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hand of justice； and those who were not massacred on the spot； or
could not escape by flight； were； without a shadow of a trial；
either hanged on the next tree； or sent to serve for life in the
galleys； or if females or children； either scourged or mutilated。
The consequence of this severity； which； considering the manners
and spirit of the time； is scarcely to be wondered at； was the
speedy disappearance of the Gypsies from the soil of France。
Many returned by the way they came； to Germany； Hungary； and the
woods and forests of Bohemia； but there is little doubt that by far
the greater portion found a refuge in the Peninsula； a country
which； though by no means so rich and fertile as the one they had
quitted； nor offering so wide and ready a field for the exercise of
those fraudulent arts for which their race had become so infamously
notorious； was； nevertheless； in many respects； suitable and
congenial to them。 If there were less gold and silver in the
purses of the citizens to reward the dexterous handler of the knife
and scissors amidst the crowd in the market…place； if fewer sides
of fatted swine graced the ample chimney of the labourer in Spain
than in the neighbouring country； if fewer beeves bellowed in the
plains； and fewer sheep bleated upon the hills； there were far
better opportunities afforded of indulging in wild independence。
Should the halberded bands of the city be ordered out to quell；
seize； or exterminate them； should the alcalde of the village cause
the tocsin to be rung； gathering together the villanos for a
similar purpose； the wild sierra was generally at hand； which； with
its winding paths； its caves； its frowning precipices； and ragged
thickets； would offer to them a secure refuge where they might
laugh to scorn the rage of their baffled pursuers； and from which
they might emerge either to fresh districts or to those which they
had left； to repeat their ravages when opportunity served。
After crossing the Pyrenees； a very short time elapsed before the
Gypsy hordes had bivouacked in the principal provinces of Spain。
There can indeed be little doubt； that shortly after their arrival
they made themselves perfectly acquainted with all the secrets of
the land； and that there was scarcely a nook or retired corner
within Spain； from which the smoke of their fires had not arisen；
or where their cattle had not grazed。 People； however； so acute as
they have always proverbially been； would scarcely be slow in
distinguishing the provinces most adapted to their manner of life；
and most calculated to afford them opportunities of practising
those arts to which they were mainly indebted for their
subsistence； the savage hills of Biscay； of Galicia； and the
Asturias； whose inhabitants were almost as poor as themselves；
which possessed no superior breed of horses or mules from amongst
which they might pick and purloin many a gallant beast； and having
transformed by their dexterous scissors； impose him again upon his
rightful master for a high price； … such provinces； where；
moreover； provisions were hard to be obtained； even by pilfering
hands； could scarcely be supposed to offer strong temptations to
these roving visitors to settle down in； or to vex and harass by a
long sojourn。
Valencia and Murcia found far more favour in their eyes； a far more
fertile soil； and wealthier inhabitants； were better calculated to
entice them； there was a prospect of plunder； and likewise a
prospect of safety and refuge； should the dogs of justice be roused
against them。 If there were the populous town and village in those
lands； there was likewise the lone waste； and uncultivated spot； to
which they could retire when danger threatened them。 Still more
suitable to them must have been La Mancha； a land of tillage； of
horses； and of mules； skirted by its brown sierra； ever eager to
afford its shelter to their dusky race。 Equally suitable；
Estremadura and New Castile； but far； far more； Andalusia； with its
three kingdoms； Jaen； Granada； and Seville； one of which was still
possessed by the swarthy Moor； … Andalusia； the land of the proud
steed and the stubborn mule； the land of the savage sierra and the
fruitful and cultivated plain： to Andalusia they hied； in bands of
thirties and sixties； the hoofs of their asses might be heard
clattering in the passes of the stony hills； the girls might be
seen bounding in lascivious dance in the streets of many a town；
and the beldames standing beneath the eaves telling the 'buena
ventura' to many a credulous female dupe； the men the while
chaffered in the fair and market…place with the labourers and
chalanes； casting significant glances on each other； or exchanging
a word or two in Rommany； whilst they placed some uncouth animal in
a particular posture which served to conceal its ugliness from the
eyes of the chapman。 Yes； of all provinces of Spain； Andalusia was
the most frequented by the Gitano race； and in Andalusia they most
abound at the present day； though no longer as restless independent
wanderers of the fields and hills； but as residents in villages and
towns； especially in Seville。
CHAPTER II
HAVING already stated to the reader at what period and by what
means these wanderers introduced themselves into Spain； we shall
now say something concerning their manner of life。
It would appear that； for many years after their arrival in the
Peninsula； their manners and habits underwent no change； they were
wanderers； in the strictest sense of the word； and lived much in
the same way as their brethren exist in the present day in England；
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