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had no effect。
Upon this matter we can state nothing on our own knowledge。
After the above anecdotes； it will perhaps not be amiss to devote a
few lines to the subject of Gypsy food and diet。 I believe that it
has been asserted that the Romas； in all parts of the world； are
perfectly indifferent as to what they eat； provided only that they
can appease their hunger； and that they have no objection to
partake of the carcasses of animals which have died a natural
death； and have been left to putrefy by the roadside； moreover；
that they use for food all kinds of reptiles and vermin which they
can lay their hands upon。
In this there is a vast deal of exaggeration； but at the same time
it must be confessed that； in some instances； the habits of the
Gypsies in regard to food would seem； at the first glance； to
favour the supposition。 This observation chiefly holds good with
respect to those of the Gypsy race who still continue in a
wandering state； and who； doubtless； retain more of the ways and
customs of their forefathers than those who have adopted a
stationary life。 There can be no doubt that the wanderers amongst
the Gypsy race are occasionally seen to feast upon carcasses of
cattle which have been abandoned to the birds of the air； yet it
would be wrong； from this fact； to conclude that the Gypsies were
habitual devourers of carrion。 Carrion it is true they may
occasionally devour； from want of better food； but many of these
carcasses are not in reality the carrion which they appear； but are
the bodies of animals which the Gypsies have themselves killed by
casting drao； in hope that the flesh may eventually be abandoned to
them。 It is utterly useless to write about the habits of the
Gypsies； especially of the wandering tribes； unless you have lived
long and intimately with them； and unhappily； up to the present
time； all the books which have been published concerning them have
been written by those who have introduced themselves into their
society for a few hours； and from what they have seen or heard
consider themselves competent to give the world an idea of the
manners and customs of the mysterious Rommany： thus； because they
have been known to beg the carcass of a hog which they themselves
have poisoned； it has been asserted that they prefer carrion which
has perished of sickness to the meat of the shambles； and because
they have been seen to make a ragout of boror （SNAILS）； and to
roast a hotchiwitchu or hedgehog； it has been supposed that
reptiles of every description form a part of their cuisine。 It is
high time to undeceive the Gentiles on these points。 Know； then； O
Gentile； whether thou be from the land of the Gorgios （20） or the
Busne （21）； that the very Gypsies who consider a ragout of snails a
delicious dish will not touch an eel； because it bears resemblance
to a SNAKE； and that those who will feast on a roasted hedgehog
could be induced by no money to taste a squirrel； a delicious and
wholesome species of game； living on the purest and most nutritious
food which the fields and forests can supply。 I myself； while
living among the Roms of England； have been regarded almost in the
light of a cannibal for cooking the latter animal and preferring it
to hotchiwitchu barbecued； or ragout of boror。 'You are but half
Rommany； brother；' they would say； 'and you feed gorgiko…nes （LIKE
A GENTILE）； even as you talk。 Tchachipen （IN TRUTH）； if we did not
know you to be of the Mecralliskoe rat （ROYAL BLOOD） of Pharaoh； we
should be justified in driving you forth as a juggel…mush （DOG
MAN）； one more fitted to keep company with wild beasts and Gorgios
than gentle Rommanys。'
No person can read the present volume without perceiving； at a
glance； that the Romas are in most points an anomalous people； in
their morality there is much of anomaly； and certainly not less in
their cuisine。
'Los Gitanos son muy malos； llevan ninos hurtados a Berberia。 The
Gypsies are very bad people； they steal children and carry them to
Barbary； where they sell them to the Moors' … so said the Spaniards
in old times。 There can be little doubt that even before the fall
of the kingdom of Granada； which occurred in the year 1492； the
Gitanos had intercourse with the Moors of Spain。 Andalusia； which
has ever been the province where the Gitano race has most abounded
since its arrival； was； until the edict of Philip the Third； which
banished more than a million of Moriscos from Spain； principally
peopled by Moors； who differed from the Spaniards both in language
and religion。 By living even as wanderers amongst these people；
the Gitanos naturally became acquainted with their tongue； and with
many of their customs； which of course much facilitated any
connection which they might subsequently form with the
Barbaresques。 Between the Moors of Barbary and the Spaniards a
deadly and continued war raged for centuries； both before and after
the expulsion of the Moriscos from Spain。 The Gitanos； who cared
probably as little for one nation as the other； and who have no
sympathy and affection beyond the pale of their own sect； doubtless
sided with either as their interest dictated； officiating as spies
for both parties and betraying both。
It is likely enough that they frequently passed over to Barbary
with stolen children of both sexes； whom they sold to the Moors；
who traffic in slaves； whether white or black； even at the present
day； and perhaps this kidnapping trade gave occasion to other
relations。 As they were perfectly acquainted； from their wandering
life； with the shores of the Spanish Mediterranean； they must have
been of considerable assistance to the Barbary pirates in their
marauding trips to the Spanish coasts； both as guides and advisers；
and as it was a far easier matter； and afforded a better prospect
of gain； to plunder the Spaniards than the Moors； a people almost
as wild as themselves； they were； on that account； and that only；
more Moors than Christians； and ever willing to assist the former
in their forays on the latter。
Quinones observes： 'The Moors； with whom they hold correspondence；
let them go and come without any let or obstacle： an instance of
this was seen in the year 1627； when two galleys from Spain were
carrying assistance to Marmora； which was then besieged by the
Moors。 These galleys struck on a shoal； when the Moors seized all
the people on board； making captives of the Christians and setting
at liberty all the Moors； who were chained to the oar； as for the
Gypsy galley…slaves whom they found amongst these last； they did
not make them slaves； but received them as people fri