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in many of the towns of Spain； and in more than one instance
particular barrios or districts are still known by this name；
though the Gitanos themselves have long since disappeared。 Even in
the town of Oviedo； in the heart of the Asturias； a province never
famous for Gitanos； there is a place called the Gitaneria； though
no Gitano has been known to reside in the town within the memory of
man； nor indeed been seen； save； perhaps； as a chance visitor at a
fair。
The exact period when the Gitanos first formed these colonies
within the towns is not known； the laws； however； which commanded
them to abandon their wandering life under penalty of banishment
and death； and to become stationary in towns； may have induced them
first to take such a step。 By the first of these laws； which was
made by Ferdinand and Isabella as far back as the year 1499； they
are commanded to seek out for themselves masters。 This injunction
they utterly disregarded。 Some of them for fear of the law； or
from the hope of bettering their condition； may have settled down
in the towns； cities； and villages for a time； but to expect that a
people； in whose bosoms was so deeply rooted the love of lawless
independence； would subject themselves to the yoke of servitude；
from any motive whatever； was going too far； as well might it have
been expected； according to the words of the great poet of Persia；
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WASHED THEIR SKINS WHITE。
In these Gitanerias； therefore； many Gypsy families resided； but
ever in the Gypsy fashion； in filth and in misery； with little of
the fear of man； and nothing of the fear of God before their eyes。
Here the swarthy children basked naked in the sun before the doors；
here the women prepared love draughts； or told the buena ventura；
and here the men plied the trade of the blacksmith； a forbidden
occupation； or prepared for sale； by disguising them； animals
stolen by themselves or their accomplices。 In these places were
harboured the strange Gitanos on their arrival； and here were
discussed in the Rommany language； which； like the Arabic； was
forbidden under severe penalties； plans of fraud and plunder； which
were perhaps intended to be carried into effect in a distant
province and a distant city。
The great body； however； of the Gypsy race in Spain continued
independent wanderers of the plains and the mountains； and indeed
the denizens of the Gitanerias were continually sallying forth；
either for the purpose of reuniting themselves with the wandering
tribes； or of strolling about from town to town； and from fair to
fair。 Hence the continual complaints in the Spanish laws against
the Gitanos who have left their places of domicile； from doing
which they were interdicted； even as they were interdicted from
speaking their language and following the occupations of the
blacksmith and horse…dealer； in which they still persist even at
the present day。
The Gitanerias at evening fall were frequently resorted to by
individuals widely differing in station from the inmates of these
places … we allude to the young and dissolute nobility and hidalgos
of Spain。 This was generally the time of mirth and festival； and
the Gitanos； male and female； danced and sang in the Gypsy fashion
beneath the smile of the moon。 The Gypsy women and girls were the
principal attractions to these visitors； wild and singular as these
females are in their appearance； there can be no doubt； for the
fact has been frequently proved； that they are capable of exciting
passion of the most ardent description； particularly in the bosoms
of those who are not of their race； which passion of course becomes
the more violent when the almost utter impossibility of gratifying
it is known。 No females in the world can be more licentious in
word and gesture； in dance and in song； than the Gitanas； but there
they stop： and so of old； if their titled visitors presumed to
seek for more； an unsheathed dagger or gleaming knife speedily
repulsed those who expected that the gem most dear amongst the sect
of the Roma was within the reach of a Busno。
Such visitors； however； were always encouraged to a certain point；
and by this and various other means the Gitanos acquired
connections which frequently stood them in good stead in the hour
of need。 What availed it to the honest labourers of the
neighbourhood； or the citizens of the town； to make complaints to
the corregidor concerning the thefts and frauds committed by the
Gitanos； when perhaps the sons of that very corregidor frequented
the nightly dances at the Gitaneria； and were deeply enamoured with
some of the dark…eyed singing…girls？ What availed making
complaints； when perhaps a Gypsy sibyl； the mother of those very
girls； had free admission to the house of the corregidor at all
times and seasons； and spaed the good fortune to his daughters；
promising them counts and dukes； and Andalusian knights in
marriage； or prepared philtres for his lady by which she was always
to reign supreme in the affections of her husband？ And； above all；
what availed it to the plundered party to complain that his mule or
horse had been stolen； when the Gitano robber； perhaps the husband
of the sibyl and the father of the black…eyed Gitanillas； was at
that moment actually in treaty with my lord the corregidor himself
for supplying him with some splendid thick…maned； long…tailed steed
at a small price； to be obtained； as the reader may well suppose；
by an infraction of the laws？ The favour and protection which the
Gitanos experienced from people of high rank is alluded to in the
Spanish laws； and can only be accounted for by the motives above
detailed。
The Gitanerias were soon considered as public nuisances； on which
account the Gitanos were forbidden to live together in particular
parts of the town； to hold meetings； and even to intermarry with
each other； yet it does not appear that the Gitanerias were ever
suppressed by the arm of the law； as many still exist where these
singular beings 'marry and are given in marriage；' and meet
together to discuss their affairs； which； in their opinion； never
flourish unless those of their fellow…creatures suffer。 So much
for the Gitanerias； or Gypsy colonies in the towns of Spain。
CHAPTER V
'LOS Gitanos son muy malos！ … the Gypsies are very bad people；'
said the Spaniards of old times。 They are cheats； they are
highwaymen； they practise sorcery； and； lest the catalogue of their
offences should be incomplete； a formal charge of cannibalism was
brought against them。 Cheats they have always been； and
highwaymen； and if not sorcer