the zincali-第5节
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Sweet Goddess； give me health。 Holy Goddess； give me luck and
grace wherever I go； and help me； Goddess； powerful and immaculate；
from ugly men； that I may go in the road to the place I purpose：
help me； Goddess； forsake me not； Goddess； for I pray for God's
sake。
WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA
In Wallachia and Moldavia； two of the eastern…most regions of
Europe； are to be found seven millions of people calling themselves
Roumouni； and speaking a dialect of the Latin tongue much corrupted
by barbarous terms； so called。 They are supposed to be in part
descendants of Roman soldiers； Rome in the days of her grandeur
having established immense military colonies in these parts。 In
the midst of these people exist vast numbers of Gypsies； amounting；
I am disposed to think； to at least two hundred thousand。 The land
of the Roumouni； indeed； seems to have been the hive from which the
West of Europe derived the Gypsy part of its population。 Far be it
from me to say that the Gypsies sprang originally from Roumouni…
land。 All I mean is； that it was their grand resting…place after
crossing the Danube。 They entered Roumouni…land from Bulgaria；
crossing the great river； and from thence some went to the north…
east； overrunning Russia； others to the west of Europe； as far as
Spain and England。 That the early Gypsies of the West； and also
those of Russia； came from Roumouni…land； is easily proved； as in
all the western Gypsy dialects； and also in the Russian； are to be
found words belonging to the Roumouni speech； for example；
primavera； spring； cheros； heaven； chorab； stocking； chismey；
boots； … Roum … primivari； cherul； chorapul； chisme。 One might
almost be tempted to suppose that the term Rommany； by which the
Gypsies of Russia and the West call themselves； was derived from
Roumouni； were it not for one fact； which is； that Romanus in the
Latin tongue merely means a native of Rome； whilst the specific
meaning of Rome still remains in the dark； whereas in Gypsy Rom
means a husband； Rommany the sect of the husbands； Romanesti if
married。 Whether both words were derived originally from the same
source； as I believe some people have supposed； is a question
which； with my present lights； I cannot pretend to determine。
THE ENGLISH GYPSIES
No country appears less adapted for that wandering life； which
seems so natural to these people； than England。 Those wildernesses
and forests； which they are so attached to； are not to be found
there； every inch of land is cultivated； and its produce watched
with a jealous eye； and as the laws against trampers； without the
visible means of supporting themselves； are exceedingly severe； the
possibility of the Gypsies existing as a distinct race； and
retaining their original free and independent habits； might
naturally be called in question by those who had not satisfactorily
verified the fact。 Yet it is a truth that； amidst all these
seeming disadvantages； they not only exist there； but in no part of
the world is their life more in accordance with the general idea
that the Gypsy is like Cain； a wanderer of the earth； for in
England the covered cart and the little tent are the houses of the
Gypsy； and he seldom remains more than three days in the same
place。
At present they are considered in some degree as a privileged
people； for； though their way of life is unlawful； it is connived
at； the law of England having discovered by experience； that its
utmost fury is inefficient to reclaim them from their inveterate
habits。
Shortly after their first arrival in England； which is upwards of
three centuries since； a dreadful persecution was raised against
them； the aim of which was their utter extermination； the being a
Gypsy was esteemed a crime worthy of death； and the gibbets of
England groaned and creaked beneath the weight of Gypsy carcases；
and the miserable survivors were literally obliged to creep into
the earth in order to preserve their lives。 But these days passed
by； their persecutors became weary of pursuing them； they showed
their heads from the holes and caves where they had hidden
themselves； they ventured forth； increased in numbers； and； each
tribe or family choosing a particular circuit； they fairly divided
the land amongst them。
In England； the male Gypsies are all dealers in horses； and
sometimes employ their idle time in mending the tin and copper
utensils of the peasantry； the females tell fortunes。 They
generally pitch their tents in the vicinity of a village or small
town by the road side； under the shelter of the hedges and trees。
The climate of England is well known to be favourable to beauty；
and in no part of the world is the appearance of the Gypsies so
prepossessing as in that country； their complexion is dark； but not
disagreeably so； their faces are oval； their features regular；
their foreheads rather low； and their hands and feet small。 The
men are taller than the English peasantry； and far more active。
They all speak the English language with fluency； and in their gait
and demeanour are easy and graceful； in both points standing in
striking contrast with the peasantry； who in speech are slow and
uncouth； and in manner dogged and brutal。
The dialect of the Rommany； which they speak； though mixed with
English words； may be considered as tolerably pure； from the fact
that it is intelligible to the Gypsy race in the heart of Russia。
Whatever crimes they may commit； their vices are few； for the men
are not drunkards； nor are the women harlots； there are no two
characters which they hold in so much abhorrence； nor do any words
when applied by them convey so much execration as these two。
The crimes of which these people were originally accused were
various； but the principal were theft； sorcery； and causing disease
among the cattle； and there is every reason for supposing that in
none of these points they were altogether guiltless。
With respect to sorcery； a thing in itself impossible； not only the
English Gypsies； but the whole race； have ever professed it；
therefore； whatever misery they may have suffered on that account；
they may be considered as having called it down upon their own
heads。
Dabbling in sorcery is in some degree the province of the female
Gypsy。 She affects to tell the future； and to prepare philtres by
means of which love can be awakened in any individual towards any
particular object； and such is the credulity of the human race；
even in the most enlightened countries； that the profits arising
from these practices are great。 The following is a case in point：
two females； neighbours and friends； were tried some years since；
in England； for the murder of their husbands。 It appeared that
they were in love with the same individual； and had conjointly； at
various times； paid sums of money to a Gypsy woman to work charms
to captivate his affections。 Whatever little effect the charms
might produce； they were successful in their principal object； for
the person in question carried on for some time a criminal
intercourse with both。 The matter came to the knowledge of the
husbands； who； taking means to break off this connection； were
respectively poisoned by their wives。 Till the moment of
conviction these wretched females betrayed neither emotion nor
fear； but then their consternation was indescribable； and they
afterwards confessed that the Gypsy； who had visited them in
prison； had promised to shield them from conviction by means of her
art。 It is therefore not surprising that in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries； when a belief in sorcery was supported by the
laws of all Europe； these people were regarded as practisers of
sorcery； and punished as such； when； even in the nineteenth； they
still find people weak enough to place confidence in their claims
to supernatural power。
The accusation of producing disease and death amongst the cattle
was far from groundless。 Indeed； however strange and incredible it
may sound in the present day to those who are unacquainted with
this caste； and the peculiar habits of the Rommanees； the practice
is still occasionally pursued in England and many other countries
where they are found。 From this practice； when they are not
detected； they derive considerable advantage。 Poisoning cattle is
exercised by them in two ways： by one； they merely cause disease
in the animals； with the view of receiving money for curing them
upon of
