the zincali-第4部分
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still remains a desideratum。
The religion which these singular females externally professed was
the Greek； and they mostly wore crosses of copper or gold； but when
I questioned them on this subject in their native language； they
laughed； and said it was only to please the Russians。 Their names
for God and his adversary are Deval and Bengel； which differ little
from the Spanish Un…debel and Bengi； which signify the same。 I
will now say something of
THE HUNGARIAN GYPSIES； OR CZIGANY
Hungary； though a country not a tenth part so extensive as the huge
colossus of the Russian empire； whose tzar reigns over a hundred
lands； contains perhaps as many Gypsies； it not being uncommon to
find whole villages inhabited by this race； they likewise abound in
the suburbs of the towns。 In Hungary the feudal system still
exists in all its pristine barbarity； in no country does the hard
hand of this oppression bear so heavy upon the lower classes … not
even in Russia。 The peasants of Russia are serfs； it is true； but
their condition is enviable compared with that of the same class in
the other country； they have certain rights and privileges； and
are； upon the whole； happy and contented； whilst the Hungarians are
ground to powder。 Two classes are free in Hungary to do almost
what they please … the nobility and … the Gypsies； the former are
above the law … the latter below it： a toll is wrung from the
hands of the hard…working labourers； that most meritorious class；
in passing over a bridge； for example at Pesth； which is not
demanded from a well…dressed person … nor from the Czigany； who
have frequently no dress at all … and whose insouciance stands in
striking contrast with the trembling submission of the peasants。
The Gypsy； wherever you find him； is an incomprehensible being； but
nowhere more than in Hungary； where； in the midst of slavery； he is
free； though apparently one step lower than the lowest slave。 The
habits of the Hungarian Gypsies are abominable； their hovels appear
sinks of the vilest poverty and filth； their dress is at best rags；
their food frequently the vilest carrion； and occasionally； if
report be true； still worse … on which point； when speaking of the
Spanish Gitanos； we shall have subsequently more to say： thus they
live in filth； in rags； in nakedness； and in merriness of heart；
for nowhere is there more of song and dance than in an Hungarian
Gypsy village。 They are very fond of music； and some of them are
heard to touch the violin in a manner wild； but of peculiar
excellence。 Parties of them have been known to exhibit even at
Paris。
In Hungary； as in all parts； they are addicted to horse…dealing；
they are likewise tinkers； and smiths in a small way。 The women
are fortune…tellers； of course … both sexes thieves of the first
water。 They roam where they list … in a country where all other
people are held under strict surveillance； no one seems to care
about these Parias。 The most remarkable feature； however；
connected with the habits of the Czigany； consists in their foreign
excursions； having plunder in view； which frequently endure for
three or four years； when； if no mischance has befallen them； they
return to their native land … rich； where they squander the
proceeds of their dexterity in mad festivals。 They wander in bands
of twelve and fourteen through France； even to Rome。 Once； during
my own wanderings in Italy； I rested at nightfall by the side of a
kiln； the air being piercingly cold； it was about four leagues from
Genoa。 Presently arrived three individuals to take advantage of
the warmth … a man； a woman； and a lad。 They soon began to
discourse … and I found that they were Hungarian Gypsies； they
spoke of what they had been doing； and what they had amassed … I
think they mentioned nine hundred crowns。 They had companions in
the neighbourhood； some of whom they were expecting； they took no
notice of me； and conversed in their own dialect； I did not approve
of their propinquity； and rising； hastened away。
When Napoleon invaded Spain there were not a few Hungarian Gypsies
in his armies； some strange encounters occurred on the field of
battle between these people and the Spanish Gitanos； one of which
is related in the second part of the present work。 When quartered
in the Spanish towns； the Czigany invariably sought out their
peninsular brethren； to whom they revealed themselves； kissing and
embracing most affectionately； the Gitanos were astonished at the
proficiency of the strangers in thievish arts； and looked upon them
almost in the light of superior beings： 'They knew the whole
reckoning；' is still a common expression amongst them。 There was a
Cziganian soldier for some time at Cordoba； of whom the Gitanos of
the place still frequently discourse； whilst smoking their cigars
during winter nights over their braseros。
The Hungarian Gypsies have a peculiar accent when speaking the
language of the country； by which they can be instantly
distinguished； the same thing is applicable to the Gitanos of Spain
when speaking Spanish。 In no part of the world is the Gypsy
language preserved better than in Hungary。
The following short prayer to the Virgin； which I have frequently
heard amongst the Gypsies of Hungary and Transylvania； will serve
as a specimen of their language。…
Gula Devla； da me saschipo。 Swuntuna Devla； da me bacht t'
aldaschis cari me jav； te ferin man； Devla； sila ta niapaschiata；
chungale manuschendar； ke me jav ande drom ca hin man traba； ferin
man； Devia； ma mek man Devla； ke manga man tre Devies…key。
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
