and　dissipation。　　Paco；　the　Gypsy　of　Badajoz；　attributed　his　ruin
  to　the　extravagance　of　his　marriage　festival；　and　many　other
  Gitanos　have　confessed　the　same　thing　of　themselves。　　They　said
  that　throughout　the　three　days　they　appeared　to　be　under　the
  influence　of　infatuation；　having　no　other　wish　or　thought　but　to
  make　away　with　their　substance；　some　have　gone　so　far　as　to　cast
  money　by　handfuls　into　the　street。　　Throughout　the　three　days　all
  the　doors　are　kept　open；　and　all　corners；　whether　Gypsies　or　Busne；
  welcomed　with　a　hospitality　which　knows　no　bounds。
  In　nothing　do　the　Jews　and　Gitanos　more　resemble　each　other　than　in
  their　marriages；　and　what　is　connected　therewith。　　In　both　sects
  there　is　a　betrothment：　　amongst　the　Jews　for　seven；　amongst　the
  Gitanos　for　a　period　of　two　years。　　In　both　there　is　a　wedding
  festival；　which　endures　amongst　the　Jews　for　fifteen　and　amongst
  the　Gitanos　for　three　days；　during　which；　on　both　sides；　much　that
  is　singular　and　barbarous　occurs；　which；　however；　has　perhaps　its
  origin　in　antiquity　the　most　remote。　　But　the　wedding　ceremonies　of
  the　Jews　are　far　more　complex　and　allegorical　than　those　of　the
  Gypsies；　a　more　simple　people。　　The　Nazarene　gazes　on　these
  ceremonies　with　mute　astonishment；　the　washing　of　the　bride　…　the
  painting　of　the　face　of　herself　and　her　companions　with　chalk　and
  carmine　…　her　ensconcing　herself　within　the　curtains　of　the　bed
  with　her　female　bevy；　whilst　the　bridegroom　hides　himself　within
  his　apartment　with　the　youths　his　companions　…　her　envelopment　in
  the　white　sheet；　in　which　she　appears　like　a　corse；　the
  bridegroom's　going　to　sup　with　her；　when　he　places　himself　in　the
  middle　of　the　apartment　with　his　eyes　shut；　and　without　tasting　a
  morsel。　　His　going　to　the　synagogue；　and　then　repairing　to
  breakfast　with　the　bride；　where　he　practises　the　same　self…denial　…
  the　washing　of　the　bridegroom's　plate　and　sending　it　after　him；
  that　he　may　break　his　fast　…　the　binding　his　hands　behind　him　…　his
  ransom　paid　by　the　bride's　mother　…　the　visit　of　the　sages　to　the
  bridegroom　…　the　mulct　imposed　in　case　he　repent　…　the　killing　of
  the　bullock　at　the　house　of　the　bridegroom　…　the　present　of　meat
  and　fowls；　meal　and　spices；　to　the　bride　…　the　gold　and　silver　…
  that　most　imposing　part　of　the　ceremony；　the　walking　of　the　bride
  by　torchlight　to　the　house　of　her　betrothed；　her　eyes　fixed　in
  vacancy；　whilst　the　youths　of　her　kindred　sing　their　wild　songs
  around　her　…　the　cup　of　milk　and　the　spoon　presented　to　her　by　the
  bridegroom's　mother　…　the　arrival　of　the　sages　in　the　morn　…　the
  reading　of　the　Ketuba　…　the　night　…　the　half…enjoyment　…　the　old
  woman　…　the　tantalising　knock　at　the　door　…　and　then　the　festival
  of　fishes　which　concludes　all；　and　leaves　the　jaded　and　wearied
  couple　to　repose　after　a　fortnight　of　persecution。
  The　Jews；　like　the　Gypsies；　not　unfrequently　ruin　themselves　by　the
  riot　and　waste　of　their　marriage　festivals。　　Throughout　the　entire
  fortnight；　the　houses；　both　of　bride　and　bridegroom；　are　flung　open
  to　all　corners；　…　feasting　and　song　occupy　the　day　…　feasting　and
  song　occupy　the　hours　of　the　night；　and　this　continued　revel　is
  only　broken　by　the　ceremonies　of　which　we　have　endeavoured　to
  convey　a　faint　idea。　　In　these　festivals　the　sages　or　ULEMMA　take　a
  distinguished　part；　doing　their　utmost　to　ruin　the　contracted
  parties；　by　the　wonderful　despatch　which　they　make　of　the　fowls　and
  viands；　sweetmeats；　AND　STRONG　WATERS　provided　for　the　occasion。
  After　marriage　the　Gypsy　females　generally　continue　faithful　to
  their　husbands　through　life；　giving　evidence　that　the　exhortations
  of　their　mothers　in　early　life　have　not　been　without　effect。　　Of
  course　licentious　females　are　to　be　found　both　amongst　the　matrons
  and　the　unmarried；　but　such　instances　are　rare；　and　must　be
  considered　in　the　light　of　exceptions　to　a　principle。　　The　Gypsy
  women　（I　am　speaking　of　those　of　Spain）；　as　far　as　corporeal
  chastity　goes；　are　very　paragons；　but　in　other　respects；　alas！　…
  little　can　be　said　in　praise　of　their　morality。
  CHAPTER　VIII
  WHILST　in　Spain　I　devoted　as　much　time　as　I　could　spare　from　my
  grand　object；　which　was　to　circulate　the　Gospel　through　that
  benighted　country；　to　attempt　to　enlighten　the　minds　of　the　Gitanos
  on　the　subject　of　religion。　　I　cannot　say　that　I　experienced　much
  success　in　my　endeavours；　indeed；　I　never　expected　much；　being
  fully　acquainted　with　the　stony　nature　of　the　ground　on　which　I　was
  employed；　perhaps　some　of　the　seed　that　I　scattered　may　eventually
  spring　up　and　yield　excellent　fruit。　　Of　one　thing　I　am　certain：
  if　I　did　the　Gitanos　no　good；　I　did　them　no　harm。
  It　has　been　said　that　there　is　a　secret　monitor；　or　conscience；
  within　every　heart；　which　immediately　upbraids　the　individual　on
  the　commission　of　a　crime；　this　may　be　true；　but　certainly　the
  monitor　within　the　Gitano　breast　is　a　very　feeble　one；　for　little
  attention　is　ever　paid　to　its　reproofs。　　With　regard　to　conscience；
  be　it　permitted　to　observe；　that　it　varies　much　according　to
  climate；　country；　and　religion；　perhaps　nowhere　is　it　so　terrible
  and　strong　as　in　England；　I　need　not　say　why。　　Amongst　the　English；
  I　have　seen　many　individuals　stricken　low；　and　broken…hearted；　by
  the　force　of　conscience；　but　never　amongst　the　Spaniards　or
  Italians；　and　I　never　yet　could　observe　that　the　crimes　which　the
  Gitanos　were　daily　and　hourly　committing　occasioned　them　the
  slightest　uneasiness。
  One　important　discovery　I　made　among　them：　　it　was；　that　no
  individual；　however　wicked　and　hardened；　is　utterly　GODLESS。　　Call
  it　superstition；　if　you　will；　still　a　certain　fear　and　reverence　of
  something　sacred　and　supreme　would　hang　about　them。　　I　have　heard
  Gitanos　stiffly　deny　the　existence　of　a　Deity；　and　express　the
  utmost　contempt　for　everything　holy；　yet　they　subsequently　never
  failed　to　contradict　themselves；　by　permitting　some　expression　to
  escape　which　belied　their　assertions；　and　of　this　I　shall　presently
  give　a　remarkable　instance。
  I　found　the　women　much　more　disposed　to　listen　to　anything　I　had　to
  say　than　the　men；　who　were　in　general　so　taken　up　with　their
  traffic　that　they　could　think　and　talk　of　nothing　else；　the　women；
  too；　had　more　curiosity　and　more　intelligence；　the　conversational
  powers　of　some　of　them　I　found　to　be　very　great；　and　yet　they　were
  destitute　of　the　slightest　rudiments　of　education；　and　were　thieves
  by　profession。　　At　Madrid　I　had　regular　conversaziones；　or；　as　they
  are　called　in　Spanish；　tertulias；　with　these　women；　who　generally
  visited　me　twice　a　week；　they　were　perfectly　unreserved　towards　me
  with　respect　to　their　actions　and　practices；　though　their
  behaviour；　when　present；　was　invariably　strictly　proper。　　I　have
  already　had　cause　to　mention　Pepa　the　sibyl；　and　her　daughter…in…
  law；　Chicharona；　the　manners　of　the　first　were　sometimes　almost
  elegant；　though；　next　to　Aurora；　she　was　the　most　notorious　she…
  thug　in　Madrid；　Chicharona　was　good…humoured；　like　most　fat
  personages。　　Pepa　had　likewise　two　daughters；　one　of　whom；　a　very
  remarkable　female；　was　called　La　Tuerta；　from　the　circumstance　of
  her　having　but　one　eye；　and　the　other；　who　was　a　girl　of　about
  thirteen；　La　Casdami；　or　the　scorpion；　from　the　malice　which　she
  occasionally　displayed。
  Pepa　and　Chicharona　were　invariably　my　most　constant　visitors。　　One
  day　in　winter　they　arrived　as　usual；　the　One…eyed　and　the　Scorpion
  following　behind。
  MYSELF。　…　'I　am　glad　to　see　you；　Pepa：　　what　have　you　been　doing
  this　morning？'
  PEPA。　…　'I　have　been　telling　baji；　and　Chicharona　has　been　stealing
  a　pastesas；　we　have　had　but　little　success；　and　have　come　to　warm
  ourselves　at　the　brasero。　　As　for　the　One…eyed；　she　is　a　very
  sluggard　（holgazana）；　she　will　neither　tell　fortunes　nor　steal。'
  THE　ONE…EYED。　…　'Hold　your　peace；　mother　of　the　Bengues；　I　will
  steal；　when　I　see　occasion；　but　it　shall　not　be　a　pastesas；　and　I
  will　hokkawar　（deceive）；　but　it　shall　not　be　by　telling　fortunes。
  If　I　deceive；　it　shall　be　by　horses；　by　jockeying。　（58）　　If　I
  steal；　it　shall　be　on　the　road　…　I'll　rob。　　You　know　already　what　I
  am　capable　of；　yet　knowing　that；　you　would　have　me　tell　fortunes
  like　yourself；　or　steal　like　Chicharona。　　Me　dinela　conche　（it
  fills　me　with　fury）　to　be　asked　to　tell　fortunes；　and　the　next
  Busnee　that　talks　to　me　of　bajis；　I　will　knock　all　her　teeth　out。'
  THE　SCORPION。　…　'My　sister　is　right；　I；　too；　would　sooner　be　a
  salteadora　（highwaywoman）；　or　a　chalana　（s