按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Gitanos themselves on this point。 'El Crallis ha nicobado la liri
de los Cales；' is a proverbial saying among them。 By Crallis； or
King； they mean Carlos Tercero； so that the saying； the proverbial
saying； may be thus translated： THE LAW OF CARLOS TERCERO HAS
SUPERSEDED GYPSY LAW。
By the law the schools are open to them； and there is no art or
science which they may not pursue； if they are willing。 Have they
availed themselves of the rights which the law has conferred upon
them？
Up to the present period but little … they still continue jockeys
and blacksmiths； but some of these Gypsy chalans； these bronzed
smiths； these wild…looking esquiladors； can read or write in the
proportion of one man in three or four； what more can be expected？
Would you have the Gypsy bantling； born in filth and misery； 'midst
mules and borricos； amidst the mud of a choza or the sand of a
barranco； grasp with its swarthy hands the crayon and easel； the
compass； or the microscope； or the tube which renders more distinct
the heavenly orbs； and essay to become a Murillo； or a Feijoo； or a
Lorenzo de Hervas； as soon as the legal disabilities are removed
which doomed him to be a thievish jockey or a sullen husbandman？
Much will have been accomplished； if； after the lapse of a hundred
years； one hundred human beings shall have been evolved from the
Gypsy stock； who shall prove sober； honest； and useful members of
society； … that stock so degraded； so inveterate in wickedness and
evil customs； and so hardened by brutalising laws。 Should so many
beings； should so many souls be rescued from temporal misery and
eternal woe； should only the half of that number； should only the
tenth； nay； should only one poor wretched sheep be saved； there
will be joy in heaven； for much will have been accomplished on
earth； and those lines will have been in part falsified which
filled the stout heart of Mahmoud with dismay：…
'For the root that's unclean； hope if you can；
No washing e'er whitens the black Zigan：
The tree that's bitter by birth and race；
If in paradise garden to grow you place；
And water it free with nectar and wine；
From streams in paradise meads that shine；
At the end its nature it still declares；
For bitter is all the fruit it bears。
If the egg of the raven of noxious breed
You place 'neath the paradise bird； and feed
The splendid fowl upon its nest；
With immortal figs； the food of the blest；
And give it to drink from Silisbel； （46）
Whilst life in the egg breathes Gabriel；
A raven； a raven； the egg shall bear；
And the fostering bird shall waste its care。' …
FERDOUSI。
The principal evidence which the Gitanos have hitherto given that a
partial reformation has been effected in their habits； is the
relinquishment； in a great degree； of that wandering life of which
the ancient laws were continually complaining； and which was the
cause of infinite evils； and tended not a little to make the roads
insecure。
Doubtless there are those who will find some difficulty in
believing that the mild and conciliatory clauses of the law in
question could have much effect in weaning the Gitanos from this
inveterate habit； and will be more disposed to think that this
relinquishment was effected by energetic measures resorted to by
the government； to compel them to remain in their places of
location。 It does not appear； however； that such measures were
ever resorted to。 Energy； indeed； in the removal of a nuisance； is
scarcely to be expected from Spaniards under any circumstances。
All we can say on the subject； with certainty； is； that since the
repeal of the tyrannical laws； wandering has considerably decreased
among the Gitanos。
Since the law has ceased to brand them； they have come nearer to
the common standard of humanity； and their general condition has
been ameliorated。 At present； only the very poorest； the parias of
the race； are to be found wandering about the heaths and mountains；
and this only in the summer time； and their principal motive；
according to their own confession； is to avoid the expense of house
rent； the rest remain at home； following their avocations； unless
some immediate prospect of gain； lawful or unlawful； calls them
forth； and such is frequently the case。 They attend most fairs；
women and men； and on the way frequently bivouac in the fields； but
this practice must not be confounded with systematic wandering。
Gitanismo； therefore； has not been extinguished； only modified； but
that modification has been effected within the memory of man；
whilst previously near four centuries elapsed； during which no
reform had been produced amongst them by the various measures
devised； all of which were distinguished by an absence not only of
true policy； but of common…sense； it is therefore to be hoped； that
if the Gitanos are abandoned to themselves； by which we mean no
arbitrary laws are again enacted for their extinction； the sect
will eventually cease to be； and its members become confounded with
the residue of the population； for certainly no Christian nor
merely philanthropic heart can desire the continuance of any sect
or association of people whose fundamental principle seems to be to
hate all the rest of mankind； and to live by deceiving them； and
such is the practice of the Gitanos。
During the last five years； owing to the civil wars； the ties which
unite society have been considerably relaxed； the law has been
trampled under foot； and the greatest part of Spain overrun with
robbers and miscreants； who； under pretence of carrying on partisan
warfare； and not unfrequently under no pretence at all； have
committed the most frightful excesses； plundering and murdering the
defenceless。 Such a state of things would have afforded the
Gitanos a favourable opportunity to resume their former kind of
life； and to levy contributions as formerly； wandering about in
bands。 Certain it is； however； that they have not sought to repeat
their ancient excesses； taking advantage of the troubles of the
country； they have gone on； with a few exceptions； quietly pursuing
that part of their system to which they still cling； their
jockeyism； which； though based on fraud and robbery； is far
preferable to wandering brigandage； which necessarily involves the
frequent shedding of blood。 Can better proof be adduced； that
Gitanismo owes its decline； in Spain； not to force； not to
persecution； not to any want of opportunity of exercising it； but
to some other cause？ … and we repeat that we consider the principal
if not the only cause of the decline of Gitanismo to be the
conferring on t