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of the apartment； and began to smoke small paper cigars。 We
continued for a considerable time in silence surveying each other。
Of the two Gitanos one was an elderly man； tall and bony； with
lean； skinny； and whimsical features； though perfectly those of a
Gypsy； he spoke little； and his expressions were generally singular
and grotesque。 His companion； who was the man whom I had first
noticed in the street； differed from him in many respects； he could
be scarcely thirty； and his figure； which was about the middle
height； was of Herculean proportions； shaggy black hair； like that
of a wild beast； covered the greatest part of his immense head； his
face was frightfully seamed with the small…pox； and his eyes； which
glared like those of ferrets； peered from beneath bushy eyebrows；
he wore immense moustaches； and his wide mouth was garnished with
teeth exceedingly large and white。 There was one peculiarity about
him which must not be forgotten： his right arm was withered； and
hung down from his shoulder a thin sapless stick； which contrasted
strangely with the huge brawn of the left。 A figure so perfectly
wild and uncouth I had scarcely ever before seen。 He had now flung
aside his cloak； and sat before me gaunt in his rags and nakedness。
In spite of his appearance； however； he seemed to be much the most
sensible of the two； and the conversation which ensued was carried
on chiefly between him and myself。 This man； whom I shall call the
first Gypsy； was the first to break silence； and he thus addressed
me； speaking in Spanish； broken with words of the Gypsy tongue：…
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'Arromali （in truth）； I little thought when I saw
the errano standing by the door of the posada that I was about to
meet a brother … one too who； though well dressed； was not ashamed
to speak to a poor Gitano； but tell me； I beg you； brother； from
whence you come； I have heard that you have just arrived from
Laloro； but I am sure you are no Portuguese； the Portuguese are
very different from you； I know it； for I have been in Laloro； I
rather take you to be one of the Corahai； for I have heard say that
there is much of our blood there。 You are a Corahano； are you
not？'
MYSELF。 … 'I am no Moor； though I have been in the country。 I was
born in an island in the West Sea； called England； which I suppose
you have heard spoken of。'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'Yes； yes； I have a right to know something of the
English。 I was born in this foros； and remember the day when the
English hundunares clambered over the walls； and took the town from
the Gabine： well do I remember that day； though I was but a child；
the streets ran red with blood and wine！ Are there Gitanos then
amongst the English？'
MYSELF。 … 'There are numbers； and so there are amongst most nations
of the world。'
SECOND GYPSY。 … 'Vaya！ And do the English Calore gain their bread
in the same way as those of Spain？ Do they shear and trim？ Do
they buy and change beasts； and （lowering his voice） do they now
and then chore a gras？' （42）
MYSELF。 … 'They do most of these things： the men frequent fairs
and markets with horses； many of which they steal； and the women
tell fortunes and perform all kinds of tricks； by which they gain
more money than their husbands。'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'They would not be callees if they did not： I have
known a Gitana gain twenty ounces of gold； by means of the hokkano
baro； in a few hours； whilst the silly Gypsy； her husband； would be
toiling with his shears for a fortnight； trimming the horses of the
Busne； and yet not be a dollar richer at the end of the time。'
MYSELF。 … 'You seem wretchedly poor。 Are you married？'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'I am； and to the best…looking and cleverest callee
in Badajoz； nevertheless we have never thriven since the day of our
marriage； and a curse seems to rest upon us both。 Perhaps I have
only to thank myself； I was once rich； and had never less than six
borricos to sell or exchange； but the day before my marriage I sold
all I possessed； in order to have a grand fiesta。 For three days
we were merry enough； I entertained every one who chose to come in；
and flung away my money by handfuls； so that when the affair was
over I had not a cuarto in the world； and the very people who had
feasted at my expense refused me a dollar to begin again； so we
were soon reduced to the greatest misery。 True it is； that I now
and then shear a mule； and my wife tells the bahi （fortune） to the
servant…girls； but these things stand us in little stead： the
people are now very much on the alert； and my wife； with all her
knowledge； has been unable to perform any grand trick which would
set us up at once。 She wished to come to see you； brother； this
night； but was ashamed； as she has no more clothes than myself。
Last summer our distress was so great that we crossed the frontier
into Portugal： my wife sung； and I played the guitar； for though I
have but one arm； and that a left one； I have never felt the want
of the other。 At Estremoz I was cast into prison as a thief and
vagabond； and there I might have remained till I starved with
hunger。 My wife； however； soon got me out： she went to the lady
of the corregidor； to whom she told a most wonderful bahi；
promising treasures and titles； and I wot not what； so I was set at
liberty； and returned to Spain as quick as I could。'
MYSELF。 … 'Is it not the custom of the Gypsies of Spain to relieve
each other in distress？ … it is the rule in other countries。'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'El krallis ha nicobado la liri de los Cales … （The
king has destroyed the law of the Gypsies）； we are no longer the
people we were once； when we lived amongst the sierras and deserts；
and kept aloof from the Busne； we have lived amongst the Busne till
we are become almost like them； and we are no longer united； ready
to assist each other at all times and seasons； and very frequently
the Gitano is the worst enemy of his brother。'
MYSELF。 … 'The Gitanos； then； no longer wander about； but have
fixed residences in the towns and villages？'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'In the summer time a few of us assemble together；
and live about amongst the plains and hills； and by doing so we
frequently contrive to pick up a horse or a mule for nothing； and
sometimes we knock down a Busne； and strip him； but it is seldom we
venture so far。 We are much looked after by the Busne； who hold us
in great dread； and abhor us。 Sometimes； when wandering about； we
are attacked by the labourers； and then we defend ourselves as well
as we can。 There is no better weapon in the hands of a Gitano than
his 〃cachas；〃 or shears； with wh