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no avail； the murdered individual left behind him powerful friends
and connections； who were determined that justice should take its
course。 It was in vain that the Gitanos exerted all their
influence with the authorities in behalf of their comrade； and such
influence was not slight； it was in vain that they offered
extravagant sums that the punishment of death might be commuted to
perpetual slavery in the dreary presidio of Ceuta； I was credibly
informed that one of the richest Gitanos； by name Fruto； offered
for his own share of the ransom the sum of five thousand crowns；
whilst there was not an individual but contributed according to his
means … nought availed； and the Gypsy was executed in the Plaza。
The day before the execution； the Gitanos； perceiving that the fate
of their brother was sealed； one and all quitted Cordova； shutting
up their houses and carrying with them their horses； their mules；
their borricos； their wives and families； and the greatest part of
their household furniture。 No one knew whither they directed their
course； nor were they seen in Cordova for some months； when they
again suddenly made their appearance； a few； however； never
returned。 So great was the horror of the Gitanos at what had
occurred； that they were in the habit of saying that the place was
cursed for evermore； and when I knew them； there were many amongst
them who； on no account； would enter the Plaza which had witnessed
the disgraceful end of their unfortunate brother。
The position which the Gitanos hold in society in Spain is the
lowest； as might be expected； they are considered at best as
thievish chalans； and the women as half sorceresses； and in every
respect thieves； there is not a wretch； however vile； the outcast
of the prison and the presidio； who calls himself Spaniard； but
would feel insulted by being termed Gitano； and would thank God
that he is not； and yet； strange to say； there are numbers； and
those of the higher classes； who seek their company； and endeavour
to imitate their manners and way of speaking。 The connections
which they form with the Spaniards are not many； occasionally some
wealthy Gitano marries a Spanish female； but to find a Gitana
united to a Spaniard is a thing of the rarest occurrence； if it
ever takes place。 It is； of course； by intermarriage alone that
the two races will ever commingle； and before that event is brought
about； much modification must take place amongst the Gitanos； in
their manners； in their habits； in their affections； and their
dislikes； and； perhaps； even in their physical peculiarities； much
must be forgotten on both sides； and everything is forgotten in the
course of time。
The number of the Gitano population of Spain at the present day may
be estimated at about forty thousand。 At the commencement of the
present century it was said to amount to sixty thousand。 There can
be no doubt that the sect is by no means so numerous as it was at
former periods； witness those barrios in various towns still
denominated Gitanerias； but from whence the Gitanos have
disappeared even like the Moors from the Morerias。 Whether this
diminution in number has been the result of a partial change of
habits； of pestilence or sickness； of war or famine； or of all
these causes combined； we have no means of determining； and shall
abstain from offering conjectures on the subject。
CHAPTER IV
IN the autumn of the year 1839； I landed at Tarifa； from the coast
of Barbary。 I arrived in a small felouk laden with hides for
Cadiz； to which place I was myself going。 We stopped at Tarifa in
order to perform quarantine； which； however； turned out a mere
farce； as we were all permitted to come on shore； the master of the
felouk having bribed the port captain with a few fowls。 We formed
a motley group。 A rich Moor and his son； a child； with their
Jewish servant Yusouf； and myself with my own man Hayim Ben Attar；
a Jew。 After passing through the gate； the Moors and their
domestics were conducted by the master to the house of one of his
acquaintance； where he intended they should lodge； whilst a sailor
was despatched with myself and Hayim to the only inn which the
place afforded。 I stopped in the street to speak to a person whom
I had known at Seville。 Before we had concluded our discourse；
Hayim； who had walked forward； returned； saying that the quarters
were good； and that we were in high luck； for that he knew the
people of the inn were Jews。 'Jews；' said I； 'here in Tarifa； and
keeping an inn； I should be glad to see them。' So I left my
acquaintance； and hastened to the house。 We first entered a
stable； of which the ground floor of the building consisted； and
ascending a flight of stairs entered a very large room； and from
thence passed into a kitchen； in which were several people。 One of
these was a stout； athletic； burly fellow of about fifty； dressed
in a buff jerkin； and dark cloth pantaloons。 His hair was black as
a coal and exceedingly bushy； his face much marked from some
disorder； and his skin as dark as that of a toad。 A very tall
woman stood by the dresser； much resembling him in feature； with
the same hair and complexion； but with more intelligence in her
eyes than the man； who looked heavy and dogged。 A dark woman； whom
I subsequently discovered to be lame； sat in a corner； and two or
three swarthy girls； from fifteen to eighteen years of age； were
flitting about the room。 I also observed a wicked…looking boy； who
might have been called handsome； had not one of his eyes been
injured。 'Jews；' said I； in Moorish； to Hayim； as I glanced at
these people and about the room； 'these are not Jews； but children
of the Dar…bushi…fal。'
'List to the Corahai；' said the tall woman； in broken Gypsy slang；
'hear how they jabber （hunelad como chamulian）； truly we will make
them pay for the noise they raise in the house。' Then coming up to
me； she demanded with a shout； fearing otherwise that I should not
understand； whether I would not wish to see the room where I was to
sleep。 I nodded： whereupon she led me out upon a back terrace；
and opening the door of a small room； of which there were three；
asked me if it would suit。 'Perfectly；' said I； and returned with
her to the kitchen。
'O； what a handsome face！ what a royal person！' exclaimed the whole
family as I returned； in Spanish； but in the whining； canting tones
peculiar to the Gypsies； when they are bent on victimising。 'A
more ugly Busno it has never been our chance to see；' said the same
voices in the next breath； speaking in the jargon of the tribe。
'Won't your Moorish Royalt