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subsisted entirely by fortune…telling and swindling。 It chanced
that the son of Pepita； and husband of Chicharona； having spirited
away a horse； was sent to the presidio of Malaga for ten years of
hard labour。 This misfortune caused inexpressible affliction to
his wife and mother； who determined to make every effort to procure
his liberation。 The readiest way which occurred to them was to
procure an interview with the Queen Regent Christina； who they
doubted not would forthwith pardon the culprit； provided they had
an opportunity of assailing her with their Gypsy discourse； for； to
use their own words； 'they well knew what to say。' I at that time
lived close by the palace； in the street of Santiago； and daily；
for the space of a month； saw them bending their steps in that
direction。
One day they came to me in a great hurry； with a strange expression
on both their countenances。 'We have seen Christina； hijo' （my
son）； said Pepita to me。
'Within the palace？' I inquired。
'Within the palace； O child of my garlochin；' answered the sibyl：
'Christina at last saw and sent for us； as I knew she would； I told
her 〃bahi；〃 and Chicharona danced the Romalis （Gypsy dance） before
her。'
'What did you tell her？'
'I told her many things；' said the hag； 'many things which I need
not tell you： know； however； that amongst other things； I told her
that the chabori （little queen） would die； and then she would be
Queen of Spain。 I told her； moreover； that within three years she
would marry the son of the King of France； and it was her bahi to
die Queen of France and Spain； and to be loved much； and hated
much。'
'And did you not dread her anger； when you told her these things？'
'Dread her； the Busnee？' screamed Pepita： 'No； my child； she
dreaded me far more； I looked at her so … and raised my finger so …
and Chicharona clapped her hands； and the Busnee believed all I
said； and was afraid of me； and then I asked for the pardon of my
son； and she pledged her word to see into the matter； and when we
came away； she gave me this baria of gold； and to Chicharona this
other； so at all events we have hokkanoed the queen。 May an evil
end overtake her body； the Busnee！'
Though some of the Gitanas contrive to subsist by fortune…telling
alone； the generality of them merely make use of it as an
instrument towards the accomplishment of greater things。 The
immediate gains are scanty； a few cuartos being the utmost which
they receive from the majority of their customers。 But the bahi is
an excellent passport into houses； and when they spy a convenient
opportunity； they seldom fail to avail themselves of it。 It is
necessary to watch them strictly； as articles frequently disappear
in a mysterious manner whilst Gitanas are telling fortunes。 The
bahi； moreover； is occasionally the prelude to a device which we
shall now attempt to describe； and which is called HOKKANO BARO； or
the great trick； of which we have already said something in the
former part of this work。 It consists in persuading some credulous
person to deposit whatever money and valuables the party can muster
in a particular spot； under the promise that the deposit will
increase many manifold。 Some of our readers will have difficulty
in believing that any people can be found sufficiently credulous to
allow themselves to be duped by a trick of this description； the
grossness of the intended fraud seeming too palpable。 Experience；
however； proves the contrary。 The deception is frequently
practised at the present day； and not only in Spain but in England
… enlightened England … and in France likewise； an instance being
given in the memoirs of Vidocq； the late celebrated head of the
secret police of Paris； though； in that instance； the perpetrator
of the fraud was not a Gypsy。 The most subtle method of
accomplishing the hokkano baro is the following：…
When the dupe … a widow we will suppose； for in these cases the
dupes are generally widows … has been induced to consent to make
the experiment； the Gitana demands of her whether she has in the
house some strong chest with a safe lock。 On receiving an
affirmative answer； she will request to see all the gold and silver
of any description which she may chance to have in her possession。
The treasure is shown her； and when the Gitana has carefully
inspected and counted it； she produces a white handkerchief；
saying； Lady； I give you this handkerchief； which is blessed。
Place in it your gold and silver； and tie it with three knots。 I
am going for three days； during which period you must keep the
bundle beneath your pillow； permitting no one to go near it； and
observing the greatest secrecy； otherwise the money will take wings
and fly away。 Every morning during the three days it will be well
to open the bundle； for your own satisfaction； to see that no
misfortune has befallen your treasure； be always careful； however；
to fasten it again with the three knots。 On my return； we will
place the bundle； after having inspected it； in the chest； which
you shall yourself lock； retaining the key in your possession。
But； thenceforward； for three weeks； you must by no means unlock
the chest； nor look at the treasure … if you do it will fly away。
Only follow my directions； and you will gain much； very much；
baribu。
The Gitana departs； and； during the three days； prepares a bundle
as similar as possible to the one which contains the money of her
dupe； save that instead of gold ounces； dollars； and plate； its
contents consist of copper money and pewter articles of little or
no value。 With this bundle concealed beneath her cloak； she
returns at the end of three days to her intended victim。 The
bundle of real treasure is produced and inspected； and again tied
up by the Gitana； who then requests the other to open the chest；
which done； she formally places A BUNDLE in it； but； in the
meanwhile； she has contrived to substitute the fictitious for the
real one。 The chest is then locked； the lady retaining the key。
The Gitana promises to return at the end of three weeks； to open
the chest； assuring the lady that if it be not unlocked until that
period； it will be found filled with gold and silver； but
threatening that in the event of her injunctions being disregarded；
the money deposited will vanish。 She then walks off with great
deliberation； bearing away the spoil。 It is needless to say that
she never returns。
There are other ways of accomplishing the hokkano baro。 The most
simple； and indeed the one most generally used by the Gitanas； is
to persuade some simple individual to h