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as we can。 There is no better weapon in the hands of a Gitano than
his 〃cachas；〃 or shears； with which he trims the mules。 I once
snipped off the nose of a Busne； and opened the greater part of his
cheek in an affray up the country near Trujillo。'
MYSELF。 … 'Have you travelled much about Spain？'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'Very little； I have never been out of this province
of Estremadura； except last year； as I told you； into Portugal。
When we wander we do not go far； and it is very rare that we are
visited by our brethren of other parts。 I have never been in
Andalusia； but I have heard say that the Gitanos are many in
Andalusia； and are more wealthy than those here； and that they
follow better the Gypsy law。'
MYSELF。 … 'What do you mean by the Gypsy law？'
FIRST GYPSY。 … 'Wherefore do you ask； brother？ You know what is
meant by the law of the Cales better even than ourselves。'
MYSELF。 … 'I know what it is in England and in Hungary； but I can
only give a guess as to what it is in Spain。'
BOTH GYPSIES。 … 'What do you consider it to be in Spain？'
MYSELF。 … 'Cheating and choring the Busne on all occasions； and
being true to the errate in life and in death。'
At these words both the Gitanos sprang simultaneously from their
seats； and exclaimed with a boisterous shout … 'Chachipe。'
This meeting with the Gitanos was the occasion of my remaining at
Badajoz a much longer time than I originally intended。 I wished to
become better acquainted with their condition and manners； and
above all to speak to them of Christ and His Word； for I was
convinced； that should I travel to the end of the universe； I
should meet with no people more in need of a little Christian
exhortation； and I accordingly continued at Badajoz for nearly
three weeks。
During this time I was almost constantly amongst them； and as I
spoke their language； and was considered by them as one of
themselves； I had better opportunity of arriving at a fair
conclusion respecting their character than any other person could
have had； whether Spanish or foreigner； without such an advantage。
I found that their ways and pursuits were in almost every respect
similar to those of their brethren in other countries。 By cheating
and swindling they gained their daily bread； the men principally by
the arts of the jockey； … by buying； selling； and exchanging
animals； at which they are wonderfully expert； and the women by
telling fortunes； selling goods smuggled from Portugal； and dealing
in love…draughts and diablerie。 The most innocent occupation which
I observed amongst them was trimming and shearing horses and mules；
which in their language is called 'monrabar；' and in Spanish
'esquilar'； and even whilst exercising this art； they not
unfrequently have recourse to foul play； doing the animal some
covert injury； in hope that the proprietor will dispose of it to
themselves at an inconsiderable price； in which event they soon
restore it to health； for knowing how to inflict the harm； they
know likewise how to remove it。
Religion they have none； they never attend mass； nor did I ever
hear them employ the names of God； Christ； and the Virgin； but in
execration and blasphemy。 From what I could learn； it appeared
that their fathers had entertained some belief in metempsychosis；
but they themselves laughed at the idea； and were of opinion that
the soul perished when the body ceased to breathe； and the argument
which they used was rational enough； so far as it impugned
metempsychosis： 'We have been wicked and miserable enough in this
life；' they said； 'why should we live again？'
I translated certain portions of Scripture into their dialect；
which I frequently read to them； especially the parable of Lazarus
and the Prodigal Son； and told them that the latter had been as
wicked as themselves； and both had suffered as much or more； but
that the sufferings of the former； who always looked forward to a
blessed resurrection； were recompensed by admission； in the life to
come； to the society of Abraham and the Prophets； and that the
latter； when he repented of his sins； was forgiven； and received
into as much favour as the just son。
They listened with admiration； but； alas！ not of the truths； the
eternal truths； I was telling them； but to find that their broken
jargon could be written and read。 The only words denoting anything
like assent to my doctrine which I ever obtained； were the
following from the mouth of a woman： 'Brother； you tell us strange
things； though perhaps you do not lie； a month since I would sooner
have believed these tales； than that this day I should see one who
could write Rommany。'
Two or three days after my arrival； I was again visited by the
Gypsy of the withered arm； who I found was generally termed Paco；
which is the diminutive of Francisco； he was accompanied by his
wife； a rather good…looking young woman with sharp intelligent
features； and who appeared in every respect to be what her husband
had represented her on the former visit。 She was very poorly clad；
and notwithstanding the extreme sharpness of the weather； carried
no mantle to protect herself from its inclemency； … her raven black
hair depended behind as far down as her hips。 Another Gypsy came
with them； but not the old fellow whom I had before seen。 This was
a man about forty…five； dressed in a zamarra of sheep…skin； with a
high…crowned Andalusian hat； his complexion was dark as pepper； and
his eyes were full of sullen fire。 In his appearance he exhibited
a goodly compound of Gypsy and bandit。
PACO。 … 'Laches chibeses te dinele Undebel （May God grant you good
days； brother）。 This is my wife； and this is my wife's father。'
MYSELF。 … 'I am glad to see them。 What are their names？'
PACO。 … 'Maria and Antonio； their other name is Lopez。'
MYSELF。 … 'Have they no Gypsy names？'
PACO。 … 'They have no other names than these。'
MYSELF。 … 'Then in this respect the Gitanos of Spain are unlike
those of my country。 Every family there has two names； one by
which they are known to the Busne； and another which they use
amongst themselves。'
ANTONIO。 … 'Give me your hand； brother！ I should have come to see
you before； but I have been to Olivenzas in search of a horse。
What I have heard of you has filled me with much desire to know
you； and I now see that you can tell me many things which I am
ignorant of。 I am Zincalo by the four sides … I love our blood；
and I hate that of the Busne。 Had I my will I would wash my face
every day in the blood of the Busne； for the Busne are made only to
be robbed a