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y　two　newly…made　acquaintances　whether　there　were　　many　of　their　people　at　Badajoz　and　in　the　vicinity；　they　informed　　me　that　there　were　nine　or　ten　families　residing　in　the　town；　and　　that　there　were　others　at　Merida；　a　town　about　nine　leagues　　distant。　　I　asked　by　what　means　they　supported　themselves；　and　they　　replied　that　they　and　their　brethren　gained　a　livelihood　by　jobbing　　in　horses；　mules；　etc。；　but　that　all　those　in　Badajoz　were　very　　poor；　with　the　exception　of　one　man；　who　was　exceedingly　MUBALBALLO　　or　rich；　as　he　was　in　possession　of　many　horses　and　other　beasts。　　　They　removed　their　cloaks　for　a　moment；　and　I　saw　that　their　　undergarments　were　rags。

They　left　me　in　haste；　and　went　about　the　town　informing　the　rest　　that　a　stranger　was　arrived；　who　spoke　Rommany　as　well　as　　themselves；　who　had　the　eyes　and　face　of　a　Gitano；　and　seemed　to　be　　of　the　ERATTI；　or　blood。　　In　less　than　half…an…hour　the　street　　before　the　inn　was　filled　with　the　men；　women；　and　children　of　　Egypt。　　I　went　out　amongst　them；　and　my　heart　sank　within　me　as　I　　surveyed　them；　so　much　squalidness；　dirt；　and　misery　I　had　never　　before　seen　amongst　a　similar　number　of　human　beings。　　But　the　　worst　of　all　was　the　evil　expression　of　their　countenances；　plainly　　denoting　that　they　were　familiar　with　every　species　of　crime；　and　　it　was　not　long　before　I　found　that　their　countenances　did　not　　belie　them。　　After　they　had　asked　me　an　infinity　of　questions；　and　　felt　my　hands；　face；　and　clothes；　they　retired　to　their　homes。　　My　　meeting　with　these　wretched　people　was　the　reason　of　my　remaining　　at　Badajoz　a　much　longer　time　than　I　originally　intended。　　I　wished　　to　become　better　acquainted　with　their　condition　and　manners；　and　　above　all　to　speak　to　them　about　Christ　and　His　Word；　for　I　was　　convinced　that　should　I　travel　to　the　end　of　the　universe　I　should　　meet　with　none　who　were　more　in　need　of　Christian　exhortation；　and　　I　accordingly　continued　at　Badajoz　for　nearly　three　weeks。

During　this　time　I　was　almost　constantly　amongst　them；　and　as　I　　spoke　their　language　and　was　considered　by　them　as　one　of　　themselves；　I　had　better　opportunities　of　coming　to　a　fair　　conclusion　respecting　their　character　than　any　other　person；　　whether　Spaniard　or　foreigner；　could　have　hoped　for；　not　possessed　　of　a　similar　advantage。　　The　result　of　my　observations　was　a　firm　　belief　that　the　Spanish　Gitanos　are　the　most　vile；　degraded；　and　　wretched　people　upon　the　earth。

In　no　part　of　the　world　does　the　Gypsy　race　enjoy　a　fair　fame　and　　reputation；　there　being　no　part　where　they　are　not　considered；　and　　I　believe　with　justice；　as　cheats　and　swindlers；　but　those　of　Spain　　are　not　only　all　this；　but　far　more。　　The　Gypsies　of　England；　　Russia；　etc。；　live　by　fraud　of　various　descriptions；　but　they　　seldom　commit　acts　of　violence；　and　their　vices　are　none　or　very　　few；　the　men　are　not　drunkards；　nor　are　the　women　harlots；　but　the　　Gypsy　of　Spain　is　a　cheat　in　the　market…place；　a　brigand　and　　murderer　on　the　high…road；　and　a　drunkard　in　the　wine…shop；　and　his　　wife　is　a　harlot　and　thief　on　all　times　and　occasions。　　The　　excessive　wickedness　of　these　outcasts　may　perhaps　be　attributed　to　　their　having　abandoned　their　wandering　life　and　become　inmates　of　　the　towns；　where　to　the　original　bad　traits　of　their　character　they　　have　super…added　the　evil　and　vicious　habits　of　the　rabble。　　Their　　mouths　teem　with　abomination；　and　in　no　part　of　the　world　have　I　　heard　such　frequent；　frightful；　and　extraordinary　cursing　as　　amongst　them。

Religion　they　have　none；　they　never　attend　mass；　nor　confess　　themselves；　and　never　employ　the　names　of　God；　Christ　and　the　　Virgin；　but　in　imprecation　and　blasphemy。　　From　what　I　learnt　from　　them　it　appeared　that　their　ancestors　had　some　belief　in　　metempsychosis；　but　they　themselves　laughed　at　the　idea；　and　were　　decidedly　of　opinion　that　the　soul　perished　when　the　body　ceased　to　　breathe；　and　the　argument　which　they　used　was　rational　enough；　so　　far　as　it　impugned　metempsychosis：　　'We　have　been　wicked　and　　miserable　enough　in　this　life；'　they　said；　'why　should　we　live　　again？'

I　translated　certain　portions　of　Scripture　into　their　dialect；　　which　I　frequently　read　to　them；　especially　the　parables　of　Lazarus　　and　the　Prodigal　Son；　and　told　them　that　the　latter　had　been　as　　wicked　as　themselves；　and　both　had　suffered　as　much　or　more；　but　　that　the　sufferings　of　the　former；　who　always　looked　forward　to　a　　blessed　resurrection；　were　recompensed　in　the　world　to　come　by　　admission　to　the　society　of　Abraham　and　the　prophets；　and　that　the　　latter；　when　he　repented　of　his　crimes；　was　forgiven　and　received　　into　as　much　favour　as　the　just　son　had　always　enjoyed。　　They　　listened　with　admiration；　but　alas！　not　of　the　truths；　the　eternal　　truths　I　was　telling　them；　but　at　finding　that　their　broken　jargon　

could　be　written　and　read。　　The　only　words　of　assent　to　the　　heavenly　doctrine　which　I　ever　obtained；　and　which　were　rather　of　　the　negative　kind；　were　the　following；　from　a　woman：　　'Brother；　you　　tell　us　strange　things；　though　perhaps　you　do　not　lie；　a　month　　since　I　would　sooner　have　believed　these　tales；　than　that　I　should　　this　day　have　seen　one　who　could　write　Rommany。'

They　possess　a　vast　number　of　songs　or　couplets　which　they　recite　　to　the　music　of　the　guitar。　　For　the　purpose　of　improving　myself　in　　the　language　I　collected　and　wrote　down　upwards　of　one　hundred　of　　these　couplets；　the　subjects　of　which　are　horse…stealing；　murder；　　and　the　various　incidents　of　gypsy…life　in　Spain。　　Perhaps　a　　collection　of　songs　more　characteristic　of　the　people　from　whom　　they　originated　was　never　made；　though　amongst　them　are　to　be　found　　some　tender　and　beautiful　thoughts；　though　few　and　far　between；　as　　a　flower　or　shrub　is　here　and　there　seen　springing　from　the　　interstices　of　the　rugged　and　frightful　rocks　of　which　are　composed　　the　mountains　and　sierras　of　Spain。

The　following　is　their　traditionary　account　of　the　expulsion　of　　their　fathers　from　Egypt。　　'And　it　came　to　pass　that　Pharaoh　the　　King　collected　numerous　armies　for　the　purpose　of　war；　and　after　he　　had　conquered　the　whole　world；　he　challenged　God　to　descend　from　　heaven　and　fight　him；　but　the　Lord　replied；　〃There　is　no　one　who　　shall　fight　with　Me〃；　and　thereupon　the　Lord　opened　a　mountain；　and　　He　cast　therein　Pharaoh　the　King　and　all　his　numerous　armies；　so　　that　the　Egyptians　remained　without　defence；　and　their　enemies　　arose　and　scattered　them　wide　abroad。'



LETTER：　25th　July；　1836



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　No。　16　CALLE　DE　SANTIAGO；　MADRID；　JULY　25th；　1836。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　enclose　you　a　letter　from　a　Spanish　　gentleman　who　wishes　to　become　a　subscriber　to　the　Society。　　He　is　　a　person　of　great　respectability；　great　learning；　and　is　likewise　　one　of　the　editors　of　the　ESPANOL；　the　principal　newspaper　in　　Spain。　　Should　you　accept　his　offer　of　becoming　a　correspondent；　he　　may　be　of　infinite　service；　as　the　newspaper　which　he　superintends　　would　be　always　open　to　the　purposes　of　the　Society。　　He　has　　connections　all　over　Spain；　and　no　one　could　assist　more　　effectually　in　diffusing　the　Scriptures　when　printed。　　He　wishes　　very　much　to　have　an　account　of　the　proceedings　of　the　Society；　　therefore　any　books　you　could　send　him　relating　thereto　would　be　　highly　acceptable。　　Great　things　might　be　done　in　Spain；　and　I　am　　convinced　that　if　there　was　a　Protestant　church　in　Madrid　it　would　　be　crammed。

I　have　spoken　to　Mr。　Wood；　an　Englishman；　the　printer　of　the　　ESPANOL；　who　has　the　best　printing　presses　in　Spain；　and　he　is　　willing　to　begin　the　work　whenever　you　think　proper：　　he　will　　engage　to　bring　it　out　in　three　months；　in　the　same　shape　as　the　　Catalan　Testaments。　　In　order　that　you　may　have　as　little　trouble　　as　possible；　I　have　translated　Dr。　Usoz's　letter。　　I　have　not　　thought　fit　to　transmit　the　printed　paper　which　he　alludes　to；　as　　it　would　make　this　letter　very　bulky。　　It　is　an　official　account　of　　his　studies；　and　the　honours　he　attained　at　the　University。

I　remain；　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；

Most　truly　yours；

G。　BORROW。


TRANSLATION　OF　DR。　USOZ'S　LETTER。

Gentlemen　of　the　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society；

Having　by　good　fortune　become　acquainted　with　your　Agent；　Mr。　G。　　Borrow；　at　present　residing　in　this　city；　and　having　learnt　from　　him　that　I　might　take　the　liberty　of　addressing　myself　to　you　for　　the　purpose　of　inquiring　whether　you　would　have　any　objection　to　　insert　my　name　in　your　list　as　a　member；　I　avail　myself　of　the　　present　opportunity　to　do　so；　and　hope　that　my　wishes　will　be　　gratified。　　I　believe　it　is　necessary　for　every　member　to　pay　1　　pound　sterling；　or　100　REALS　of　our　coin；　annually；　perhaps　you　　will　inform　me　when；　and　in　whose　hands；　I　may　deposit　this　sum。　　　As　I　have　no　other　object　in　this　than　to　endeavour；　by　all　the　　means　in　my　power；　to　cause　the　Scriptures　to　be　read　as　much　as　　possible　in　my　unhappy　country；　I　should　wish　to　be　considered　in　　the　light　of　a　correspondent；　as　I　flatter　myself　that　if　you　would　　consent；　after　taking　the　necessary　precautions；　to　entrust　me　with　　copies　of　the　Scripture；　I　should　find　no　difficulty　in　circulating　　them　in　every　province　of　my　country。

Being　fully　convinced　that　nothing　but　the　reading　of　the　Bible　can　　form　the　basis　of　solid　liberty　in　Spain；　I　will　employ　every　　effort　to　promote　it；　if　your　philanthropic　Society　will　assist　me。　　　It　would　answer　no　purpose　to　occupy　your　attention　by　speaking　　prolixly　of　the　purity　of　my　intention　and　my　zeal；　time　and　　experience　will　speak　either　for　or　against　me；　I　will　merely　　enclose　this　printed　paper；　by　which　you　will　learn　who　he　is　who　　has　taken　the　liberty　of　writing　to　you。　　It　is　superfluous　to　add　　that；　should　you　consent　to　my　desire；　I　should　want　all　the　　notices　and　documents　respecting　your　Society　which　you　could　　supply　me　with。

As　I　possess　some　knowledge　of　English；　you　might　avail　yourselves　　of　this　language　in　your　answer；　provided　the　letters　used　be　　written　clearly。

I　have　the　honour；　etc。

LUIS　DE　USOZ　Y　RIO。

P。S。　…　Should　you　direct　to　me　directly；　or　by　other　means　than　the　　post；　my　address　is：　　A　D。　Luis　de　Usoz　y　Rio；　Calle　de　Santa　　Catalina；　No。　12　nuevo；　Madrid。



LETTE