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if not the only cause of the decline of Gitanismo to be the
conferring on the Gitanos the rights and privileges of other
subjects。
We have said that the Gitanos have not much availed themselves of
the permission； which the law grants them； of embarking in various
spheres of life。 They remain jockeys； but they have ceased to be
wanderers； and the grand object of the law is accomplished。 The
law forbids them to be jockeys； or to follow the trade of trimming
and shearing animals； without some other visible mode of
subsistence。 This provision； except in a few isolated instances；
they evade； and the law seeks not； and perhaps wisely； to disturb
them； content with having achieved so much。 The chief evils of
Gitanismo which still remain consist in the systematic frauds of
the Gypsy jockeys and the tricks of the women。 It is incurring
considerable risk to purchase a horse or a mule； even from the most
respectable Gitano； without a previous knowledge of the animal and
his former possessor； the chances being that it is either diseased
or stolen from a distance。 Of the practices of the females；
something will be said in particular in a future chapter。
The Gitanos in general are very poor； a pair of large cachas and
various scissors of a smaller description constituting their whole
capital； occasionally a good hit is made； as they call it； but the
money does not last long； being quickly squandered in feasting and
revelry。 He who has habitually in his house a couple of donkeys is
considered a thriving Gitano； there are some； however； who are
wealthy in the strict sense of the word； and carry on a very
extensive trade in horses and mules。 These； occasionally； visit
the most distant fairs； traversing the greatest part of Spain。
There is a celebrated cattle…fair held at Leon on St。 John's or
Midsummer Day； and on one of these occasions； being present； I
observed a small family of Gitanos； consisting of a man of about
fifty； a female of the same age； and a handsome young Gypsy； who
was their son； they were richly dressed after the Gypsy fashion；
the men wearing zamarras with massy clasps and knobs of silver； and
the woman a species of riding…dress with much gold embroidery； and
having immense gold rings attached to her ears。 They came from
Murcia； a distance of one hundred leagues and upwards。 Some
merchants； to whom I was recommended； informed me that they had
credit on their house to the amount of twenty thousand dollars。
They experienced rough treatment in the fair； and on a very
singular account： immediately on their appearing on the ground；
the horses in the fair； which； perhaps； amounted to three thousand；
were seized with a sudden and universal panic； it was one of those
strange incidents for which it is difficult to assign a rational
cause； but a panic there was amongst the brutes； and a mighty one；
the horses neighed； screamed； and plunged； endeavouring to escape
in all directions； some appeared absolutely possessed； stamping and
tearing； their manes and tails stiffly erect； like the bristles of
the wild boar … many a rider lost his seat。 When the panic had
ceased； and it did cease almost as suddenly as it had arisen； the
Gitanos were forthwith accused as the authors of it； it was said
that they intended to steal the best horses during the confusion；
and the keepers of the ground； assisted by a rabble of chalans； who
had their private reasons for hating the Gitanos； drove them off
the field with sticks and cudgels。 So much for having a bad name。
These wealthy Gitanos； when they are not ashamed of their blood or
descent； and are not addicted to proud fancies； or 'barbales；' as
they are called； possess great influence with the rest of their
brethren； almost as much as the rabbins amongst the Jews； their
bidding is considered law； and the other Gitanos are at their
devotion。 On the contrary； when they prefer the society of the
Busne to that of their own race； and refuse to assist their less
fortunate brethren in poverty or in prison； they are regarded with
unbounded contempt and abhorrence； as in the case of the rich Gypsy
of Badajoz； and are not unfrequently doomed to destruction： such
characters are mentioned in their couplets：…
'The Gypsy fiend of Manga mead；
Who never gave a straw；
He would destroy； for very greed；
The good Egyptian law。
'The false Juanito day and night
Had best with caution go；
The Gypsy carles of Yeira height
Have sworn to lay him low。'
However some of the Gitanos may complain that there is no longer
union to be found amongst them； there is still much of that fellow…
feeling which springs from a consciousness of proceeding from one
common origin； or； as they love to term it； 'blood。' At present
their system exhibits less of a commonwealth than when they roamed
in bands amongst the wilds； and principally subsisted by foraging；
each individual contributing to the common stock； according to his
success。 The interests of individuals are now more distinct； and
that close connection is of course dissolved which existed when
they wandered about； and their dangers； gains； and losses were felt
in common； and it can never be too often repeated that they are no
longer a proscribed race； with no rights nor safety save what they
gained by a close and intimate union。 Nevertheless； the Gitano；
though he naturally prefers his own interest to that of his
brother； and envies him his gain when he does not expect to share
in it； is at all times ready to side with him against the Busno；
because the latter is not a Gitano； but of a different blood； and
for no other reason。 When one Gitano confides his plans to
another； he is in no fear that they will be betrayed to the Busno；
for whom there is no sympathy； and when a plan is to be executed
which requires co…operation； they seek not the fellowship of the
Busne； but of each other； and if successful； share the gain like
brothers。
As a proof of the fraternal feeling which is not unfrequently
displayed amongst the Gitanos； I shall relate a circumstance which
occurred at Cordova a year or two before I first visited it。 One
of the poorest of the Gitanos murdered a Spaniard with the fatal
Manchegan knife； for this crime he was seized； tried； and found
guilty。 Blood…shedding in Spain is not looked upon with much
abhorrence； and the life of the culprit is seldom taken； provided
he can offer a bribe sufficient to induce the notary public to
report favourably upon his case； but in this instance money was of
no avail； the murdered individual left behind him powerful friends
and connections； who were deter