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itching in the eye； and not unfrequently blindness。
The northern nations have a superstition which bears some
resemblance to the evil eye； when allowance is made for
circumstances。 They have no brilliant sun and moon to addle the
brain and poison the eye； but the grey north has its marshes； and
fenny ground； and fetid mists； which produce agues； low fevers； and
moping madness； and are as fatal to cattle as to man。 Such
disorders are attributed to elves and fairies。 This superstition
still lingers in some parts of England under the name of elf…shot；
whilst； throughout the north； it is called elle…skiod； and elle…
vild （fairy wild）。 It is particularly prevalent amongst shepherds
and cow…herds； the people who； from their manner of life； are most
exposed to the effects of the elf…shot。 Those who wish to know
more of this superstition are referred to Thiele's … DANSKE
FOLKESAGN； and to the notes of the KOEMPE…VISER； or popular Danish
Ballads。
CHAPTER IX
WHEN the six hundred thousand men； （34） and the mixed multitude of
women and children； went forth from the land of Egypt； the God whom
they worshipped； the only true God； went before them by day in a
pillar of cloud； to lead them the way； and by night in a pillar of
fire to give them light； this God who rescued them from slavery；
who guided them through the wilderness； who was their captain in
battle； and who cast down before them the strong walls which
encompassed the towns of their enemies； this God they still
remember； after the lapse of more than three thousand years； and
still worship with adoration the most unbounded。 If there be one
event in the eventful history of the Hebrews which awakens in their
minds deeper feelings of gratitude than another； it is the exodus；
and that wonderful manifestation of olden mercy still serves them
as an assurance that the Lord will yet one day redeem and gather
together his scattered and oppressed people。 'Art thou not the God
who brought us out of the land of bondage？' they exclaim in the
days of their heaviest trouble and affliction。 He who redeemed
Israel from the hand of Pharaoh is yet capable of restoring the
kingdom and sceptre to Israel。
If the Rommany trusted in any God at the period of THEIR exodus；
they must speedily have forgotten him。 Coming from Ind； as they
most assuredly did； it was impossible for them to have known the
true； and they must have been followers （if they followed any）
either of Buddh； or Brahmah； those tremendous phantoms which have
led； and are likely still to lead； the souls of hundreds of
millions to destruction； yet they are now ignorant of such names；
nor does it appear that such were ever current amongst them
subsequent to their arrival in Europe； if indeed they ever were。
They brought with them no Indian idols； as far as we are able to
judge at the present time； nor indeed Indian rites or observances；
for no traces of such are to be discovered amongst them。
All； therefore； which relates to their original religion is
shrouded in mystery； and is likely so to remain。 They may have
been idolaters； or atheists； or what they now are； totally
neglectful of worship of any kind； and though not exactly prepared
to deny the existence of a Supreme Being； as regardless of him as
if he existed not； and never mentioning his name； save in oaths and
blasphemy； or in moments of pain or sudden surprise； as they have
heard other people do； but always without any fixed belief； trust；
or hope。
There are certainly some points of resemblance between the children
of Roma and those of Israel。 Both have had an exodus； both are
exiles and dispersed amongst the Gentiles； by whom they are hated
and despised； and whom they hate and despise； under the names of
Busnees and Goyim； both； though speaking the language of the
Gentiles； possess a peculiar tongue； which the latter do not
understand； and both possess a peculiar cast of countenance； by
which they may； without difficulty； be distinguished from all other
nations； but with these points the similarity terminates。 The
Israelites have a peculiar religion； to which they are fanatically
attached； the Romas have none； as they invariably adopt； though
only in appearance； that of the people with whom they chance to
sojourn； the Israelites possess the most authentic history of any
people in the world； and are acquainted with and delight to
recapitulate all that has befallen their race； from ages the most
remote； the Romas have no history； they do not even know the name
of their original country； and the only tradition which they
possess； that of their Egyptian origin； is a false one； whether
invented by themselves or others； the Israelites are of all people
the most wealthy； the Romas the most poor … poor as a Gypsy being
proverbial amongst some nations； though both are equally greedy of
gain； and finally； though both are noted for peculiar craft and
cunning； no people are more ignorant than the Romas； whilst the
Jews have always been a learned people； being in possession of the
oldest literature in the world； and certainly the most important
and interesting。
Sad and weary must have been the path of the mixed rabble of the
Romas； when they left India's sunny land and wended their way to
the West； in comparison with the glorious exodus of the Israelites
from Egypt； whose God went before them in cloud and in fire；
working miracles and astonishing the hearts of their foes。
Even supposing that they worshipped Buddh or Brahmah； neither of
these false deities could have accomplished for them what God
effected for his chosen people； although it is true that the idea
that a Supreme Being was watching over them； in return for the
reverence paid to his image； might have cheered them 'midst storm
and lightning； 'midst mountains and wildernesses； 'midst hunger and
drought； for it is assuredly better to trust even in an idol； in a
tree； or a stone； than to be entirely godless； and the most
superstitious hind of the Himalayan hills； who trusts in the Grand
Foutsa in the hour of peril and danger； is more wise than the most
enlightened atheist； who cherishes no consoling delusion to relieve
his mind； oppressed by the terrible ideas of reality。
But it is evident that they arrived at the confines of Europe
without any certain or rooted faith。 Knowing； as we do； with what
tenacity they retain their primitive habits and customs； their sect
being； in all points； the same as it was four hundred years ago； it
appears impossible that they should have forgotten their peculiar
god； if in any peculiar god they trusted。
Though cloudy ideas of the Indian deities might be occasionally
floating in their minds； these ideas； doubtless； quickly passed
away when they ceased to behold the pagodas and temples of Indian
worship； and were no longer in contact with the enthusiastic
adorers of the idols of the East； they passed away even as the dim
and cloudy ideas which they subsequently adopted of the Eternal and
His Son； Mary and the saints； would pass away when they ceased to
be nourished by the sight of churches and crosses； for should it
please the Almighty to reconduct the Romas to Indian climes； who
can doubt that within half a century they would entirely forget all
connected with the religion of the West！ Any poor shreds of that
faith which they bore with them they would drop by degrees as they
would relinquish their European garments when they became old； and
as they relinquished their Asiatic ones to adopt those of Europe；
no particular dress makes a part of the things essential to the
sect of Roma； so likewise no particular god and no particular
religion。
Where these people first assumed the name of Egyptians； or where
that title was first bestowed upon them； it is difficult to
determine； perhaps； however； in the eastern parts of Europe； where
it should seem the grand body of this nation of wanderers made a
halt for a considerable time； and where they are still to be found
in greater numbers than in any other part。 One thing is certain；
that when they first entered Germany； which they speedily overran；
they appeared under the character of Egyptians； doing penance for
the sin of having refused hospitality to the Virgin and her Son；
and； of course； as believers in the Christian faith；
notwithstanding that they subsisted by the perpetration of every
kind of robbery and imposition； Aventinus （ANNALES BOIORUM； 826）
speaking of them says： 'Adeo tamen
