第 8 节
作者:
指环王 更新:2024-01-24 16:00 字数:9322
BAUOR (gentlemen or fellows)。 This was a very important
injunction; so much so; indeed; that upon the observance of it
depended the very existence of the Rommany sect; … for if the
female Gypsy admitted the gorgio to the privilege of the Rom; the
race of the Rommany would quickly disappear。 How well this
injunction has been observed needs scarcely be said; for the
Rommany have been roving about England for three centuries at
least; and are still to be distinguished from the gorgios in
feature and complexion; which assuredly would not have been the
case if the juwas had not been faithful to the Roms。 The gorgio
says that the juwa is at his disposal in all things; because she
tells him fortunes and endures his free discourse; but the Rom;
when he hears the boast; laughs within his sleeve; and whispers to
himself; LET HIM TRY。
The third section; which relates to the paying of debts; is highly
curious。 In the Gypsy language; the state of being in debt is
called PAZORRHUS; and the Rom who did not seek to extricate himself
from that state was deemed infamous; and eventually turned out of
the society。 It has been asserted; I believe; by various gorgio
writers; that the Roms have everything in common; and that there is
a common stock out of which every one takes what he needs; this is
quite a mistake; however: a Gypsy tribe is an epitome of the
world; every one keeps his own purse and maintains himself and
children to the best of his ability; and every tent is independent
of the other。 True it is that one Gypsy will lend to another in
the expectation of being repaid; and until that happen the borrower
is pazorrhus; or indebted。 Even at the present time; a Gypsy will
make the greatest sacrifices rather than remain pazorrhus to one of
his brethren; even though he be of another clan; though perhaps the
feeling is not so strong as of old; for time modifies everything;
even Jews and Gypsies are affected by it。 In the old time; indeed;
the Gypsy law was so strong against the debtor; that provided he
could not repay his brother husband; he was delivered over to him
as his slave for a year and a day; and compelled to serve him as a
hewer of wood; a drawer of water; or a beast of burden; but those
times are past; the Gypsies are no longer the independent people
they were of yore; … dark; mysterious; and dreaded wanderers;
living apart in the deserts and heaths with which England at one
time abounded。 Gypsy law has given place to common law; but the
principle of honour is still recognised amongst them; and base
indeed must the Gypsy be who would continue pazorrhus because Gypsy
law has become too weak to force him to liquidate a debt by money
or by service。
Such was Gypsy law in England; and there is every probability that
it is much the same in all parts of the world where the Gypsy race
is to be found。 About the peculiar practices of the Gypsies I need
not say much here; the reader will find in the account of the
Spanish Gypsies much that will afford him an idea of Gypsy arts in
England。 I have already alluded to CHIVING DRAV; or poisoning;
which is still much practised by the English Gypsies; though it has
almost entirely ceased in Spain; then there is CHIVING LUVVU ADREY
PUVO; or putting money within the earth; a trick by which the
females deceive the gorgios; and which will be more particularly
described in the affairs of Spain: the men are adepts at cheating
the gorgios by means of NOK…ENGROES and POGGADO…BAVENGROES
(glandered and broken…winded horses)。 But; leaving the subject of
their tricks and Rommany arts; by no means an agreeable one; I will
take the present opportunity of saying a few words about a practice
of theirs; highly characteristic of a wandering people; and which
is only extant amongst those of the race who still continue to
wander much; for example; the Russian Gypsies and those of the
Hungarian family; who stroll through Italy on plundering
expeditions: I allude to the PATTERAN or TRAIL。
It is very possible that the reader during his country walks or
rides has observed; on coming to four cross…roads; two or three
handfuls of grass lying at a small distance from each other down
one of these roads; perhaps he may have supposed that this grass
was recently plucked from the roadside by frolicsome children; and
flung upon the ground in sport; and this may possibly have been the
case; it is ten chances to one; however; that no children's hands
plucked them; but that they were strewed in this manner by Gypsies;
for the purpose of informing any of their companions; who might be
straggling behind; the route which they had taken; this is one form
of the patteran or trail。 It is likely; too; that the gorgio
reader may have seen a cross drawn at the entrance of a road; the
long part or stem of it pointing down that particular road; and he
may have thought nothing of it; or have supposed that some
sauntering individual like himself had made the mark with his
stick: not so; courteous gorgio; ley tiro solloholomus opre lesti;
YOU MAY TAKE YOUR OATH UPON IT that it was drawn by a Gypsy finger;
for that mark is another of the Rommany trails; there is no mistake
in this。 Once in the south of France; when I was weary; hungry;
and penniless; I observed one of these last patterans; and
following the direction pointed out; arrived at the resting…place
of 'certain Bohemians;' by whom I was received with kindness and
hospitality; on the faith of no other word of recommendation than
patteran。 There is also another kind of patteran; which is more
particularly adapted for the night; it is a cleft stick stuck at
the side of the road; close by the hedge; with a little arm in the
cleft pointing down the road which the band have taken; in the
manner of a signpost; any stragglers who may arrive at night where
cross…roads occur search for this patteran on the left…hand side;
and speedily rejoin their companions。
By following these patterans; or trails; the first Gypsies on their
way to Europe never lost each other; though wandering amidst horrid
wildernesses and dreary defiles。 Rommany matters have always had a
peculiar interest for me; nothing; however; connected with Gypsy
life ever more captivated my imagination than this patteran system:
many thanks to the Gypsies for it; it has more than once been of
service to me。
The English Gypsies at the present day are far from being a
numerous race; I consider their aggregate number; from the
opportunities which I have had of judging; to be considerably under
ten thousand: it is probable that; ere the conclusion of the
present century; they will have entirely disappeared。 They are in
general quite strangers to the commonest rudiments of education;
few even of the most wealthy can either read or write。 With
respect to religion; they call themselves members of the
Established Church; and are generally anxious to have their
children baptized; and to obtain a copy of the register。 Some of
their baptismal papers; which they carry about with them; are
highly curious; going back for a period of upwards of two hundred
years。 With respect to the essential points of religion; they are
quite careless and ignorant; if they believe in a future state they
dread it not; and if they manifest when dying any anxiety; it is
not for the soul; but the body: a handsome coffin; and a grave in
a quiet country churchyard; are invariably the objects of their
last thoughts; and it is probable that; in their observance of the
rite of baptism; they are principally influenced by a desire to
enjoy the privilege of burial in consecrated ground。 A Gypsy
family never speak of their dead save with regret and affection;
and any request of the dying individual is attended to; especially
with regard to interment; so much so; that I have known a corpse
conveyed a distance of nearly one hundred miles; because the
deceased expressed a wish to be buried in a particular spot。
Of the language of the English Gypsies; some specimens will be
given in the sequel; it is much more pure and copious than the
Spanish dialect。 It has been asserted that the English Gypsies are
not possessed of any poetry in their own tongue; but this is a
gross error; they possess a great many songs and ballads upon
ordinary subjects; without any particular merit; however; and
seemingly of a very modern date。
THE GYPSIES OF THE EAST; OR ZINGARRI
What has been said of the Gypsies of Europe is; to a considerable
extent; ap