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the occupation of shearing and clipping animals； nor to the traffic
of markets and fairs； nor still less to the occupation of keepers
of inns and ventas in uninhabited places； although they may be
innkeepers within towns； which employment shall be considered as
sufficient； provided always there be no well…founded indications of
their being delinquents themselves； or harbourers of such people。
'9。 At the expiration of ninety days； the justices shall proceed
against the disobedient in the following manner：… Those who； having
abandoned the dress； name； language or jargon； association； and
manners of Gitanos； and shall have moreover chosen and established
a domicile； but shall not have devoted themselves to any office or
employment； though it be only that of day…labourers； shall be
considered as vagrants； and be apprehended and punished according
to the laws in force against such people without any distinction
being made between them and the other vassals。
'10。 Those who henceforth shall commit any crimes； having
abandoned the language； dress； and manners of Gitanos； chosen a
domicile； and applied themselves to any office； shall be prosecuted
and chastised like others guilty of the same crimes； without any
difference being made between them。
'11。 But those who shall have abandoned the aforesaid dress；
language and behaviour； and those who； pretending to speak and
dress like the other vassals； and even to choose a domiciliary
residence； shall continue to go forth； wandering about the roads
and uninhabited places； although it be with the pretext of visiting
markets and fairs； such people shall be pursued and taken by the
justices； and a list of them formed； with their names and
appellations； age； description； with the places where they say they
reside and were born。
'16。 I； however； except from punishment the children and young
people of both sexes who are not above sixteen years of age。
'17。 Such； although they may belong to a family； shall be
separated from their parents who wander about and have no
employment； and shall be destined to learn something； or shall be
placed out in hospices or houses of instruction。
'20。 When the register of the Gitanos who have proved disobedient
shall have taken place； it shall be notified and made known to
them； that in case of another relapse； the punishment of death
shall be executed upon them without remission； on the examination
of the register； and proof being adduced that they have returned to
their former life。'
What effect was produced by this law； and whether its results at
all corresponded to the views of those who enacted it； will be
gathered from the following chapters of this work； in which an
attempt will be made to delineate briefly the present condition of
the Gypsies in Spain。
THE ZINCALI … PART II
CHAPTER I
ABOUT twelve in the afternoon of the 6th of January 1836； I crossed
the bridge of the Guadiana； a boundary river between Portugal and
Spain； and entered Badajoz； a strong town in the latter kingdom；
containing about eight thousand inhabitants； supposed to have been
founded by the Romans。 I instantly returned thanks to God for
having preserved me in a journey of five days through the wilds of
the Alemtejo； the province of Portugal the most infested by robbers
and desperate characters； which I had traversed with no other human
companion than a lad； almost an idiot； who was to convey back the
mules which had brought me from Aldea Gallega。 I intended to make
but a short stay； and as a diligence would set out for Madrid the
day next but one to my arrival； I purposed departing therein for
the capital of Spain。
I was standing at the door of the inn where I had taken up my
temporary abode； the weather was gloomy； and rain seemed to be at
hand； I was thinking on the state of the country I had just
entered； which was involved in bloody anarchy and confusion； and
where the ministers of a religion falsely styled Catholic and
Christian were blowing the trump of war； instead of preaching the
love…engendering words of the blessed Gospel。
Suddenly two men； wrapped in long cloaks； came down the narrow and
almost deserted street； they were about to pass； and the face of
the nearest was turned full towards me； I knew to whom the
countenance which he displayed must belong； and I touched him on
the arm。 The man stopped； and likewise his companion； I said a
certain word； to which； after an exclamation of surprise； he
responded in the manner I expected。 The men were Gitanos or
Gypsies； members of that singular family or race which has diffused
itself over the face of the civilised globe； and which； in all
lands； has preserved more or less its original customs and its own
peculiar language。
We instantly commenced discoursing in the Spanish dialect of this
language； with which I was tolerably well acquainted。 I asked my
two newly…made acquaintances whether there were many of their race
in Badajoz and the vicinity： they informed me that there were
eight or ten families in the town； and that there were others at
Merida； a town about six leagues distant。 I inquired by what means
they lived； and they replied that they and their brethren
principally gained a livelihood by trafficking in mules and asses；
but that all those in Badajoz were very poor； with the exception of
one man； who was exceedingly BALBALO； or rich； as he was in
possession of many mules and other cattle。 They removed their
cloaks for a moment； and I found that their under…garments were
rags。
They left me in haste； and went about the town informing the rest
that a stranger had arrived who spoke Rommany as well as
themselves； who had the face of a Gitano； and seemed to be of the
'errate；' or blood。 In less than half an hour the street before
the inn was filled with the men； women； and children of Egypt。 I
went out amongst them； and my heart sank within me as I surveyed
them： so much vileness； dirt； and misery I had never seen amongst
a similar number of human beings； but worst of all was the evil
expression of their countenances； which spoke plainly that they
were conversant with every species of crime； and it was not long
before I found that their countenances did not belie them。 After
they had asked me an infinity of questions； and felt my hands；
face； and clothes； they retired to their own homes。
That same night the two men of whom I have already particularly
spoken came to see me。 They sat down by the brasero in the middle
of the apartment； and began to smoke small paper c