Russia；　and　Bessarabia；　with　the　exception　perhaps　of　being　more
  reckless；　mischievous；　and　having　less　respect　for　the　laws；　it　is
  true　that　their　superiority　in　wickedness　in　these　points　may　have
  been　more　the　effect　of　the　moral　state　of　the　country　in　which
  they　were；　than　of　any　other　operating　cause。
  Arriving　in　Spain　with　a　predisposition　to　every　species　of　crime
  and　villainy；　they　were　not　likely　to　be　improved　or　reclaimed　by
  the　example　of　the　people　with　whom　they　were　about　to　mix；　nor　was
  it　probable　that　they　would　entertain　much　respect　for　laws　which；
  from　time　immemorial；　have　principally　served；　not　to　protect　the
  honest　and　useful　members　of　society；　but　to　enrich　those　entrusted
  with　the　administration　of　them。　　Thus；　if　　they　came　thieves；　it
  is　not　probable　that　they　would　become　ashamed　of　the　title　of
  thief　in　Spain；　where　the　officers　of　justice　were　ever　willing　to
  shield　an　offender　on　receiving　the　largest　portion　of　the　booty
  obtained。　　If　on　their　arrival　they　held　the　lives　of　others　in
  very　low　estimation；　could　it　be　expected　that　they　would　become
  gentle　as　lambs　in　a　land　where　blood　had　its　price；　and　the
  shedder　was　seldom　executed　unless　he　was　poor　and　friendless；　and
  unable　to　cram　with　ounces　of　yellow　gold　the　greedy　hands　of　the
  pursuers　of　blood；　…　the　alguazil　and　escribano？　therefore；　if　the
  Spanish　Gypsies　have　been　more　bloody　and　more　wolfishly　eager　in
  the　pursuit　of　booty　than　those　of　their　race　in　most　other
  regions；　the　cause　must　be　attributed　to　their　residence　in　a
  country　unsound　in　every　branch　of　its　civil　polity；　where　right
  has　ever　been　in　less　esteem；　and　wrong　in　less　disrepute；　than　in
  any　other　part　of　the　world。
  However；　if　the　moral　state　of　Spain　was　not　calculated　to　have　a
  favourable　effect　on　the　habits　and　pursuits　of　the　Gypsies；　their
  manners　were　as　little　calculated　to　operate　beneficially；　in　any
  point　of　view；　on　the　country　where　they　had　lately　arrived。
  Divided　into　numerous　bodies；　frequently　formidable　in　point　of
  number；　their　presence　was　an　evil　and　a　curse　in　whatever　quarter
  they　directed　their　steps。　　As　might　be　expected；　the　labourers；
  who　in　all　countries　are　the　most　honest；　most　useful；　and
  meritorious　class；　were　the　principal　sufferers；　their　mules　and
  horses　were　stolen；　carried　away　to　distant　fairs；　and　there
  disposed　of；　perhaps；　to　individuals　destined　to　be　deprived　of
  them　in　a　similar　manner；　whilst　their　flocks　of　sheep　and　goats
  were　laid　under　requisition　to　assuage　the　hungry　cravings　of　these
  thievish　cormorants。
  It　was　not　uncommon　for　a　large　band　or　tribe　to　encamp　in　the
  vicinity　of　a　remote　village　scantily　peopled；　and　to　remain　there
  until；　like　a　flight　of　locusts；　they　had　consumed　everything　which
  the　inhabitants　possessed　for　their　support；　or　until　they　were
  scared　away　by　the　approach　of　justice；　or　by　an　army　of　rustics
  assembled　from　the　surrounding　country。　　Then　would　ensue　the
  hurried　march；　the　women　and　children；　mounted　on　lean　but　spirited
  asses；　would　scour　along　the　plains　fleeter　than　the　wind；　ragged
  and　savage…looking　men；　wielding　the　scourge　and　goad；　would
  scamper　by　their　side　or　close　behind；　whilst　perhaps　a　small　party
  on　strong　horses；　armed　with　rusty　matchlocks　or　sabres；　would
  bring　up　the　rear；　threatening　the　distant　foe；　and　now　and　then
  saluting　them　with　a　hoarse　blast　from　the　Gypsy　horn：…
  'O；　when　I　sit　my　courser　bold；
  My　bantling　in　my　rear；
  And　in　my　hand　my　musket　hold　…
  O　how　they　quake　with　fear！'
  Let　us　for　a　moment　suppose　some　unfortunate　traveller；　mounted　on
  a　handsome　mule　or　beast　of　some　value；　meeting；　unarmed　and　alone；
  such　a　rabble　rout　at　the　close　of　eve；　in　the　wildest　part；　for
  example；　of　La　Mancha；　we　will　suppose　that　he　is　journeying　from
  Seville　to　Madrid；　and　that　he　has　left　at　a　considerable　distance
  behind　him　the　gloomy　and　horrible　passes　of　the　Sierra　Morena；　his
  bosom；　which　for　some　time　past　has　been　contracted　with　dreadful
  forebodings；　is　beginning　to　expand；　his　blood；　which　has　been
  congealed　in　his　veins；　is　beginning　to　circulate　warmly　and
  freely；　he　is　fondly　anticipating　the　still　distant　posada　and
  savoury　omelet。　　The　sun　is　sinking　rapidly　behind　the　savage　and
  uncouth　hills　in　his　rear；　he　has　reached　the　bottom　of　a　small
  valley；　where　runs　a　rivulet　at　which　he　allows　his　tired　animal　to
  drink；　he　is　about　to　ascend　the　side　of　the　hill；　his　eyes　are
  turned　upwards；　suddenly　he　beholds　strange　and　uncouth　forms　at
  the　top　of　the　ascent　…　the　sun　descending　slants　its　rays　upon　red
  cloaks；　with　here　and　there　a　turbaned　head；　or　long　streaming
  hair。　　The　traveller　hesitates；　but　reflecting　that　he　is　no　longer
  in　the　mountains；　and　that　in　the　open　road　there　is　no　danger　of
  banditti；　he　advances。　　In　a　moment　he　is　in　the　midst　of　the　Gypsy
  group；　in　a　moment　there　is　a　general　halt；　fiery　eyes　are　turned
  upon　him　replete　with　an　expression　which　only　the　eyes　of　the　Roma
  possess；　then　ensues　a　jabber　in　a　language　or　jargon　which　is
  strange　to　the　ears　of　the　traveller；　at　last　an　ugly　urchin
  springs　from　the　crupper　of　a　halting　mule；　and　in　a　lisping　accent
  entreats　charity　in　the　name　of　the　Virgin　and　the　Majoro。　　The
  traveller；　with　a　faltering　hand；　produces　his　purse；　and　is
  proceeding　to　loosen　its　strings；　but　he　accomplishes　not　his
  purpose；　for；　struck　violently　by　a　huge　knotted　club　in　an　unseen
  hand；　he　tumbles　headlong　from　his　mule。　　Next　morning　a　naked
  corse；　besmeared　with　brains　and　blood；　is　found　by　an　arriero；　and
  within　a　week　a　simple　cross　records　the　event；　according　to　the
  custom　of　Spain。
  'Below　there　in　the　dusky　pass
  Was　wrought　a　murder　dread；
  The　murdered　fell　upon　the　grass；
  Away　the　murderer　fled。'
  To　many；　such　a　scene；　as　above　described；　will　appear　purely
  imaginary；　or　at　least　a　mass　of　exaggeration；　but　many　such
  anecdotes　are　related　by　old　Spanish　writers　of　these　people；　they
  traversed　the　country　in　gangs；　they　were　what　the　Spanish　law　has
  styled　Abigeos　and　Salteadores　de　Camino；　cattle…stealers　and
  highwaymen；　though；　in　the　latter　character；　they　never　rose　to　any
  considerable　eminence。　　True　it　is　that　they　would　not　hesitate　to
  attack　or　even　murder　the　unarmed　and　defenceless　traveller；　when
  they　felt　assured　of　obtaining　booty　with　little　or　no　risk　to
  themselves；　but　they　were　not　by　constitution　adapted　to　rival
  those　bold　and　daring　banditti　of　whom　so　many　terrible　anecdotes
  are　related　in　Spain　and　Italy；　and　who　have　acquired　their　renown
  by　the　dauntless　daring　which　they　have　invariably　displayed　in　the
  pursuit　of　plunder。
  Besides　trafficking　in　horses　and　mules；　and　now　and　then　attacking
  and　plundering　travellers　upon　the　highway；　the　Gypsies　of　Spain
  appear；　from　a　very　early　period；　to　have　plied　occasionally　the
  trade　of　the　blacksmith；　and　to　have　worked　in　iron；　forming　rude
  implements　of　domestic　and　agricultural　use；　which　they　disposed
  of；　either　for　provisions　or　money；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　those
  places　where　they　had　taken　up　their　temporary　residence。　　As　their
  bands　were　composed　of　numerous　individuals；　there　is　no
  improbability　in　assuming　that　to　every　member　was　allotted　that
  branch　of　labour　in　which　he　was　most　calculated　to　excel。　　The
  most　important；　and　that　which　required　the　greatest　share　of
  cunning　and　address；　was　undoubtedly　that　of　the　chalan　or　jockey；
  who　frequented　the　fairs　with　the　beasts　which　he　had　obtained　by
  various　means；　but　generally　by　theft。　　Highway　robbery；　though
  occasionally　committed　by　all　jointly　or　severally；　was　probably
  the　peculiar　department　of　the　boldest　spirits　of　the　gang；　whilst
  wielding　the　hammer　and　tongs　was　abandoned　to　those　who；　though
  possessed　of　athletic　forms；　were　perhaps；　like　Vulcan；　lame；　or
  from　some　particular　cause；　moral　or　physical；　unsuited　for　the
  other　two　very　respectable　avocations。　　The　forge　was　generally
  placed　in　the　heart　of　some　mountain　abounding　in　wood；　the　gaunt
  smiths　felled　a　tree；　perhaps　with　the　very　axes　which　their　own
  sturdy　hands　had　hammered　at　a　former　period；　with　the　wood　thus
  procured　they　prepared　the　charcoal　which　their　labour　demanded。
  Everything　is　in　readiness；　the　bellows　puff　until　the　coal　is
  excited　to　a　furious　glow；　the　metal；　hot；　pliant；　and　ductile；　is
  laid　on　the　anvil；　round　which　stands　the　Cyclop　group；　their
  hammers　upraised；　down　they　descend　successively；　one；　two；　three；