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content with what the Gitana told them； as if an apostle had spoken
it。'
The above description of Gitanas telling fortunes amongst the
villages of Navarre； and which was written by a Spanish author at
the commencement of the seventeenth century； is； in every respect；
applicable； as the reader will not fail to have observed； to the
English Gypsy women of the present day； engaged in the same
occupation in the rural districts of England； where the first
demand of the sibyls is invariably a sixpence； in order that they
may cross their hands with silver； and where the same promises are
made； and as easily believed； all which； if it serves to confirm
the opinion that in all times the practices and habits of the
Egyptian race have been； in almost all respects； the same as at the
present day； brings us also to the following mortifying conclusion；
… that mental illumination； amongst the generality of mankind； has
made no progress at all； as we observe in the nineteenth century
the same gross credulity manifested as in the seventeenth； and the
inhabitants of one of the countries most celebrated for the arts of
civilisation； imposed upon by the same stale tricks which served to
deceive two centuries before in Spain； a country whose name has
long and justly been considered as synonymous with every species of
ignorance and barbarism。
The same author； whilst speaking of these female Thugs； relates an
anecdote very characteristic of them； a device at which they are
adepts； which they love to employ； and which is generally attended
with success。 It is the more deserving attention； as an instance
of the same description； attended with very similar circumstances；
occurred within the sphere of my own knowledge in my own country。
This species of deceit is styled； in the peculiar language of the
Rommany； HOKKANO BARO； or the 'great trick'； it being considered by
the women as their most fruitful source of plunder。 The story； as
related by Alonso； runs as follows：…
'A band of Gitanos being in the neighbourhood of a village； one of
the women went to a house where lived a lady alone。 This lady was
a young widow； rich； without children； and of very handsome person。
After having saluted her； the Gypsy repeated the harangue which she
had already studied； to the effect that there was neither bachelor；
widower； nor married man； nobleman； nor gallant； endowed with a
thousand graces； who was not dying for love of her； and then
continued： 〃Lady； I have contracted a great affection for you； and
since I know that you well merit the riches you possess；
notwithstanding you live heedless of your good fortune； I wish to
reveal to you a secret。 You must know； then； that in your cellar
you have a vast treasure； nevertheless you will experience great
difficulty in arriving at it； as it is enchanted； and to remove it
is impossible； save alone on the eve of Saint John。 We are now at
the eighteenth of June； and it wants five days to the twenty…third；
therefore； in the meanwhile； collect some jewels of gold and
silver； and likewise some money； whatever you please； provided it
be not copper； and provide six tapers； of white or yellow wax； for
at the time appointed I will come with a sister of mine； when we
will extract from the cellar such abundance of riches； that you
will be able to live in a style which will excite the envy of the
whole country。〃 The ignorant widow； hearing these words； put
implicit confidence in the deceiver； and imagined that she already
possessed all the gold of Arabia and the silver of Potosi。
'The appointed day arrived； and not more punctual were the two
Gypsies； than anxiously expected by the lady。 Being asked whether
she had prepared all as she had been desired； she replied in the
affirmative； when the Gypsy thus addressed her： 〃You must know；
good lady； that gold calls forth gold； and silver calls forth
silver； let us light these tapers； and descend to the cellar before
it grows late； in order that we may have time for our
conjurations。〃 Thereupon the trio； the widow and the two Gypsies；
went down； and having lighted the tapers and placed them in
candlesticks in the shape of a circle； they deposited in the midst
a silver tankard； with some pieces of eight； and some corals tipped
with gold； and other jewels of small value。 They then told the
lady； that it was necessary for them all to return to the staircase
by which they had descended to the cellar； and there they uplifted
their hands； and remained for a short time as if engaged in prayer。
'The two Gypsies then bade the widow wait for them； and descended
again； when they commenced holding a conversation； speaking and
answering alternately； and altering their voices in such a manner
that five or six people appeared to be in the cellar。 〃Blessed
little Saint John；〃 said one； 〃will it be possible to remove the
treasure which you keep hidden here？〃 〃O yes； and with a little
more trouble it will be yours；〃 replied the Gypsy sister； altering
her voice to a thin treble； as if it proceeded from a child four or
five years old。 In the meantime； the lady remained astonished；
expecting the promised riches； and the two Gitanas presently coming
to her； said； 〃Come up； lady； for our desire is upon the point of
being gratified。 Bring down the best petticoat； gown； and mantle
which you have in your chest； that I may dress myself； and appear
in other guise to what I do now。〃 The simple woman； not perceiving
the trick they were playing upon her； ascended with them to the
doorway； and leaving them alone； went to fetch the things which
they demanded。 Thereupon the two Gypsies； seeing themselves at
liberty； and having already pocketed the gold and silver which had
been deposited for their conjuration； opened the street door； and
escaped with all the speed they could。
'The beguiled widow returned laden with the clothes； and not
finding those whom she had left waiting； descended into the cellar；
when； perceiving the trick which they had played her； and the
robbery which they had committed in stealing her jewels； she began
to cry and weep； but all in vain。 All the neighbours hastened to
her； and to them she related her misfortune； which served more to
raise laughter and jeers at her expense than to excite pity； though
the subtlety of the two she…thieves was universally praised。 These
latter； as soon as they had got out of the door； knew well how to
conceal themselves； for having once reached the mountain it was not
possible to find them。 So much for their divination； their
foreseeing things to come； their power over the secrets of nature；
and their knowledge of th