CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

On the Gypsies in general—Name and Language—The Russian Gypsies—Gypsies at Moscow—Hungarian Gypsies—Wallachia and Moldavia—English Gypsies, or Rommany—Gypsy Fortune-tellers—Gypsy Jockeys—Gypsy Will—Thurtell—Gypsy Clans—Names of Families—Gypsy Law—Pazorrhus—The Patteran—Baptismal Papers—Gypsies of the East—Artifice of Timour—Bishop of Forli 1

THE ZINCALI

PART I

CHAPTER I

Of the Spanish Gypsies in general—Names—Arrival—Egyptian Penitents—Peculiarities of Spain—Provinces which the Gypsies principally frequented 41

CHAPTER II

Manner of Life—Predatory Habits—The Traveller—Jews and Gypsies—The Forge—The Sparks—Gypsy Counts—Martin del Rio—Facility in speaking Languages—Proverbs 48

CHAPTER III

Excesses of the Gitános—The Bookseller of Logroño 61

CHAPTER IV

Gypsy Colonies in various Towns of Spain 71

CHAPTER V

Cannibalism—The Forest—Anecdotes—Food of the Gypsies—Child-stealing—Connection of the Gitános with the Moors of Barbary 76

CHAPTER VI

Barbary and its Tribes—Beni Aros—Sidi Hamed au Muza—The Children of the Dar-Bushi-Fal, a Sect of Thieves and Sorcerers, probably of Gypsy Origin 85

CHAPTER VII

Chiromancy—Torreblanca—Gitánas—The Gitána of Seville—La Buena Ventura—The Dance—The Song—Tricks of the Gitánas—The Widow—Occult Powers 98

CHAPTER VIII

The Evil Eye—Credulity of Eastern Nations on this subject—Remedies for the Evil Eye—The Talmud—Superstitions of the North 115

CHAPTER IX

Exodus of the Jews: that of the Gypsies—Indifference of the Gitános with respect to Religion—Ezekiel—Tale of Egyptian Descent—Quiñones—Melchior of Guelama—Religious Tolerance—The Inquisitor of Cordova—Gitános and Moriscos 122

CHAPTER X

The Expulsion of the Gitános; a Discourse addressed by Dr. Sancho de Moncada to Philip the Third 137

CHAPTER XI

Various Laws issued against the Spanish Gypsies, from the time of Ferdinand and Isabella to the latter part of the Eighteenth Century, embracing a period of nearly Three Hundred Years 151

CHAPTER XII

Carlos Tercero—His Law respecting the Gitános 166

PART II

CHAPTER I

Badajoz—The Gypsies—The Withered Arm—Gypsy Law—Trimming and Shearing—Metempsychosis—Paco and Antonio—Antonio and the Magyar—The Chai—Pharaoh—The Steeds of the Egyptians 177

CHAPTER II

Madrid—Gypsy Women—Granada—Gypsy Smiths—Pepe Conde—Seville—Triana—Cordova—Horses—The Esquilador—Characteristic Epistle—Catalonia, etc. 194

CHAPTER III

General Remarks on the Present State of the Gitános—Inefficiency of the Old Laws—Prospects of the Gitános—Partial Reformation—Decline of the Gypsy Sect—Fair of Leon—Love of Race—Gypsy executed—Numerical Decrease 207

CHAPTER IV

Illustrations of Gypsy Character—The Gypsy Innkeeper of Tarifa—The Gypsy Soldier of Valdepeñas 221

CHAPTER V

Various Points connected with the Gitános—Dress—Physical Characteristics—The Gypsy Glance—Extracts from a Spanish work 243

CHAPTER VI

Certain Tricks and Practices of the Gypsy Females—The Bahi—Hokkano Baro—Ustilar Pastésas—Shoplifting—Drao—The Loadstone—The Root of the Good Baron 252

CHAPTER VII

The Marriage Festival—Eastern Jews—Their Weddings 266

CHAPTER VIII

Attempts made to enlighten the Gitános—The Inward Monitor—The One-eyed Gitána—Pépa and Chicharóna—The Gypsy Congregation 274

PART III

CHAPTER I

The Poetry of the Gitános 287

CHAPTER II

Spurious Gypsy Poetry of Andalusia 298

Brijindope.—The Deluge 304

The Pestilence 310

On the Language of the Gitános 313

Robber Language 335

The Term ‘Busno’ 354

Specimens of Gypsy Dialects 357

Vocabulary of their Language 365

APPENDIX

Miscellanies in the Gitáno Language 415

The English Dialect of the Rommany 428