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his vest； and stabbed him； pouring forth the gold of his heart into
the pan of destruction； （14） and in this way they continued until
the last of them was destroyed； and by that blow he exterminated
their race； and their traces； and from that time forward there were
no more rebellions in Samarcand。'
It has of late years been one of the favourite theories of the
learned； that Timour's invasion of Hindostan； and the cruelties
committed by his savage hordes in that part of the world； caused a
vast number of Hindoos to abandon their native land； and that the
Gypsies of the present day are the descendants of those exiles who
wended their weary way to the West。 Now； provided the above
passage in the work of Arabschah be entitled to credence； the
opinion that Timour was the cause of the expatriation and
subsequent wandering life of these people； must be abandoned as
untenable。 At the time he is stated by the Arabian writer to have
annihilated the Gypsy hordes of Samarcand； he had but just
commenced his career of conquest and devastation； and had not even
directed his thoughts to the invasion of India； yet at this early
period of the history of his life； we find families of Zingarri
established at Samarcand； living much in the same manner as others
of the race have subsequently done in various towns of Europe and
the East； but supposing the event here narrated to be a fable； or
at best a floating legend； it appears singular that； if they left
their native land to escape from Timour； they should never have
mentioned in the Western world the name of that scourge of the
human race； nor detailed the history of their flight and
sufferings； which assuredly would have procured them sympathy； the
ravages of Timour being already but too well known in Europe。 That
they came from India is much easier to prove than that they fled
before the fierce Mongol。
Such people as the Gypsies； whom the Bishop of Forli in the year
1422； only sixteen years subsequent to the invasion of India；
describes as a 'raging rabble； of brutal and animal propensities；'
（15） are not such as generally abandon their country on foreign
invasion。
THE ZINCALI OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES OF SPAIN … PART I
CHAPTER I
GITANOS； or Egyptians； is the name by which the Gypsies have been
most generally known in Spain； in the ancient as well as in the
modern period； but various other names have been and still are
applied to them； for example； New Castilians； Germans； and
Flemings； the first of which titles probably originated after the
name of Gitano had begun to be considered a term of reproach and
infamy。 They may have thus designated themselves from an
unwillingness to utter； when speaking of themselves； the detested
expression 'Gitano；' a word which seldom escapes their mouths； or
it may have been applied to them first by the Spaniards； in their
mutual dealings and communication； as a term less calculated to
wound their feelings and to beget a spirit of animosity than the
other； but； however it might have originated； New Castilian； in
course of time； became a term of little less infamy than Gitano；
for； by the law of Philip the Fourth； both terms are forbidden to
be applied to them under severe penalties。
That they were called Germans； may be accounted for； either by the
supposition that their generic name of Rommany was misunderstood
and mispronounced by the Spaniards amongst whom they came； or from
the fact of their having passed through Germany in their way to the
south； and bearing passports and letters of safety from the various
German states。 The title of Flemings； by which at the present day
they are known in various parts of Spain； would probably never have
been bestowed upon them but from the circumstance of their having
been designated or believed to be Germans； … as German and Fleming
are considered by the ignorant as synonymous terms。
Amongst themselves they have three words to distinguish them and
their race in general： Zincalo； Romano； and Chai； of the first two
of which something has been already said。
They likewise call themselves 'Cales；' by which appellation indeed
they are tolerably well known by the Spaniards； and which is merely
the plural termination of the compound word Zincalo； and signifies；
The black men。 Chai is a modification of the word Chal； which； by
the Gitanos of Estremadura； is applied to Egypt； and in many parts
of Spain is equivalent to 'Heaven；' and which is perhaps a
modification of 'Cheros；' the word for heaven in other dialects of
the Gypsy language。 Thus Chai may denote； The men of Egypt； or；
The sons of Heaven。 It is； however； right to observe； that amongst
the Gitanos； the word Chai has frequently no other signification
than the simple one of 'children。'
It is impossible to state for certainty the exact year of their
first appearance in Spain； but it is reasonable to presume that it
was early in the fifteenth century； as in the year 1417 numerous
bands entered France from the north…east of Europe； and speedily
spread themselves over the greatest part of that country。 Of these
wanderers a French author has left the following graphic
description： （16）
'On the 17th of April 1427； appeared in Paris twelve penitents of
Egypt； driven from thence by the Saracens； they brought in their
company one hundred and twenty persons； they took up their quarters
in La Chapelle； whither the people flocked in crowds to visit them。
They had their ears pierced； from which depended a ring of silver；
their hair was black and crispy； and their women were filthy to a
degree； and were sorceresses who told fortunes。'
Such were the people who； after traversing France and scaling the
sides of the Pyrenees； poured down in various bands upon the
sunburnt plains of Spain。 Wherever they had appeared they had been
looked upon as a curse and a pestilence； and with much reason。
Either unwilling or unable to devote themselves to any laborious or
useful occupation； they came like flights of wasps to prey upon the
fruits which their more industrious fellow…beings amassed by the
toil of their hands and the sweat of their foreheads； the natural
result being； that wherever they arrived； their fellow…creatures
banded themselves against them。 Terrible laws were enacted soon
after their appearance in France； calculated to put a stop to their
frauds and dishonest propensities； wherever their hordes were
found； they were attacked by the incensed rustics or by the armed
hand of justice； and those who were not massacred on the spot； or
could not escape by flight； wer