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Article HISTORY OF THE GYPSIES. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Gypsies.
spread itself over the face of the earth . They wander about in Asia , in the interior parts of Africa , and , like locusts , have over-rnn most of the European nations . In the reigns of Henry Vlll . and queen Elizabeth , as we have seen , they were set up as a mark of general persecution in England ; yet their numbers do not appear to have much diminished . Spain is supposed to contain 40 , 000 of these vagrants . They are less numerous in Francein consequence of the
, strictness of the police . In Italy they abound , especially in the dominions of the Church , on account of the bad police and the prevalence of superstition , which permit and entice them to deceive ' the ignorant . They are scattered , though not in great numbers , through Germany , Denmark , Stveden , and Russia ; but their chief population is in the south-east parts of EuropeAvhich seem to be the
ge-, neral rendezvous of the gypsy nation . At a moderate computation Europe contains more than seven hundred thousand of these vagabonds . For near four centuries they have wandered through the world ; and in every region , and among every people , whether barbarous or civilized , they have continued equally unchanged by the lapse of timethe variation of climateand the force of example .
, , Their singular physiognomy and particular manners are the same in every country . Their swarthy complexion receives no darker shade from the burning sun of Africa , nor any fairer tincture from the temperate climates of Europe ; they contract no additional laziness in Spain , nor acquire any new industry in England ; in Turkey they behold the mosque and the crescent with equal indifference , as they
do the reformed and the catholic church in Europe . In the neighbourhood of civilized life they continue barbarous ; and , beholding around them cities and settled inhabitants , they live in tents or holes in the earth , and wander from place to place as fugitives and vagabonds .
They are passionately fond of ornaments ; in which , however , they consult neither propriety nor consistency ; they will Avear an old laced coat , while the rest of their garments scarcely hang together . In Hungary and Transylvania , their summer habitations are tents ; their winter ones holes ten or twelve feet deep in the earth , except such as keep inns or exercise trades . They are fond of plate , particularly silver cupswhich they bury under the earth for security .
, Their principal occupations are , smith ' s work , or trinkets , or wooden-Ware , and horse-dealing ; and in Hungary and Transylvania they are executioners of criminals , flayers of dead beasts , and washers of gold . The women deal in old clothes , prostitution , wanton dances , and fortune-telling . Notwithstanding these occupations , the majority of this people are hr / . y beggars and thieves . They bring up their
children to their own professions , and are very fond of them . They have few disorders , except the-measles and small-pox , and weakness in their eyes , occasioned b } ' the smoke ; and live to an advanced age , ¦ with a strong attachment to life . Their physic is saffron in their soups , or bleeding . These people , however , appear to be distinguished by different - vol .. vin .- Q q
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Gypsies.
spread itself over the face of the earth . They wander about in Asia , in the interior parts of Africa , and , like locusts , have over-rnn most of the European nations . In the reigns of Henry Vlll . and queen Elizabeth , as we have seen , they were set up as a mark of general persecution in England ; yet their numbers do not appear to have much diminished . Spain is supposed to contain 40 , 000 of these vagrants . They are less numerous in Francein consequence of the
, strictness of the police . In Italy they abound , especially in the dominions of the Church , on account of the bad police and the prevalence of superstition , which permit and entice them to deceive ' the ignorant . They are scattered , though not in great numbers , through Germany , Denmark , Stveden , and Russia ; but their chief population is in the south-east parts of EuropeAvhich seem to be the
ge-, neral rendezvous of the gypsy nation . At a moderate computation Europe contains more than seven hundred thousand of these vagabonds . For near four centuries they have wandered through the world ; and in every region , and among every people , whether barbarous or civilized , they have continued equally unchanged by the lapse of timethe variation of climateand the force of example .
, , Their singular physiognomy and particular manners are the same in every country . Their swarthy complexion receives no darker shade from the burning sun of Africa , nor any fairer tincture from the temperate climates of Europe ; they contract no additional laziness in Spain , nor acquire any new industry in England ; in Turkey they behold the mosque and the crescent with equal indifference , as they
do the reformed and the catholic church in Europe . In the neighbourhood of civilized life they continue barbarous ; and , beholding around them cities and settled inhabitants , they live in tents or holes in the earth , and wander from place to place as fugitives and vagabonds .
They are passionately fond of ornaments ; in which , however , they consult neither propriety nor consistency ; they will Avear an old laced coat , while the rest of their garments scarcely hang together . In Hungary and Transylvania , their summer habitations are tents ; their winter ones holes ten or twelve feet deep in the earth , except such as keep inns or exercise trades . They are fond of plate , particularly silver cupswhich they bury under the earth for security .
, Their principal occupations are , smith ' s work , or trinkets , or wooden-Ware , and horse-dealing ; and in Hungary and Transylvania they are executioners of criminals , flayers of dead beasts , and washers of gold . The women deal in old clothes , prostitution , wanton dances , and fortune-telling . Notwithstanding these occupations , the majority of this people are hr / . y beggars and thieves . They bring up their
children to their own professions , and are very fond of them . They have few disorders , except the-measles and small-pox , and weakness in their eyes , occasioned b } ' the smoke ; and live to an advanced age , ¦ with a strong attachment to life . Their physic is saffron in their soups , or bleeding . These people , however , appear to be distinguished by different - vol .. vin .- Q q