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Article HISTORY OF THE GYPSIES. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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History Of The Gypsies.
singularities in different countries . At least in the following circumstances the German gypsies differ wide . y from those we commonly meet with in England . It is a great least to them Avbenever they can procure a roast from cattle that died of any distemper . It is all one to them , Avhether it be carrion of a sheep , hog . cow , or other beast , horse-flesh only excepted ; they are so far from facing disgusted with itthat to aat their fill of such a meal is to them the heiht of i-
, g ep curism . When any one censures their taste , or shews surprise at it , fheyansAver , 'That the flesh of a beast which God kills must be better than of one killed by the hand of man . ' They therefore take every opportunity of getting such dainties . That they take carrion from a laystall , as is affirmed of the gypsies in Hungary , is by no means certain , any more than that they eat horse-flesh . But * if a beast
out of an herd dies , and they find it before it becomes rotten and putrified ; or if a farmer gives them notice of a COAV dead ; they proceed , Avithout hesitation , to get possession of this booty . Their favourite object is animals that have been destroyed by fire ; therefore , whenever a conflagration has happened , either in town or country , the next day the gypsiesfrom every neighbouring quarterassemble
, , , and draw the suffocated half-consumed beasts out of the ashes . Men , women , and children , in troops , are extremely busy , joyfully carrying the flesh to their huts ; they return several times , provide themselves plentifully with this roast meat ; and gluttonize as Jong as their noble fare lasts . The gypsies have , at least in Transylvania , a sort of regular
go-% 'ernment , rather nominal than real or effective . They have their leaders , or chiefs , whom they distinguish by the Sclavonian title , Waywode . To this dignity every person is eli gible Avho is of a family descended from a former Way-wode ; but the preference is generally given to those who have the best clothes and the most wealth ; who are of a large stature , and not past the meridian of life . —Of religionhoweverthey have no sense ; thoughwith their usual
cun-, , , ning and hypocrisy , they profess the established faith of every couii-. try in which they live . They also speak'the languages of the respective countries , yet have ' a language of their own : from whence derived , authors differ . The only science which they have attained is music . Their poetry is ungrammatical indecent rhyme . They are in general livelyuncommonly loquacious ancl chattering ; fickle in
, the extreme , consequent ! } ' inconstant in their pursuits : faithless to every body , even their own cast ; void of the least emotion of gra-- titudc , frequently rewarding benefits with the most insidious malice . Fear makes them slavishly compliant when under subjection ; but , having nothing to apprehend , like other timorous people , they are cruel . Desire of revenge often causes them to take the most
desperate resolutions . To such a degree of violence is 'their fury sometimes excited , that a mother has been known , in the excess of passion , to take a small infant by the feet , and therewith strike the object of h-sr anger , when no other instrument has readily presented itself . . They are so addicted to drinking , as to sacrifice what is most necessary to them , that they may feast their palate with spirits . They
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Gypsies.
singularities in different countries . At least in the following circumstances the German gypsies differ wide . y from those we commonly meet with in England . It is a great least to them Avbenever they can procure a roast from cattle that died of any distemper . It is all one to them , Avhether it be carrion of a sheep , hog . cow , or other beast , horse-flesh only excepted ; they are so far from facing disgusted with itthat to aat their fill of such a meal is to them the heiht of i-
, g ep curism . When any one censures their taste , or shews surprise at it , fheyansAver , 'That the flesh of a beast which God kills must be better than of one killed by the hand of man . ' They therefore take every opportunity of getting such dainties . That they take carrion from a laystall , as is affirmed of the gypsies in Hungary , is by no means certain , any more than that they eat horse-flesh . But * if a beast
out of an herd dies , and they find it before it becomes rotten and putrified ; or if a farmer gives them notice of a COAV dead ; they proceed , Avithout hesitation , to get possession of this booty . Their favourite object is animals that have been destroyed by fire ; therefore , whenever a conflagration has happened , either in town or country , the next day the gypsiesfrom every neighbouring quarterassemble
, , , and draw the suffocated half-consumed beasts out of the ashes . Men , women , and children , in troops , are extremely busy , joyfully carrying the flesh to their huts ; they return several times , provide themselves plentifully with this roast meat ; and gluttonize as Jong as their noble fare lasts . The gypsies have , at least in Transylvania , a sort of regular
go-% 'ernment , rather nominal than real or effective . They have their leaders , or chiefs , whom they distinguish by the Sclavonian title , Waywode . To this dignity every person is eli gible Avho is of a family descended from a former Way-wode ; but the preference is generally given to those who have the best clothes and the most wealth ; who are of a large stature , and not past the meridian of life . —Of religionhoweverthey have no sense ; thoughwith their usual
cun-, , , ning and hypocrisy , they profess the established faith of every couii-. try in which they live . They also speak'the languages of the respective countries , yet have ' a language of their own : from whence derived , authors differ . The only science which they have attained is music . Their poetry is ungrammatical indecent rhyme . They are in general livelyuncommonly loquacious ancl chattering ; fickle in
, the extreme , consequent ! } ' inconstant in their pursuits : faithless to every body , even their own cast ; void of the least emotion of gra-- titudc , frequently rewarding benefits with the most insidious malice . Fear makes them slavishly compliant when under subjection ; but , having nothing to apprehend , like other timorous people , they are cruel . Desire of revenge often causes them to take the most
desperate resolutions . To such a degree of violence is 'their fury sometimes excited , that a mother has been known , in the excess of passion , to take a small infant by the feet , and therewith strike the object of h-sr anger , when no other instrument has readily presented itself . . They are so addicted to drinking , as to sacrifice what is most necessary to them , that they may feast their palate with spirits . They