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learned the practice we know not； they may have brought it with
them from the East； or they may have adopted it； which is less
likely； after their arrival in Europe。 Chiromancy； from the most
remote periods； has been practised in all countries。 Neither do we
know； whether in this practice they were ever guided by fixed and
certain rules； the probability； however； is； that they were not；
and that they never followed it but as a means of fraud and
robbery； certainly； amongst all the professors of this art that
ever existed； no people are more adapted by nature to turn it to
account than these females； call them by whatever name you will；
Gitanas； Ziganas； Gypsies； or Bohemians； their forms； their
features； the expression of their countenances are ever wild and
Sibylline； frequently beautiful； but never vulgar。 Observe； for
example； the Gitana； even her of Seville。 She is standing before
the portal of a large house in one of the narrow Moorish streets of
the capital of Andalusia； through the grated iron door； she looks
in upon the court； it is paved with small marble slabs of almost
snowy whiteness； in the middle is a fountain distilling limpid
water； and all around there is a profusion of macetas； in which
flowering plants and aromatic shrubs are growing； and at each
corner there is an orange tree； and the perfume of the azahar may
be distinguished； you hear the melody of birds from a small aviary
beneath the piazza which surrounds the court； which is surmounted
by a toldo or linen awning； for it is the commencement of May； and
the glorious sun of Andalusia is burning with a splendour too
intense for his rays to be borne with impunity。 It is a fairy
scene such as nowhere meets the eye but at Seville； or perhaps at
Fez and Shiraz； in the palaces of the Sultan and the Shah。 The
Gypsy looks through the iron…grated door； and beholds； seated near
the fountain； a richly dressed dame and two lovely delicate
maidens； they are busied at their morning's occupation；
intertwining with their sharp needles the gold and silk on the
tambour； several female attendants are seated behind。 The Gypsy
pulls the bell； when is heard the soft cry of 'Quien es'； the door；
unlocked by means of a string； recedes upon its hinges； when in
walks the Gitana； the witch…wife of Multan； with a look such as the
tiger…cat casts when she stealeth from her jungle into the plain。
Yes； well may you exclaim 'Ave Maria purissima；' ye dames and
maidens of Seville； as she advances towards you； she is not of
yourselves； she is not of your blood； she or her fathers have
walked to your climate from a distance of three thousand leagues。
She has come from the far East； like the three enchanted kings； to
Cologne； but； unlike them； she and her race have come with hate and
not with love。 She comes to flatter； and to deceive； and to rob；
for she is a lying prophetess； and a she…Thug； she will greet you
with blessings which will make your hearts rejoice； but your
hearts' blood would freeze； could you hear the curses which to
herself she murmurs against you； for she says； that in her
children's veins flows the dark blood of the 'husbands；' whilst in
those of yours flows the pale tide of the 'savages；' and therefore
she would gladly set her foot on all your corses first poisoned by
her hands。 For all her love … and she can love … is for the Romas；
and all her hate … and who can hate like her？ … is for the Busnees；
for she says that the world would be a fair world if there were no
Busnees； and if the Romamiks could heat their kettles undisturbed
at the foot of the olive…trees； and therefore she would kill them
all if she could and if she dared。 She never seeks the houses of
the Busnees but for the purpose of prey； for the wild animals of
the sierra do not more abhor the sight of man than she abhors the
countenances of the Busnees。 She now comes to prey upon you and to
scoff at you。 Will you believe her words？ Fools！ do you think
that the being before ye has any sympathy for the like of you？
She is of the middle stature； neither strongly nor slightly built；
and yet her every movement denotes agility and vigour。 As she
stands erect before you； she appears like a falcon about to soar；
and you are almost tempted to believe that the power of volition is
hers； and were you to stretch forth your hand to seize her； she
would spring above the house…tops like a bird。 Her face is oval；
and her features are regular but somewhat hard and coarse； for she
was born amongst rocks in a thicket； and she has been wind…beaten
and sun…scorched for many a year； even like her parents before her；
there is many a speck upon her cheek； and perhaps a scar； but no
dimples of love； and her brow is wrinkled over； though she is yet
young。 Her complexion is more than dark； for it is almost that of
a mulatto； and her hair； which hangs in long locks on either side
of her face； is black as coal； and coarse as the tail of a horse；
from which it seems to have been gathered。
There is no female eye in Seville can support the glance of hers； …
so fierce and penetrating； and yet so artful and sly； is the
expression of their dark orbs； her mouth is fine and almost
delicate； and there is not a queen on the proudest throne between
Madrid and Moscow who might not and would not envy the white and
even rows of teeth which adorn it； which seem not of pearl but of
the purest elephant's bone of Multan。 She comes not alone； a
swarthy two…year…old bantling clasps her neck with one arm； its
naked body half extant from the coarse blanket which； drawn round
her shoulders； is secured at her bosom by a skewer。 Though tender
of age； it looks wicked and sly； like a veritable imp of Roma。
Huge rings of false gold dangle from wide slits in the lobes of her
ears； her nether garments are rags； and her feet are cased in
hempen sandals。 Such is the wandering Gitana； such is the witch…
wife of Multan； who has come to spae the fortune of the Sevillian
countess and her daughters。
'O may the blessing of Egypt light upon your head； you high…born
lady！ （May an evil end overtake your body； daughter of a Busnee
harlot！） and may the same blessing await the two fair roses of the
Nile here flowering by your side！ （May evil Moors seize them and
carry them across the water！） O listen to the words of the poor
woman who is come from a distant country； she is of a wise people；
though it has pleased the God of the sky to punish them for their
sins by sending them to wander through the world。 They denied
shelter to the Majari； whom you call the queen of heaven； and to
the Son of God； when they flew to the land of Egypt before