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though； perhaps； the trade of the smith was considered as too much
akin to that of the chalan to be permitted to them。 The Gypsy
smith of Granada is still a chalan； even as his brother in England
is a jockey and tinker alternately。
Whilst speaking of the Gitanos of Granada； we cannot pass by in
silence a tragedy which occurred in this town amongst them； some
fifteen years ago； and the details of which are known to every
Gitano in Spain； from Catalonia to Estremadura。 We allude to the
murder of Pindamonas by Pepe Conde。 Both these individuals were
Gitanos； the latter was a celebrated contrabandista； of whom many
remarkable tales are told。 On one occasion； having committed some
enormous crime； he fled over to Barbary and turned Moor； and was
employed by the Moorish emperor in his wars； in company with the
other renegade Spaniards； whose grand depot or presidio is the town
of Agurey in the kingdom of Fez。 After the lapse of some years；
when his crime was nearly forgotten； he returned to Granada； where
he followed his old occupations of contrabandista and chalan。
Pindamonas was a Gitano of considerable wealth； and was considered
as the most respectable of the race at Granada； amongst whom he
possessed considerable influence。 Between this man and Pepe Conde
there existed a jealousy； especially on the part of the latter；
who； being a man of proud untamable spirit； could not well brook a
superior amongst his own people。 It chanced one day that
Pindamonas and other Gitanos； amongst whom was Pepe Conde； were in
a coffee…house。 After they had all partaken of some refreshment；
they called for the reckoning； the amount of which Pindamonas
insisted on discharging。 It will be necessary here to observe；
that on such occasions in Spain it is considered as a species of
privilege to be allowed to pay； which is an honour generally
claimed by the principal man of the party。 Pepe Conde did not fail
to take umbrage at the attempt of Pindamonas； which he considered
as an undue assumption of superiority； and put in his own claim；
but Pindamonas insisted； and at last flung down the money on the
table； whereupon Pepe Conde instantly unclasped one of those
terrible Manchegan knives which are generally carried by the
contrabandistas； and with a frightful gash opened the abdomen of
Pindamonas； who presently expired。
After this exploit； Pepe Conde fled； and was not seen for some
time。 The cave； however； in which he had been in the habit of
residing was watched； as a belief was entertained that sooner or
later he would return to it； in the hope of being able to remove
some of the property contained in it。 This belief was well
founded。 Early one morning he was observed to enter it； and a band
of soldiers was instantly despatched to seize him。 This
circumstance is alluded to in a Gypsy stanza：…
'Fly； Pepe Conde； seek the hill；
To flee's thy only chance；
With bayonets fixed； thy blood to spill；
See soldiers four advance。'
And before the soldiers could arrive at the cave； Pepe Conde had
discovered their approach and fled； endeavouring to make his escape
amongst the rocks and barrancos of the Alpujarras。 The soldiers
instantly pursued； and the chase continued a considerable time。
The fugitive was repeatedly summoned to surrender himself； but
refusing； the soldiers at last fired； and four balls entered the
heart of the Gypsy contrabandista and murderer。
Once at Madrid I received a letter from the sister's son of
Pindamonas； dated from the prison of the Saladero。 In this letter
the writer； who it appears was in durance for stealing a pair of
mules； craved my charitable assistance and advice； and possibly in
the hope of securing my favour； forwarded some uncouth lines
commemorative of the death of his relation； and commencing thus：…
'The death of Pindamonas fill'd all the world with pain；
At the coffee…house's portal； by Pepe he was slain。'
The faubourg of Triana； in Seville； has from time immemorial been
noted as a favourite residence of the Gitanos； and here； at the
present day； they are to be found in greater number than in any
other town in Spain。 This faubourg is indeed chiefly inhabited by
desperate characters； as； besides the Gitanos； the principal part
of the robber population of Seville is here congregated。 Perhaps
there is no part even of Naples where crime so much abounds； and
the law is so little respected； as at Triana； the character of
whose inmates was so graphically delineated two centuries and a
half back by Cervantes； in one of the most amusing of his tales。
（44）
In the vilest lanes of this suburb； amidst dilapidated walls and
ruined convents； exists the grand colony of Spanish Gitanos。 Here
they may be seen wielding the hammer； here they may be seen
trimming the fetlocks of horses； or shearing the backs of mules and
borricos with their cachas； and from hence they emerge to ply the
same trade in the town； or to officiate as terceros； or to buy；
sell； or exchange animals in the mercado； and the women to tell the
bahi through the streets； even as in other parts of Spain；
generally attended by one or two tawny bantlings in their arms or
by their sides； whilst others； with baskets and chafing…pans；
proceed to the delightful banks of the Len Baro； （45） by the Golden
Tower； where； squatting on the ground and kindling their charcoal；
they roast the chestnuts which； when well prepared； are the
favourite bonne bouche of the Sevillians； whilst not a few； in
league with the contrabandistas； go from door to door offering for
sale prohibited goods brought from the English at Gibraltar。 Such
is Gitano life at Seville； such it is in the capital of Andalusia。
It is the common belief of the Gitanos of other provinces that in
Andalusia the language； customs； habits； and practices peculiar to
their race are best preserved。 This opinion； which probably
originated from the fact of their being found in greater numbers in
this province than in any other； may hold good in some instances；
but certainly not in all。 In various parts of Spain I have found
the Gitanos retaining their primitive language and customs better
than in Seville； where they most abound： indeed； it is not plain
that their number has operated at all favourably in this respect。
At Cordova； a town at the distance of twenty leagues from Seville；
which scarcely contains a dozen Gitano families； I found them
living in much more brotherly amity； and cherishing in a greater
degree the observances of their forefathers。
I shall long remember these Cordovese Gitanos； by whom I was very
well received