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brought against them。 Cheats they have always been； and
highwaymen； and if not sorcerers； they have always done their best
to merit that appellation； by arrogating to themselves supernatural
powers； but that they were addicted to cannibalism is a matter not
so easily proved。
Their principal accuser was Don Juan de Quinones； who； in the work
from which we have already had occasion to quote； gives several
anecdotes illustrative of their cannibal propensities。 Most of
these anecdotes； however； are so highly absurd； that none but the
very credulous could ever have vouchsafed them the slightest
credit。 This author is particularly fond of speaking of a certain
juez； or judge； called Don Martin Fajardo； who seems to have been
an arrant Gypsy…hunter； and was probably a member of the ancient
family of the Fajardos； which still flourishes in Estremadura； and
with individuals of which we are acquainted。 So it came to pass
that this personage was； in the year 1629； at Jaraicejo； in
Estremadura； or； as it is written in the little book in question；
Zaraizejo； in the capacity of judge； a zealous one he undoubtedly
was。
A very strange place is this same Jaraicejo； a small ruinous town
or village； situated on a rising ground； with a very wild country
all about it。 The road from Badajoz to Madrid passes through it；
and about two leagues distant； in the direction of Madrid； is the
famous mountain pass of Mirabete； from the top of which you enjoy a
most picturesque view across the Tagus； which flows below； as far
as the huge mountains of Plasencia； the tops of which are generally
covered with snow。
So this Don Martin Fajardo； judge； being at Jaraicejo； laid his
claw upon four Gitanos； and having nothing； as it appears； to
accuse them of； except being Gitanos； put them to the torture； and
made them accuse themselves； which they did； for； on the first
appeal which was made to the rack； they confessed that they had
murdered a female Gypsy in the forest of Las Gamas； and had there
eaten her。 。 。 。
I am myself well acquainted with this same forest of Las Gamas；
which lies between Jaraicejo and Trujillo； it abounds with chestnut
and cork trees； and is a place very well suited either for the
purpose of murder or cannibalism。 It will be as well to observe
that I visited it in company with a band of Gitanos； who bivouacked
there； and cooked their supper； which however did not consist of
human flesh； but of a puchera； the ingredients of which were beef；
bacon； garbanzos； and berdolaga； or field…pease and purslain； …
therefore I myself can bear testimony that there is such a forest
as Las Gamas； and that it is frequented occasionally by Gypsies； by
which two points are established by far the most important to the
history in question； or so at least it would be thought in Spain；
for being sure of the forest and the Gypsies； few would be
incredulous enough to doubt the facts of the murder and
cannibalism。 。 。 。
On being put to the rack a second time； the Gitanos confessed that
they had likewise murdered and eaten a female pilgrim in the forest
aforesaid； and on being tortured yet again； that they had served in
the same manner； and in the same forest； a friar of the order of
San Francisco； whereupon they were released from the rack and
executed。 This is one of the anecdotes of Quinones。
And it came to pass； moreover； that the said Fajardo； being in the
town of Montijo； was told by the alcalde； that a certain inhabitant
of that place had some time previous lost a mare； and wandering
about the plains in quest of her； he arrived at a place called
Arroyo el Puerco； where stood a ruined house； on entering which he
found various Gitanos employed in preparing their dinner； which
consisted of a quarter of a human body； which was being roasted
before a huge fire： the result； however； we are not told； whether
the Gypsies were angry at being disturbed in their cookery； or
whether the man of the mare departed unobserved。
Quinones； in continuation； states in his book that he learned （he
does not say from whom； but probably from Fajardo） that there was a
shepherd of the city of Gaudix； who once lost his way in the wild
sierra of Gadol： night came on； and the wind blew cold： he
wandered about until he descried a light in the distance； towards
which he bent his way； supposing it to be a fire kindled by
shepherds： on arriving at the spot； however； he found a whole
tribe of Gypsies； who were roasting the half of a man； the other
half being hung on a cork…tree： the Gypsies welcomed him very
heartily； and requested him to be seated at the fire and to sup
with them； but he presently heard them whisper to each other； 'this
is a fine fat fellow；' from which he suspected that they were
meditating a design upon his body： whereupon； feeling himself
sleepy； he made as if he were seeking a spot where to lie； and
suddenly darted headlong down the mountain…side； and escaped from
their hands without breaking his neck。
These anecdotes scarcely deserve comment； first we have the
statement of Fajardo； the fool or knave who tortures wretches； and
then puts them to death for the crimes with which they have taxed
themselves whilst undergoing the agony of the rack； probably with
the hope of obtaining a moment's respite； last comes the tale of
the shepherd； who is invited by Gypsies on a mountain at night to
partake of a supper of human flesh； and who runs away from them on
hearing them talk of the fatness of his own body； as if cannibal
robbers detected in their orgies by a single interloper would have
afforded him a chance of escaping。 Such tales cannot be true。 （19）
Cases of cannibalism are said to have occurred in Hungary amongst
the Gypsies； indeed； the whole race； in that country； has been
accused of cannibalism； to which we have alluded whilst speaking of
the Chingany： it is very probable； however； that they were quite
innocent of this odious practice； and that the accusation had its
origin in popular prejudice； or in the fact of their foul feeding；
and their seldom rejecting carrion or offal of any description。
The Gazette of Frankfort for the year 1782； Nos。 157 and 207；
states that one hundred and fifty Gypsies were imprisoned charged
with this practice； and that the Empress Teresa sent commissioners
to inquire into the facts of the accusation； who discovered that
they were true； whereupon the empress published a law to oblige all
the Gypsies in her dominions to become stationary； which； however；
had no effect。
Upon this matter we can state nothing on our own knowledge。
After the above anecdo