the zincali-第46节
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as the Gitano。 Condemned to suffer the same privations and wants；
her countenance； when her interest does not oblige her to dissemble
her feelings； presents the same aspect of melancholy； and shows
besides； with more energy； the rancorous passions of which the
female heart is susceptible。 Free in her actions； her carriage；
and her pursuits； she speaks； vociferates； and makes more gestures
than the Gitano； and； in imitation of him； her arms are in
continual motion； to give more expression to the imagery with which
she accompanies her discourse； her whole body contributes to her
gesture； and to increase its force； endeavouring by these means to
sharpen the effect of language in itself insufficient； and her
vivid and disordered imagination is displayed in her appearance and
attitude。
'When she turns her hand to any species of labour； her hurried
action； the disorder of her hair； which is scarcely subjected by a
little comb； and her propensity to irritation； show how little she
loves toil； and her disgust for any continued occupation。
'In her disputes； the air of menace and high passion； the flow of
words； and the facility with which she provokes and despises
danger； indicate manners half barbarous； and ignorance of other
means of defence。 Finally； both in males and females； their
physical constitution； colour； agility； and flexibility； reveal to
us a caste sprung from a burning clime； and devoted to all those
exercises which contribute to evolve bodily vigour； and certain
mental faculties。
'The dress of the Gitano varies with the country which he inhabits。
Both in Rousillon and Catalonia his habiliments generally consist
of jacket； waistcoat； pantaloons； and a red faja； which covers part
of his waistcoat； on his feet he wears hempen sandals； with much
ribbon tied round the leg as high as the calf； he has； moreover；
either woollen or cotton stockings； round his neck he wears a
handkerchief； carelessly tied； and in the winter he uses a blanket
or mantle； with sleeves； cast over the shoulder； his head is
covered with the indispensable red cap； which appears to be the
favourite ornament of many nations in the vicinity of the
Mediterranean and Caspian Sea。
'The neck and the elbows of the jacket are adorned with pieces of
blue and yellow cloth embroidered with silk； as well as the seams
of the pantaloons； he wears； moreover； on the jacket or the
waistcoat； various rows of silver buttons； small and round；
sustained by rings or chains of the same metal。 The old people；
and those who by fortune； or some other cause； exercise； in
appearance； a kind of authority over the rest； are almost always
dressed in black or dark…blue velvet。 Some of those who affect
elegance amongst them keep for holidays a complete dress of sky…
blue velvet； with embroidery at the neck； pocket…holes； arm…pits；
and in all the seams； in a word； with the exception of the turban；
this was the fashion of dress of the ancient Moors of Granada； the
only difference being occasioned by time and misery。
'The dress of the Gitanas is very varied： the young girls； or
those who are in tolerably easy circumstances； generally wear a
black bodice laced up with a string； and adjusted to their figures；
and contrasting with the scarlet…coloured saya； which only covers a
part of the leg； their shoes are cut very low； and are adorned with
little buckles of silver； the breast； and the upper part of the
bodice； are covered either with a white handkerchief； or one of
some vivid colour； and on the head is worn another handkerchief；
tied beneath the chin； one of the ends of which falls on the
shoulder； in the manner of a hood。 When the cold or the heat
permit； the Gitana removes the hood； without untying the knots； and
exhibits her long and shining tresses restrained by a comb。 The
old women； and the very poor； dress in the same manner； save that
their habiliments are more coarse and the colours less in harmony。
Amongst them misery appears beneath the most revolting aspect；
whilst the poorest Gitano preserves a certain deportment which
would make his aspect supportable； if his unquiet and ferocious
glance did not inspire us with aversion。'
CHAPTER VI
WHILST their husbands are engaged in their jockey vocation； or in
wielding the cachas； the Callees； or Gypsy females； are seldom
idle； but are endeavouring； by various means； to make all the gain
they can。 The richest amongst them are generally contrabandistas；
and in the large towns go from house to house with prohibited
goods； especially silk and cotton； and occasionally with tobacco。
They likewise purchase cast…off female wearing…apparel； which； when
vamped up and embellished； they sometimes contrive to sell as new；
with no inconsiderable profit。
Gitanas of this description are of the most respectable class； the
rest； provided they do not sell roasted chestnuts； or esteras；
which are a species of mat； seek a livelihood by different tricks
and practices； more or less fraudulent； for example …
LA BAHI； or fortune…telling； which is called in Spanish； BUENA
VENTURA。 … This way of extracting money from the credulity of dupes
is； of all those practised by the Gypsies； the readiest and most
easy； promises are the only capital requisite； and the whole art of
fortune…telling consists in properly adapting these promises to the
age and condition of the parties who seek for information。 The
Gitanas are clever enough in the accomplishment of this； and in
most cases afford perfect satisfaction。 Their practice chiefly
lies amongst females； the portion of the human race most given to
curiosity and credulity。 To the young maidens they promise lovers；
handsome invariably； and sometimes rich； to wives children； and
perhaps another husband； for their eyes are so penetrating； that
occasionally they will develop your most secret thoughts and
wishes； to the old； riches … and nothing but riches； for they have
sufficient knowledge of the human heart to be aware that avarice is
the last passion that becomes extinct within it。 These riches are
to proceed either from the discovery of hidden treasures or from
across the water； from the Americas； to which the Spaniards still
look with hope； as there is no individual in Spain； however poor；
but has some connection in those realms of silver and gold； at
whose death he considers it probable that he may succeed to a
brilliant 'herencia。' The Gitanas； in the exercise of this
practice； find dupes almost as readily amongst the superior
classes； as the veriest dregs of the population。 It is their
boast； that the best houses are open to them； and perhaps in the
space of one hour； they will spae the bahi to a duchess； or
countess； in one of the hundred palaces of Madrid； and to half a
dozen of the lavanderas engaged in purifying the linen of the
capital； beneath the willows which droop on the banks of the
murmuring Manzanares。 One great advantage which the Gypsies
possess over all other people is an utter absence of MAUVAISE
HONTE； their speech is as fluent； and their eyes as unabashed； in
the presence of royalty； as before those from whom they have
nothing to hope or fear； the result being； that most minds quail
before them。 There were two Gitanas at Madrid； one Pepita by name；
and the other La Chicharona； the first was a spare； shrewd； witch…
like female； about fifty； and was the mother…in…law of La
Chicharona； who was remarkable for her stoutness。 These women
subsisted entirely by fortune…telling and swindling。 It chanced
that the son of Pepita； and husband of Chicharona； having spirited
away a horse； was sent to the presidio of Malaga for ten years of
hard labour。 This misfortune caused inexpressible affliction to
his wife and mother； who determined to make every effort to procure
his liberation。 The readiest way which occurred to them was to
procure an interview with the Queen Regent Christina； who they
doubted not would forthwith pardon the culprit； provided they had
an opportunity of assailing her with their Gypsy discourse； for； to
use their own words； 'they well knew what to say。' I at that time
lived close by the palace； in the street of Santiago； and daily；
for the space of a month； saw them bending their steps in that
direction。
One day they came to me in a great hurry； with a strange expression
on both their countenances。 'We have seen Christina； hijo' （my
son）； said Pepita to me。
'Within the palace？' I inquired。
'Within t
