the zincali-第40节
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respectable Gitano； without a previous knowledge of the animal and
his former possessor； the chances being that it is either diseased
or stolen from a distance。 Of the practices of the females；
something will be said in particular in a future chapter。
The Gitanos in general are very poor； a pair of large cachas and
various scissors of a smaller description constituting their whole
capital； occasionally a good hit is made； as they call it； but the
money does not last long； being quickly squandered in feasting and
revelry。 He who has habitually in his house a couple of donkeys is
considered a thriving Gitano； there are some； however； who are
wealthy in the strict sense of the word； and carry on a very
extensive trade in horses and mules。 These； occasionally； visit
the most distant fairs； traversing the greatest part of Spain。
There is a celebrated cattle…fair held at Leon on St。 John's or
Midsummer Day； and on one of these occasions； being present； I
observed a small family of Gitanos； consisting of a man of about
fifty； a female of the same age； and a handsome young Gypsy； who
was their son； they were richly dressed after the Gypsy fashion；
the men wearing zamarras with massy clasps and knobs of silver； and
the woman a species of riding…dress with much gold embroidery； and
having immense gold rings attached to her ears。 They came from
Murcia； a distance of one hundred leagues and upwards。 Some
merchants； to whom I was recommended； informed me that they had
credit on their house to the amount of twenty thousand dollars。
They experienced rough treatment in the fair； and on a very
singular account： immediately on their appearing on the ground；
the horses in the fair； which； perhaps； amounted to three thousand；
were seized with a sudden and universal panic； it was one of those
strange incidents for which it is difficult to assign a rational
cause； but a panic there was amongst the brutes； and a mighty one；
the horses neighed； screamed； and plunged； endeavouring to escape
in all directions； some appeared absolutely possessed； stamping and
tearing； their manes and tails stiffly erect； like the bristles of
the wild boar … many a rider lost his seat。 When the panic had
ceased； and it did cease almost as suddenly as it had arisen； the
Gitanos were forthwith accused as the authors of it； it was said
that they intended to steal the best horses during the confusion；
and the keepers of the ground； assisted by a rabble of chalans； who
had their private reasons for hating the Gitanos； drove them off
the field with sticks and cudgels。 So much for having a bad name。
These wealthy Gitanos； when they are not ashamed of their blood or
descent； and are not addicted to proud fancies； or 'barbales；' as
they are called； possess great influence with the rest of their
brethren； almost as much as the rabbins amongst the Jews； their
bidding is considered law； and the other Gitanos are at their
devotion。 On the contrary； when they prefer the society of the
Busne to that of their own race； and refuse to assist their less
fortunate brethren in poverty or in prison； they are regarded with
unbounded contempt and abhorrence； as in the case of the rich Gypsy
of Badajoz； and are not unfrequently doomed to destruction： such
characters are mentioned in their couplets：…
'The Gypsy fiend of Manga mead；
Who never gave a straw；
He would destroy； for very greed；
The good Egyptian law。
'The false Juanito day and night
Had best with caution go；
The Gypsy carles of Yeira height
Have sworn to lay him low。'
However some of the Gitanos may complain that there is no longer
union to be found amongst them； there is still much of that fellow…
feeling which springs from a consciousness of proceeding from one
common origin； or； as they love to term it； 'blood。' At present
their system exhibits less of a commonwealth than when they roamed
in bands amongst the wilds； and principally subsisted by foraging；
each individual contributing to the common stock； according to his
success。 The interests of individuals are now more distinct； and
that close connection is of course dissolved which existed when
they wandered about； and their dangers； gains； and losses were felt
in common； and it can never be too often repeated that they are no
longer a proscribed race； with no rights nor safety save what they
gained by a close and intimate union。 Nevertheless； the Gitano；
though he naturally prefers his own interest to that of his
brother； and envies him his gain when he does not expect to share
in it； is at all times ready to side with him against the Busno；
because the latter is not a Gitano； but of a different blood； and
for no other reason。 When one Gitano confides his plans to
another； he is in no fear that they will be betrayed to the Busno；
for whom there is no sympathy； and when a plan is to be executed
which requires co…operation； they seek not the fellowship of the
Busne； but of each other； and if successful； share the gain like
brothers。
As a proof of the fraternal feeling which is not unfrequently
displayed amongst the Gitanos； I shall relate a circumstance which
occurred at Cordova a year or two before I first visited it。 One
of the poorest of the Gitanos murdered a Spaniard with the fatal
Manchegan knife； for this crime he was seized； tried； and found
guilty。 Blood…shedding in Spain is not looked upon with much
abhorrence； and the life of the culprit is seldom taken； provided
he can offer a bribe sufficient to induce the notary public to
report favourably upon his case； but in this instance money was of
no avail； the murdered individual left behind him powerful friends
and connections； who were determined that justice should take its
course。 It was in vain that the Gitanos exerted all their
influence with the authorities in behalf of their comrade； and such
influence was not slight； it was in vain that they offered
extravagant sums that the punishment of death might be commuted to
perpetual slavery in the dreary presidio of Ceuta； I was credibly
informed that one of the richest Gitanos； by name Fruto； offered
for his own share of the ransom the sum of five thousand crowns；
whilst there was not an individual but contributed according to his
means … nought availed； and the Gypsy was executed in the Plaza。
The day before the execution； the Gitanos； perceiving that the fate
of their brother was sealed； one and all quitted Cordova； shutting
up their houses and carrying with them their horses； their mules；
their borricos； their wives and families； and the greatest part of
their household furniture。 No one knew whither they directed their
course； nor were they seen in Cordova for some months； when they
again suddenly made their appearance； a few； however； never
returned。 So great was the horror of the Gitanos at what had
occurred； that they were in the habit of saying that the place was
cursed for evermore； and when I knew them； there were many amongst
them who； on no account； would enter the Plaza which had witnessed
the disgraceful end of their unfortunate brother。
The position which the Gitanos hold in society in Spain is the
lowest； as might be expected； they are considered at best as
thievish chalans； and the women as half sorceresses； and in every
respect thieves； there is not a wretch； however vile； the outcast
of the prison and the presidio； who calls himself Spaniard； but
would feel insulted by being termed Gitano； and would thank God
that he is not； and yet； strange to say； there are numbers； and
those of the higher classes； who seek their company； and endeavour
to imitate their manners and way of speaking。 The connections
which they form with the Spaniards are not many； occasionally some
wealthy Gitano marries a Spanish female； but to find a Gitana
united to a Spaniard is a thing of the rarest occurrence； if it
ever takes place。 It is； of course； by intermarriage alone that
the two races will ever commingle； and before that event is brought
about； much modification must take place amongst the Gitanos； in
their manners； in their habits； in their affections； and their
dislikes； and； perhaps； even in their physical peculiarities； much
must be forgotten on both sides； and everything is forgotten in the
course of time。
The number of the Gitano population of Spain at the present day may
be estimated at about forty thousand。 At the commencement of the
present century it was said to amount to sixty thousand。 There can
be n
