his station -convenient, he breaks up in a day or two, loads his beast, and looks out -for a more agreeable situation, near some other town. Indeed, it is not -always in his power to determine how long he will remain in the same -place; for the boors are apt to trouble him, on account of fowls and -geese he has made free with: it sometimes happens, when he is very much -at his ease, they sally out with bludgeons or hedge-stakes, making use of -such forcible arguments, that he does not hesitate a moment to set up his -staff a little farther off: though, in general, the Gipseys are cunning -enough, when they have purloined any thing, or done mischief, to make off -in time before the villagers begin to suspect them. - -For their winter huts, they dig holes in the ground, ten or twelve feet -deep; the roof is composed of rafters laid across, which are covered with -straw and sods: the stable, for the beast which carried the tent in -summer, is a shed built at the entrance of the hollow, and closed up with -dung and straw. This shed, and a little opening rising above the roof of -their subterranean residence, to let out the smoke, are the only marks by -which a traveller can distinguish their dwellings. Both in summer and -winter, they contrive to have their habitation in the neighbourhood of -some village, or city. Their favourite mode of building is against a -hillock: the holes in the level ground being only used in cases of -necessity, when there is no rising ground near the spot they have chosen -to pass the winter on. A Hungarian writer thus describes their method of -constructing the second sort of huts: “They first dig a hollow, about a -fathom broad, far enough into the hillock to bring their floor on a level -with the rest of the plain, in order to form a firm upright wall, for the -back of the building. Into the wall they fix a beam, about six feet -from, and parallel to, the floor; this beam reaches as far as the -intended depth of the house, seldom exceeding seven or eight feet. One -end being fast in the wall, the other rests on, and is fixed to, a pillar -or post driven into the ground. When that is done, they lay boards, -balks, or such other wood as they can find, against it on each side, in -form of a pointed roof, which, viewed from a distance, exhibits a front -in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The business is finished by -covering the whole building with straw, sods, and earth, to secure its -inhabitants from the rain, snow, and cold. They always contrive, when -they can, to place their edifice so as to front either the rising or -mid-day sun; this being the side where the opening is left for a door to -go in and out at, which is closed at night, either with a coarse woollen -cloth or a few boards.” - -Imagination will easily conceive how dismal and horrid the inside of such -Gipsey huts must be to civilised humanity. Air and daylight excluded, -very damp, and full of filth, they have more the appearance of wild -beasts’ dens, that of the habitations of intelligent beings. Rooms or -separate apartments are not even thought of; all is one open space: in -the middle is the fire, serving both for the purpose of cooking and -warmth; the father and mother lie half naked, the children entirely so, -round it. Chairs, tables, beds or bedsteads, find no place here; they -sit, eat, sleep, on the bare ground, or at most spread an old blanket, -or, in the Banat, a sheep-skin, under them. Every fine day the door is -set open for the sun to shine in, which they continue watching so long as -it is above the horizon; when the day closes, they shut their door and -consign themselves over to rest. When the weather is cold, or the snow -prevents them opening the door, they make up the fire, and sit round it -till they fall asleep, without any more light than it affords. - -The furniture and property of the Gipseys have been already described; -they consist of an earthen pot, an iron pan, a spoon, a jug, and a knife; -when it happens that every thing is complete, they sometimes add a dish: -these serve for the whole family. When the master of the house is a -smith by trade, as will be hereafter mentioned, he has a pair of bellows -to blow up his fire, a small stone anvil, a pair of tongs, and perhaps a -couple of hammers; add to these a few old tatters in which he dresses -himself, his knapsack, some pieces of torn bed-clothes, his tent, with -his antiquated jade, and you have a complete catalogue of a nomadic -Gipsey’s estate. - -Very little can be said respecting the domestic employment of the women. -The care of their children is the most trifling concern: they neither -wash, mend their clothes, nor clean their utensils: they seldom bake: the -whole of their business, then, is reduced to—dressing their food and -eating it, smoking tobacco, prating, and sleeping. They continue during -the whole winter in their hut; but at the first croaking of the frogs, -they pull down their house, and decamp. - -Such is the condition of the Gipseys who wander about in Hungary, Turkey, -and other countries; being no-where, or rather every-where, at home. The -remainder of these people who have reconciled themselves to a settled -mode of living, are in much better circumstances, and infinitely more -rational, than those just described. It will be expected, that those -Spanish Gipseys who are innkeepers, and entertain strangers, are more -civilised; and it also holds good with regard to those in Hungary and -Transylvania who have different ways of gaining a livelihood. Their -habitations are conveniently divided into chambers; and are furnished -with tables, benches, decent kitchen furniture, and other necessaries. -The few who farm, or breed cattle, have a plough and other implements of -husbandry; the others, what is necessary for carrying on their trade; -though even here you are not to expect superfluity: habitations, clothes, -every thing, indicate that their owners belong to the class of poor. -They are very partial to gold and silver plate, particularly silver cups; -which is a disposition they have in common with the wandering Gipseys: -they let slip no opportunity of acquiring something of the kind; and will -even starve themselves to procure it. Though they seem little anxious to -heap up riches for their children, yet these frequently inherit a -treasure of this sort, and are obliged in their turn to preserve it as a -sacred inheritance. The ordinary, travelling Gipseys when in possession -of such a piece of plate, commonly bury it under the hearth of their -dwelling, in order to secure it. This inclination to deprive themselves -of necessaries, that they may possess a superfluity, as well as many -other of their customs, is curious, yet appears to be ancient; and it was -probably inherent in them when they were first seen by Europeans. - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -_Their Occupations and Trades_. - -ON considering the means to which the Gipseys have recourse to maintain -themselves, we shall perceive the reason why poverty and want are so -generally their lot; namely, their excessive indolence, and aversion from -industry. They abhor every kind of employment which is laborious or -requires application; and had rather suffer even hunger and nakedness, -than obviate these privations on such hard terms. They therefore either -choose some profession which requires little exertion, allowing them many -idle hours; or addict themselves to unlawful courses, and vicious habits. - -Working in iron, is the most usual occupation of the Gipseys. In Spain, -very few follow any regular business; but among these few, some are -smiths: on the contrary, in Hungary this profession is so common among -them, that there is a proverb—‘So many Gipseys, so many smiths:’ the same -might be said of those in Transylvania, Wallachia, Moldavia, and all -Turkey in Europe; at least such workers in fire are very numerous in all -those countries. This occupation seems to have been a favourite with -them from the most distant periods, as appears not only by Bellonius’s -account, but by an older record, of an Hungarian king Uladislaus, in the -year 1496, mentioned by the Abbé Pray, in his Annals, and Friedwaldsky, -in his Mineralogy, wherein it is ordered, _that every officer and -subject_, _of whatever rank or condition_, _do allow to Thomas Polgar_, -_leader of twenty-five tents of wandering Gipseys_, _free residence -everywhere_, _and on no account to molest either him or his people_; -_because they had prepared musket bullets_, _and other military stores_, -_for the Bishop Sigismund_, _at Fünfkirchen_. Another instance occurred -in the year 1565, when Mustapha, Turkish regent of Bosnia, besieged -Crupa; the Turks having expended their powder and cannon balls, Gipseys -were employed to make the latter, part of iron, the rest of stone cased -with lead. - -The Gipseys of our time are not willing to undertake heavy work; they -seldom go beyond a pair of light horse-shoes: in general, they confine -themselves to small articles, such as rings, jews-harps, and small nails: -they mend old pots and kettles, make knives, seals, needles, and -sometimes work trifles in tin or brass. - -Their materials, tools, apparatus, all are bad, and of the most inferior -kind. Their common method of proceeding is, to collect some pieces of -rusty iron, old nails, broken horse-shoes, and such-like, which they fuse -and shape to their purpose. The anvil is a stone; the other implements -are, a pair of hand-bellows, a pair of pincers, a hammer, a vice, and a -file: these are the tools which a nomadic Gipsey carries with him in his -perambulations. Whenever he is disposed to work, he is at no loss for -fuel: on his arrival at a station where he purposes remaining a few days, -or perhaps weeks, he takes his beast, loads him with wood, builds a small -kiln, and prepares his own coals. In favourable weather, his work is -carried on in the open air; when it is stormy, or the sun too powerful, -he retires under his tent. He does not stand, but sits down on the -ground, cross-legged, to his work; which position is rendered necessary, -not only by custom, but by the quality of his tools. The wife sits by to -work the bellows, in which operation she is sometimes relieved by the -elder children; the little ones sit, naked as they were born, round the -fire. The Gipseys are generally praised for their dexterity and -quickness, notwithstanding the wretched tools they have to operate with. -When any piece of work requires much time to finish, they are apt to lose -their patience, and in that case become indifferent whether it be well -executed or not. They never submit to labour so long as they have got a -dry crust, or any thing else to satisfy their hunger. They frequently -receive orders to fabricate different articles; but if not, no sooner are -a few nails, or some other trifles, manufactured, than man, woman, and -children, dislodge, to convey their merchandise, from house to house, for -sale, in the neighbouring villages: their traffick is carried on -sometimes for ready money, sometimes by barter for eatables or other -necessaries. - -Another branch of commerce much followed by the Gipseys is horse dealing, -to which they seem to have been attached from the earliest period of -their history. In those parts of Hungary where the climate is so mild -that horses may lie out all the year, the Gipseys avail themselves of -this circumstance to breed, as well as deal in, those animals; by which -they sometimes not only procure a competence, but grow rich. Instances -have been known on the Continent of Gipseys keeping from fifty to seventy -horses each, and those the best bred horses of the country; some of which -they let out for hire, others they sold or exchanged, as occasion -offered. But this description of Gipsey horse-dealers is not very -numerous; for the greatest number of them deal only in blind worn-out -jades, which they drive about to different markets, to sell or barter. -When the dealer is not fortunate enough to find a chap for his nag, he -leads him to the collar-maker, who values the hide, and takes him off his -hands for a few groschens. In order to prevent being reduced to this -necessity, the slyest tricks are practised to conceal the animal’s -defects. In Spain, therefore, _Gitano_ and _Gitaneria_ (Gipsey and -Gipseyism) are become familiar expressions to imply a cheater in horses, -with the deceptions he makes use of. In the year 1727 they had become so -infamous in Sweden, that the subject was thought of sufficient -consequence for the consideration of the diet, and their total expulsion -was voted to be a necessary measure. The following trick is frequently -played in Hungary, and the adjacent country, to make a horse appear brisk -and active:—the rider alights at a small distance from the place where he -means to offer his horse for sale, and belabours him till he has put the -whole muscular system in motion with fright; he then mounts again, and -proceeds. The poor beast remembering the blows he has received, jumps -about, or sets out full speed, at the least signal; the buyer, entirely -ignorant of the preparatory discipline the animal has undergone, supposes -this to be natural vivacity, and in hopes that good feeding, with care, -will render him still more lively, strikes a bargain: but the next day he -has the mortification to discover that he has bought a jade, on which all -his care will be thrown away, as the beast has not a leg to stand upon. -In Suabia, and on the Rhine, they have another device:—they make an -incision in some hidden part of the skin, through which they blow the -creature up, till he looks fleshy and plump; they then apply a strong -sticking-plaster, to prevent the air from returning. If what Wolfgang -Franz assures us be true, they sometimes make use of a trick with a live -eel, to this blown-up horse, that he may not only appear in good -condition, but spirited and lively. It might be thought, that, on -account of these and such-like roguish proceedings, nobody would ever -venture to deal with a Gipsey for a horse, were not the possibility -proved by the fact itself. But we see instances of this infatuation in -other transactions: it is well known that every Jew will cheat, whenever -he has an opportunity; yet these people have lived by trade, ever since -their dispersion from Babel. Then, these frauds do not always happen: -the Gipseys too sell their horses cheap; and as poor people cannot afford -to pay dear for them, they must buy where they can; and thus the Gipseys -are enabled to continue their traffick. - -To the two professions before mentioned as commonly followed by the men, -may be added, those of carpenters and turners: the former make -watering-troughs and chests; the latter turn trenchers, dishes, make -spoons and other trifling articles, which they hawk about. There are -others who make sieves, or maintain themselves by cobbling shoes. Many -of these, as well as the blacksmiths and whitesmiths, find constant -employment in the houses of the better sort of people, for whom they work -the year round. They are not paid in money; but, beside other -advantages, find a certain subsistence. Those who are not thus -circumstanced, do not wait at home for customers, but, with their -implements in a sack thrown over their shoulders, seek business in the -cities or villages: when any one calls, they throw down the bundle, and -prepare the apparatus for work, before the door of their employer. - -The Gipseys have a fixed dislike to agriculture; and had rather suffer -hunger, or any privation, than follow the plough, to earn a decent -livelihood. But, as there is no general rule without an exception, so, -beside the slaves to the bojars in Moldavia and Wallachia, who are -constrained to apply to it, there are some in Hungary who are cultivators -by choice. Since the year 1768, the Empress Theresa has commanded that -the Hungarian and Transylvanian Gipseys should be instructed in -husbandry; but these orders have been very little regarded. At this time -there are so few of them farmers, in those parts, that they are -undeserving of notice; though in Spain, and other European countries, -they are still more scarce, as it would be difficult to find one who had -ever made a furrow in his life. - -Formerly, Gipseys were commonly employed in Hungary, and in Transylvania -almost universally, for hangmen and executioners. They still perform the -business of flayers in Hungary, and of executioners in different parts of -Transylvania. Their assiduity in torturing, their cruel invention in -tormenting, are described by Toppeltin to be so shocking, that the -Gipseys seem eminently calculated for works of barbarity. They do not -follow flaying as a regular profession any-where; it is merely a casual -occupation, in addition to their usual employment. Whenever a beast dies -near where they happen to be, it is a fortunate circumstance if there be -no skinner in the place; not because they can make much of the skin, -which they always leave with the owner for a trifling consideration, but -they are thus enabled to procure a plentiful provision of flesh for the -family. - -Such are the employments of the men. We shall now proceed to shew the -particular methods the women have of obtaining support. It was formerly, -and still is, the custom, among the wandering Gipseys, especially in -winter, not for the man to maintain the wife, but the wife the husband. -This is not precisely the fact in summer, when the men have the -before-recited occupations; nor among those who have a regular -settlement; but the women always endeavour to contribute their share -towards the maintenance of the family: some deal in old clothes; others -frequent brothels, which is commonly the case in Spain, and still more so -in Constantinople, and all over Turkey. There are others, in -Constantinople, who make and sell brooms; but this trade is followed by -those chiefly who are too old to get a livelihood by their debauchery. -Dancing is another means they have of obtaining contributions: they -generally practise this when begging, particularly of men, in the -streets; or when they enter houses, to ask charity. Their dancing is the -most disgusting that can be conceived, always ending with fulsome -grimaces, or the most lascivious attitudes and gestures: nor is this -indecency confined to the married women, but is rather more practised by -young girls, travelling with their fathers, who are also musicians, and -who, for a trifling acknowledgement, will exhibit their dexterity to any -body who is pleased with these unseemly dances. They are trained up to -this impudence from their earliest years, never suffering a passenger to -pass their parents’ hut, without endeavouring to obtain something by -frisking about naked before him. - -Respecting fortune telling, with which the female Gipseys impose on -people’s credulity, in every district and corner of Europe, little need -be said. Yet it is extraordinary, that _women_, generally too not till -they become old, should be so sharpsighted as to discover, in every -person’s hand they are permitted to inspect, the events of futurity! -There are some instances of men being thus gifted; but so few, that they -are only exceptions to a general rule. It is, therefore, to be ascribed -to the Gipsey women alone, that faith in divination still exists in the -minds of millions of people. It is true, Europe was not originally -beholden to the Gipseys for this faith, it being deeply rooted in the -ignorance of the middle age, when they arrived and brought it with them -also. The science of divination here, was already brought to a much -greater degree of perfection than among them: rules were invented to tell -lies from the inspection of the hand; whereas these poor wretches were -esteemed mere bunglers. During the seventeenth and beginning of the -eighteenth century the Gipseys were considered as only a supernumerary -party; there being men of great learning, who not only read lectures in -college on the divine art of chiromancy, but wrote many books, vilifying -these people, and endeavouring to spoil their market by exposing their -ignorance. But those enlightened men are no more; their knowledge is -deposited in the dead archives of literature: and probably, if there were -no Gipseys, with them would also have died the belief in chiromancy, as -has happened in regard to astrology, necromancy, oneirocritica, and the -other offsprings of imbecile fancy. By the Gipseys alone will this -deceit be kept alive, till every Gipsey is constrained to acknowledge -some country, and to have some ostensible mode of gaining a livelihood. -We can only pity the poor weak deluded beings, who pay their groschen or -kreutzer, their shilling or sixpence, for a few unmeaning words!—as if it -were possible for people to instruct us concerning our future fortune in -life, who are ignorant of their own; being unable to determine whether a -day or two hence, they may still be telling fortunes, or be taken before -the magistrates, and hanged for theft. - -In addition to the chiromantic deception of the Gipsey women, they -also—though not exclusively, as the men likewise often profess the same -talent—cure bewitched cattle, discover thefts, and possess nostrums of -various kinds, to which they ascribe great virtues. These nostrums -consist principally of roots, and amulets made of unfermented dough, -marked with strange figures, and dried in the air. Griselini says, that, -in the Banat of Temeswar, they sell certain small stones, chiefly a kind -of scoriæ, which they say possess the quality of rendering the wearer -fortunate in love, play, &c. Were that true, why deliver to others what -they have so much occasion for themselves? Why do they beg and steal, -when, with the assistance of these stones, they might honourably acquire -riches, and good fortune? Yet these stones are purchased with avidity, -not only in the Banat, but in Germany. People use their quack medicines; -call the Gipsey woman into the stable, to exorcise their bewitched -cattle, without suspecting any trick or deception. So the open-hearted -farmer, in Suabia and Bavaria, has recourse to the Gipseys on many -occasions, employing them as doctors for man and beast; and constantly, -in cases of supposed enchantment, flies to the Gipsey: this circumstance -happens most frequently among those of the common people who pretend to -have the least belief in witches and witchcraft. Whenever a cow does not -feed kindly, something is immediately suspected; and the Gipsey woman is -called, who is often so successful as to remove the impediment. She goes -into the stable, orders the cow to be shewn to her, and, after desiring -every one else to go out, remains a few minutes alone with it: having -finished her operations, she calls in the master, acquaints him with the -beast’s recovery, and behold it eats heartily! How happens this? Was it -not a piece of enchantment, wherein the Gipsey really acted the magician? -Certainly not. The fraud is this:—When the cattle are feeding abroad, -the Gipsey woman takes advantage of the keepers absence to entice some of -them, with a handful of fodder, to follow her; she then smears them, over -the nose and mouth, with some filthy composition, which she has ready in -the other hand. From that moment the creature loaths all kinds of food -and drink. When the Gipsey is called in to apply a remedy, the whole -skill required, is to cleanse the animal’s nose and mouth from the stuff -she had put on a day or two before: by this means the true smell is -restored, and the cow being hungry, it is not surprising she should -fall-to greedily. From this single instance, a judgment may be formed of -other cases. - -The more common Gipsey occupations, wherein the men and women take an -equal share, are—in Spain, keeping inns; principally music in Hungary and -Turkey; and gold-washing in Transylvania, the Banat, Moldavia, and -Wallachia. The Gipseys, formerly, were concerned in smuggling; and -probably still are, although it is not mentioned by late writers. - -Both male and female Gipseys attend at entertainments with their music, -and often shew great proficiency in the art: besides some wind -instrument, they have generally a violin; and many of them have attained -so great perfection on that instrument, as to be employed in the chapels -of the nobility, and admired as great masters. _Barna Mihaly_, in the -country of Zips, who distinguished himself, about the middle of the last -century, in the chapel of the cardinal Count _Emerick von Cschaky_, was -an Orpheus of this kind. The cardinal, who was a judge of music himself, -had so great a regard for him, that he had his likeness taken by one of -the most capital painters. Instances of the kind are not wanting in the -other sex: it is well known that a Gipsey girl, at fourteen years of age, -was so famous as a fidler, that the greatest and most fashionable people -in Hungary were accustomed to send twenty or thirty miles for her, to -play at their balls. There are likewise very many _scrapers_; these are -generally such as have learned of other scrapers, at their own expense. -This kind of musicians travel about, with the dancers before mentioned; -or play to the peasants, who, not having much taste, always make them -welcome at their weddings, or dances. They scratch away on an old -patched violin, or rumble on a broken base, neither caring about better -instruments, nor minding to stop in tune; being what they are, more for -want of application than capacity. Others practise vocal music; and some -have acquired considerable fortunes, particularly in Spain, by singing. - -Goldwashing, in the rivers, is another occupation, by which many thousand -Gipseys, of both sexes, procure a livelihood, in the Banat, Transylvania, -Wallachia, and Moldavia. As this is only a summer employment, they are -under the necessity of finding some other means of supporting themselves -during the winter. It is not permitted for every one, without exception, -to be a goldwasher: in Transylvania, such only can follow the employment, -who have leave from the office of Mons; {51} and these only enjoy the -privilege under certain restrictions. In Wallachia and Moldavia, none of -the bojars’ slaves, thence called _bojaresk_ (bojar Gipseys), are -suffered to meddle with goldwashing; that being a liberty granted only to -those who, like other subjects, are immediately under the prince, -denominated _domnesk_ (princely Gipseys): which are also subdivided into -three classes; the first named _Rudar_; the second _Ursar_; and the third -_Lajaschen_. The _Radars_ alone have the licence above mentioned; the -others are obliged to seek a different means of obtaining support. Each -person is forced to pay a certain tribute to government. The goldwashers -in Transylvania and the Banat pay four guilders annually, which is -discharged in gold-dust: the same sum is due from every Gipsey, though -many evade the contribution. When the time for payment approaches; they -contrive to keep out of the way, particularly the Hungarian Gipseys. The -tribute collected in Wallachia and Moldavia does not go into the public -treasury, but belongs to the princesses for pin-money. In Cantemir’s -time, that in Moldavia produced yearly one thousand six hundred drachms: -and the consort of the Wallachian hospodar Stephen Rakowitza, in the year -1764, received from her Rudars, two hundred and forty in number, twelve -hundred and fifty-four drachms;—a sum, according to General von Bauer and -Sulzer, amounting to one thousand and three drachms, fine gold. What the -Gipseys in Wallachia and Moldavia get more than their head-money, goes to -the grand armasch, at two lion-guilders the drachm: this he afterwards -sells again, at a higher price, according with its real value; as General -von Bauer believes, for his own profit, not for that of the prince. The -goldwashers in the Banat and Transylvania dispose of their share at the -royal redemption-office, in Zalatnya. The earnings of these people vary -with time and at different places; during heavy rains and floods they are -usually most successful: besides, their profit is more or less, according -to the quality of the river they wash in. At the most favourable times, -viz. at the floods, Griselini calculates their daily gain not to exceed -three groschens. If we understand, as we certainly ought, that this sum -is not earned by each person, but by a whole family, the statement will -agree, pretty nearly, with Mr. Dembscher’s account: he says, “In the year -1770 there were, in the districts of Uj-Palanka, Orsova, and Caransebes, -upwards of eighty goldwashers, all of whom had families, and followed the -business, with their wives and children; yet this number of hands -delivered in only six or seven hundred ducats worth of gold.” Take half -of the doubtful seventh hundred; deduct three hundred and twenty -guilders, head money, from the gross sum; divide the remainder among -eighty families, and each will receive yearly thirty-two guilders: allot -to each day, in the summer half-year, its proportion, and it will be -found very little more or less than three groschens. As before stated, -the labour of two hundred Rudars produced, in the year 1764, twelve -hundred fifty-four drachms: General von Bauer adds, this sum was exactly -the half of what was collected, over the whole country, in the same year. -Now as these Gipseys were under the necessity of parting with their -twelve or thirteen hundred drachms, which remained after the capitation -tax was paid, to the grand-armasch, at the rate of two lion-guilders per -drachm, they earned still less than those in the Banat; although the -rivers in Wallachia contain a sufficient plenty of gold to have enabled -them to make ten times that advantage, did not their laziness prevent -them. The Transylvanian rivers yield the most gold: there are annually, -from eight to ten hundred weight separated from their sand, which are -brought to Zalatnya, to be disposed of. As this quantity is not obtained -by Gipseys only, but together with the Wallachians, and we have no -account of the gross number of goldwashers, how many of them are Gipseys, -nor what proportion they have of these eight hundred weight, it is -impossible to ascertain the profits of the Transylvanian Gipsey -goldwashers. That they are better off than those in the Banat and other -places, is certain, from the circumstance of the rivers abounding more -with gold, than elsewhere. - -It may not be uninteresting in this place to give the process of -goldwashing, in the words of those who, as mineralogists, have -superintended the work. The account communicated by the Councellor von -Kotzian, concerning the goldwashing in the Banat, is as follows: “The -operation consists in, first, providing a board of lime-wood, about one -fathom long, and half a fathom broad; being hollowed at the upper end, in -the form of a dish, from which are cut ten or twelve channels, in an -oblique direction. This board is fixed in an inclined position so as to -form an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizon. The sand -containing the gold, being laid in the hollow at the top of the board, a -quantity of water is then poured upon it, which carries off the lighter -parts; such as are more heavy they shove down by hand: what remains in -the channels, or furrows, is discharged into an oblong tray, carried to -the straining-trough, and the gold which remains picked clean out. The -whole of this work is performed in so careless a manner, that much pure -gold is lost: it is, moreover, to be lamented, that the Gipseys get only -the gold which is perfectly separated from the sand, but by no means any -that sticks to the ore, which they throw away, though there is gold in -it.” - -As it seems evident, from the foregoing statement, that this method is -very inadequate to the purpose, and that consequently much gold must be -wasted, we are the more surprised when another author, in the following -words, assures us of the contrary:—“So negligent and careless as the work -of the Gipseys appears at first sight, just as effectual it is proved -when put to the test. Daily practice gives to these people a degree of -discernment, without which another person would think they must lose a -great deal. I convinced myself in the following manner: When they had -finished their washing on the board—for which they commonly used from -fifteen to twenty troughs of coarse stuff—I divided the washed stuff into -three parcels; the ten or fifteen uppermost furrows always contained the -most gold, the second division not more than an eighth part as much, but -the last fifteen to twenty furrows scarcely three grains. I have also -narrowly examined the refuse, and very seldom found any traces of gold in -it.” - -The art of goldwashing is brought to much greater perfection in -Transylvania. In the description of the process adopted in that country, -it is said that all the rivers, brooks, and even the pools which the rain -forms, produce gold: of these the river Aranyosch is the richest, -insomuch that the historians have compared it to the Tagus and Pactolus. -Excepting the Wallachians, who live by the rivers, the goldwashers -consist chiefly of Gipseys. They can judge with the greatest certitude -where to wash to advantage. The apparatus used by them for this work is -a crooked board, four or five feet long, by two or three broad, generally -provided with a wooden rim on each side; over this board they spread a -woollen cloth, and scatter the gold-sand, mixed with water, upon it: the -small grains of the metal remain sticking to the cloth, which they -afterwards wash in a vessel of water, and then separate the gold by means -of the trough. When larger particles of sand are found in their washing, -they make deeper channels in the middle of their crooked boards, to stop -the small pieces as they roll down: they closely examine these small -stones, and some are frequently found to have solid gold fixed in them. - -Those we have mentioned are the customary professions and occupations of -Gipseys, in the different countries and states of Europe. But people -must not imagine that their smiths’ shops are continually resounding with -the hammer; nor that those of other professions are so attentive to their -callings, as to provide even a daily subsistence, not to think of a -comfortable maintenance. Their consummate laziness, on the contrary, as -before observed, occasions so many idle hours in the day, that their -family is often reduced to the greatest distress; for which reason, -begging or stealing is by far a more common method, than diligence or -assiduous application to business, for quieting the cravings of hunger. -If we except soldiers, who are kept in order by the discipline of the -corporal, with some of the Transylvanian goldwashers, who apply to -music—and, living separate from their own caste, in constant habits of -intercourse with people of a better sort, have thereby acquired more -civilised manners, and learned the distinction, if not between right and -wrong, at least between social honour and disgrace—the remainder are, in -the most unlimited sense, arrant thieves. In fact, working at any trade, -or employment, seems to be merely a disguise, in order the better to -enable them to carry on their thieving practices; as the articles which -they prepare for sale in the cities and villages, furnish an excellent -excuse for sneaking into houses, to pry where there is any thing which -they may appropriate to themselves. This kind of artifice is -particularly the province of the women, who have always been reckoned -more dextrous than the men in the art of stealing. They commonly take -children with them, who are tutored to remain behind, in the outer part -of the house, to purloin what they can, while the mother is negotiating -in the chamber. It is generally the women’s office to make away with the -boor’s geese and fowls, when they are to be found in a convenient place. -Should the creature make a noise when seized, it is killed and dressed -for the consumption of the family; but if, by chance, it have strayed so -far from the village, that its crying cannot give any alarm, they keep it -alive to sell at the next market town. Winter is the time when the women -generally are most called upon to try their skill in this way: during -that season, many of the men remain in their huts, sending the women -abroad to forage. They go about in the guise of beggars—a character they -well know how to support—and commonly carry with them a couple of -children, miserably exposed to the cold and frost; one of these is led by -the hand, the other tied in a cloth to the woman’s back, in order to -excite compassion in well-disposed people. Whole troops of these Gipsey -beggars are met with in Spain; and the encounter is by no means pleasant, -as they ask alms in a manner, and with such importunity, as if they -thought you could not deny them. They also tell fortunes; and impose on -the credulous with amulets. Besides all this, they seldom return to -their husbands without some pilfered booty. Many writers confine the -thefts of the Gipseys to small maters, and will not allow that they are -ever guilty of violence. This is not only denied by the testimony of -others, but absolutely contradicted by some recent instances. It is true -that, on account of their natural timidity, they do hesitate to commit a -robbery which appears to be attended with great danger, nor do they often -break open houses by night: they rather confine themselves to petty -depredations, than, as they think, rush voluntarily into destruction by a -great and dangerous action. Yet we have more than one proof, that they -make no scruple to murder a traveller, or plunder cities and villages. - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -_On their Marriages and Education_. - -THERE are not, perhaps, any other people among whom marriages are -contracted with so little consideration, or solemnised with so little -ceremony, as among the Gipseys. No sooner has a boy attained the age of -fourteen or fifteen years, than he begins to perceive that something more -than mere eating and drinking is necessary to him. Having no fear of -consequences, nor being under any restraint from his parents, he forms a -connection with the girl he most fancies, of twelve, or at most thirteen, -years old, without any scruple of conscience, whether she be his nearest -relation, or an entire stranger; but it is to be observed, that a Gipsey -never marries a person who is not of the true Gipsey breed. God’s -commandments are unknown to him; and human laws cannot have much -influence over one who lives in a desert, remote from the observation of -any ruling power. The term of courtship is very short, often only long -enough for the parties to communicate their mutual inclination. They do -not wait for any marriage ceremony, as it is a matter of no consequence -to them, whether it be performed afterwards, or not at all. Yet they do -not seem to be entirely indifferent about matrimony, not on account of -conforming to any institution, but from a pride they have in imitating -what is done by other people, lest they should appear to be inferior to -them. As the very early age of the parties, or some other irregularity, -might meet with objections from a regular clergyman, they frequently get -one of their own people to act the priest, and tack the decent couple -together. A marriage being thus accomplished, the man provides a stone -for an anvil, a pair of pincers, a file, and hammers away as a smith; or -works at some other trade, he may have just learned from his father: then -begins his peregrination. Should his wife commit a fault at a future -time, he gives her half a dozen boxes on the ear; or very likely, for -some trifling cause, turns her off entirely. Her conduct must, in -general, be very much regulated by his will; and she is obliged to be -more attentive to him than to herself. When the woman lies-in, which -happens frequently, these people being remarkably prolific, the child is -brought forth, either in their miserable hut, or, according to -circumstances, it may be in the open air, but always easily and -fortunately: a woman of the same kind performs the office of midwife. -True Gipsey like, for want of some vessel, they dig a hole in the ground, -which is filled up with cold water, and the new-born child washed in it. -This being done, it is wrapped up in some old rags, which the motherly -foresight has taken care to provide. Next comes the christening, at -which ceremony they prefer strangers, for witnesses, rather than their -own caste: but what kind of folks their guests are, may be collected from -the mode of entertaining them. When the christening is over, the father -takes the sponsors to an alehouse, or if none be near, to some other -house, where he treats them with cakes and brandy. If he is a little -above the lowest state of misery, and has a mind to be generous, other -things are provided; but he does not join the company, being employed in -serving his guests. Thus the affair ends. The lying-in woman passes her -short time of confinement, seldom exceeding eight days, with her child, -in the hut, or under a tent, in the smoke by the fire. Refreshments are -often sent from the godfathers and godmothers; yet they are sometimes so -uncivil, that they do not hesitate to quarrel with them or even to -discharge them from the trust, if they think the present too small, or do -not like the provisions. When this happens, they have another -christening, in some other place; nay, sometimes even a third. - -Gipsey women, as already mentioned, frequently smear their children over -with a particular kind of ointment, and then lay them in the sun, or -before the fire, in order that the skin may be more completely parched, -and their black beauty thereby increased. They never use a cradle, nor -even possess such a piece of furniture; the child sleeps in its mother’s -arms, or on the ground. When the lying-in is over, the Gipsey woman goes -to church, and thence, immediately, either to begging or stealing. While -the child remains in her arms, perhaps imagining that people will be less -severe in their chastisements, she is more rapacious than at other times, -and takes whatever she can lay her hands on. If she cannot escape -without a beating, she endeavours to screen herself by holding up the -child to receive the blows, till she finds an opportunity of retiring -imperceptibly, and running away. - -When the child gets a little stronger, and has attained the age of three -or four months, the mother seldom carries it on the arm, but at her back; -there it sits, winter and summer, in a linen rag, with its head over her -shoulder. If she have more children, in course of time, which is -generally the case, as this race of beings is so prolifick, she leads one -or two by the hand, while such as are older run by her side; and thus -attended, she strolls through the villages and into houses. -Notwithstanding their dark complexion, and bad nursing, writers are -unanimous in stating, that these children are good-looking, well shaped, -lively, clever, and have fine eyes. The mother plaits their black hair -on the crown of the head, partly to keep it out of their face, and partly -for ornament. This is all she ever does towards decorating her -offspring; for in summer the children wear no clothes till ten years of -age, and in winter they are forced to be content with a few old rags hung -about them. - -No sooner is the child, whether boy or girl, capable of running about, -than it is taught to dance; which talent consists in jumping on one foot, -and constantly striking behind with the other. As the young Gipsey grows -up, all kinds of postures are added, in hopes of diverting, and thereby -to obtain a reward from persons who happen to pass the parents’ -habitation. What the children are further taught, especially by their -mothers, is the art of stealing, which they often put in practice, as -before related. Instruction or school is never thought of; nor do they -learn any business, except perhaps to blow the fire when the father -forges, or to assist in goldwashing. - -By the twelfth or thirteenth year, a boy acquires some knowledge of his -father’s trade; and then becomes emancipated from parental authority; as -he now begins to think of forming his own separate connections. The -Gipseys, in common with uncivilised people, entertain unbounded love for -their children: this is a source of the most unpardonable neglect. -Gipsey children never feel the rod; they fly into the most violent -passion, and at the same time hear nothing from their parents but -flattery and coaxing. In return, they act, as is commonly the -consequence of such education, with the greatest ingratitude. This -excessive fondness for their children is, however, attended with one -advantage:—when they are indebted to any person, which is frequently the -case in Hungary and Transylvania, the creditor seizes a child, and by -that means obtains a settlement of his demand; as the Gipsey will -immediately exert every method to discharge the debt, and procure the -release of his darling offspring. - -To the beforegoing account of Gipsey marriages, and education, there are -but few exceptions; comprised in a small proportion of them who have -fixed habitations. The character of people being formed by the -instruction they receive in their early years, can it then be thought -surprising that Gipseys should be idlers, thieves, murderers, and -incendiaries? Is it probable, _that_ man should become diligent, who has -been educated in laziness? Can it be expected those should leave every -person in possession of his own property, whose father and mother have -taught them to steal, from their earliest infancy? Who can have a -general idea of fair dealing, that knows not right from wrong, nor has -ever learned the distinction between good and evil, virtue and vice? -Punishments inflicted on others, for their crimes, have no effect upon -one who is not sufficiently attentive to take warning by the examples of -strangers: and when, by his own experience, he is taught not to lay hands -on the property of others, he is become so hardened, that the milder -punishments leave no lasting impression; while the more severe ones, -which reach the life, cannot have any effect on him, and are, as before -observed, totally disregarded by his fellows. So long therefore as the -education of the Gipseys continues to be what it is, we cannot hope that -they should leave off their vile practices and filthy habits. - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -_On their Sickness_, _Death_, _and Burial_. - -WE have before had occasion to mention the constant good health of these -people; and it is fact, that they do enjoy it more uninterruptedly, and -perfectly, than persons of the most regular habits, and who pay the -greatest attention to themselves. They get no cold nor defluxions, from -the inclemency of the air. They are not subject to rashes; even poisons, -or epidemical disorders, have no effect upon them. Any prevailing -sickness penetrates sooner into ten habitations of civilised people, than -it finds its way under a Gipsey’s tent, or into his hut. They are -equally liable to the small-pox and measles with other people, though -with infinitely less danger; and they are subject to a disorder in the -eyes, occasioned by the continual smoke and steam in their huts, during -the winter season: excepting these complaints, the Gipseys, in general, -experience little inconvenience till the time comes that Nature demands -her own back again, and entirely destroys the machine. Though this be -not always at a great age, it is generally at an advanced period; it -being very uncommon for a Gipsey to die early in life, or during his -childhood. Their love of life is excessive; yet they hardly ever take -the advice of a physician, or use medicines, even in the most dangerous -maladies. They generally leave every thing to nature, or good fortune: -if they do _any_ thing, it is, to mix a little saffron in their soup, or -bleed and scarify themselves; having observed that their horses use -bleeding, as a remedy for disorders. When the sickness indicates danger, -and that the universal enemy to life is really in earnest, the Gipsey -breaks out into sighs and lamentations, on account of his departure; till -at last he gives up the ghost, in his usual place of residence—under a -tree, or in his tent. - -The preparations for death are usually regulated according to a person’s -religious principles; but the Gipsey, who neither knows nor believes any -thing concerning the immortality of the soul, or of rewards and -punishments beyond this life, for the most part dies like a -beast—ignorant of himself and his Creator, as well as utterly incapable -of forming any opinion respecting a higher destination. - -The Gipsey’s decease is instantly succeeded by the most frantic -lamentations: parents, in particular, who have lost their children, -appear inconsolable. Little can be said of their burials; only, that on -those occasions the cries and bewailings are redoubled, and become very -violent. When the leader of a horde dies, things are conducted more -quietly. His own people carry him, with great respect, to the grave, -where each one appears earnest and attentive; although at the same time -employed in a manner to excite laughter. - -This is the mode of proceeding when a Gipsey dies a natural death. But -it often happens that he loses his life by violent means—not by his own -hands for self-murder and infanticide are equally unheard of among them. -No Gipsey ever puts a period to his own existence on account of vexation, -anxiety, or despair; as, besides his unbounded love of life, care or -despair is totally unknown to him. - -Even in the greatest distress, the Gipsey is never troubled with low -spirits; ever merry and blythe, he dies not till he cannot help it: this -often happens on the gallows, attended with scenes ridiculous as the most -ludicrous imagination could invent. One man requested, as a particular -act of grace, that he might not be hanged with his face towards the high -road; saying, “Many of his acquaintance passed that way, and he should be -very much ashamed to be seen by them hanging on a gallows.” At another -time the relations of a Gipsey who was leading to execution, perceiving, -by the discourse and gestures of the criminal, how unwillingly he -advanced, not having the least inclination to be hanged, addressed -themselves to the magistrates and officers of justice, with the following -wise remonstrance: “Gentlemen, pray do not compel a man to a thing for -which you see he has no desire nor inclination.” Such scenes happen at -almost every Gipsey execution, which are proofs that these people are -quite deficient in thought or consideration. - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -_Political Regulations peculiar to the Gipseys_. - -WHEN the Gipseys first arrived in Europe, they had leaders and chiefs, to -conduct the various tribes in their migrations. This was necessary, not -only to facilitate their progress through different countries and -quarters of the globe, but to unite their force if necessary, and thereby -enable them to make a more formidable resistance when opposed: and -likewise to carry any plan, they might have formed, more readily into -execution. We accordingly find, in old books, mention made of knights, -counts, dukes, and kings. Krantz and Munster mention counts, and -knights, in general terms, among the Gipseys; other people give us the -very names of these dignified men: Crusius cites a duke MICHAEL; Muratori -a duke ANDREAS; and Aventinus records a king ZINDELO: not to speak of -inscriptions on monuments, erected in different places, to the memories -of duke PANUEL, count JOHANNIS; and a noble knight PETRUS, in the -fifteenth century. But no comment is requisite to shew how improperly -these appellations were applied. Though the Gipsey chiefs might be -gratified with these titles, and their dependants probably esteemed them -people of rank, it was merely a ridiculous imitation of what they had -seen and admired among civilised people. Nevertheless, the custom of -having leaders and chiefs over them prevails to this time, at least in -Hungary and Transylvania; probably it may also still exist in Turkey, and -other countries where these people live together in great numbers. - -Their chiefs—or waywodes, as they proudly call them—were formerly of two -degrees in Hungary. Each petty tribe had its own leader; beside which, -there were four superior waywodes, of their own caste, on both sides the -Danube and Teisse, whose usual residences were at Raab, Lewentz, -Szathmar, and Kaschau: to these the smaller waywodes were accountable. -It would appear extraordinary that any well-regulated state should allow -these people a distinct establishment in the heart of the country, did -not the Hungarian writers assign a reason: viz. that in the commotions -and troubles, occasioned by the Turkish wars, in former centuries, they -were, by means of their waywodes, more easily summoned, when occasion -required, and rendered useful to the community. But the Gipseys in -Hungary and Transylvania were permitted to choose, from their own people, -only the small waywodes of each tribe. The superior waywodes, to whom -the Gipseys, in many districts, were subject, have existed till within a -few years; but they were appointed by the court, and always selected from -the Hungarian nobility. The appointment was by no means despicable; as -each Gipsey was bound to pay the superintendent under whom his tribe was -classed, a guilder annually, of which one half was demanded at Easter, -the other half at Michaelmas. In order to render the levying this tax -more certain, the magistrates, in all towns, cities, and villages, were -ordered to be assisting to the collectors, where necessary; to protect -them also from any violence that might be offered by the Gipseys. These -superior waywodes are now no longer appointed, except a single one in -Transylvania, who has authority over the goldwashers in those parts. But -the Gipseys still continue the custom, among themselves, of dignifying -certain persons, whom they make heads over them, and call by the exalted -Sclavonian title—waywode. To choose their waywode, the Gipseys take the -opportunity when a great number of them are assembled in one place, -commonly in the open field. The elected person is lifted up three times, -amidst the loudest acclamations, and confirmed in his dignity by -presents; his wife undergoes the same ceremony. When this solemnity is -performed, they separate with great conceit, imagining themselves people -of more consequence than electors returning from the choice of an -emperor. Every one who is of a family descended from a former waywode is -eligible; but those who are best clothed, not very poor, of large -stature, and about the middle age, have generally the preference. -Understanding or wise conduct is of no consideration: therefore it is -easy to distinguish the waywode from the multitude, by observing his size -and clothing. The particular distinguishing mark of dignity, is a large -whip, hanging over the shoulder. His outward deportment, his walk and -air, also plainly shew his head to be filled with notions of authority. - -It is uncertain how far the waywode’s sway over his subjects extends. A -distinction must here be made, whether the state gives him any power, and -what he assumes or derives by custom from his caste. It were ridiculous -to suppose that the state should, on any occasion, appoint this sort of -illustrious personage a judge. In Transylvania, indeed, the magistrates -do interfere with regard to the fellow whom this or that horde has -elected chief, and impose an obligation on him; but it is only that he -should be careful to prevent his nimble subjects from absconding, when -the time arrives for them to discharge their annual tribute at the -land-regent’s chamber. He has no right to interfere in disputes or -quarrels which the Gipseys have among themselves, or with other people, -further than to give notice of them to the regular courts of the district -where they happen to be. In this point of view, what Toppeltin and -others after him assert, that the waywodes have little or no power over -their own people, is perfectly correct: but if we attend to their -actions, the affair carries a very different appearance. Whenever a -complaint is made, that any of their people have been guilty of theft, -the waywode not only orders a general search to be made, in every tent or -hut, and returns the stolen goods to the owner, if they can be found, but -punishes the thief, in presence of the complainant, with his whip. -Certainly it is not by any written contract that he acquires his right -over the people, for no such thing exists among them, but custom gives -him this judicial power. Moreover he does not punish the aggressor from -any regard to justice, but rather to quiet the plaintiff, and at the same -time to make his people more wary in their thefts, as well as more -dextrous in concealing their plunder. These discoveries materially -concern him, since by every detection his income suffers; as the whole -profit of his office arises from his share of the articles that are -stolen. Every time a Gipsey brings in a booty, he is obliged to give -information to the arch-Gipsey of his successful enterprise; and then -render a just account of what and how much he has stolen, in order that -the proper division may be made. In this proceeding the Gipsey considers -himself bound to give a fair and true detail; though in every other -instance he does not hesitate to commit the grossest perjury. We may -therefore judge how precarious success is likely to be, when a waywode is -applied to for the recovery of stolen goods. The Gipseys are cunning -enough to hide what they have pilfered, in such a manner, that out of a -hundred searches the complainer hardly once accomplishes his desire. It -does not at all forward the cause, that the waywode knows who the thief -is: his interest requires him to dissemble. Thus, though he does not -steal himself, the Spanish proverb is a very true one: “The Count and the -Gipsey are rogues alike.” For which reason people seldom apply to so -suspicious a judge. If a thief is caught in the fact, the owner takes -his property, and gives the offender his proper reward, or else delivers -him over to the civil power for correction. Here ensues a truly -laughable scene: As soon as the officer seizes on, and forces away the -culprit, he is surrounded by a swarm of Gipseys, who take unspeakable -pains to procure the release of the prisoner. They endeavour to cajole -him with kind words, desiring him to consider this, that, and the other, -or admonish him not to be so uncivil. When it comes to the infliction of -punishment, and the malefactor receives a good number of lashes, well -laid on, in the public market-place, an universal lamentation commences -among the vile crew; each stretches his throat, to cry over the agony his -dear associate is constrained to suffer. This is oftener the fate of the -women than of the men; for, as the maintenance of the family depends most -upon them, they more frequently go out for plunder. - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -_On the Religion of the Gipseys_. - -THESE people did not bring any particular religion with them from their -native country, by which, as the Jews, they could be distinguished among -other persons; but regulate themselves, in religious matters, according -to the country where they live. Being very inconstant in their choice of -residence, they are likewise so in respect to religion. No Gipsey has an -idea of submission to any fixed profession of faith: it is as easy for -him to change his religion at every new village, as for another person to -shift his coat. They suffer themselves to be baptised in Christian -countries; among Mahometans to be circumcised. They are Greeks with -Greeks, Catholics with Catholics, and again profess themselves to be -Protestants, whenever they happen to reside where protestantism prevails. - -From this mutability, we may conceive what ideas they have, and thence -deduce their general opinions of religion. As parents suffer their -children to grow up without education or instruction, and were reared in -the same manner themselves, so neither have any knowledge of God or -morality. Few of them will attend to any discourse on religion: they -hear what is said with indifference, nay rather with impatience and -repugnance; despising all remonstrance, believing nothing, they live -without the least solicitude concerning what shall become of them after -this life. An instance, quoted by Toppeltin, will fully illustrate this -matter: One of the more civilised Gipseys in Transylvania took the -resolution of sending his son to school: leave being obtained from the -government, the lad was admitted, and was going on very well, under his -teachers’ hands. The child died; whereupon the relations applied to the -magistrates and clergy for permission to give the young man Christian -burial, he being a student at the time of his death. On this occasion -the priest asked, whether they believed the deceased would rise again at -the last day?—“_Strange idea_!” they answered; “_to believe that a -carcase_, _a lifeless corpse_, _should be reanimated_, _and rise -again_!—_In our opinion_, _it would be no more likely to happen to him_, -_than to the horse we flayed a few days ago_.” Such are the opinions of -the greatest part of these people with regard to religion; it naturally -follows, that their conduct should be conformable to such ideas and -conceptions. Every duty is neglected, no prayer ever passes their lips: -as little are they to be found in any assembly of public worship; whence -the Wallachian adage—“The Gipsey’s church was built with bacon, and the -dogs ate it.” The religious party from which a Gipsey apostatises, as -little loses a brother believer, as the one into which he goes acquires -one. He is neither Mahometan nor Christian; for the doctrines of Mahomet -and of Christ are alike unknown or indifferent to him, producing no other -effect than that in Turkey his child is circumcised, and baptised in -Christendom. The Turks are so fully convinced of the little sincerity -the Gipseys entertain in regard to religion, that although a Jew, by -becoming a Mahometan, is freed from the payment of the charadsch, the -Gipseys are not, at least in the neighbourhood of Constantinople. They -are compelled to pay this polltax even though their ancestors, for -centuries back, had been Mahometans; or though they should actually have -been a pilgrimage to Mecca: the privilege of wearing a white turban is -the only advantage their conversion gives them over unbelieving Jews and -Gipseys. - -Such is the respect paid by the Gipseys to moral institutions, in every -country where they are found. It is true that in this, as well as in -other things, there may be exceptions, but they are very rare; by much -the greatest part of them are as above described. Wherefore the more -ancient, as well as the more modern, writers agree, in positively denying -that the Gipseys have any religion; placing them even below the heathens. -This sentence cannot be contradicted; since, so far from having a respect -for religion, they are adverse to every thing which in the least relates -to it. - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -_Their Language_, _Sciences_, _and Arts_. - -BESIDES that the Gipseys understand and speak the language of the country -where they live, they have a general language of their own, in which they -always converse with each other. Writers differ in opinion concerning -this language, being undecided whether it be really that of any country, -and who are the people from whom it originates. Some pronounce it a mere -jargon, others say it is gibberish. We can by no means agree with the -supporters of the first opinion, as the only ground for the assertion is -barely, that they do not know any other language correspondent to that of -the Gipseys. But they do not seem to have considered how extravagant a -surmise it is, to believe a whole language an invention; that too of -people rude, uncivilised, and hundreds of miles distant from each other. -This opinion is too absurd to employ more time to controvert it. Neither -can the Gipsey language be admitted for gibberish; unless by those who -know nothing of the former, or are totally ignorant of the latter, which -is corrupt German; whereas the former has neither German words, -inflexions, nor the least affinity in sound. No German, were he to -listen a whole day to a Gipsey conversation, would comprehend a single -expression. A third party allow that the language of the original -Gipseys was really vernacular, and that of some country; but assert it to -be so disguised and falsified, partly by design of the Gipseys -themselves, partly by adventitious events, through length of time, and -the continual wandering of these people, that it is entirely new formed, -and now used by the Gipseys only. This opinion contains much truth; but -carries the matter too far, in not allowing that any traces remain to -prove any particular dialect to be the Gipseys’ mother tongue. Perhaps -the great Büsching means the same thing, when he says, “the Gipsey -language is a mixture of corrupt words from the Wallachian, Sclavonian, -Hungarian, and other nations.” Among these, the best-founded notion may -be, that it is the dialect of some particular country, though no longer -so pure as in the country whence it originated. This opinion meets the -greatest concurrence of the learned: and will, we hope, be fully proved -in another part of this book, where the subject will be again discussed, -more fully, in order to corroborate the other proofs of the origin of -this people. It will then be certified, in what country this is the -native mother tongue. This is a point concerning which most writers -think differently. Sometimes the Gipseys are Hebrews, then Nubians, -Egyptians, Phrygians, Vandals, Sclavonians, or, as opinions vary, perhaps -some other nation. - -It appears extraordinary, that the language of a people who have lived -for centuries among us, and has been matter of enquiry almost ever since, -should still remain an affair of so much uncertainty. Gipseys are to be -found every-where, and might be very easily examined, as closely and -often as any body pleased, about their language. It would have been -attended with no great trouble, to have made so near an acquaintance as -to bring them to converse with variety of people, and thereby, by means -of comparison, to have attained some degree of certainty. This -observation sounds plausibly; but on a closer examination the case is -found to be very different. First, it is not so easy as people may -imagine, to gain much information from the Gipseys concerning their -language. They are suspicious, apprehending an explanation might be -attended with danger to themselves; and are therefore not very -communicative. To this must be added, their natural levity, and -consequent seeming inattention to the questions put to them. A writer, -who had frequent experience of this behaviour, expresses himself to the -following effect: “Suppose any person had an inclination to learn the -Gipsey language, he would find it very difficult to accomplish his -purpose. Intercourse with these people is almost insufferable; and very -few of them have sense enough to teach any thing, or even to give a -proper answer to a question. If you ask about a single word, they -chatter a great many, which nobody can understand. Others have equally -failed of success, not being able, by any means whatever, to obtain from -them the paternoster in their own language.” Secondly, suppose the -language of the Gipseys had been perfectly understood soon after their -arrival in Europe, variety of opinions would nevertheless have been -maintained among the learned. It would still have been necessary, in -order to ascertain truth, to have revised the original languages of all -the inhabitants both in and out of Europe, or at least a general sketch -of them. By such a review, the Gipseys’ mother tongue might easily have -been discovered. But many there are, as Büttner, Schlözer, Gibelin, and -Bachmeister, who have taken great pains in the minute investigation of -the languages, as well as manners, of different people, and reckon those -they have learned by dozens. How was it, indeed, possible for the -learned of former centuries to be competent to the enquiry, as they had -not the aids which now so copiously occur to the historical etymologist? -Many dialects have been discovered, and our knowledge of others greatly -increased, within the last fifty or sixty years. During that term, the -treasures of the farthest north have been opened; and the most eastern -idioms become more familiar to us: we even know how the Otaheitian -expresses himself. All this information did not exist before; knowledge -in this science was much more confined than at this period: nor was it -possible for the most learned man, so circumstanced, to point out the -country in which the Gipsey language was spoken. - -The Gipseys have no writing, peculiar to them, in which to express their -language. {87} Writing, or reading, is, in general, a very uncommon -accomplishment with any of them; nor must either of these attainments be -at all expected among the wandering sort. Sciences and the refined arts -are never to be looked for amongst people whose manner of living and -education are so irregular. Twiss does, indeed, mention, that the -Spanish Gipseys have some knowledge of medicine and surgery; but woe -betide the person who confides in their skill! It is absurd to suppose -that they are possessed of any secret for extinguishing fire: -superstition formerly gave the Jews credit for this art; in process of -time, the Gipseys also were believed to be gifted with it. Music is the -only science in which the Gipseys participate, in any considerable -degree: they likewise compose, but it is after the manner of the eastern -people, extempore. In Wallachia, no other people possess this talent; -and, like the Italian _improvisatori_, they always accompany their verses -with singing and music. The quality of the poetry of these ready -composers may be appreciated, when it is known that the rhyme is the part -most considered: to accomplish this, they are frequently guilty of the -most glaring solecisms in grammar; besides their ideas are usually of the -most obscene kind, and these expressed in the gross style of rude -unpolished people. It is not necessary, therefore, to be a master, to -hold their art in the greatest contempt. {88} - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -_Character and Capacities of the Gipseys_; _whether they are an Advantage -or a Detriment to States_. - -IMAGINE a people of childish thoughts, whose minds are filled with raw -indigested conceptions, guided more by sense than reason, and using -understanding and reflection only so far as they promote the -gratification of any particular appetite;—and you have a perfect sketch -of the general character of the Gipseys. - -They are lively; uncommonly loquacious; fickle to an extreme, -consequently inconstant in their pursuits; faithless to every body, even -of their own caste; void of the least emotion of gratitude, frequently -returning benefits with the most insidious malice. Fear makes them -slavishly compliant {89} when under subjection; but having nothing to -apprehend, like other timorous people, they are cruel. A desire of -revenge often causes them to take the most desperate resolutions. Thus -they vowed no less than death against a respectable German prince who -died not many years ago, because, on account of their misdeeds, he had -persecuted and driven them from his territories. They even went so far -as to offer a reward among themselves (probably something considerable) -to whoever would deliver him to them, either alive or dead. Nor did they -give up this insolent design, till some of them, who talked too openly -about it in the Darmstadt dominions, were taken, and being delivered up -to the parties concerned, paid the forfeit of their lives for their good -intentions. - -To such a degree of violence is their fury sometimes excited, that a -mother has been known, in the excess of passion, to take her small infant -by the feet, when no other instrument has readily presented, and -therewith strike the object of her anger. They are so addicted to -drinking, as to sacrifice what is most necessary to them, that they may -gratify their taste for spirituous liquors. They have likewise, what one -would little expect, an enormous share of vanity, which is evidenced in -their fondness for fine clothes, and their gait and deportment when -dressed in them. It might be supposed that this pride would have the -good effect of rendering the Gipsey cautious not to be guilty of such -crimes as subject him to public shame: but here his levity of character -is rendered conspicuous, for he never looks either to the right or to the -left in his transactions; and though his conceit and pride are somewhat -humbled during the time of punishment, and while the consequent pain -lasts, these being over, he no longer remembers his disgrace, but -entertains quite as good an opinion of himself as before. The Gipseys -are loquacious and quarrelsome in the highest degree, though they seldom -make much noise in their huts, in which they generally keep quiet enough: -but in the public markets, and before alehouses, where they are -surrounded by a number of spectators, they bawl, spit at each other—catch -up sticks and cudgels, vapour and brandish them over their heads—throw -dust and dirt—now run from each other, then back again, with furious -gestures and threats. The women scream, drag their husbands by force -from the scene of action; these break from them again, and return to it: -the children, too, howl piteously. After a short time, without any -person’s interference, when they have cried and made a noise till they -are tired, and without either party having received any personal injury, -the affair finishes itself, and they separate, with as much ostentation -as if they had performed the most heroic feats. - -_Thus_ the Gipsey seeks honour! of which his ideas seldom coincide with -those of other people, and sometimes deviate entirely from propriety: we -may therefore assert, what all, who have made observations on these -people agree in, that honour and shame are to them totally indifferent. -We establish this decision by comparing Gipsey notions with our own: -trying their dealings and conduct by this standard, they will often -appear ridiculous, frequently even infamous. - -Nothing can exceed the unrestrained depravity of manners existing among -these people, particularly the softer sex. Unchecked by any idea of -shame, they give way to every desire. The mother endeavours, by the most -scandalous arts, to train her daughter for an offering to sensuality; and -the latter is scarcely grown up, before she becomes the seducer of -others. Let the dance, formerly mentioned, be called to mind; it will -then be unnecessary to adduce fresh examples, of which regard for decency -will not permit a detail. - -Their indolence has been already quoted. Laziness is so natural to them, -that were they to subsist by their own labour only, they would hardly -have bread for two of the seven days in the week. This disposition -increases their propensity to stealing and cheating—the common attendants -on idleness. They seek and avail themselves of every opportunity to -satisfy their lawless desires. Thomasius endeavours to propagate a -notion, that this habit has grown upon the latter Gipseys by degrees, in -opposition to the practice of those who first arrived, quoting Stumpf for -his authority, who talks of Christian discipline and order among the -original Gipseys; he assures us, too, that they paid ready money for all -they wanted; but this testimony does not deserve attention: the Gipseys -in Stumpf’s time were the same as they are at this day, nor are they -differently described by any of the old writers. - -This is a lamentable enumeration of evil and ruinous properties in the -Gipsey’s character, which applies not only to a few individuals, but to -by far the greatest number of these people. Scarcely any virtue could -exist in a soul so replete with vices. What at first sight appears less -censurable, or perhaps even amiable, in them is, their habitual content -in their situation. They have no care about futurity; they are -unacquainted either with anxiety or solicitude: and pass through every -day lively and satisfied. But this, in itself commendable resignation, -is as little to be accounted a virtue among the Gipseys as among the -Iroquois, and proceeds from the excessive levity of their dispositions. - -Let us now take a view of the natural qualities, and capacities, of the -Gipseys. Here they will appear to advantage. Observe them at whatever -employment you may, there always appear sparks of genius. It is well -known, and no writer omits to remark, what artful curious devices they -have recourse to in perpetrating any cheat or robbery: but this is not -the only particular in which they shew brains and capacity. The -following extract from an Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer -of these people, contains corroborating instances: - - “The Gipseys,” he says, “have a fertile imagination in their way, and - are quick and ready at expedients, so that in many serious doubtful - cases they soon recollect how to act, in order to extricate - themselves. We cannot, indeed, help wondering, when we attend to and - consider the skill they display in preparing and bringing their works - to perfection, which is the more necessary, from the scarcity of - proper tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning in - cheating or thieving: and when called to account, for any fraud or - robbery, fruitful in invention and persuasive in their arguments to - defend themselves.” - -At Debrezin, as well as at other schools in Hungary and Transylvania, -there have been several lads admitted for instruction. Cleverness is -observable in all, with no despicable talents for study. If another -proof should be wanting, let us advert to their skill in music. That no -Gipsey has ever signalised himself in literature, notwithstanding, -according to the foregoing accounts, many of them have partaken of the -instruction to be obtained at public schools, is no contradiction to the -point in question. Their volatile disposition and unsteadiness will not -allow them to complete any thing which requires perseverance or -application. Frequently the bud perishes before it blows; or if it -proceed so far that fruit appears, it commonly falls off and rots ere it -attains maturity. In the midst of his career of learning, the -recollection of his origin seizes him; a desire arises to return to, what -he thinks, a more happy manner of life; this solicitude increases; he -gives up all at once, turns back again, and consigns over his knowledge -to oblivion. Such is the reason why the Gipsey race has never produced a -learned man, nor ever will so long as these principles are retained. - -It appears certain that the Gipseys are not deficient in capacity; and it -seems equally decided that they have throughout a wicked depraved turn of -mind. Their skill and ingenuity might render them very profitable -subjects to the state, but their disposition makes them the most useless -pernicious beings. They are not fit for agriculture, nor any other art -which requires industry; on the contrary, they are burthensome from their -begging, they do mischief by their various impositions, besides, being -thieves and robbers, they destroy the security of a state. The -goldwashers, in Transylvania and the Banat, are the only considerable -exceptions; these Gipseys are considered the best of the caste; they have -no intercourse with those of their own nation, nor do they like to be -called Gipseys, but Bräschen, and in the Hungarian language _Aranyasz_ -(gold collectors). Their employment not being profitable, they are -generally poor and necessitous; yet seldom beg, and it is still more rare -for them to steal. Content with their scanty subsistence, they sift gold -sand in summer; in winter they make trays and troughs, which they sell in -an honest way. These properties render them, not only harmless, but -serviceable to government; as they annually produce large sums, which, -but for them, would remain in the earth. What pity it is, that so small -a part should be well inclined, in proportion to the multitude, in -Transylvania and elsewhere, who live in the manner above described! -There remains perhaps one more profession, in which a state might reap -advantage from the Gipseys, viz. that of a military life. This seems to -be doubted in Spain, as no Gipsey there, even were he so inclined, can -become a soldier. In other countries, people think differently. For -example, in the two Hungarian regiments, the Orosaish and the Julaish, -nearly every eighth man is a Gipsey. In order to prevent either them or -any other persons from remembering their descent, it is ordered by -government, that as soon as a Gipsey joins the regiment, he is no longer -to be called by that appellation. Here he is placed, promiscuously with -other men; and by this wise regulation, may be systematically rendered -useful. But whether he would be adequate to a soldier’s station, unmixed -with strangers, in the company of his equals only, is very doubtful. His -healthy robust body, active on every occasion; at the same time so inured -to hardship, that he can defy hunger, thirst, heat, cold, and other -inconveniences; makes him extremely well qualified for a military life: -on the other hand, his innate properties seem incompatible with his -profession, and he has little of the essential requisite for a -serviceable soldier. How could a regiment composed of people without -heart or courage, who would be overcome with fear and dismay on the least -appearance of danger, who would give up every thing, and only think of -saving themselves by flight, ever perform any great action? Or how could -we expect, from their levity, and unspeakable want of foresight, that -they should avail themselves to the utmost of any advantage with proper -precaution and judgment? The following incident, taken from the -Hungarian annals, may serve as proof, whether this suspicion be or be not -well founded.—In the year 1557, during the troubles in Zapoly, the castle -of Nagy Ida, in the county of Abauywar, was in danger of being besieged -and taken by the imperial troops. Francis von Perenyi, who had the -command, being short of men, was obliged to have recourse to the Gipseys, -of whom he collected a thousand; these he furnished with proper means of -defence, and stationed them in the outworks, keeping his own small -compliment of men to garrison the citadel. The Gipseys imagined that -they should be perfectly free from annoyance behind their entrenchments, -and therefore went courageously to their posts. Every thing was in order -when the enemy arrived, and the storm commenced. The Gipseys, behind -their fortifications, supported the attack with so much more resolution -than was expected, returning the enemy’s fire with such alacrity, that -the assailants, little suspecting who were the defendants, were actually -retreating. They had hardly quitted their ground, when the conquerors, -elated with joy on their victory, crept out of their holes, crying after -them, “Go and be hanged, you rascals! Thank God we had no more powder -and shot, or we would have played the very devil with you!”—“What!” -replied the retiring besiegers, as they turned about, and, to their great -astonishment, instead of regular troops, discovered a motley Gipsey -tribe, “are you the heroes! is it so with you!” immediately wheeling -about to the left, sword in hand, they drove the black crew back to their -works, forced their way after, and in a few minutes totally subdued them. -Thus the affair ended. In this manner Gipseys would frequently trifle -away by heedlessness, what they might have secured by good fortune and -alacrity, if they were permitted to act in separate corps. - -There are many instances recorded in the annals of former centuries, -{89a} of Gipseys having been employed in military expeditions: but -seldom, or rather never, were they thought of as solders. At Crupa, -1565, they prepared cannon balls for the Turks: still earlier, in 1496, -they served Bishop Sigismund at Fünfkirchen in the same manner. In the -thirty-years war, the Swedes likewise had a body of Gipseys in their -army. And when, in 1686, Hamburgh was besieged by the Danes, there were -three companies of them in the Danish army. Their destination was not so -much to stand to their arms, as to perform other services; they were -chiefly employed in flying parties, to burn, plunder, or lay waste, the -enemy’s country. As these are the operations most suitable to their -genius, they are now by the Turks destined to such purposes, and -incorporated with the Sains Serdenjesti, and Nephers. - -Such is the assistance which has hitherto been derived from the Gipseys -in war; whence we experience the possibility of their being rendered -serviceable, although the strict watch necessary to be kept over them, on -account of their propensity to be guilty of excesses and irregularities, -would be exceedingly troublesome. - -But, in order to bring the advantages and disadvantages attending them to -a fair discussion, it must not be forgotten, that at the very time one -part of these people might be rendered beneficial, viz. in time of war, -another part would have it in their power to do more mischief; by reason -of the disorder which then prevails, when the relaxed attention of the -magistrates makes them more daring in their depredations. Besides, what -is still worse, they are very convenient for the enemy to use as machines -for treachery. What they were in former times accustomed to practise -very commonly, they still continue whenever they have an opportunity. -They have been generally decried, in early ages, as traitors and spies: -perhaps this accusation may be too far extended, but it is not without -foundation. A Gipsey possesses all the properties required to render him -a fit agent to be employed in traitorous undertakings. Being -necessitous, he is easily corrupted; and his misconceived ambition and -pride persuade him that he thus becomes a person of consequence: he is at -the same time too inconsiderate to reflect on danger; and, artful to the -greatest degree, works his way under the most difficult circumstances. - -This accusation may be proved by more than one instance.—Count Eberhard, -of Wirtemberg, with a train of forty people, made a pilgrimage to -Palestine in the year 1468: and, as Crusius says, fell into the hands of -the Sultan of Egypt, through the treachery of the Gipseys. Further, -during the troubles excited by John Zapolya, in Hungary, in the sixteenth -century, sundry spies and delegated incendiaries were taken, which proved -to be Gipseys. In 1602 Count Basta, the imperial general, who besieged -the city of Bistritz in Transylvania, when he wanted to circulate a -letter among the besieged, effected it by means of a Gipsey. - -They have been sometimes still more dangerous to a country, by harbouring -other spies, who, under the disguise of Gipseys, made excursions, -surveying cities and countries, without being noticed. An example of -this kind is recited in the Adventures of a certain French engineer, -Peter Durois; which is a circumstance, in the records of Louis XIV. -perhaps as much unknown as it is remarkable. It relates, that at Padock -(Patak), in Upper Hungary, a great fire happened, through the -carelessness of the Gipseys; by which not only the little city adjoining -the fort was burnt, but the beautiful Bruderhoff was also reduced to -ashes: on which occasion seven supposed Gipseys were taken into custody, -one of whom was the French engineer above mentioned. This person had -travelled about with them during nine years: he had sketches of all the -principal fortifications in the whole Roman empire, and the imperial -hereditary dominions, taken in the most concise manner, with remarks -where each place was least defensible.—This affair has still another -voucher, who says, “in the month of June of the year 1676, the Gipseys -fired this little city (Patak), together with the church. With these -Gipseys was found a French engineer, named Peter Durois, who had been -nine years in this disguise, and received considerable remittances from -France. He was taken by the imperialists, and there were found upon him -plans of almost all the cities of Upper Hungary, and the German empire.” - -Thus these people, in whatever point of view they are considered, are -found to cause incalculable damage and mischief, without, in general, -returning the smallest profit or benefit to the state in which they -reside. - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -_Concerning the Toleration of the Gipseys by the different States of -Europe_. - -FROM the inherent bad and pernicious qualities of the Gipseys, the -question arises, What a government can do with them? The evil they -occasion has long been a subject of serious consideration, and various -means of security have been devised. As banishment was a mode punishing -formerly often resorted to, nothing could be more natural than that it -should likewise be exercised against the Gipseys. The clergy and -politicians inveighed strongly against the toleration of these people; -and their exile was actually resolved upon in most countries of Europe. - -About the end of the fifteenth century, their persecution commenced in -Spain. King Ferdinand, who esteemed it a good work to expatriate useful -and profitable subjects—Jews, and even Moorish families—could much less -be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on the mischievous progeny of -the Gipseys. The edict for their extermination was published in the year -1492. But, instead of passing the boundaries, they slunk into -hiding-places, and shortly after appeared every-where in as great numbers -as before. The emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did Philip -II. also. Since that time they have nestled in again, and were left -unmolested till about twenty years ago, when they were threatened with -another storm; but it blew over, without taking effect. - -In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and at the -assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all governors of cities -received orders to drive them away with fire and sword. Nevertheless, in -process of time they had collected again, and increased to such a degree, -that in 1612 a new order came out for their extermination. - -In Italy, their situation has been equally precarious. In the year 1572 -they were compelled to retire from the territories of Milan and Parma; -and at a period somewhat earlier they were chased beyond the Venetian -jurisdiction. - -England first endeavoured to disburthen itself of them in the year 1531, -under Henry VIII: but as the act passed for that purpose fell into -disregard, a new one was published in the reign of Elizabeth. - -They were not allowed the privilege of remaining unmolested in Denmark, -as the code of Danish laws specifies: “The Tartars (Gipseys) who wander -about every-where, doing great damage to the people, by their lies, -thefts, and witchcraft, shall be taken into custody by every magistrate.” - -Sweden has not been more favourable, having at three different times -attacked them. A very sharp order for their explusion came out in the -year 1662. The diet of 1723 published a second: and that of 1727 -repeated the foregoing, with additional severity. - -They were excluded from the Netherlands under pain of death, partly by -Charles V. and partly afterwards by the United Provinces in 1582. - -Finally, the greatest number of sentences of exile have been pronounced -against them in Germany. As well imperial decrees, as those of -particular princes, have been repeatedly issued, for removing these -people. The beginning was made, under Maximilian I. at the Augsburgh -diet in 1500; where the following article was drawn up: “Respecting those -people who call themselves Gipseys, roving up and down the country—By -public edict, to all ranks of the empire, according to the obligations -under which they are bound to Us and the Holy Empire, it is strictly -ordered, that in future they do not permit the said Gipseys (since there -is authentic evidence of their being spies, scouts, and conveyers of -intelligence, betraying the Christians to the Turks) to pass or remain -within their territories, nor to trade or traffic; neither to grant them -protection nor convoy. And that the said Gipseys do withdraw themselves, -before Easter next ensuing, from the German dominions, entirely quit -them, nor suffer themselves to be found therein: as in case they should -transgress after that time, and receive injury from any person, they -shall have no redress, nor shall such person be thought to have committed -any crime.” The same business occupied the attention of the diet in -1530, 1544–48–51; and was also again enforced in the improved police -regulation of Frankfort in 1577. - -Several princes were however so little attentive to these orders of the -empire, that, instead of endeavouring to drive out the Gipseys, they, on -the other hand, furnished them with passports and safe-conducts: others, -on the contrary, and by far the greatest number, exerted themselves to -the utmost to clear their states of this vermin, and some still continue -the same watchfulness. - -Hence it appears how universally the opinion was adopted, that banishing -the Gipseys was the only method to be secure from their malignity. -Perhaps there is not one civilised state, Hungary and Transylvania -excepted, where this remedy has not been tried: but whether it be as -expedient as it has been hitherto general, is much to be doubted. - -In the first place, it had very little effect, and that little was only -temporary. Even if every civilised nation had driven out the Gipseys at -the same time, Europe could not have been entirely cleared of them, so -long as they preserved an asylum in Turkey. Now, as experience evinces -there is no country in which a constant equal attention is paid to the -execution of the laws, they would, in more or less time, have again -insinuated themselves into the neighbouring countries; from these into -others; and recommenced where they had left off. But a general -extermination never did happen: for the law for banishing them passed in -one state before it was thought of in the next, or when a like order had -long become obsolete and sunk into oblivion. These desirable guests -were, therefore, merely compelled to shift their quarters to an adjoining -state, where they remained till the government began to clear them away; -upon which the fugitives either retired back whence they came, or went on -progressively to a third place, thus making a continual revolution. - -Secondly, this remedy was premature: endeavouring to exterminate was the -same as if a surgeon should proceed directly to the amputation of a -diseased limb, because it created inconvenience to the rest of the body. -Whereas the first enquiry ought to be, Whether the disorder were of such -a nature, as not to be removed but by entire separation? This is a -desperate course, and should only be adopted when no other can be -efficacious. Though it be proved that the Gipseys had occasioned ever so -much mischief, it was not impossible that they might cease to be such -pernicious beings: at least there had never been any trial made, by which -this impossibility could be ascertained. Men may be formed to any thing. -Had proper means been used for their civilisation, it is highly probable -the event would have proved that they were not incapable of becoming -better. If several Gipseys, at different times, have voluntarily emerged -from their savageness, how much more likely is it that the remainder -might have been altered, had they received such aids as their necessities -required?—But expelling the Gipseys entirely was not merely a premature -step; it was, - -Thirdly, a wasteful one. This may perhaps appear strange, but is -indisputable, so long as the state maxim holds good—that a numerous -population is the most advantageous. It is allowed that a state would -not lose any thing by the Gipseys, as Gipseys; on the contrary, it would -be a gainer, because an obstacle to the general welfare would be removed: -but this is not the matter in question. If the Gipsey do not know how to -make use of the faculties with which nature has endowed him; let the -state teach him, and keep him in leading-strings till the end is -attained. And though the root of this depravity lie so deep, that it -cannot be removed in the first generation, a continuation of the same -care will, in the second and third descent, be sure of meeting its -reward. Now let us reflect on a Gipsey when he has discontinued his -vagrant mode of living—consider him with his fecundity and numerous -family, who by being reformed are made useful citizens—and we shall -perceive how great a want of economy it was to throw him away as dross. - -Nearly the same idea has occurred to other authors; at least they so far -agree in what has been advanced, that they advise rendering the Gipseys -useful: only the means they recommend are liable to powerful objections. -They think the state might make public slaves, or penitentiaries, of -these people, and put them to all kinds of work. But such dependants, -even supposing them to be employed in the most beneficial way, are always -a nuisance and burthen to a state. Besides, in the above scheme, there -is no proposal made for the bettering these people: they must, therefore, -remain under the restraint of convicts, from generation to generation. -And, if allowed to increase, what could be done at last with this -multitude and their brood? Would not whole districts be required, merely -to turn the thousands of these wretches into? Moreover, what an expense -and inconvenience to superintend them! Plausible, therefore, as that -proposal appears at the first glance, little will it stand the test of a -closer examination. - -Banishment was not the proper method to be adopted; nor would it have -been adviseable to make them penitentiaries or galley-slaves: but care -should have been taken to enlighten their understandings, and to mend -their hearts. - -However, what has been hitherto omitted, there is still time enough to -execute. Few, or scarcely any, of the larger states are so entirely -cleared of Gipseys, that these people may not here and there be found by -hundreds, in most countries by thousands. The periods when the first -sentences of banishment were pronounced, were too unphilosophical for any -preferable mode of punishment to be suggested: but it may be expected, -from a more informed age, that better maxims will be adopted. We send -apostles to the East and West, to the most distant parts of the earth, -and, as will be hereafter shewn, into the very country whence the Gipseys -migrated, in order to instruct the people who know not God. Is it not -inconsistent for men to be solicitous for the welfare of their -fellow-creatures in distant regions, and to throw off and leave to chance -those who, equally wretched, have brought their errors home to us? If it -be a good work, to teach religion and virtue to such as are ignorant of -their Creator, why not begin with those nearest to us? especially as -neglect, in this particular, is attended with detriment to society in -general. The Gipseys have been long enough among civilised people, to -prove that they will not be allured, by the mere example of others, to -free themselves from the fetters of old customs and vices. In order to -accomplish that end, foreign and more effectual help is requisite. It -were vain to hope for any considerable progress with those who are grown -up; it would be sufficient, by compulsion, to make them quit their -unsettled manner of life, and, by instruction and teaching, to convey a -glimmering of light to their understanding, and produce some amelioration -of the heart. Proper care being taken of the education of the children, -society would be more likely to have its endeavours crowned with success. - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -_Essay on the Improvement of the Gipseys_. - -IT would be a lamentable case, if the before-mentioned regulations were -merely pious wishes. Let us hope something better! The work has been -commenced;—a great empress, Theresa, laid down a plan to win over these -poor unfortunate people to virtue and the state. But it is to be -regretted, that the execution of her wise dispositions, respecting the -Gipseys in Hungary, seems to have been entrusted to people inadequate to -the task. - -What was done, in her time, towards the accomplishment of this work, may -be seen by the following article, extracted from the Newspaper already -often quoted, called _Anzeigen aus den Kayserl_. _Königl_. _Erbländern_ -(Intelligence from the Hereditary Imperial Royal Dominions): “Since the -year 1768, several decrees regarding these people have been published in -the country (Hungary), and the strictest orders dispatched to the several -districts in consequence. They were prohibited from dwelling in huts or -tents; from wandering up and down the country; from dealing in horses; -from eating animals which died naturally, and carrion; and from electing -their own wayda or judge. It was intended to extirpate the very name and -language of these folks, out of the country. They were no longer to be -called Gipseys, but New Boors (Uj Magyar); not to converse any longer -with each other in their own language, but in that of any of the -countries in which they had chosen to reside. Some months were to be -allowed, after which time they were to quit their Gipsey manner of life, -and settle, like the other inhabitants, in cities or villages; to build -decent houses, and follow some reputable business. They were to procure -boors’ clothing, to commit themselves to the protection of some -territorial superior, and live regularly. Such as were fit for soldiers, -to be enlisted into regiments.” Nevertheless, although these regulations -were calculated entirely for the good of these people and the state, the -greatest part were not in the smallest degree benefited by them. The -effect which was produced gave occasion, in the year 1773, for these -orders not only to be repeated, but made more rigid; and as even this -measure would not answer the end, it was then thought necessary to -proceed to extremity with them. Wherefore it was ordered, That no Gipsey -should have permission to marry, who could not prove himself in condition -to support a wife and children: that from such Gipseys who had families, -the children should be taken away by force, removed from their parents, -relations, and intercourse with the Gipsey race, to have a better -education given them. A beginning was made in some places; and where -they would not comply voluntarily, they were compelled to submit to the -decree. At Fahlendorf in Schütt, and in the district of Pressburg, all -the children of the New Boors (Gipseys) above five years old, were -carried away in waggons during the night of the 21st of December, 1773, -by overseers appointed for that purpose; in order that, at a distance -from their parents or relations, they might be more usefully educated, -and become accustomed to work. Those boors who were willing to receive -and bring up these children, were paid eighteen guilders yearly from -government. On the 24th of April, 1774, between five and six o’clock in -the morning, the children of the Gipseys, which had been growing up from -December of the foregoing year, were again removed from Fahlendorf in -Schütt and Hideghid, for the purpose of being put under the same course -of discipline as the others. Among the children taken away on this -occasion, was a girl fourteen years old, who was forced to submit to be -carried off in her bridal state. She tore her hair for grief and rage, -and was quite beside herself with agitation: but she recovered a composed -state of mind; and, in 1776, in Fasching, obtained permission to -accomplish her marriage. - -So far our intelligence quoted from the Gazettes; by which we may see how -prudently every thing was concerted. It is true, the means here used are -compulsory; but such measures were necessary, and the only ones capable -of insuring success. Moreover, it may at the same time be observed, -although the publisher of this information endeavours to conceal it, how -little these salutary regulations were put in force: there were scarcely -two places in the kingdom, where even an endeavour was made to give them -proper effect. This supineness must have been unknown to the emperor -Joseph, or he would certainly have again enforced them, to all chiefs and -governors, at the same time that he gave orders for their being observed -in Transylvania. - -The tenor of the decree just mentioned, which was published in the year -1782, was consonant with the intention of Theresa with regard to the -Hungarian Gipseys, namely, that those also in Transylvania should become -better men, and more useful inhabitants. For the accomplishment of -which, it prohibits their wandering about and living under tents; -requires that they become settled, and put themselves under some -territorial chief. In order to strike immediately at the root of the -evil, necessary and minute directions are given for the improvement of -their religious ideas and opinions, and, by correcting their vicious -habits, for rendering them good citizens. First, with respect to -religion, they must - - 1. Not only be taught the principles of religion themselves, but send - their children early to school: - - 2. Prevent, as much as possible, their children from running about - naked, in the house, the roads, and streets, thereby giving offense and - disgust to other people: - - 3. In their dwellings, not permit their children to sleep - promiscuously by each other, without distinction of sex: - - 4. Diligently attend at church, particularly on Sundays and holidays, - to give proof of their Christian disposition: - - 5. Put themselves under the guidance of spiritual teachers, and - conduct themselves conformably to the rules laid down by them. - -Secondly, with regard to their temporal conduct and better mode of -living, they are bound - - 1. To conform to the custom of the country, in diet, dress, and - language: consequently to abstain from feeding on cattle which have - died of distempers; not to go about in such unseemly dresses; and to - discontinue the use of their own particular language: - - 2. Not to appear any more in large cloaks, which are chiefly useful to - hide things that have been stolen. - - 3. No Gipsey, except he be a goldwasher, shall keep a horse: also the - goldwashers - - 4. Must refrain from all kinds of bartering at the annual fairs. - - 5. The magistrates of every place must be very attentive, that no - Gipsey waste his time in idleness: but at those seasons when they have - no employment, either for themselves or any landholder, recommend them - to some other person, with whom they shall be compelled to work for - hire. - - 6. They are to be kept, particularly, to agriculture; therefore - - 7. It is to be observed, where possible, that every territorial lord - who takes any Gipseys under his jurisdiction, do allot them a certain - piece of ground to cultivate: - - 8. Whoever is remiss in his husbandry, shall be liable to corporal - punishment: - - 9. They shall only be permitted to amuse themselves with music, or - other things, when there is no field work to be done. - -Such were the regulations wisely adopted by the emperor Joseph, for the -purpose of civilising, and rendering good and profitable citizens, -upwards of eighty thousand miserable wretches, ignorant of God and -virtue. It must be regretted that similar measures have not been used in -the other countries of Europe, where these people still remain wandering -in error, and scarcely deserving to be considered as human beings. - - - - -SECTION II. -ON THE ORIGIN OF THE GIPSEYS. - - -CHAPTER I. - - -_The first Appearance of Gipseys in Europe_. - -NO record is to be found, stating in what year, or in what part of -Europe, Gipseys made their first appearance. But it is to be premised, -what will afterwards be investigated, that they did not originate in our -quarter of the globe; on the contrary, that they strayed hither, as -oriental strangers, either from Egypt, Asia Minor, or some other part: we -shall then examine, whether it be not possible, by means of what is -related in old writings concerning the first observance of them in -different countries, to follow the track so as to ascertain where and -when they first set foot on European ground. - -Mention is made of them in Germany so early as the year 1417, when they -appeared in the vicinity of the North Sea. A year afterwards we find -them also in Switzerland and the country of the Grisons. In 1422 they -likewise appeared in Italy. It is unknown what was the earliest period -at which they were observed in France and Spain: but their appearance in -these countries must have been of later date than in Germany, as is -proved in respect to France, by the name Bohemians, which they bear -there. In regard to Spain, Cordova, in order to contradict some surmises -about the Gipseys’ mother country, uses the argument, that they were -known in Germany prior to either Spain or Italy. The French make the -first mention of them in 1427, when they straggled about Paris, having -arrived there on the 17th day of August in that year. - -From what country did they come into Germany?—Muratori thinks, from -Italy: but how unfounded this opinion is, appears clearly from their -coming to that country after they had been in Germany. The Bologna -Chronicle ascertains the time when Italy became acquainted with these -people. The horde therein mentioned, which arrived in that city on the -18th of July, 1422, consisted of about a hundred men; whose leader’s, or -(as they called him) duke’s, name, was Andreas. They travelled from -Bologna to Forli, intending to proceed to pay the Pope a visit at Rome. -Muratori founds his judgment on this chronicle, not knowing that Gipseys -are spoken of in the German prints five years earlier. - -Still less true is what Majolus asserts, that they came from Spain, and -first entered the German territories in the year 1492, when they were -driven out of Spain by Ferdinand the Catholic. Hungary is certainly the -country whence they came into Germany. Not only the time confirms this -conjecture, as we find them in Hungary in 1417, the very same year in -which they were first observed in Germany, but Aventin expressly mentions -Hungary among the countries from which he supposes them to come. - -In this state our examination rests, in regard to whether they came -immediately into Germany, or first appeared stationary in some other -place. - -That Poland should be the country which harboured the first Gipseys, and -that they spread thence into Wallachia, Transylvania, and other -countries, is a mere arbitrary surmise. The writer (J. G. Eccard) who -advances this opinion, appeals to Münster’s intelligence, but that does -not contain a syllable in confirmation of it. Others, with the greatest -confidence, maintain that Wallachia and Moldavia, where they also -wandered about in 1417, are the places in which they made their first -appearance in Europe. Cantemir, on the contrary, is very undecided, -saying, “Whence, or at what time, this nation arrived in Moldavia, -neither do they know themselves nor is there any mention made in our -annual publications.” However, the second opinion seems to approach very -near the truth, but does not point out the particular province in which -the Gipseys were first observed;—Of what use would that be? But one -information, compared with other circumstances, is of so much assistance -here, that we may, without hesitation, pronounce Turkey to be the country -whence these eastern guests found their way to us. This is -probable—First, because Aventin expressly makes Turkey their original -place of rendezvous: secondly, as this explains why the south-east parts -of Europe are most crowded with Gipseys, as before stated (vide p. 7). -It happened in Turkey, as in every other place through which they passed, -that many of these wanderers remained behind; now, as all that came to -Europe passed by this route, whether at once or in different divisions, -it was possible, indeed a necessary consequence, that a greater number -should continue here, than in the different countries where their hordes -were much divided and diminished. - -The time when they arrived, has been as little certified, as the -particular place where they landed. Perhaps, the before-quoted chronicle -of Bologna may afford some insight into this matter. It relates, as -appears by the context, from the mouth of the leader of the horde which -it describes, that these people had been five years wandering about in -the world, previously to their arrival at Bologna. Now, if this account -is to be depended on, they cannot have arrived in Europe earlier than the -year 1417. But before attaching credit to this relation, we are to -consider, whether the author of it be deserving of credit. To place any -confidence in Gipsey narrations, in general, would be very imprudent; as -there are too many proofs that their sayings are mere nonsense, and -contradictory prattle: but the case in question seems to be an exception. -All the inconsistency and falshoods which the Gipseys reported, -concerning whence they came, with the reasons for their wandering, have -an end in view. But with regard to time, if they knew, they are more to -be trusted, as no injury could be expected to result from the knowledge -of a mere date. Now, the inference to be drawn is, that the leader of a -horde might not only know how long he had retired from Egypt, or Asia -Minor, and travelled about in Europe, as the time had been short; but it -may also be supposed, that he said what he knew. In the mean time, we -will compare this cited term, of five years, with other circumstances, -and see whether they make for or against our argument. The first enquiry -would be, Whether there are any earlier authentic accounts of their -appearance in Europe, than 1417? But we do not find such any-where. -{113} The second question to be decided is, Whether, if they were not -seen towards the Black Sea before 1417, they could in one year’s time -have reached the North Sea? This doubt requires little consideration. A -year was quite sufficient for people like the Gipseys, who never tarried -long in a place, to have migrated even far beyond where they were found. -Again, if they were not in Moldavia and Wallachia earlier than the year -1417, and yet appeared during the same year in the neighbourhood of the -North Sea, what great difference would it make if they came from a -province next beyond Moldavia or Wallachia, travelling a few miles -further to arrive at the same place? It is therefore very credible that -1417 was the period of their arrival. - -Although, immediately after their coming into Germany, they spread so -rapidly, that in 1418 their names were recorded in the annual -publications of almost every part of the country, yet particular places -seem to have been favoured by them. Thus, in Bavaria they were not -noticed till 1433; and they must have very quickly withdrawn themselves -from these parts, as six years afterwards it was remarked, as somewhat -new and extraordinary, that in this year (1439) the Gipseys, a pack of -scoundrels, a vagrant gang, were come into that country, with their king, -whose name was Zundl. - -They did not travel together, but in different hordes, each having its -leader, sometimes called count: at other times their leaders were -dignified with the titles of dukes or kings of Lesser Egypt. One horde -which arrived at Augsburgh in 1419, although it consisted of only seventy -men, had even two of these dukes, beside some counts, with them. But -what sort of creatures these great men among the Gipseys were, has been -explained in another place. (Vide p. 72, _& seq._) - -If Stumpf be right, the number of these people must have been very -considerable. Those alone who came into Switzerland in 1718, women and -children included, were estimated at 14000. But here he, or his -authority, seems to have greatly miscounted. It is true, that he -likewise remarks, they did not keep all together, but went about in -separate parties; notwithstanding this, his account is much to be -doubted. By what is to be found concerning particular hordes, there were -none which exceeded one or at most two hundred. That which went to -Augsburgh in 1419 consisted of but seventy men: therefore if they had -been so numerous as Stumpf asserts, there must have been at least a -hundred such hordes dispersed through Switzerland. It was at this time -(1418) that Gipseys were first seen at Zurich; they were a swarm, whose -leader’s name was Michael. Four years had elapsed before they were known -at Basil—part of the very horde of this Michael. Would not some other -tribe have got to Basil before these, if they had been so numerous? -Thomasius adopts this number of 14000 without suspicion, and understands -it to comprehend the whole multitude all over Germany; but then he does -not appear to have quoted Stumpf’s testimony in the sense it was meant. -Many hordes of them must certainly have arrived, as they spread -every-where so prodigiously; but to persist in any nearer investigation -of their numbers, would be only useless trouble. - -Their possessions were, as at present, small, and their whole arrangement -singular; besides which, according to the Eastern custom, they hung -ragged clothes about them, instead of other garments. Their leaders only -were exceptions. Several had horses, asses, or mules, with them, on -which they loaded their tents, and effects, with the whole family into -the bargain. They had also dogs in their train, with which Kranz asserts -they used illegally to destroy game: but probably the dogs were kept not -so much for that purpose, as to take fowls and geese. - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -_On the Sanctity_, _Passports_, _and Difference_, _of the former from the -latter Gipseys_. - -AT the first arrival of the Gipseys in Europe, it was generally believed -that they were Egyptians and pilgrims, constrained to wander on account -of religion. This mistake originated from their own relation; but when -required to give a more circumstantial detail of the reasons for their -pilgrimage, they varied very much from each other. Some of them declared -that they were compelled to make this emigration as an atonement for -their forefathers having, for some time, apostatised from the Christian -faith: others asserted that the king of Hungary had seized their country, -and imposed on them this penance of wandering. A third party represented -that God had signified to them the necessity of this pilgrimage, by an -universal sterility in their country. They supposed this punishment to -have been inflicted on account of sin committed by their ancestors, in -refusing to receive the infant Jesus, when carried by his Mother and -Joseph to Egypt, as an asylum from the persecution of Herod. The term of -their pilgrimage was to be seven years. - -No evidence is necessary to determine that these were mere fables; and it -is astonishing that men should be found to adduce long-winded proofs of -the origin of these people, grounded on no better authority than such -idle tales. We have not now any positive grounds remaining, to shew how -these legends were invented, or what gave rise to them; but the real -truth seems to be merely, that upon being asked whence they came, they -answered from Egypt; and there is no reason existing to deny their having -come from that country. Now priests, monks, or perhaps other people, -might wonder why they should quit a place to which the holy family had -fled for refuge, unless their forefathers had been guilty of some -transgression on that occasion; but, be this as it may, all that could be -said, with regard to the origin of their legends, would be only mere -conjecture. Let it therefore suffice to say, they chose to be considered -everywhere as pilgrims; and this profession met with the more ready -belief, as it coincided with the infatuation of the times. - -The credulity with which people cherished the idea that the Gipseys were -real pilgrims and holy persons was attended with the consequence, that -they were not only tolerated, but, if the information on this head may be -relied on, they everywhere received assistance, with express -safe-conducts. These safe-conducts are mentioned in several old -writings. Münster declares, not merely, in general terms, that they -carried about with them passports and seals from the Emperor Sigismund -and other princes, by means of which they had free passage through -different countries and cities, but that he had himself seen an attested -copy of such a letter, in the possession of some Gipseys at Eberbach. -Besides Kranz, Stumpf, and Guler, Laurentius Palmirenus also agrees in -this statement; but the latter writer is guilty of a mistake, in -confounding the Emperor Sigismund with Sigismund king of Poland. The -Gipseys at Bologna, likewise, shewed an instrument from Sigismund; but he -appears to have granted this to them, not as emperor, and in Germany, but -in Hungary, and as king of Hungary. A pass of another king of Hungary, -Uladislaus II. which the Gipseys obtained chiefly on account of their -supposed sanctity and pilgrimage, might be quoted. They were not -destitute in Transylvania, if it be true, as asserted, that they received -this sort of letters of protection from the princes of the house of -Bathory. Wehner says, that the Gipseys in France likewise quoted ancient -privileges, granted to them by the former kings of that country. -Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions, which these -people acquired, for wandering, unmolested, through all Christian -countries, so long as the time of their pilgrimage lasted. - -This is the information we find, dispersed here and there, concerning the -privileges and passes of the Gipseys. To how much, or how little, are we -to give credit? Thomasius believes every thing as it stands. Ahasuerus -Fritsch, on the contrary, declares all to be lies, and the Gipseys’ own -invention. Appearances are certainly equivocal, as none of these -instruments are even verbally handed down to us, so that they can be -properly proved; except that of Uladislaus II. which does not belong to -this question. Moreover, it has been frequently experienced, that the -Gipseys, using the pretence of such safe-conducts, have committed all -manner of excesses, and when desired to produce them, had either nothing -to shew, or such kind of papers as did not at all resemble what are -usually given from a public office. It cannot be denied that they have -practised deceit, but it is impossible to assert, with certainty, that -the whole was fallacy. If the contents of that passport to be found in -Muratori is conceived in such terms as to allow the horde which possessed -it to wander about seven years, to rob and steal every-where, without any -person being permitted to bring them to justice, such a letter seems to -carry falshood on the very face of it, as no sensible prince could ever -grant such a one. But what shall we say, if it be found that these words -do not so much convey the sense of the instrument, as a crafty -explanation of the author, on recollecting the many irregularities -practised by the Gipseys, who availed themselves of this freedom to -travel about every-where unmolested. Further, with respect to the -passport which Münster perused at Eberbach, although every person must -look upon the reasons given by the Gipseys for their emigration as -fictions, yet we cannot entirely reject it. How could it benefit them, -being old and having lost its validity many years ago? Why did not the -horde to which it belonged carry with them some writing that might afford -them present protection? If they had been guilty of any knavery about -this letter, why was it just of that kind as could only serve, -incontrovertibly, to prove they were cheats? These documents would -certainly not have been found among them, had they not been transmitted, -from their parents and ancestors, as things of value. Supposing this -matter to have been invented by themselves, it is difficult to conceive -why they should confine their privileges to seven years, and not rather -leave them unlimited. But there are other proofs of the authenticity of -such letters. First, they were looked upon as pilgrims; and it was quite -conformable to the custom of those superstitious times to grant to -pilgrims, as holy people, all sorts of passes, and safe-conducts. -Secondly, we must believe that this did happen with the Gipseys, when we -read with what chagrin Aventin mentions their thefts and excesses, -concluding thus: “Robbing and stealing are prohibited to others, under -pain of hanging or beheading, but these people have licence for them.” -When, thirdly, in the decree of the diet at Augsburgh anno 1500, all -ranks of people in the empire are strictly enjoined, in future, not to -permit the people called Gipseys to travel through their countries and -districts, nor to grant them any further ‘protection and convoy,’ it -certainly implies that people had formerly granted them such protection -and convoy. Whoever has still any doubts remaining, may read, fourthly, -in a decree of the empire of fifty years later date, a regular complaint -preferred on account of the passports granted by various princes to the -Gipseys, and which are, by that diet, declared to be null and void. All -these circumstances together will not, it may be presumed, allow the -shadow of a doubt to remain, that such letters of convoy have been really -granted to the Gipseys. {132} - -The Gipseys’ golden age lasted a considerable time; but when about half a -century had elapsed, and people began to look at them with a watchful -eye, the old prejudices gave way. They endeavoured to prolong the term, -by asserting, that their return home was prevented by soldiers stationed -to intercept them, and by wishing to have it believed that new parties of -pilgrims were to leave their country every year, otherwise their land -would be rendered totally barren. All this was of no avail; people saw -too clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of -humanity: upon which followed the sentences of banishment, we have before -mentioned. - -Before we proceed to other matters, it will be proper to say a few words -respecting an assertion in some writings, that the latter Gipseys differ -very widely from those who went about during the first seven years, both -with respect to their conduct and descent. Stumpf, for instance, and -others after him, relate, that these first Gipseys were very orderly and -decent, did no harm to any one, but paid ready money for what they -consumed; for which purpose they received fresh remittances constantly: -and at the expiration of seven years they returned home. Afterwards an -idle desperate crew united, who, when the Gipseys were withdrawn, took -their place; and, by blackening their faces, at the same time using the -like outlandish garments, endeavoured to persuade the world that they -were the identical Egyptians. - -This is all related with so much appearance of veracity, that, at the -first view, no doubt would seem to remain of its truth; wherefore -Thomasius readily adopted the whole, and founded his system about the -Gipseys upon it: but upon closer examination, we shall find that the -statement is totally void of foundation. - -This proceeding, we acknowledge, is recorded in four different annual -publications; but all the four amount to only a single testimony, which -rests entirely upon Stumpf, from whom the other three have drawn their -assertions. Let it remain, as Thomasius will have it, an old manuscript -account or chronicle; it is still evident that the favourable description -of the ancient Gipseys originates from the same prejudice as first -produced their passports. And even these passports may have contributed -to recommend the first Gipseys. They have had so much effect on -Thomasius, that all the good he has given the above-mentioned primitive -Gipseys credit for, has been principally owing to them. - -When Stumpf, or rather his authority, mentions, with other circumstances, -that the earlier Gipseys received remittances from time to time out of -their own country, it was a necessary addition, to support the editor’s -opinion: as the reader, who was to believe that these people did not -steal, but paid money for every thing they wanted, would have been -sceptical had he not been informed beforehand where the money came from, -in order to provide for their necessities, in an honest way, during the -term of seven years. - -With regard to the latter Gipseys, they were certainly lineal descendants -from the former: who were undoubtedly, equally with these, thieves, -cheats, and vagrants. The uprightness and honesty falsely allowed to the -Gipseys, in the manuscript chronicle which Stumpf copied, might, even -before Stumpf’s time, have induced the continuator of this chronicle to -believe, on finding his cotemporary Gipseys lived very differently from -what had been represented of their predecessors, that the former were not -the true Egyptians: he accordingly wrote down his surmise, not by way of -conjecture, but as positive truth, and Stumpf, in his Annual Register, -afterwards quoted it as such. Whoever does not allow this, but considers -the latter Gipseys in the light that Stumpf represents them, must be -ready to answer, when called upon to solve, the following doubt:—How was -it possible that a collection of rascals assembled in Europe, supposing -that with respect to complexion and clothing they should be able to -transform themselves into real Gipseys, could at once acquire foreign -countenances, speak a foreign language, and, both in constitution and -turn of mind, become perfectly oriental; and at the same time contract a -taste and desire for carrion, which remain with them to this day? It -cannot be denied but that some depraved people have associated themselves -with the Gipseys: but particular instances are not proofs of general -maxims. - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -_Presumed Origin of the Gipseys_. - -IT would be equally useless, prolix, and revolting, to reconsider the -multitude of conjectures which the questions—“What race of people are the -Gipseys?” and—“Where are we to look for their true mother country?” have -occasioned. The greatest part of them are of such a nature, that they -need only be heard to be totally rejected. We shall nevertheless produce -some examples, as an excuse for passing over the rest in silence. - -Various conjectures have been formed, and coincidences have been searched -for, to obtain a solution of these queries. Some persons adverted to -this or that name only of the Gipseys, without attending to other -circumstances. Because they were likewise called Gipseys (_Cingani_), -they must immediately derive their origin from the Grecian heretics, -called Athingans: then again they must have wandered from the African -province formerly called Zeugitana. {137} Another time they are supposed -to be the fugitives driven from the city Singara, in Mesopotamia, by -Julian the Apostate: others again transplanted them to Mount Caucasus, -and made them Zochori; or to the Palus Mæotis, making them descendants -from the Ziches. {138} Some people imagined that instead of Zigeuner, -they should be called Zigarener, which they thought a corruption of -Saracener, and they must certainly be Saracens. Another writer (to -return to Africa) conducts them from the Mauritanian province Tingitane, -and supposes them to be the Canaanites, who, being driven out by Joshua, -settled here. Still another brings them from Mauritania, and, to -corroborate his opinion by the name, calls them descendants of Chus; as -he thinks nothing can have a greater affinity in sound, than Zigeuner and -Chusener. Herbelot judges the coast of Zengebar to be their mother -country. Bellonius, on the contrary, looks for them in Bulgaria and -Wallachia, where their ancestors are said to have lived, under the name -Sigynner. Cordova stumbled on Zigere, formerly a city of Thrace, which -he assigns as their native soil. Some people fancied they had heard that -the Gipseys called themselves More, and often used the name _amori_ among -one another (not _amori_, but _Discha more_—Get out, fellow!) and now -they are Amorites! - -Another party, besides this or that appellation for the Gipseys, -considered their unsettled way of life, or selected some particular -circumstance from their manners, by which they decided concerning their -origin. Wherefore they were sometimes torlaques, faquirs, or kalendars; -{139} sometimes the remains of Attila’s Huns, at other times the Avari, -who were vanquished by Charles the Great: then again Petschenegers, who -played their last stake in the twelfth century; or perhaps a mixture of -all kinds of rascally people gathered together, having collectively no -certain country, as their name _Zigeuner_ indicates, signifying, ‘to -wander up and down;’—for which reason, it is said, our German ancestors -denominated every strolling vagrant Zichegan. By several writers they -have been thought inhabitants of the Alps and Pyrenées; others suppose -them to be Cain’s descendants, who, on account of the curse denounced -against their stock, have been compelled to lead a wandering vagrant -life. Because they pretend to tell fortunes, some have supposed them to -be Chaldeans, or some Syrian religious sect. Brodæus formed his judgment -from their clothes, in which he thought he discovered a resemblance to -the Roman toga; and thence he imagined they were natives of Wallachia, -descendants from the colony sent by Trajan into Dacia to keep this -newly-conquered country steady in its allegiance. And, according to his -assertion, people in Germany do really call them _Wahlen_ (he writes -_Walachen_), that is to say, _Italians_. - -All these opinions are merely conjecture; it would therefore be useless -to proceed with the list of them: but it may be proper to cite a few -which seem to have a greater appearance of probability. Let us begin -with Wagenseil. He considers the Gipseys to be German Jews; who about -the middle of the fourteenth century, to escape the dreadful persecution -which raged against them all over Europe, especially in Germany, secreted -themselves in forests, {141} deserts, and subterraneous caverns. In -these hiding-places they remained above half a century, not making their -appearance again till the period of the Hussites: as the Hussish heresy -then engrossed the public attention, with regard to the Jews all was -safe. But not daring to declare themselves, they fell on the device of -saying, that their respect for the Mosaic law would not permit them to -become Christians, at the same time styling themselves, in general terms, -Egyptian pilgrims. Those who did not yet know what they were, nor whence -they came, from their wandering about (_einherzichen_) called them -Gipseys (_Zigeuner_). To establish this supposition respecting the -origin of the Gipseys, he refers to their language, which he says is a -mixture of German and Hebrew, quoting, in proof of his assertion, near -fifty words, which are evidently Hebrew. He then asks, Whence should the -Gipseys have gotten so many Hebrew words into their language, if they -were not Jews; at a time too when Hebrew was unknown to all other -nations?—This opinion bears infinitely more the appearance of truth, than -any one of those before cited. It must also have been deemed -incontrovertible by the learned author, as he mentions it, in the -introduction to his treatise, with great confidence, and as much -self-congratulation as if he had discovered the philosopher’s-stone. -Notwithstanding all this, the confutation is so short and easy, that very -few words are sufficient to overturn the whole system; which rests -entirely on the language:—the words quoted are taken from a gibberish -vocabulary; but gibberish is not the Gipsey language. . . . What relates -to the Jewish persecution is very just; but all the rest are mere, and -frequently inconsistent, conjectures, founded on it by the learned -writer. - -A later opinion is, that the Gipseys are a horde of Tartars, which -separated from the multitude under Timur, when he invaded western Asia, -about the year 1401. The supposed proofs are:—First, because the Mongols -(Mongols and Tartars are here reckoned one and the same people) are just -as nomadic as the Gipseys. Secondly, because these have sometimes -declared themselves to be Tartars. Thirdly, because the Gipsey king -mentioned by Aventin, whose name was Zundel or Zindelo, a Mongol chan, -was a descendant from the great Zingis: as Zindelo is a very easy change -from Zingis. Fourthly, because among the several states into which the -Mongol empire was divided after the death of Zingis, one was called -Dsongar, and the members of it Dsongari, which agrees perfectly with -Zingari. Fifthly, because the Tartar and Gipsey languages have a great -affinity to each other; for during a late war between Russia and the -Porte, a commander of Crim Tartars, by name Devlet Gueray, signalised -himself very much; and this Devlet is perhaps derived from Devla, the -Gipsey appellation for the Deity, and may be a name under which the -Tartars reverence any thing respectable. Sixthly, and lastly, because -the time of Timur’s expedition agrees very well with the first appearance -of the Gipseys.—This is an opinion founded on six points; and one might -add, in further conformation of it, that this hypothesis will reasonably -determine how the Gipseys, such poor wretches in general, came to be so -well stored with gold and silver at their first arrival in Europe, as -Stumpf and others assert. If they were part of Timur’s followers, it was -very likely to be plunder taken from the people they had conquered. - -Of all these grounds, that adduced from the favourable concurrence of -chronological events has the most weight, but proves neither more nor -less than the bare possibility of the thing. With respect to the first -point, it is not so clearly established. The Tartars are herdsmen, and -the quality of the pasture for their cattle implies a fixed residence. -Gipseys, on the contrary, are ignorant as to tending cattle, nor have -they the smallest idea about breeding them. Further, whether they are -Tartars, because they represent themselves as such, or have been declared -such by other people; whether Zindelo is a Mongol chan, because his name -is easily derived from Zingis; whether the language of the Tartars bears -a near affinity to that of the Gipseys, because a native of Tartary was -found whose name, Devlet, is perhaps derived from the Gipsey word Devla, -and as that word among the Gipseys signifies God, it may possibly among -the Tartars signify something like it;—all this must be left to the -reader’s discretion. If such assertions are admitted for proofs, then -the Gipseys must be Bohemians, because they are called so in France. -Thus Chiflet must have been of Gipsey or Tartar descent, because his name -may possibly be derived from Devla or Devlet. The Franks, too, are -probably derived from the Trojans, because Pharamond, their king’s name, -may be formed from Priamus. Dsongari and Zingari compared with each -other do coincide, except that the latter is only the Latin termination -given by the learned. But, besides all this, if the Gipseys must be -Tartars at all events, where are the Tartars’ broad faces?—Where is their -courage?—Where are the zealous religious principles with which the -Tartars honour the Deity, and, upon occasion, fight for him? Finally, -with regard to language, this contradicts rather than supports the -opinion we are discussing. The language of the Tartars is Turkish; that -of the Gipseys is quite different, as will be hereafter proved. - -As these and the like arguments rather controvert the Tartar origin of -the Gipseys, so can we as little agree with Mr. Pray, in supposing them -to be [Tartars] of Asia Minor, from the Countries of the ancient Zichen, -whose name the Gipseys are said to bear; nor with an older writer, -Ekhard, who contends that they are Circassians, terrified from their -habitations by Timur’s Mongols. Mr. Pray brings nothing further in -support of his surmise, than the similarity of sound in the names -Zigianer (Zichen or properly Zygier) and Zigeuner; together with the -circumstance, that the latter appeared among us soon after Timur’s -expedition into Asia Minor. Ekhard, on the contrary, who in like manner -unites the names Zigeuner and Circassier—by endeavouring to prove that -these, as possessors of the countries belonging to the Zichen, were by -authors indifferently styled Circassier, Zygier, and Zichen—adds -moreover, that the Circassian complexion was a brown yellow, exactly like -that of the Gipseys; that they both suffer their hair to hang loose over -the shoulders; that in their diet and clothes they are both equally -dirty; and lastly, that among the Circassians, you meet with astrology, -and all kinds of witchcraft, precisely the same as among the Gipseys. -But this comparison, were it even better founded than it is, would only -prove that you may make what you please of the Gipseys. Upon the same -ground, they might just as well be supposed to be allied to the people of -Otaheite, or any other uncivilised nation in any quarter of the globe. -And yet the author draws this conclusion from it, that one egg is not -more like another than the Circassian and the Gipsey; and he may -confidently assert, that all who before his time have been of a different -opinion, were mistaken. - -We ought long ago to have spoken of the reputed Egyptian descent of the -Gipseys; but as that has been a very current, and almost universally -received, opinion, it merits a chapter by itself. - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -_On the Egyptian Descent of the Gipseys_. - -THE belief that Gipseys are of Egyptian origin, is parallel with the -existence of these people in Europe. It arose from the report circulated -by the first of them who arrived here that they were pilgrims from Egypt; -and this statement has not only been universally adopted by the common -people, but has also, here and there, obtained credit among men of -learning. Had this opinion not been received at a time when every thing -was taken upon trust without examination; had it not been propagated -every-where by the first Gipseys, and obtained the sanction of time in -following ages; it would have been impossible for it to have gained such -general acceptation, or to have maintained itself even to the latest -times. - -Till the seventeenth century, the Egyptian descent of the Gipseys rested -entirely on tradition. Thomasius was the first who endeavoured to -establish this matter on satisfactory evidence. Those who, since him, -have supported the same opinion, are principally the Englishman Salmon; -and, lately, Signor Griselini. Before their vouchers are produced, it -will be proper to mention that Thomasius speaks only of the Gipseys who -travelled about Europe during the first seven years after their arrival; -for he thinks that, after seven years were elapsed, these, excepting a -very few, returned home again, and after their retreat the present set -was produced, as has been already described. In this particular, he -differs entirely from the other two writers, making the latter Gipseys a -distinct race of people from those who first arrived. On the contrary, -Salmon, as well as Griselini, consider the Gipseys that are now wandering -in Europe, and with truth, as lineal descendants of the former, -consequently bring them all from Egypt. - -Thomasius says: “The first Gipseys never would allow themselves to be any -people but Egyptians; asserting always, that the Lesser Egypt was their -mother country: and they deserve credit, as they were an honourable -worthy set of people.” One observation will be sufficient in -reply:—Among the oldest writers who, prior to Stumpf, mention the -Gipseys, not one seems to be acquainted with their worth. But Thomasius -himself discovered the weakness of his first argument, and therefore -hastens to another. “Be this as it may,” he proceeds, “they were in the -earliest times, when doubtless something more certain was extant, always -looked upon as Egyptians: so that it does not become us, who live two -hundred years later, positively to reject what was at that time generally -assented to.” Our author was not aware that this kind of reasoning -proves too much; for by the same mode of arguing, every antiquated error, -every ridiculous superstition, may be defended. If this be admitted, -Satan gets his cloven foot again, of which modern unbelief had bereft -him. Thus, Christian Thomasius acted unjustifiably when he laid violent -hands on witches and sorcerers, and put an end to their existence, though -credited from the highest antiquity. Thomasius imagines there were other -proofs, beside the Gipseys’ own assertions, that they were Egyptians; -this supposition, however, not only has nothing to support it, but is -openly contradicted by Aventin, Kranz, and Münster. It is not -authenticated because the chronicles universally mention it as a saying -of the Gipseys, whenever they speak of their coming from Egypt. It is -confuted by Aventin, who rejects their Egyptian descent; at the same time -he alledges, that they wished to be thought from that country. In his -time, nothing was known concerning them, but what came from their own -mouths: and those who thought them Egyptians, rested their belief -entirely on the veracity of their informants. This is collected with -greater certainty from Kranz and Münster; for these declare expressly, -that every thing which could be discovered, by any other means than their -own assertions, contradicted rather than confirmed their Egyptian -descent. Yet Thomasius has more proofs; he cites the resemblance between -the Gipseys and the inhabitants of the Lesser Egypt, whence they say they -came. But many people lay this difficulty in his way, that the name of -Lesser Egypt is not to be found in any system of geography, but is a mere -invention of the Gipseys. He rests his opinion on that of Vulcanius, who -looks upon Nubia to be the Lesser Egypt, and thinks, for what reason does -not appear, that the Nubians themselves called their country by that -name. These are the similarities:—Nubians, as well as Gipseys, confess -themselves Christians; both lead a wandering life, and both are of a dark -brown complexion: to which some resemblances in shape between the Gipseys -and Egyptians are introduced in general terms. Whether there be any -affinity in their languages he leaves undetermined, because, he says, he -knows nothing about it. That the name of Zigeuner is the same as -Egyptian, and the former is derived from the latter, he proves in the -following ingenious manner: “The Spaniards—who, instead of Egyptaner, -call them Gitanos—have cut off the first syllable. Our forefathers, who -exceeded the Spaniards in the art of mangling names, have rejected two -syllables, and, instead of Egyptianer, first called them Cianer, -afterwards, in order to fill up the chasm between _i_ and _a_, Ciganer. -Further, as we, instead of Italianer, say Italiener, we have also changed -Ciganer into Cigener; and at last, as people in Upper Germany are very -fond of diphthongs, Cigeuner, or Zigeuner, has been produced.” Now, if -any thing can be proved by all this, in the same manner the several -opinions quoted in the former chapter are likewise established. And yet, -after all, who will say, that, instead of Egyptier, Egyptianer, whence -Cianer, Ciganer, and thus progressively through all the changes, Zigeuner -may be produced? With regard to the denomination of Lesser Egypt, ranked -under the list of Gipsey fables, and brought as evidence to overset -Thomasius’s system, because Egypt never was divided into Greater and -Smaller, it is nevertheless a true geographical name, though certainly -not to be found in the treatises on geography: it however appears in the -title of a Turkish emperor. A declaration of war, made by Achmet IV. -against John Casimir, king of Poland, in 1652, begins with the following -words: “I sultan, a king and son of the Turkish emperor, a soldier of the -God of the Greeks and Babylonians—_king of the Greater and Lesser -Egypt_.” The Gipseys have therefore, in this instance, been falsely -accused of a fiction: but whether by this Lesser Egypt, Lower Egypt be -understood, cannot be determined. - -Salmon believes the Gipseys to be Mamelukes, who were obliged to quit -Egypt in 1517, when the Turkish emperor conquered this country, and -thereby put an end to the Circassian government. They are reputed to -have acquired the name of Zigeuner, or in the Turkish language Zinganies, -from a Captain Zinganeus, who was very active in opposing the Turks. How -all this is proved, will best appear from his own words: “They had no -occasion for any testimony to shew they were of Egyptian descent. The -blackness of their skin clearly indicated from what part they came. What -confirms me, in my belief of this intelligence, concerning the origin of -the Gipseys, is an act of Parliament, passed in the twenty-seventh year -of the reign of Henry VIII.—that is, fourteen years after the victory -obtained by Selim emperor of the Turks over Egypt—in which are the -following words: _Whereas certain outlandish people_, _who do not profess -any craft or trade_, _whereby to maintain themselves_; _but go about_, -_in great numbers_, _from place to place_, _using insidious underhand -means to impose on his Majesty’s subjects_, _making them believe that -they understand the art of foretelling to men and women their good or ill -fortune_, _by looking in their hands_, _whereby they frequently defraud -people of their money_; _likewise are guilty of thefts and highway -robberies_: _it is hereby ordered_, _that __the said vagrants_, _commonly -called Egyptians_, _in case they remain one month in the kingdom_, _shall -be proceeded against as thieves and rascals_, _and on the importation of -any such Egyptian_, _he_ (_the importer_) _shall forfeit_ 40_l._ . . . -_for every trespass_.” He then quotes another act, passed during the -reign of Queen Elizabeth, wherein the Gipseys are also called Egyptians. - -From the blackness of their skins, therefore, with the official use of -the name Egyptian, Salmon first draws the inference that they were really -Egyptians: then, because the first decree published against the Gipseys -in England was fourteen years after Selim’s conquest of Egypt, that they -were Mamelukes. There is not any connection to be discovered in either -conclusion. The Parliament used in the act the word Egyptian, because it -was universally current in England. Whether the Gipseys were Egyptians -or not, was a question of learning, totally irrelevant with the intention -of the order; nor could it be determined by any juridical decree. - -There is still less reason for supposing them Mamelukes who had travelled -from Egypt on its being taken by Selim in 1517, and tracing their name -from one of their leaders: as both they and their name were known in -Europe at least a hundred years preceding the fall of Gäwry; or before -Tumanbai, the latest hope of the Mamelukes, was hanged. {154} - -Griselini advances numerous reasons in support of his opinion, and would -certainly go a great way towards determining the Egyptian origin of the -Gipseys, if, as in most investigations, more did not depend upon the -quality than the number of the proofs. Yet he does not suppose them to -be genuine Egyptians; and for this reason, because the greatest number of -those resemblances which he has sought between Egyptians and Gipseys, -intended to prove the latter descended from the former, are not -applicable to the question. Besides, he finds himself under the -necessity of looking for foreign helps; and what he cannot make coincide -with the Egyptians, he meets with among the Ethiopians and Troglodytes: -these he introduces promiscuously, kneads the whole together, and -determines the Gipseys to be a mixture of Ethiopians, Egyptians, and -Troglodytes. This very circumstance, even before his reasons are -considered, renders the matter very suspicious. By the same means, it -would not be very difficult to shew that the Italians are, in part, on -account of their nastiness, Ostiacks; in part, because of their -superstition, and admiration of magnificent edifices, Egyptians; and -lastly, in part, for their dastardly treacherous revenge, Chinese. - -Griselini begins his comparisons with the disposition of the Gipseys. He -says,— - - “They are inclined to melancholy, and are desperate in the first - emotions of their anger:—Ammianus Marcellinus describes the - Egyptians, of his time, in nearly the same terms. - - “With regard to religion,” he proceeds, “the Gipseys of the Banat - always conform to that which prevails in the village, be it the - Roman-catholic or the Illyrian Greek. They have not the least - comprehension of either; in which ignorance they perfectly resemble - the Wallachians—except that they observe the strict fasts of the - Greek church with more exactness. The Wallachians separate from - their wives only during the last days of the great fasts: the - Gipseys, on the contrary, avoid their society from the beginning to - the end; also on the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin, in Advent, and - especially all vigils.—Apuleius, and other writers of antiquity, take - particular notice of the Egyptian fasts, whose strictness consisted - chiefly in this, that the man held himself obliged to refrain from - his consort’s bed. - - “But, beside these solemn fasts, the Gipseys of the Banat observe a - degree of temperance, and a choice in their diet, even on those days - when all kinds of food are permitted. They abstain from frogs and - tortoises; wherein they accord with the Wallachians, Räizes, and - other Christians of the Greek church. Moreover, they refrain from - some kinds of river fish, viz. the red-scaled bream, perch, and - lampreys; of which it is known that, among the Egyptians, the race of - Likopolis and Tagaroriopolis refused to taste. The Gipseys are - adverse to all feathered game, and particularly to birds of prey. - The stork, when he deigns to build on their wretched huts, is highly - esteemed by them:—one of these birds, like its relation ibis, was an - object of worship, with other symbolical Egyptian deities. - - “Of four-footed animals, the Gipseys are most fond of swine’s flesh, - particularly salted.—The Egyptians likewise consumed a great number - of these creatures, though they looked upon their herds and keepers - to be unclean. - - “The Gipseys hang up large onions in their dwellings, but do not eat - them.—Besides that the Egyptians honoured them, as well as many other - vegetables, we are informed by Diodorus Siculus, that by the - regulations relating to diet, observed in the different Egyptian - provinces, onions were prohibited in some, but allowed in others. - - “Like the old Egyptians, the Gipseys cannot bear the smell of beans; - although their neighbours, the Wallachians, eat them with pleasure. - - “When I was at Denta, in the district of Csakowa, curiosity led me - into a Gipsey hut. The first object which arrested my attention was - a young man covered with the itch, whose mother was feeding him with - the boiled flesh of a small snake, on a dirty earthen plate.—In the - same manner the Egyptians used the flesh of snakes, as the mildest - and most effectual remedy for the elephantiasis. - - “It is well known that, even to this day, fowls and others of the - feathered tribe are hatched by art in Egypt.—I must confess I was not - a little surprised when, in July, 1775, I went into a Gipsey hut - before Karansebes, to find an old woman engaged in hatching geese and - ducks eggs, in horse-dung. This was exactly the method of the old - Egyptians. - - “From all which has hitherto been produced, as well as that the - Gipseys of the Banat, and others dispersed over the rest of Europe, - declare themselves to be from Egypt, it is highly probable that they - are of Egyptian origin. But see a nearer resemblance. So long ago - as in Ælian’s time, the Egyptians were famous for their patience in - enduring all kinds of torture; and would rather expire on the rack, - than be brought to confession; which is a striking trait in the - character of the Gipseys. When this equivocal means of learning the - truth, the torture, was practised in the imperial royal hereditary - dominions, several instances may be remembered of the Gipseys - suffering themselves to be torn to pieces sooner than acknowledge - crimes, even when the magistrates had the most indisputable proofs of - them.” - -Thus far has been to prove the Egyptian descent of the Gipseys. What -follows is against it; and, from the similarity of their condition, is to -convince us that they are of Æthiopian and Troglodytish origin. - - “According to the most authentic writers, the Egyptians were - solicitous to build themselves convenient habitations. They lived - decently; and their attention to cleanliness, in the observance of - certain rules of health, was so general, that even the peasants, and - the lowest classes of people in the nation, were no exception to - it.—The residences of the Gipseys in the Banat present a very - different picture. . . . Miserable dwellings, consisting, partly of - thorns and straw packed together, and partly of holes, ten or twelve - feet deep, dug in the earth. Taken in this point of view, the - Gipseys have more the appearance of being related to the hordes of - Æthiopians and Troglodytes. - - “Among the ancient Egyptians, agriculture was in high esteem; as it - still is among the present Copts, their true descendants.—The - Gipseys, on the contrary, are the worst, and most careless farmers: - another argument for their being Ethiopians and Troglodytes. - - “These and other African hordes, employ themselves in collecting gold - out of the river sand;—in like manner, the Marosch, Nera, and other - streams, have induced the Gipseys to become goldwashers. - - “An inclination for strolling, to which the Egyptians were so very - adverse, is the particular propensity of the Gipseys in general; nor - are those of the Banat exempt from it. - - “The more artful, particularly of the other sex, go about from house - to house, where they tell fortunes, cast nativities, discover thefts, - and pretend they possess remedies, to which they ascribe wonders and - infallible cures. These nostrums consist, chiefly, of roots, - amulets, certain small stones . . . mostly a kind of scoriæ.—Among - the Egyptians, likewise, such impostors rambled up and down. These - were Ethiopians by descent, who carried on a similar trade. - - “From the last considerations, compared with the former, one would be - inclined rather to deduce the origin of the Gipseys from the - Ethiopians and Troglodytes, than from the Egyptians. But what I am - going to add, will make it more probable that they are a mixture of - all the three nations. {161} - - “It is well known that people of both sexes, calling themselves - Egyptian priests and priestesses, were, in ancient times, scattered - through Italy, Greece, and all the provinces of the Roman empire: - where they not only introduced the worship of the goddess Isis, but - wandered from place to place, begged, and professed the same kinds of - ingenuity in which the Gipseys of the Banat, and the rest of their - brethren dispersed over Europe, are so thoroughly versed. These said - priests and priestesses, which Apuleius ironically calls _magnæ - religionis sidera_, not only knocked at people’s doors, in Rome, with - their sistris, but even had the skill to persuade the common people, - that to refuse them alms and to commit sacrilege were equally - heinous. They even went so far as to threaten those who slighted - them, in the name of their goddess Isis, to strike them with - blindness, or the tympany (_hydrops tympanites_).—Aventin says, the - Gipseys could so terrify the people in Bavaria, with the like - threats, that they suffered themselves to be robbed by them with - impunity. Likewise in the Banat, the women, particularly, are heard - to vent the most horrid curses and imprecations if they are - reprimanded, or not paid for their calculations of nativities, - singing, or fortune-telling. - - “The licentiousness and immorality of the Gipseys are extreme. In - early youth, when yet young girls, they exhibit themselves, with - their dances, before every person from whom they expect any present; - and these dances always end in lascivious attitudes and shameful - gestures. In like manner, the ordinary women in Egypt used to dance - at their orgies, especially at the feast of Bubostes, and the - procession of Canopus. The like scenes appeared at Rome, among the - wives, daughters, and sponsors of the priests of Isis, agreeably to - the mysteries of that goddess.” - -Griselini now comes to the point:—To what nation did these priests and -priestesses belong? And when did their emigration happen? - - “It was after the time of Augustus,” he says, “that they began to - wander through the different parts of Europe; in every district of - which, they endeavoured to disseminate the worship of Isis. - - “They practised astrology, and other kinds of superstitious - impositions, with all sorts of vagrants’ tricks, in nearly the same - manner as the Gipseys of our age deceive people. - - “Now it is known that the Egyptian priests had stated incomes, from - appropriated lands; which circumstance attached them to their native - country: and hence they hated an unsettled life. Neither did they - desire to make proselytes; and strangers, who wished to be initiated - into the rites and mysteries of Isis, were obliged to submit to be - circumcised;—this ceremony was indispensable: on the contrary, the - before-mentioned priests of Isis wandering about the Roman provinces, - never mentioned a word of circumcision to their new converts. Very - sensible critics have produced palpable evidence that they were - Ethiopians and Troglodytes, who could the more easily pass for - Egyptians, as their features, persons, customs, and religion, were - the same. - - “Of all the writers who mention these emigrations, from Egypt, into - Italy, Greece, and every part of the globe which was known in the - time of the Romans, I shall refer only to Heliodorus. It was very - possible that, sometimes, real Egyptians who had been driven by - misfortunes from their native country, or perhaps some of the very - lowest rank of people who had nothing to lose, might be mixed with - these wanderers. From this mixture of Ethiopians, Troglodytes, and - Egyptians, then, sprang a distinct wandering race, which partakes, in - some measure, of all the three nations; and from which, according to - the foregoing observations, we may reasonably conclude the Gipseys of - our time to be descended; as in all of them we discover, sometimes - the Troglodyte, sometimes the Ethiopian, and sometimes the Egyptian. - - “That no mention is made of them in the Hungarian yearly publications - before the year 1417, is by no means a proof that they were not known - long before, both in that kingdom and the Banat. If we admit the - Roman coins which are dug out of the earth as proof that the Romans - have been inhabitants of any place, without the concurrent testimony - of any historian; we are equally authorised to admit the little - Egyptian idols, of bronze, which are dug up near them in the Banat, - as proof for the Gipseys. Being dispersed all over the Roman - conquest, why might they not as well, when Dacia became a province, - have gone there likewise, and propagated the worship of Isis, Anubis, - and other Egyptian deities, the same as in Italy?” - -Such are Mr. Griselini’s arguments, stated very diffusely, as they may be -found in his works: but it will be evident, that what he adduces in -support of his opinion, is a direct proof that it cannot be established. -Supposing any person charitable enough to allow there is good argument in -his far-fetched similarities; yet the circumstance, that neither in the -Hungarian nor in any other Journals, is the least notice taken of Gipseys -before the year 1417, would overset the whole again. Griselini felt this -himself; but what he urges in reply, is no answer to the objection. Nor -is it just, that the Roman coins found in the Banat should be esteemed, -without concurrent testimony, a proof of the Romans having formerly dwelt -there. German crowns are, as Mr. Niebuhr informs us, the chief current -coin in Yemen (Arabia Felix), and great numbers are yearly sent thither -for coffee. If some centuries hence, when revolutions may have -occasioned great changes, the said German money should be dug up, would -any historical writer venture to assert as a truth, that Arabia Felix had -formerly been inhabited by Germans! But it is unnecessary to enter into -a laboured confutation of Mr. Griselini’s arguments; yet a few hints, -with respect to his mode of proceeding, strike so forcibly, that we -cannot forbear to notice them. - -He relies chiefly upon certain similarities between the Gipseys, -Egyptians, and Ethiopians, without reflecting whether they are -distinctions peculiar to these people. Of this description the following -are examples:—he thinks the Gipseys must be Troglodytes and Ethiopians, -because they follow the employment of goldwashing; these latter, as well -as some of the African hordes, do the same in their rivers which produce -gold: he makes them Egyptians, because they eat swine’s flesh: again, he -concludes they must be priests of Isis, because they exclaim against the -hard-hearted, who refuse the boon they ask. Are these, then, -distinctions which none but Egyptians and Ethiopians have in common with -the Gipseys? Is it necessary to recur to the Egyptians, to find people, -beside Gipseys, who eat pork?—Or to the priests of Isis, for sturdy -beggars? And, with regard to goldwashers, how came he not to recollect -that the Wallachians also follow this employment?—And that near -Strasburgh, beside other places, hundreds of people who have not a drop -of Gipsey blood in their veins get their living by it? - -Further, the said Mr. Griselini, in order to render his system the more -plausible, has made use of certain expedients at the expense of truth; -and, in spite of all experience to the contrary, so modelled the -properties of the Gipseys, as to give them the appearance of complete -Egyptians. He makes them by nature inclined to melancholy; whereas their -dispositions have not the least tincture of it: they are described as -most conscientiously, nay rather superstitiously, attached to religious -customs; and yet, according to the universal testimony of other observers -of these people, they are totally indifferent as to every thing connected -with religion. He says, they are adverse to eating onions; and as for -beans, they abhor them: whereas Sulzer was a witness how much they liked -the flavour of both. By proceeding in this manner, every thing may be -made to answer all purposes. But woe to the records and histories which -are used in this manner! - -It will be seen, from what has been said on the subject, that the -supposed Egyptian descent of the Gipseys is very far from being proved; -notwithstanding it was formerly so generally credited, and even is to -this day. Arguing on the supposition that they originated from Egypt, -care was taken to inform us what kind of people they had been in that -country. It is very confidently related, and to our great edification, -that their forefathers were the same sorcerers who, in the presence of -Pharaoh, imitated Moses’s miracles: moreover, that the Egyptian king set -these people as taskmasters over the children of Israel, in order to -render their labour the more grievous: and finally, that these were the -very murderers employed by the inhuman Herod, to carry into effect his -cruel decree respecting the children of Bethlehem. This kind of dreaming -has been carried still further; it having been calculated to what degree -of indolence these people had accustomed themselves in Egypt, living by -the labour and sweat of others. Afterwards, when, contrary to -expectation, the Children of Israel escaped from their servitude, the -lucrative employment of these overseers, of course, had an end: instead -of reconciling themselves to any kind of labour, they rather chose to -decamp, with goods, wives, and children, from Egypt, in hopes, by cunning -and fraud, to procure an easier subsistence in foreign countries. They -pursued this shameful course of life through the following centuries; and -have, at last, pushed their excursions into our territories. - -But it is not sufficient that the Egyptian descent of these people is -entirely destitute of proof; on the other side, the most positive proof -is to be found to contradict it. Their language differs entirely from -the Coptic; and their customs, as Ahasuerus Fritsch has remarked, are -diametrically opposite to the Egyptian. To these facts must be added -that weighty circumstance, of their wandering about like strangers in -Egypt, where they form a distinct people; as not only Bellonius, but many -later writers assure us. Muratori, therefore, is not in the wrong, when -he thinks it ridiculous to account them Egyptians—people having no better -authority for this belief, than their own unsupported opinion. - -Thus, then, stands the argument, as well with respect to the derivation -of the Gipseys in general, as in regard to the Egyptian descent of them -in particular. While many men, and among these some very respectable for -their learning, declare the origin of these people to remain an unsolved -riddle, the opinion that they were not originally from Egypt, will, it is -thought, by the contents of this and the foregoing chapter, be thoroughly -confirmed. Notwithstanding the innumerable researches, the Gipseys still -remain unacknowledged inmates in Europe. - -It may nevertheless be doubted whether Swinburne is quite right, in -asserting it to be impossible ever to find out the real home of these -strangers. After so many unsuccessful endeavours, it is not without -apprehension, though with the best-founded hope, we venture on another -trial. - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -_The Gipseys come from Hindostan_. - -IT is justly asserted, that one of the most infallible methods of -determining the origin of these people with certainty, would be the -discovery of a country where their language was in common use. The first -and most necessary examination here, therefore, will be, to find out the -part of the globe in which the Gipseys’ language is that of the natives: -and this country is no other than Hindostan. But before we endeavour to -prove this assertion, by a comparison of the Hindostan and Gipsey -languages, it will be proper to premise something, which will serve as an -introduction of considerable weight. It is an article of intelligence, -to be found in the Vienna Gazette, and comes from a Captain Szekely von -Doba, a man who was thinking of nothing less than of searching for the -Gipseys and their language in the East Indies. - - “In the year 1763, on the 6th of November,” says Captain Szekely, “a - printer, whose name was Stephen Pap Szathmar Nemethi, came to see me. - Talking upon various subjects, we at last fell upon that of the - Gipseys; and my guest related to me the following anecdote, from the - mouth of a preacher of the reformed church, Stephen Vali, at Almasch - in the county of Komora.—When the said Vali studied at the university - of Leyden, he was intimately acquainted with some young Malabars, of - whom three are obliged constantly to study there, nor can they return - home till relieved by three others. Having observed that their - native language bore a great affinity to that spoken by the Gipseys, - he availed himself of the opportunity to note down, from themselves, - upwards of one thousand words, together with their significations. - They assured him, at the same time, that upon their island was a - tract of land, or province, called Czigania (but it is not laid down - on the map). After Vali was returned from the university, he - informed himself, among the Raber Gipseys, concerning the meaning of - his Malabar words, which they explained without trouble or - hesitation.” - -In this anecdote, every thing seems to happen by chance; even to the -learned man who published it in the Gazette, it appeared as if fallen -from the clouds, and entirely oversets his system; for he was the person, -mentioned above, who broached the opinion of the Gipseys being Mongol -Tartars. So much more weighty, therefore, and unexceptionable, are the -hints it throws out, for the discovery of the Gipseys’ mother country, by -means of their language. - -The consideration that, according to this anecdote, the Gipsey language -is declared to be Malabar, and we have pronounced it Hindostan, does not -create any difficulty, although they are very different from each other. -Probably the three young men, from whom Vali took down his words, were -Bramins’ sons, whose language was that proper to the learned Bramins, or -the Shanscritt. But the affinity between this and the common language -spoken by the people of Hindostan, is the same as between pure Latin and -modern Italian. It was therefore very natural that the Raber Gipseys -should understand, if not all, at least the greatest part of the words -which Vali repeated to them. - -However, we do not want this come-off. The difficulty will subside -without it, when we examine the connection between the Gipsey and -Hindostan languages. The next thing, therefore, is to give a list of -words from both. - - -NUMERALS. - - Gipsey. Hindostan. English. -_Ick_; _Ek_ _Ek_ One -_Duj_; _Doj_ _Du_ Two -_Trin_; _Tri_ _Tin_ Three -_Schtar_; _Star_ _Tschar_ Four -_Pantsch_; _Pansch_ _Pansch_ Five -_Tschowe_; _Schow_; _Sof_ _Tscho_ Six -_Efta_ _Hefta_; Sat Seven -Ochto Aute Eight -Enja; Eija Now Nine -_Desch_; _Des_ _Dos_; _Des_ Ten -_Besch_; _Bisch_; _Bis_ _Bjs_ Twenty -Trianda; Tranda Tjs Thirty -Starweldesch; Saranda Tschaljs Forty -Pantschwerdesch; Panda Petschass Fifty -Pontsandis -Tschowerdesch; Schoandis Sytt Sixty -Estawerdesch Syttr Seventy -Ochtowerdesch Asseh Eighty -Eijawerdesch; Enjandis Nubbeh Ninety -Tschèl; Schèl; Sel Souw Hundred -Deschwerschel; _Ekezeros_ _Ekhazar_; _Hazar_ Thousand -O Gluno; a Jékto Pajla The First -O _Duito_; a _Duito_ _Dusera_ The Second -O _Trito_ _Tjssera_ The Third -_O Schtarto_ _Tscharta_ The Fourth - -NOUNS SUBSTANTIVE. - - Gipsey. Hindustan. English. -Tziro Wakht Time -_Bersch_ _Burz_; Sal A Year -_Manet_; _Meina_ A Month -Tschon -_Diwes_ _Diw_; Rase Day -_Ratti_; _Rateh_ Night -_Rattgin_; -_Rat_ -_Feizrile_ _Fazir_; Nur Morning -Kurko Etwar Sunday -Doga Tschis An Affair; a Thing -Kak Tulad; Rykem The Sex -Arti Zatt The Sort -_Goswro_ _Gustur_; Moffikj The Manner -Jek; Otter Tschan; Tukra A Piece -Gin Adadah The Number -_Dewe_; Khoda; Allah God -_Dewel_; -_Dewol_; -_Dewla_ -_Deuw_ _Deuw_; Muret An Idol -Bollopen; Boliben Dune The World -Mulro Dumm The Spirit -Sie; Wode Jan The Soul -Trupo; Teschta Dhj; Ang; Hal The Body -Shweto; Tscherosz Behescht; Asman Heaven -Tserhenje; Tscherhenja Tara A Star -_Cham_; _Cam_; _Okam_ _Kam_; Surez The Sun -_Schon_; Tschemut; Mrascha _Tschand_ The Moon -Prabal Howah The Air -_Jag_; _Jak_; _Jago_ _Ag_ Fire -_Panj_; _Pango_ _Panj_ Water -Pu; Bhu; Pube; Epebu Zemin The Earth -Balwal, _Bear_ _Beiar_; Batas The Wind -Felhoeschnodi Baddel A Cloud -Felheschine Bjdschelj Lightening -Tschetogasch Meg Thunder -_Brischint_; _Brechindo_ _Birrsat_ Rain -Mrascha; _Osch_ Kohassa; _Osh_ The Dew -Koeddo Kohassa; Kohol Fog -Temm Muluk The Soil -Akra Moidan The Field -Hedjo _Pahr_ A Mountain -_Bar_ Pytter; Kaja A Hillock -_Gere_; Wermo _Gerrah_ A Pit -Wesch Djp An Island -Baro Pani Deriauw The Ocean -Sero Dschjl The Sea -_Kunara_; Parra _Kinerj_ The Shore -_Tato_ Panj; Poschi _Tschata_ Morass; - Slough -Hani; Foljasi Pohara A Spring -_Hanj_; _Hanik_ _Huah_; Koka A Well -_Tallo_ _Tallauw_ A Dike -Flammus Tjm; Lu Flame -Jangar; Angar Koyla Coal -Mommli; Mumeli Batthj Light -Schik Moil Mud -Tschar; Djiplo Rag; Bowus Ashes -Mescho Tscuna Chalk -_Balu_ _Bull_; Rith Sand -_Bàre_; _Bar_ Sanka; Pytter Stone -_Wahlin_; Tcheklo _Belun_ Glass -Jegekoro bar Patter Flint-stone -_Sonnai_; _Sonnikey_; _Suna_ Gold -_Schomnakai_ -_Rùp_ _Ruppa_ Silver -Tzaster; Trascht Luha Iron -Tschino Kelley Tin -_Molliwo_ _Mulwa_; Sjscha Lead -Tzindo rup Parrat Quicksilver -_Lohn_; _Lon_ _Nun_ Salt -Lonkeren Sura Saltpetre -_Kandini_ momelli _Genden_ Sulphur -_Char_; _Tschar_; Wira _Gas_ Grass -_Jiv_ _Giuw_ Wheat -_Gib_; Arpa _Jou_ Barley -Tzirja: Pura Ljsun Garlic -Purum; Lolipurum Peiaz Onion -Schach Kubj Cabbage -Hirhil Mytter Peas -Dudum Hulla A Gourd -_Herbuzho_ _Terbus_ A Melon -_Boborka_ _Birka_ A Cucumber -Rùk Garsch A Tree -_Pabuj_ _Pawug_; Sjuw An Apple -_Brohl_ _Prohlo_ A Pear -Télel Januwr A Beast -Kirmo Kentschuwa A Worm Silk -_Rezh_ _Rissem_ Silk -Birlin Mumukkj; Schehetkj A Bee -Jerni Mum Wax -Gwju; Mescho Schahed Honey -_Kirja_ _Kiro_; Tschontj An Ant -_Jua_; _Tzua_ _Juj_ A Louse -_Puzhum_; _Puschan_ _Pjsche_ A Flea -_Matschu_; _Matscho_; _Mulo_ _Mutschli_ Fish -Alo Bam An Eel -_Tschirikli_; _Tschiriklo_ _Tschuri_ A Bird -Bischothilo Ghido The Eagle -Papin; Papim; Papi Hans A Goose -Hiretza; Retschori Buttugh A Duck -_Tovadei_ _Tubbuter_; Tschetschlj A Dove -Jaros; Garum Unnda An Egg -_Baro_ peng; Oroschlana Sjr; Sing The Lion -Ru _Bira_; Hundar A Wolf -Jùkel; Tzùkel; Juket; Kuttha A Dog -Tschokel; Schokel; Tschikel -_Schoschi_; _Tschoschai_ _Sassa_; Khurr A Hare -_Papinori_ _Baner_ An Ape -_Gra_; _Grea_; _Krej_ _Gorra_; Ghassi A Horse -_Gratsch_; _Grast_ _Gorra_ A Stallion -_Grasnj_; _Graschni_ _Gorrj_ A Mare -Dernagresch Batscheru A Foal -_Gurrub_; _Guru_; _Gurni_ _Gorna_; Boil An Ox -_Guruni_; Kircumni; _Gaj_; Borjuko A Cow -Gurongatsch -Warjuhilo Batschera A Calf -_Bàkera_: _Bakra_; _Bakro_ _Bhjra_; _Bhjri_; Mendha; A Sheep - Mendhi -Bakero; _Bhara_ dohilo Mendhj batscha A Lamb -Jeschingingri; Ketschka _Bukkrj_ A Goat -_Balo_; _Bala_ _Pala_; Sur A Swine -Bikarisch krohilo Sur A Boar -Balóra Surbatscha A Pig -Djanba Beng; Mendowk A Frog -_Tsap_ _Sarap_ A Snake -_Beng_ Guddj A Dragon -Kazht; Karscht Lakerj Wood -_Tschjlka_; Borka _Tschal_ The Bark -_Patrin_ _Pat_ A Leaf -Pèperi Mirritz Pepper -_Bàl_; _Pàl_ _Bàl_ The Hair -Puzhum Ojr Wool -Pori Dum The Tail -Rat Lohu Blood -_Tud_ _Dhud_ Milk -_Kjl_ _Kel_; Mukken Butter -Kiral; Chiral; Kiras Panjr Cheese -_Tulo_ _Tschjli_ Fat -_Swa_ _Ansu_ A Tear -Mas; Masz Ghost Flesh -_Tschero_; _Schero_; _Cheru_ _Ser_ The Head -_Aok_; _Jaok_; _Jaka_; Po; _Awk_ The Eye -Aran -_Kan_ _Kawn_ The Ear -_Nàk_ _Nakk_ The Nose -_Tscham_ Gal The Cheek -_Tchammedini_ Thori A Slap on the - Face -_Tschor_ _Dharri_ The Beard -_Mui_; _Moi_ _Mu_ The Mouth -_Dant_ _Dant_ A Tooth -_Tschib_; _Tscheb_ _Jibb_ The Tongue -Men Gerdhen; Gulla The Neck -Dummo Piteh The Back -_Andririk_ _Terrik_ The Side -Gew; Buhl Tschutter The Behind -Kelin Tschatti The Breast -Per Piteh The Belly -Mossin; Mucia Bhan; Hateh The Arm -Wast; Wass Hateh The Hand -Kuzhilo; Guzhdo; Gusto Awngli A Finger -Ghazdo; Paltzo Anguta The Thumb -Heroi Tingeri The Leg -_Piro_ _Par_; Pauw The Foot -_Tschangu_ _Gunga_ The Knee -_Naj_ _Nouh_ A Finger Nail -Sie; Si Djl The Heart -Buko Sjiger The Liver -Buchlipen Jagga A Place -Rundo Nala A District -_Geb_ _Gibah_; Tsched A Hole -_But_; Behjr _Pot_ A Multitude -Pisla Toro A Scarcity -Lowe; Löwe Peyssa Money -Libra Sere A Pound -Jemia; Miga Koss A Mile -_Buda_; _Purana_ _Potdjna_ Age -_Tschiwawa_ _Tiuw_; Ratbhah Life -Rikewela Ehad The Memory -_Sunjo_ _Sunnj_ The Hearing -Sung _Sunkh_ The smell -Sik _Tschik_ The Taste -Rakerpen; Rakriben; Tschip Bat; Juvanj The Speech -Lab; Alo Bat; Kelam A Word -_Nao_; Lawe _Nom_ A Name -Liel Khutt An Epistle -Buchos Ketab A Book -Schin Rengeh Colour -_Pul_; _Pos_ _Pual_ Straw -_Baxt_ _Bukhtj_ Fortune -Dromnazhedum Aheb; Tiffauti Error -Sik Minet Diligence -Merla Mordanj; Mot Death -_Bkò_ _Buk_ Hunger -Truzhilo Peas Thirst -Sentinella Para; Tschokkj Watching -Sowawa Njn; Khab Sleep -_Dùk_ _Dirk_ Smart -Dòko Dumm The Breath -_Ghas_ _Kassj_ A Cough -Butin Kar; Kam Labour -Muskatella Mekljm Balsam -Tschinneben Zukhmj; Gatel A Wound -_Ker_ _Gurr_; Havelj A House -_Tschater_; Chör _Tschater_ A Tent; Roof -_Gadsi_ _Kassi_; Juru A Wife -Tschowo; Tschabo Lirrka A Child -_Tsche_; _Tschaj_ _Tschuknj_ A Girl -_Tschabe_; _Tschawo_ _Tschokna_ A Boy -_Tschek_ _Tschekerin_ A Virgin -_Dade_; _Dadi_ Bab A Father -Daj; Daju; Dajo _Ma_ A Mother -_Mami_ A Grandmother -Tschawo; Schave Beth A Son -Tschaj; Schaj Bethj A Daughter -Tschakrorum Jamwatsch Son-in-law -Kako Tsche-tscherabhais Cousin -Dades Krupral Tschatscha Father’s - Brother -Dades Kripen Tschatschi Father’s - Sister -Pewli Rhenduj; Rand A Widow -Velèto Noker; Tschaker Man Servant -Rakli Tschakerin Maid Servant -Wirthus Gurkka-Suheb A Landlord -Werda Seratsch; Kham An Inn -Sikerwawa Talima Instruction -Putzjum Sowal A Question -_Pen_ _Bjn_; Jivab An Answer -Mangawa Urrizi A Petition -_Schegari_; Sidah The Chase -Wezheskro _Scheggar_ A Huntsman -_Kellipen_ _Kele_; Notsch A Game -Schetra Serinda A Violin -_Tschorori_ _Tscherjfi_; Konkatj Poverty -Drum Musafferj A Voyage; - Journey -_Jangustri_; _Gostring_; _Angutri_ A Ring -_Gusderin_ -Tower; Tober Kulhari An Ax; A Bill -Pàl Mes; Tukhta A Board -Bechari Piala; Tschasj A Cup -_Tschupni_ _Tschabukk_ A Whip -_Tschor_ _Tschur_ A Thief -_Tschordas_ _Tschurj_ A Theft -_Goro_; Chadum _Dhoro_; Krjs A Sword; - Dagger -Pleisserdum Masuri A Reward -Tschatscho Jnsaf; Sjera Right -_Paro_; _Birda_ _Bharr_; _Birz_ Weight; - Burthen -_Tchumoben_ _Tschuma_ A Kiss -Dori Sutlj; Fjtha A Band -Manru; Maro Rutj Bread -_Jaro_; _Aro_ _Atà_; Moidda Meal -Gabèn Konna Food; - Eatables -Kjl Mukken Butter -_Raja_; Rajah _Raja_ The Prince -_Ranj_ _Roji_ The Princess -_Raz_ _Raz_; Surdari The - Principality -Buklo Koluff A Castle -Kuroben Jungro War -Kutwnaskro Gardj; Tscholdar A Warrior -Harmi Hattiar A Breastplate -Puschka; _Banduk_ _Sanduk_ A Musket -_Gaue_; Gal; Jegag _Gauw_; Busti A Village -_Tombun_ _Tumbur_ A Drum -_Kandini_ momelli _Genden_ Brimstone -_Thu_ _Dhuah_ Smoke -Paka Bosu The Wing -Palmande Musaka The Rear -Romm; Manusch Murd; Manusch Man, Mankind -Jammadar Surrdar Commander -Klusturi Takkor bar A Cloister -Kangri; Kangheri Musizam A Church -_Isba_ _Ischba_; Kuterj Apartment -Skaurnin Tschukire A Chair -Kambana Guntha Ghittal A Bell -_Gowr_ _Kibr_ The Grave -Doga Tschjs The Matter -Nani kek Quotsch-netsch Nobody -Schut Sirrka Vinegar -Ker; Baua Havelj; Emarat An Edifice -Klidin Tschabj; Kili A Key -Schoste Petschamma Drawers -_Koro_ _Kurti_ A Coat -_Kuni_ Map; Kejasa A Measure -_Kutschahu_ _Kitseh_ Potter’s Clay -_Goji_ _Goig_ A Sausage -Mol Angur; Schrab Wine -Gereta Karamitti Chalk -_Sapuni_ _Savin_ Soap -Kammawa _Guna_ Accusation; - Debt -_Gono_ Kissa A Knapsack -_Por_; _For_ _Purr_; _Por_ A Feather -_Madjho_; Matzlin _Mudkj_ A Fly - -ADJECTIVES. - - Gipsey. Hindostan. English. -Schoker Jssekta; Hakabat Respectable -_Puro_ _Purana_; Buda Old -Dumino Pagla Simple -Prinjerdo Tschinta Known -_Nango_ _Nenga_ Bare -Nanilalsch; Erio Budd; Khrab Wicked -Bulhàila Tschaura Broad -_Duber_; _Aduito_ _Duara_ Double -_Sana_ _Schano_; Pittla Thin -Tschori ropen Kambukht Miserable -_Ajecto_ _Ekara_ Single -Tschimaster Netko; Kerned Eternal -Latschila; Wingro Juta False -Tamlo Nerassa Dark -Piro Kalasch Free -Zelo Sumutscha Entire -_Baro_ _Burra_ Great -Latscho Bala Good -_Tschorero_ Budd-_suret_ Ugly, Hateful -Pral Unscha High -_Boko_ _Buka_ Hungry -_Baugo_ _Benka_; Tera Crooked -_Tikno_; _Tigno_ _Tengna_ Short -Bango Lingra; Aftara Lame -Lokes; Betschuker Djla; Derrtschka Slow -_Sorlo_ Jeura Powerful -_Kindo_ _Binga_ Wet -_Nevo_ _Naia_ New -Barwello Matwir; Talivirr Rich -_Kalo_; _Kala_; Sjah Black -_Kala_ -Mitschach Tik Severe -_Bharahilo_ _Barri_ Heavy -Gudlo Mitha Sweet -_Gor_ _Gehera_ Deep -Merla; _Mua_; Whakka Dead -_Mojas_ -_Schukrohilo_ _Sukka_ Dry -Gojemen Kuffa Arrogant -_But_ _Bot_; Fatta Much -_Perdo_ _Purra_; _Bharra_ Full -Massob Kaberdar Watchful -_Tscha_ _Sutscha_ True -Tatto; Tatip Gorm Warm -Parna Saffed; Vjela White -_Dur_ _Tschaura_ Far -Naneleskeksi Tschimmero Tough - -VERBS. - -Gipsey. Hindostan. English. -Riokerwawa Mul-kurrna To esteem -Wias Pontschna To arrive -Kovokardas Luggauna To entice -_Tschindas_ _Schina_-kurrna To charge -_Pekgum_ Tamburine-_pukkauna_ To bake -_Tschjl_ _Hjlna_ To shake -_Mongawa_ _Mangna_ To beg -Gohena Bjramet-kurrna To cheat -Pàkjum Turauna To break -_Bandopen_ _Bandna_ To bind -Lubekirdaspas Zanakari-kurrna To commit adultery -Pral Derkarhuna To be poor -Pratterdum Dantna To threaten -_Tscherodia_ stele _Sir_-katna To behead -_Perdo_ _Bhurrna_ To accomplish -Stildum Pukkerna; Bojena To seize -_Gana_; _Kha_ _Kauna_ To eat -Androssaster kordo Zinjir; Luggauna To fetter -_Nasch_ _Tschuna_ To flow -_Jarawe_ I fear - _Jirrna_; _Dirrhuna_ To fear -_Muterwawa_ _Mutna_ To make water -Bango Lingra huna To halt (go lame) -Getschaha Jauna To go any-where -_Ghas_ _Kassi_-kurrna To cough -Nazh Schegar-kurrna To hunt -Kindjelle Mul-lena To buy - _Tschumauna_ To kiss -_Tschumedele_ She kisses -Savva Hussna To laugh -_Muk_ _Mukhset_-kurrna To leave -Schiwawa Jjna To live -Tscharawa Tschatna To lick -Deletschedoman Sulah-huna To lie down -Gochoben Jut bolena To lye -_Kerla_ _Kurrna_ To make -_Siwawa_ _Siwena_ To sew -_Lawa_ _Lena_; Pukkerna To take -_Nabe_ _Nomdena_ To name - _Tschi_-kurrna To sneeze -_Tschikatele_ He sneezes -_Barreskro_ _Barretsch_-karrna To boast -Sennelowisa Djwana huna To be mad; to rave - _Birrsna_ To rain -Dias _brischendo_ It did rain -_Zhinawa_ _Ginna_; Tikna To reckon -Tsatschoben Jnsaf dena To right one -_Songawa_; _Sung_ _Sunkhna_; Bokurrna To smell -Pennawa Kabena; Bolena To say -Tschinnawa Karat-kurrna To saw -_Giuwawa_ _Guwena_ To sing -Limmaugi Kurrauna To provide -Zamander Judda-kurrna To divide -Zhinger Galljdena To scold -Kàrj Urauna To shoot -Kuroben Kassa-kurrna To slay -_Bezhawna_; _Bezh_ _Bahetna_ To sit -_Tschor_ _Tschure_-kurrna To steal -_Mujas_; Mulo _Muena_ To die -_Mongna_ _Duntena_ To seek -_Lejauna_ _Lena_ To carry -Luno Zumma-kurrna To marry -Kuroben Marna To meet -_Piava_; _Pi_ _Piena_ To drink -_Puro_ _Purana_ To grow obsolete -Latsakerjl Benschna To sell - _Tschinna_ To know -Me _tschana_ I know -Tzawari Jadu-kurrna To bewitch - _Dekkna_ To see -Me _dikkaha_ I saw - _Sana_ To hear -Ne _schunele_ I do not hear - -Example how the two Languages decline. - - -1. Without being joined to an Adjective. - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Gadzo Adami A Man -Gad_zeskero_ Adam_ika_ Of the Man -Gad_zsko_ Adam_iko_ To the Man -Gadzo Adami; Adam_iko_ The Man -O Gadzo O Adami O Man -Gad_zestar_; Adam_ise_ from, with the Man -Gad_zese_ - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Gadze Adamj_on_ Men -Gadzen_gero_ Adamj_onka_ Of the Men -Gadzen_go_ Adamj_onko_ To the Men -Gadze Adamj_on_; The Men - Adamj_onko_ -O Gadze O Adamj_on_ O Men -Gadzen_dar_; Adamj_onse_ from, with the Men -Gad_zense_ - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Kafidi Mes The Table -Kafidj_akero_ Mes_ka_ Of the Table -Kafid_jake_ Mes_ko_ To the Table -Kafidi Mes; Mes_ko_ The Table -O Kafidi O Mes O Table -Kafidj_ater_; Mes_se_ from, with the Table -Kafid_jse_ - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Kafidja Mese The Tables -Kafidja_kero_ Mese_ka_ Of the Tables -Kafidjen_ge_ Mese_ko_ To the Tables -Kafidja Mese The Tables -O Kafidja O Me_se_ O Tables -Kafidjen_dar_; Mese_se_ from, with the Tables -Kafidja_se_ - - 2. With an Adjective. - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Baru balo Burra sur The great Hog -Bari balis Buna sur_ka_ Of the great Hog -Bari balis Burra sur_ko_ To the great Hog -Baru balis Buna sur The great Hog -O Baru bails O Burra sur O great Hog -Bari balis_ter_; Burra sur_se_ from, with the great Hog -balis_se_ - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Baru balen Burre sure The great Hogs -Bari balen Burre sure_ka_ Of the great Hogs -Bari balen Burre sure_ko_ To the great Hogs -Baru balen Burre sure The great Hogs -O Baru balen O Burre sure O great Hogs -Bar balen_der_; Burre sure_se_ from, with the great Hogs -balen_se_ - -REMARK I. Those syllables which, in the oblique cases, are printed in -Italics, are the article. In the Gipsey, as well as in the Hindustan -language, the article is not placed before the noun, but affixed behind -it, and that is the sole indication of the case of a noun. In the Gipsey -tongue, the article of the nominative case is _o_ or _i_; in the -Hindostan, _a_ or _i_. - -REMARK II. The Gipsey language, as well as the Hindostan, has only two -genders, the masculine and feminine. Those nouns which end in i, are, in -both languages, feminine, and all the rest masculine. Both languages -change the masculine into the feminine gender, by putting a _j_ or an _i_ -for the termination. For Example, - -_Gipsey_, Raja, the Prince, Ranj, the Princess -_Hindostan_, Raja, Raji - - SOME PRONOUNS. - - 1. I: Me; Me, Mo. - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Me Me; Mo I -Mrohi; Man Merra; Meika Of me -Mange; Man Mejko To me -Mange; Man Mejko Me -Mander Mejse from Me - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Amen; Men Humra We -Amerohi Hummarra; Huraka Of us -Amenge; Men Hummko To us -Amen; Men Hummare; Humko Us -Amendar; Amense Hummse from, with Us - - 2. Thou: Tu; Tu. - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Tu Tu Thou -Trohi; Tute Terra Of Thee -Tuke; Tute Tuko To Thee -Tutte; Tut Tusko Thee -O Tu O Tu O Thou -Tutarhi; Tuter Tuse from Thee - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Tumen; Tume Tum You -Tumarohi; Tumende Tumarra Of You -Tumengole; Tamen Tumko To You -Tumen; Tume Tumarre; Tumko You -O Tume O Tum O You -Tumendar; Tumense Tumse from, with You - - 3. a. He: Job; Uweh. - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - - Uweh He -Leste Jssika Of Him -Las Jssiko To Him -Les Jssiko Him -Lester; Leha Jssise from, with Him - - 3. b. She: Joi; Uwehi - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Joi Uwehi She -Lati Uska Of Her -La Usko To Her -La Usko Her -Later; Laha Usise from, with Her - - PLURAL NUMBER, common to both Genders. - -Jole Jnne They -Lente Jnneka Of them -Len Jnneko To Them -Lea Jnne Them -Lender Jnnese from Them - - 4. My: Maro; Merra - Mari; Merri - -_Masculine_, _Feminine_. _Masculine_. _Feminine_. -Miro Miri Merra Merri My -Meri Merraka Merrika Of My -Merige Merrako Merriko To My -Merige Merra Merri My -O Miro O Miri O Merra O Merri O My -Merider Merrase Merrse from My - - 5. Our: Maro; Hummarra - Mari; Hummarri - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Maro Miri Hummarra Hummarri Our -Mari Hummarraka Hummarrika Of Our -Marige Miro Hummarrako Hummarriko To Our -Marige Hummarra Hummarri Our -O Maro O Mari O Hummarra O Hummarri O Our -Marider Hummarrase Hummarrise from Our - - 6. Thy: Tiro; Terra - Tiri; Terri - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -_Masculine_. _Feminine_. _Masculine_. _Feminine_. -Tiro Tiri Terra Terri Thy -Teri Terraka Terrika Of Thy -Terige Terrako Terriko To Thy -Terige Terra Terri Thy -O Tiro O Tiri O Terra O Terri O Thy -Terider Terrase Terrise from, with - Thy -Terise - - 7. Your: Tumaro; Tummarra - Tumari; Tummarri - - SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Tumaro Tumari Tummarra Tummarri Your -Tumari Tummaraka Tummarrika Of Your -Tumarige Tummarrako Tummarriko To Your -Tumarige Tummarra Tummarri Your -O Tumaro O Tumari O Tummarra O Tummarri O Your -Tamarider; Tummarrase Tummarrise from, with -Tumarise You - - 8. Who? Kohn? _Gipsey_; Koun? _Hindostan_. - -Examples of the conjugation of both Languages. - - I am: Me Hom; Me Hej - - PRESENT.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - - Gipsey. Hindostan. English. -_Masculine_. _Feminine_. _Masculine_. _Feminine_. -Me Hom; Kom Sinjom He Hej; Mem Hoti I am - Hu; Hota -Tu Hal Sinjel Ty Hej; Tem Hoti Thou art - Hae; Hota -Job Hi Si Vweh Hej; Wo Hoti He is - Hae; Hota - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Men Ham Sinjam Hum Hei; Ham Hotia We are - Haem; Hote -Tume Ham Sinjan Tum Hej; Tom Hotia Ye are - Ho; Hote -Jole Hi Sinja Jnne Hei; We Hotia They are - Haem; Hote - - IMPERFECT.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Me Hames Me Hua; Mem Tha Thi I was -Tu Hales Tu Hua; Tem Tha Thi Thou wast -Job Has Uweh Hua; Woh Tha Thi He was - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Men Hames Hum Hue; Ham The Thia We were -Tume Hames Tum Hue; Tom The Thia Ye were -Jole Has Inne Hue; We The Thia They were - - PERFECT.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Me Sinjomahi Me Huatha I have been -Tu Sinjalahi Tu Huatha Thou hast been -Job Sinja Uweh Huatha He hath been - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Men Sinjamahi Hum Huathe We have been -Tume Sinjanahi Tum Huathe Ye have been -Jole Sinje Jnne Huathe They have been - - FUTURE.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - - Gipsey. Hindostan. English. -Me Owa Me Huga I shall be -Du Oweha Tu Huga Thou shalt be -Job Ula Uweh Huga He shall be - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Men Owaha Hum Huge We shall be -Tume Una Tum Huge Ye shall be -Jole Owena Jnne Huge They shall be - - INFINITIVE. - -Huna To be - - To make; do: Kerja; Kurrna. - - PRESENT.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Me Kerel Me Kurrta I make -Tu Kerech Tu Kurrta Thou makest -Job Kerel Uweh Kurrta He maketh - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Scho Kerjem Hum Kurrte We make -Tumen Kerjen Tum Kurrte Ye make -Ou Kerde Jnne Kurrte They make - - IMPERFECT.—SINGULAR NUMBER. - -Me Kerjom Me Kurrtatha I did make -Tu Kerjel Tu Kurrtatha Thou didst make -O Kerje Uweh Kurrtatha He did make - - PLURAL NUMBER. - -Scho Kerjom Hum Kurrtathe We did make -Tumen Kerjen Tum Kurrtathe Ye did make -On Kerde Jnne Kurrtathe They did make - -The comparison thus far will, it is presumed, be sufficient to convince -every person of the truth of the position, that the Gipsey language is -really that of Hindostan. Let the reader look over the catalogue once -more, and it will appear, on the average, that every third Gipsey word is -likewise an Hindostan one; or still more, out of thirty Gipsey words, -eleven or twelve are constantly of Hindostan. This agreement is -uncommonly great: it must at the same time be remembered, that the words -above communicated have been learned from the Gipseys within a few years; -consequently, at a time when they had been nearly four complete centuries -away from Hindostan, their native country (as we may now assert it to -be), among people who spoke languages totally different, and in which the -Gipseys themselves conversed. Under the constant, and so long continued, -influx of these languages, their own must necessarily have suffered great -alteration; more especially as they are a people entirely ignorant, -without either writing or literature. One foreign word after another -must have crept into their language; consequently, by the frequent use of -such words, the Gipsey word of the same signification was more rarely -used, and by degrees lost from their recollection: by which circumstance -the original composition of their language became completely deranged; -{190} which is the reason why, as any person may convince himself by -inspection, various languages and idioms—Turkish, Grecian, Latin, -Wallachian, Hungarian, Sclavonian, German, and others—make part of the -foregoing vocabulary. The word _rome_, _man_, is Coptic; with, perhaps, -a few more. It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the -Gipsey language, as has been generally imagined; and even what there is -of it they may have brought with them from their native country, as many -Persian words are current in Hindostan. - -After all these reflections, we ought rather to wonder that the number of -Hindostan words in the Gipsey language is so considerable, than to -require it should be greater, in order to furnish sufficient proof of the -Hindostan language being the Gipseys’ mother tongue. - -But we have a right, from the agreement which appears in the catalogue -published, to conclude the affinity is much more intimate. The idea -hitherto adopted has been that, among the Gipsey words quoted, all those -of the Hindostan language, answering to the annexed meaning, appear, -which are still extant in the Gipsey language. But this is certainly by -no means the case. It will be recollected, from the first part, how -great a secret the Gipseys make of their language, and how suspicious -they appear when any person wishes to learn a few words of it. Even if -the Gipsey is not perverse, he is very inattentive; and is consequently -likely to answer some other rather than the true Gipsey word. Under such -circumstances, it is very possible, nay even probable, that in the -foregoing catalogue there may many words be inserted, for which true -Gipsey, of course Hindostan, words might be found; but that the Gipseys -when enquired of, either from levity or by design, did not declare them. - -Further, it is not all absurd to pronounce, that there remain more, or at -least different, true Gipsey words among those residing in one country -than another. And if, at a future period, some person should, as an -experiment on the above catalogue, examine a second or third time parties -of Gipseys in different countries, and compare the words obtained with -those already delivered, the catalogue would certainly receive a -considerable augmentation in favour of our hypothesis. - -Finally, we must consider the Hindostan language itself. This, it is -true, is fundamentally the same all over Hindostan; but, like every other -language in the world, has different dialects in the various provinces. -The eastern dialect, spoken about the Ganges, has different names for -some things, and different inflexions of some words, from the western one -spoken about the Indus. There is, besides, a third, varying from both -these, viz. the Surat dialect, which has a number of Malabar and other -words mixed with it. To this must be added, that in the Hindostan, as -well as in every other language, there are often several names for the -same thing. The particular dialect bearing the closest affinity to the -Gipsey language, as will appear hereafter, is the western, and perhaps -more especially that of Surat. Had this therefore, or the western one in -general, been the standard of the above comparison; and had we not, for -want of words in these dialects, been obliged frequently to have recourse -to the eastern one, spoken in Bengal; or had we, even in the latter, been -able to obtain so many words, that where the Gipsey, from not knowing any -more, could only give us a single expression, we might have produced, not -one or two as at present, but all, or at least the greater part, of the -synonymous appellations: we should infallibly in this manner recover, in -the Hindostan language, many a Gipsey word, which even the learned are -unable to derive from the European or any other language, and yet have as -little appearance of being Hindostan. With respect to the construction -and inflexions of the two languages, they are evidently the same. That -of Hindostan has only two genders; the Gipsey the same. In the former -every word ended in _j_ is feminine, all the rest masculine; in the -latter the same rule is observed. That makes the inflections entirely by -the article, adding it at the end of the word; the Gipsey language -proceeds exactly in the same manner. Finally, likewise, bating a -trifling variation, this identical similarity is evident in the pronouns. - -So much for the language of the Gipseys. As this is indubitably -Hindostan, it would be sufficient of itself to prove the descent of those -people from Hindostan. But we shall now proceed to other grounds, which, -united with the proofs from the language, will leave us less reason to -doubt concerning this matter. - -That the Gipseys, and natives of Hindostan, resemble each other in -complexion and shape, and are equally timorous and cowardly, is -undeniable. But we shall pass over these, together with some other -circumstances; as, perhaps, neither the one nor the other are such -distinguishing marks as not to be met with among other Oriental people. - -The name of Polgar, likewise, carries some weight with it, which we find -among the Gipseys in the earliest times, before they began to change the -names they brought with them for those used in Europe. Polgar, as we may -remember, was the name of the leader who, in the year 1496, obtained a -safe-conduct from the Hungarian king Uladislaus II. by virtue of which -he, with his horde, consisting of twenty-five tents or families, had the -liberty of travelling about where he pleased. This name Polgar -originates in India, where it is the appellation of a deity presiding -over marriages and matrimonial concerns: the Indians are very fond of -bearing this name, as well as the names of their other deities. - -In reciting the employments of the Gipseys, their smith’s business was -mentioned; when it was remarked, that their anvil is a stone, and what -more implements they use consist in a pair of hand-bellows, a pair of -tongs, a hammer, a vise, and a file. With such a portable apparatus, the -travelling Gipsey wanders from place to place. We will compare this -account with what Sonnerat relates of the Indian smiths: the following -are his own words: “The smith carries his tools, his shop, and his forge, -about with him, and works in any place where he can find employment: he -erects his shop before the house of his employer, raising a low wall with -beaten earth, before which he places his hearth; behind this wall he -fixes two leathern bellows, which his apprentice blows alternately, to -keep up the fire. He has a stone instead of an anvil, and his whole -apparatus is a pair of tongs, a hammer, a beetle, and a file.” The most -striking circumstance relating to this coincidence is, that both Gipsey -and Indian should use the same kind of hand-bellows, and both have -exactly two. As the apprentice works these for the Indian, so does the -wife or one of the children for the Gipsey. - -What is asserted of the young Gipsey girls, rambling about with their -fathers who are musicians, dancing with all kinds of indecent and -lascivious attitudes and gestures, to divert any person who is willing to -give them a small gratuity for so acting, is likewise perfectly Indian. -Sonnerat confirms this also.—“Surat is,” he says, “famous for its dancing -girls. These young women devote themselves entirely to the worship of -the Gods, whom they attend in the processions, dancing and singing before -the representations of them. The handycraftsmen generally destine the -youngest of their daughters to this service, and send them to the pagoda -before they come to the age of puberty. There they have dancing and -music masters, with persons to teach them to sing. The Bramins form -their young minds, and deflower them; in the end, they become common -prostitutes. They then join in companies, take musicians with them, to -entertain any-body who chooses to engage them, with music and dancing.” -Sonnerat speaks here likewise of the wanton gestures of these dancing -girls, of which he has given a drawing; and ends his description thus: -“The blinking of their eyes—half open, half shut—and the negligent -sinking of their bodies, to the most languishing music, shew that their -whole frame breathes nothing but lasciviousness.” - -Fortune-telling is practised all over the east; but the peculiar kind -professed by the Gipseys, viz. _chiromancy_—constantly referring to -whether the parties shall be rich or poor, fortunate or unhappy in -marriage; whether they shall have many or few children, &c.—is no-where -met with but in India. The following instance will evince, how perfectly -Gipseyish it is: “It once happened,” says Baldæus, “that the Rajah Khans -made his appearance before the inhabitants; when being given to -understand that an experienced Bramin was arrived, he ordered him to be -brought before him, and said—‘Narret (that was his name), look at my -daughter’s hand, and inform me whether she will be happy or unfortunate, -poor or rich; whether she will have many or few children; if her life -will be long or short: speak out freely, and conceal nothing.’ The -Bramin having looked at her hand, replied, ‘May it please your Majesty, -according to the indication of these lines, I read thus—She shall bear -seven children, viz. six sons and a daughter; the youngest of whom shall -not only deprive you of your crown and empire, but likewise of your head -and life, and afterwards place himself in your seat.’” This method, -Baldæus adds, of looking in the hands, is very common among the heathens. - -The excessive loquacity of the Gipseys, as well as their very -advantageous natural qualities, which have been before noticed, are -likewise distinguishing characteristics of the Indian; besides, the very -name Zigeuner, or, according to a broader way of pronunciation, Ciganen -and Tchingenen, is the appellation of an Indian people, living at the -mouth of the Indus, as mentioned by Thevenot. - -Another striking intimation of the Indian descent of the Gipseys, is the -partiality of the latter for red colours, or saffron: in like manner the -Bramin performs all his religious duties in a white dress, without the -least mixture of any other colour. On his return home from these -functions, he changes his white turban for a red one. The common Indians -also prefer this colour for their little round caps: and these last, -especially on holidays, make a double deep yellow stripe on their -foreheads with fat, saffron, and sacred cow-dung. The Bramins make the -same stripe with _red_, as a mark of pre-eminence. Again, the Gipseys as -Twiss assures us of those in Spain, never intermarry with any people who -are not, like themselves, of Gipsey extraction; which puts us strongly in -mind of the Indian castes. - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -_The Gipseys are of the Caste called Suders_. - -WE come now to the position we hoped to substantiate, viz. that the -Gipseys are of the lowest class of Indians, namely, _Parias_; or, as they -are called in Hindostan, _Suders_. - -The whole great nation of Indians is known to be divided into four ranks -or stocks, which are called by a Portuguese name, castes, each of which -has its own particular subdivisions. Of these castes, the _Bramin_ is -the first: the second contains the _Tschechteries_ or _Setreas_: the -third consists of the _Beis_ or _Wasziers_: the fourth is the caste of -the just-mentioned _Suders_; who upon the Peninsula of Malabar, where -their condition is the same as in Hindostan, are called _Parias_ or -_Parier_. - -The relative situation of these four castes, and the grounds of their -difference, rest on the Indian fable of the Creation. This relates, that -the God who created Bruma, ordained that the Bramin should proceed out of -Bruma’s mouth; the Tschechterie out of his arms; the Beis out of his -legs; and the Suder from his feet. As Bruma afterwards allotted the -employments of each of these stocks, he appointed the first to seek after -knowledge, to give instruction, and to take care of religion; the second -was to serve in war; the third was, as well as the Bramin, to cultivate -science, but to attend particularly to the breeding of cattle and -agriculture: the caste of Suders was destined to be subservient to the -Bramins, the Tschechteries, and the Beis. These Suders are held in the -greatest contempt: they are considered infamous and unclean, from their -occupations; and they are abhorred because they eat flesh, the three -other castes living entirely on vegetables. - -Of this very caste, as will appear by the following comparison, our -Gipseys are composed. - -We have seen that the Gipseys are in the highest degree filthy, and -disgusting; and with regard to character, of the most depraved hearts: -that they are thievish, liars, and fraudulent to excess:—and these are -exactly the qualities of the Suders. Baldæus says, “The Pareas are a -filthy race, in a word, a contemptible stinking people; a wicked crew, -who in winter steal much cattle, kill them, and sell the hides.” It is -again related in the Danish Mission Intelligence, “Nobody can deny that -the Bareier are the dregs and refuse of all the Indians: they have wicked -dispositions, are thievish, arrant liars, are intractable with good -usage, require to be kept in order by fear and blows, and held under -continual restraint.” Moreover, Neuhof assures us, “The Parruas are full -of every kind of dishonesty; they do not consider lying and cheating to -be sinful, as they have no other maxim or custom among them.” The -Gipsey’s solicitude to conceal his language, is likewise a striking -Indian trait. “Custom,” says Pallas, of the Indians round Astrakan, “has -rendered them to the greatest degree suspicious about their language, -insomuch that I never was able to obtain a small vocabulary from them.” - -In addition to the foregoing, the Gipseys love to intoxicate themselves; -they are particularly fond of brandy, because it more speedily answers -their purpose than any other liquor. Among the Suders we find this -inclination is universal; though other Indians do not commit such excess, -or very seldom, and then privately. - -What has been further said with respect to the immoral life of the -Gipseys, agrees perfectly with the Suders. “Their wives and daughters,” -says Neuhof, “make no difficulty of yielding up their persons, for money, -to any sort of people, be they of what country or religion soever; as the -inclination of this tribe tends more to voluptuousness, than towards -diligence or industry.” - -With regard to Gipsey marriages, it has been asserted, that it is a -matter of indifference to them whether the party be the nearest relation -or an utter stranger, or, as Salmon expresses himself, the nearest -relations cohabit like beasts with each other; and as to education, that -their children grow up in the most shameful neglect, without either -discipline or instruction. All this is precisely the case with the -Pariars. In the Journals of the Missionaries already quoted, it is said, -“With respect to matrimony, they act like the beasts; and their children -are brought up without restraint or information.” - -Gipseys are fond of being about horses; so are the Suders in India, for -which reason they are commonly employed as horsekeepers by the Europeans -resident in that country. - -The Gipseys were formerly employed as flayers, hangmen, and executioners, -all over Hungary and Transylvania; and they still readily perform those -offices whenever called upon. In like manner, in India, no one who is -not of the caste of Suders will on any account transact that kind of -business. - -We have seen that the Gipseys hunt after cattle which have died of -distempers, in order to feed on them; and where they can provide more of -the flesh than is sufficient for one day’s consumption, dry it in the -sun: such is likewise a constant custom with the Pariars in India. It -“is their office,” according to the accounts we have of them, “to remove -carrion, which they cut up; part they boil fresh and eat, other parts -they dry in pieces, by the heat of the sun, for their future provision.” - -Hitherto the accounts of the Gipseys and Suders perfectly coincide. Even -the before-mentioned smiths and dancing girls are of this caste: and as -they before shewed, in general, from the similarity of their make, that -they were of Indian extraction, so in this instance they give particular -evidence, that they are descendants from the lowest class. - -But there are still some further traits relating to the Gipseys; we shall -now examine whether they also are to be found among the Suders. Of these -the first is, that the Gipseys always choose their place of residence -near some village or city; very seldom within the village or city, even -though there may be no order to prevent it: as is the case in Moldavia, -Wallachia, and all parts of Turkey. Even the more improved Gipseys, as -those in Transylvania, who have long since discontinued their wandering -mode of life, and might, with permission from government, reside within -the cities, yet rather choose to build their huts in some bye-place, -without their limits. This custom seems to be a remnant of their -original Suder education; it being usual, all over India, for the Suders -to have their huts without the villages of the other castes, and in -retired places near their cities. - -Further, with regard to the Gipseys’ religion, we may recollect, from -what has been said, that their sense of it is very confined, and that -they have not the least degree of steadiness in it. To the Gipseys, -every persuasion is the same; as often as he meets with a different one, -he changes his opinions. To-day he receives the sacrament as a Lutheran; -next Sunday, from a Roman-catholic; and perhaps before the end of the -week partakes of the communion in a Reformed church. Yet the greater -part of them do not even go so far as this, but live without any religion -at all, and are, as Tollius says, worse than heathens. The more -wonderful such an appearance is—of a whole people being so void of and -indifferent about religion—the more weight it carries with it to confirm -their Indian origin, when all this is found to be literally true of the -Suders. “This race,” says Rogerius, of the Suders in the kingdom of -Surat, “seems to be neither heathens nor Mahometans; they live on in -their own way, without any religion, or worshipping of God. There are -some, it is true, who imitate the other castes in an outward shew of -religion, and appoint priests for themselves; but they neither frequent -the pagodas of the higher castes, nor have any of their own: and as to -the choice of their deities, every one conforms to the custom of the -place where he lives, or happens to remain a short time, exactly the same -as the Gipseys.” - -If people, in reflecting on the emigration of the Gipseys, are not -determined to imagine that they were actuated by a blind impulse, to -break up at once, and quit their native country; no cause can be assigned -for their retreat from thence so plausible as the war of Timur Beg in -India. The date of their arrival marks it very plainly. It was in the -years 1408 and 1409 that this conqueror ravaged India; and having -persuaded himself, as well as his followers, that he had undertaken the -expedition against India for the purpose of disseminating the Mahometan -religion, his war was oppressive enough to occasion such an emigration. -Not only every one who made any resistance was destroyed, and such as -fell into the enemy’s hands, though quite defenceless, were made slaves, -but in a short time these very slaves, to the number of a hundred -thousand, were put to death. As in consequence an universal panic took -place, nobody being secure that it might not be his own fate in a short -time, what could be more natural than that a great number of terrified -inhabitants should endeavour to save themselves by flight? - -An objection naturally occurs, that when this supposed flight took place, -had it been true, not Gipseys only, or the lowest class of people, but -with them all sorts of Indians, of superior rank, would have come among -us. But this argument will fall of itself, when we reflect on the -prepossession which the three higher castes of Indians entertain for -their country. They ascribe an extraordinary degree of holiness to it, -and believe it to be the only country thought, by the Creator of the -universe, worthy for such sanctified people as the Bramins, -Tschechteries, and Beis, to dwell in. They would rather suffer torture -and death, than quit this land, chosen by the Almighty himself for their -residence, to go and dwell any-where else. Moreover a Suder is, in their -estimation, the most execrable being in the world; and the least -intercourse with him would be defiling and degrading their high -characters, which, to them, would be more dreadful than death. Wherefore -it was a moral impossibility for those of a higher caste to have any -thing in common with a Suder, or that they should have made an united -retreat. Finally, by putting themselves into the power of the Suders, -with whom they live constantly in a state of discord and inveteracy, they -would have hazarded a greater danger, than by patiently risking their -fate from the hands of their common enemy. If any of the higher ranks of -Indians did withdraw themselves, on account of the troubles, it is -probable they retired southwards, to people of their own sort, the -Mahrattas. - -As every part to the northward and eastward was beset by the enemy, and -no passage left in those directions for escaping, it seems most probable -that the countries below Multan, to the mouth of the Indus, were the -first asylum and rendezvous of the fugitive Suders. Here they were safe; -and so remained, till Timur returned from his victories on the Ganges. -Then it was that they first entirely quitted the country; and, probably, -with them a considerable number of the proper inhabitants about the -Indus, which will explain the meaning of their original name, Ciganen, -or, according to the German mode of speaking, Zigeuner. For if it was in -the country of the Zinganen that these terrified fugitives collected; and -they afterwards drew a considerable number of the Zinganen themselves -along with them, nothing could be more easy or natural than that the -people who had assembled from the general wreck should take the name of -the greater number. - -By what route they came to us, cannot be ascertained: if they went -straight through the southern Persian deserts of Sigistan, Makran, and -Kirman, along the Persian Gulph to the mouth of the Euphrates, thence -they might get, by Bassora, into the great deserts of Arabia, afterwards -into Arabia Petræa, and so arrive in Egypt, by the isthmus of Suez. They -must certainly have been in Egypt before they reached us; otherwise we -cannot account for the report that they were Egyptians. In what manner -they were afterwards transported to Europe is also an obscure research: -perhaps it was effected by means of the Turks, who, being at that time -fully employed with the Grecian empire, might permit the Gipseys to -travel about with the rabble of Serdenjesti and Nephers, who were -appointed to go on ravaging parties. However, all that can be said upon -that subject is mere surmise. The chief aim in this Dissertation was, to -prove that the Gipseys came from Hindostan, and that they were Suders, -which it is hoped has been accomplished. When every thing, even the most -fortuitous concomitant circumstances, but particularly that most decisive -one—the similarity of their language to that of Hindostan, uniformly -point out that extraction, we cannot believe them to belong to a -different country, and to be descended from another people. - - - - -SUPPLEMENT. - - -To invalidate, if possible, the charge of cannibalism—apparently so well -founded—brought against the Gipsey tribe, it is thought proper in this -place to mention circumstances, relative to the proceedings in Hungary, -which at least render the justice of the sentence pronounced against -these devoted people doubtful. - -In the year 1534, as recorded in the Hungarian history, the Gipseys were -suspected of traitorously assisting John Zapolya; in consequence of which -the governor of Leutschau, _Tsernabo_, sent some horsemen to arrest a -company of them, near Iglo: the greatest part escaped by flight; only a -few old men and boys were taken, who were brought into Leutschau. These -confessed circumstantially (which certainly appears improbable, that men -should lye to effect their own ruin), as well before, as upon the rack, -the following falsities—That a hundred of them had been sent by Zapolya -since the middle of Lent, and had agreed for a sum of money to set fire -to the five chief cities, Kaschau, Leutschau, Bartfeld, Eperies, and -Zeben: that the preceding Saturday several of them had privately entered -Leutschau, disguised like Wallachians and shepherds, under the pretence -of selling skins: that they laid fire in various places; and moreover, -that they had murdered several people: and finally, that they had letters -from Zapolya to thirteen different cities, with orders to afford them -shelter and protection within their districts, as long as they chose to -remain. In consequence of this confession they were impaled, “but -whether justly or not,” adds the Chronicle, “that, let him answer for who -condemned them:” for on being conducted about the town, to shew in what -places they had laid the fire, they could not specify them; besides, they -denied every thing when they came to execution. - -Except the circumstance of retracting, of which nothing is mentioned in -the sentence of death, the above case seems to be exactly similar to that -of the men-eaters executed in Hungary in 1782. These were taken upon -suspicion of theft; in the course of their examination something escaped -them which gave occasion to think they had committed murder, and the -criminals being interrogated on this point, perhaps on account of the -severity used, or probably from an idea of heroism (a very common trait -in their character), they confessed the fact, and chattered away till -they had filled the paper, without considering consequences. When -desired to state where they had deposited the bodies, they promised to -shew, but on being brought to the spot nothing was found, and they -endeavoured to run off. Nevertheless, having once confessed, they were -put on the rack. As the persons said to have been murdered could not be -found, the judge imagined they must have eaten them, which, though denied -by the poor miserable wretches, decided their fate. - - - -(A) - - -How much the Gipsey language has altered by time, may be seen, in a -striking manner, from the following translations of the Lord’s Prayer, -obtained from Hungarian Gipseys at different periods. - - 1. Lord’s Prayer, according to the old translation. - -Dade! gula dela dicha mengi, Czaoreng hogodoleden tavel, ogoledêl -hogoladhem, te a felpesz, trogolo anao Czarchode, ta vela mengi sztre -kedapu, maro mandro kata agjesz igiertiszara a more beszecha, male dsame, -andro vo lyata, enkala megula, dela enchala zimata. Seszkesz kisztrio -oothem banisztri, putyere feriszamarme, à kana andre vecsi, ale Va kosz. -Piho. - - 2. The same, according to a more modern translation. - -Muro Dad, kolim andro therosz; Ta weltro szentanao; Ta weltro t’him; Ta -weltri olya, szarthin andro therosz kethjn t’he pre p’hu: sze kogyesz -damande mandro agyesz a mingi; Ertitza amare bezecha, szar, t’hamin te -ertingiszama rebezecha; Mali zsa men andre bezna, nicka men le dsungalin -mansáár, Ke tirino t’hin, tiro hino baribo szekovari. Amen. - - 3. Another, with the Latin. - -Amàro Noster -del Deus -Szavo qui -hal es -othé ibi -opre super -óndro in -csérász cœlo, -avel veniat -szinton sanctum -tro tuum -nav, nomen, -te ut -avel veniat -tri tuum -lume regnum -te ut -khergyol fiat -tri tua -voje voluntas -szàr sicut -andro in -csérósz cœlo -chidé sicque -te ut -phé in -phu. terra. -ámáro nostrum -mandro panem -ogyéuszuno quotidianum -dé da -áméngé nobis -ágyèsz hodie, -értiné remitte -amenge nobis -ámáro nostrum -vitsigosz peccatum -te ut -ámén nos -kidé ita -értináha remittimus -ámáréngé, nostris, -palidschá ne inducas -ámén nos -ándro in -dschungalo periculosam -tsaszosz, horam, -támi sed -unkáv sume -ámen nos -ávri ex -ándral e -ó -dschungalo periculo -tiri tuum -hin est -é -lume regnum -tiri tua -hin est -ezor potentia, -te ut -akana-szekcvar. nunc-semper. - Amen. - - FINIS. - - * * * * * - -BALLINTINE, TYP. _Duke-st._ _Adelphi_. - - - - -FOOTNOTES. - - -{v} The instruments used by the Chinese for marking time, act either by -fire or water. Those that act by water, somewhat resemble our large -hour-glasses: those by fire, are composed of sweet smelling powder, made -up into a sort of match. - -{3} Leo Africanus, in his _Histoire Naturelle des Indes_, _&c._ p. 327, -says of the merchants of Agades, that they kept great numbers of armed -slaves for their security, and mentions that their caravans—“sont tous -vexéz de divers peuples du desert, comme de ceux qu’on appelle -communément _Bohémiens_, ou Egyptiens.” - -{16} _Beytrage zum Reichs Postreuter_, St. 71. 1782. “On the 21st of -August there was a dreadful execution at Frauenmark in the Hortenser -country. Thirteen delinquents, Gipseys, who had existed twelve years by -robbing on the highway, and were accustomed to eat the bodies of those -they had murdered, were brought to punishment. Four of them were women, -who were beheaded; of the remaining nine men, six were hanged, two were -broken on the wheel, and the leader of this inhuman gang was quartered -alive. It is said that one hundred and fifteen more, of these European -cannibals, remain in the county gaols.” See APPENDIX. - -{19} _Hamburgh_. _Neue Zeitung_, 151. St. 1782. “_Hungary_, 4th of -September.—The following is to be added concerning the murderers and -man-eaters. Forty of these miscreants have already undergone their -deserved punishment, in three separate places. Some, as lately -communicated, were broken upon the wheel from below upwards; two of the -most atrocious were quartered alive; and the remainder, one hundred and -fifteen in number, will shortly be proceeded against in the same manner. -This band has existed twenty-one years, and in the course of that time -sacrificed eighty-four people to their cruelty. Every feeling mind must -be struck with horror at the infernal rage of these European cannibals, -on hearing their confession—that once at a wedding they killed three -people, whom they ate with their guests, in the greatest festivity and -joy! They prefer the flesh of a young person from sixteen to eighteen -years old. They burnt the bones, which, according to their account, make -excellent coals. A life-guard man of the country undertook to secure and -succeeded in taking their _harumpascha_ or leader. This cannibal hero -was magnificently dressed, and wore ornaments in his cap to the value of -six thousand guilders.” - -_Frankfurter Staats Ristretto_, Nr. 157. 1782. “_Donau Strohm_, 29th -September.—We mention with horror, that besides those inhuman wretches -who have already been put to the sword in Hungary, there are one hundred -and fifty still in chains; and some thousands more are, with good -foundation, suspected. They are all Gipseys. Maria Theresa had given -orders that all these human vermin should be driven from their holes, and -compelled to live in villages: but that wise regulation was not enforced, -and the evil is now grown to such a height as scarcely to be remedied -without a total extirpation of them.” - -_Hamburgh_. _Unpartheiisch_. _Correspondent_. Nr. 159. 1782. -“_Hungary_, 22d September.—Besides those Gipsey cannibals which were -executed on the 22d of August, at Fraumark, there were fifteen of these -barbarians put to death on the twenty-fourth at Kameza; and on the -twenty-sixth, thirteen more at Esabrag. In the former place were seven -women beheaded, five men hanged, two broken alive on the wheel, and one -quartered alive. At the latter place seven women were beheaded, four men -hanged and two broken on the wheel. Many still remain in confinement; -among whom is one who acted as priest, and married people for two -groschens a time. Their _harumpascha_, who, as we lately advised, was -taken by a very simple stratagem, cannot yet be brought to any confession -of his crimes.” - -_Frankfurter Staats Ristretto_, Nr. 207. 1782. “_Donau Strohm_, 24th -December.—Not long ago it was published, that forty-five of the -men-eaters had been executed in Hungary. One hundred and fifty still -remain in prison, whose sentence has, by express orders from court, been -respited. Her majesty, not thinking it possible that the people in -confinement could have been guilty of such enormous crimes, sent a -commissary thither from court to examine minutely into the affair. On -his return it was confirmed that they were really men-eaters; and that -there are actually among them sons who have killed and eaten their own -fathers.” - -{29} About sixty years ago, ladies of the first quality in Petersburgh -used to be guilty of somewhat the same kind of irregularity. They had -begun to adopt the French modes in dress; but, as Salmon says, did not -well know how to manage them. “Wherefore,” he continues, “one must not -be surprised, notwithstanding all the state of a Petersburgh lady, to -meet one of them in summer, at which season they use the English straw -hats, magnificently dressed in damask, ornamented with gold, silver, -lace, and ribbands, walking barefooted, carrying her slippers in her -hand.” - -{51} The college of Mons was established in 1748, by the Empress -Theresa. In the seventh article of the Instructions granted, the Gipseys -were allowed the privilege of washing for gold. - -{87} It is reported in Hungary, that a Gipsey alphabet is somewhere -preserved; but nobody ever has seen or ever will see it, for it probably -never existed: as these people did not bring the art of writing from -their own country; where they belong to a class of people who, by express -laws, are prohibited from receiving any kind of instruction. - -{88} Poetry and Music are in equal esteem among the Transalpine -Wallachians, who have consigned over these two amiable sisters to the -licentiousness of slaves—Gipseys. These alone sing, play, rhyme—for we -cannot allow the appellation of poems to obscene hobbling verses, put -together at the moment. By way of sample take the following couplet: - - _Mitidika_, _Mitidika_, _wién üng quátsch_! - _Ba nu_, _Ba nu_, _n’ am tsche fátsch_. - -This _tsche fátsch_, which should be _tsche se fak_, is a monstrous -perversion of language. But the Gipsey wanted a rhyme for _quatsch_; so -directly, with a bold poetical licence, he changes the first person of -the conjunctive for the third of the indicative mood. Thus this little -composition, in question and answer, which should be, - - Little one, Little one, come from thence! - No, no, no, no, _I have nothing to do_ (_there_). - -he changes to, _I have nothing_, _what do you_? - -{89} Sulzer, with respect to their timidity, says: “A Gipsey requires to -have been a long time in the army before he can meet an enemy’s balls -with decent soldier’s resolution; or to be an experienced robber, before -he can take a traveller’s purse, without having first, from a bush, -either killed or disabled him.” There is a proverb in Transylvania, that -“You may drive fifty Gipseys before you with a wet rag.” Thicknesse -found the Gipseys exactly the same in Spain. - -{89a} There are a number of serious pagination errors in the book. -Pages 1–98 are numbered correctly, but what should be page 99 is numbered -89, with the numbering continuing 89–121. Following this the page number -changes to 132 and continues 132–179, when it changes to 182, 183, 182 -(again), 183, 186, 187, 186 (again), 187 (again), 190, 191, 190 (again), -191 (again), 194 and then normally to the end of the book. In this -transcription the page numbers are as per the book.—DP. - -{113} _Wilhelm Dilick_, in his _Heszischen Chronik._ Seit 229. beyn Jahr -1414, certainly does say that they arrived during the same year in the -Hessian territories; and Fabricius, in _Annalibb. Misn._ says they were -driven from Meissen in 1416. But Calvisius contradicts Fabricius, and -has corrected his date, putting 1418 for 1416. And with regard to -Dilich, there must either have been a mistake in the manuscript from -which he composed, or he must have read wrong; there being no mention -made of Gipseys in any of the public prints till three years afterwards, -viz. 1417. It is absurd to suppose they should remain invisible to every -other person both in and out of Germany, at the same time they appeared -to the editor of Dilich’s intelligence. - -{132} But we have more than circumstantial proof of the existence of -these safe-conducts, as besides a later, but here very pertinent, order -of the former great Hungarian count Thurzo, given in the year 1616, -remarkable for its serious and humane contents, an older one, granted in -the earliest age of the Gipseys, is still extant. It is written on -paper, and was brought by those who were at Regenspurgh in 1423. Andreas -Presbyter copied it into his six-years Journal, which was in the -possession of Oefelius. - -{137} The eastern division of the present kingdom of Tunis. - -{138} Zichen, Zigier, or Zincher, among the ancients, called in the -earliest times Achæans, dwelt in the country now inhabited by the -Circassians. - -{139} The torlaques are Mahometan monks, who, under the pretence of -holiness, are guilty of the most flagrant excesses. Bajazet the Second -banished them from the Turkish empire in 1494. The kalendars, who are -likewise monks, wander about in Heathen, as the Gipsy’s do in Christian, -countries. Faquirs are religious fanatics, and rove about in Mahometan -and Heathen countries, like the most atrocious robbers and villains. -Anquetil says, the Faquirs in India go pilgrimages to Jagrenat, to the -amount of several thousand. On their return from Jagrenat they plunder -such villages and cities as lie in their way. They form considerable -bodies about a mile from Jagrenat, where they choose themselves a leader, -to whom they pay all the honours due to a general. With regard to -strolling and thieving, the Faquirs and Gipseys agree exactly. But this -proves nothing concerning the extraction of the latter. - -{141} The cause of this persecution was a dreadful plague, which, in the -year 1348, raged all over Europe. This calamity was attributed to the -Jews, who were accused of having poisoned the wells and water-springs, in -order to exterminate the Christians. Never did any description of people -experience greater oppression and misery than what were suffered by the -Jews of that time. All the gaols and prisons were crowded with them; -they were put to the rack in every judicial court. The day was scarcely -long enough for the execution of the poor condemned wretches; nor were -the nights ever dark, by reason of the continual fires which were kept -burning every-where, to consume them at the stake. Vast numbers, who had -escaped the rigour of the tribunals, fell a sacrifice to popular fury. -They were suffocated in bogs, slaughtered like flies, and destroyed by -other summary means. There was no distinction made of age or sex: the -same unrelenting fate pursued men and women, children and grey-headed, -without exception. To all this was added the plague, which attacked the -Jews as well as the Christians. Under such circumstances, it is no -wonder if such as could escape from a persecution so dreadful, and -unmerited, really did secret themselves in the most retired corners. - -{154} Sultan Selim had drawn out his troops against Persia, with the -determination, if not to conquer the country entirely, at least to do -them all the mischief he could; for which reason his tremendous army was -already, in 1517, encamped near Aleppo. Gäwri, the Circassian Sultan in -Egypt, when he heard of this enterprise, being fearful that after Selim -had accomplished his intentions respecting Persia, he might attack him, -sent ambassadors, to offer his assistance against the Persians. Selim -accepted it, and Gäwri immediately collected his forces. As the two -armies lay near each other, it so happened that some Circassians -attacked, and plundered, some loaded camels, which were going to Selim’s -camp. Selim, who looked upon this as an affront, instantly resolved to -leave the Persians quiet for the present, and to draw his sword against -his ally. This he accordingly did, and Gäwri, being betrayed by two of -his generals, was defeated, and fell in the action. Those who escaped -from the battle fled to Kahire, where they related what had passed; and a -general assembly being convened, they immediately proceeded to the -election of a new king, Tumanbey. He marched to attack Selim once more, -was defeated, and having experienced various reverses of fortune, at last -fell into his hands. Selim was so charmed with his understanding, that -he not only granted him his freedom, but intended to appoint him viceroy -over Egypt. However, before this event took place, people began to talk -freely concerning their hopes, that when Selim should have withdrawn, -Tumanbey, with the remaining Circassians and Arabians, might be able to -drive his troops out of Egypt, and reinstate the Circassians in their -former dominion. These reports came to Selim’s knowledge; yet his -confidence was so great, that he at first did not entertain any suspicion -of Tumanbey. But at length, when they continued, and even increased, he -ordered the unhappy man to be arrested, and hanged under one of the gates -of Kahire. On which occasion, like a true barbarian, he made use of the -following words: “How great my favour was towards him, I have -sufficiently proved; the effects of his partisans’ conversation, let the -wretch himself experience.” With him not only ended the government of -the Circassians in Egypt, after it had continued 286 years, but, by -command of Selim, they were for several days left to the mercy of their -conquerors, who treated them with the greatest cruelty. - -{161} Griselini always mistakes Troglodytes for a particular national -appellation, which is just as if we were to suppose Nomades to be the -name of a people. - -{190} For a comparison of the Gipsey language at different periods, see -(A), Appendix. - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISSERTATION ON THE GIPSEYS*** - - -******* This file should be named 62745-0.txt or 62745-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/2/7/4/62745 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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