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simple； and indeed the one most generally used by the Gitanas； is
to persuade some simple individual to hide a sum of money in the
earth； which they afterwards carry away。 A case of this
description occurred within my own knowledge； at Madrid； towards
the latter part of the year 1837。 There was a notorious Gitana； of
the name of Aurora； she was about forty years of age； a Valencian
by birth； and immensely fat。 This amiable personage； by some
means； formed the acquaintance of a wealthy widow lady； and was not
slow in attempting to practise the hokkano baro upon her。 She
succeeded but too well。 The widow； at the instigation of Aurora；
buried one hundred ounces of gold beneath a ruined arch in a field；
at a short distance from the wall of Madrid。 The inhumation was
effected at night by the widow alone。 Aurora was； however； on the
watch； and； in less than ten minutes after the widow had departed；
possessed herself of the treasure； perhaps the largest one ever
acquired by this kind of deceit。 The next day the widow had
certain misgivings； and； returning to the spot； found her money
gone。 About six months after this event； I was imprisoned in the
Carcel de la Corte； at Madrid； and there I found Aurora； who was in
durance for defrauding the widow。 She said that it had been her
intention to depart for Valencia with the 'barias；' as she styled
her plunder； but the widow had discovered the trick too soon； and
she had been arrested。 She added； however； that she had contrived
to conceal the greatest part of the property； and that she expected
her liberation in a few days； having been prodigal of bribes to the
'justicia。' In effect； her liberation took place sooner than my
own。 Nevertheless； she had little cause to triumph； as before she
left the prison she had been fleeced of the last cuarto of her ill…
gotten gain； by alguazils and escribanos； who； she admitted；
understood hokkano baro much better than herself。
When I next saw Aurora； she informed me that she was once more on
excellent terms with the widow； whom she had persuaded that the
loss of the money was caused by her own imprudence； in looking for
it before the appointed time； the spirit of the earth having
removed it in anger。 She added that her dupe was quite disposed to
make another venture； by which she hoped to retrieve her former
loss。
USTILAR PASTESAS。 … Under this head may be placed various kinds of
theft committed by the Gitanos。 The meaning of the words is
stealing with the hands； but they are more generally applied to the
filching of money by dexterity of hand； when giving or receiving
change。 For example： a Gitana will enter a shop； and purchase
some insignificant article； tendering in payment a baria or golden
ounce。 The change being put down before her on the counter； she
counts the money； and complains that she has received a dollar and
several pesetas less than her due。 It seems impossible that there
can be any fraud on her part； as she has not even taken the pieces
in her hand； but merely placed her fingers upon them； pushing them
on one side。 She now asks the merchant what he means by attempting
to deceive the poor woman。 The merchant； supposing that he has
made a mistake； takes up the money； counts it； and finds in effect
that the just sum is not there。 He again hands out the change； but
there is now a greater deficiency than before； and the merchant is
convinced that he is dealing with a witch。 The Gitana now pushes
the money to him； uplifts her voice； and talks of the justicia。
Should the merchant become frightened； and； emptying a bag of
dollars； tell her to pay herself； as has sometimes been the case；
she will have a fine opportunity to exercise her powers； and whilst
taking the change will contrive to convey secretly into her sleeves
five or six dollars at least； after which she will depart with much
vociferation； declaring that she will never again enter the shop of
so cheating a picaro。
Of all the Gitanas at Madrid； Aurora the fat was； by their own
confession； the most dexterous at this species of robbery； she
having been known in many instances； whilst receiving change for an
ounce； to steal the whole value； which amounts to sixteen dollars。
It was not without reason that merchants in ancient times were；
according to Martin Del Rio； advised to sell nothing out of their
shops to Gitanas； as they possessed an infallible secret for
attracting to their own purses from the coffers of the former the
money with which they paid for the articles they purchased。 This
secret consisted in stealing a pastesas； which they still practise。
Many accounts of witchcraft and sorcery； which are styled old
women's tales； are perhaps equally well founded。 Real actions have
been attributed to wrong causes。
Shoplifting； and other kinds of private larceny； are connected with
stealing a pastesas； for in all dexterity of hand is required。
Many of the Gitanas of Madrid are provided with large pockets； or
rather sacks； beneath their gowns； in which they stow away their
plunder。 Some of these pockets are capacious enough to hold； at
one time； a dozen yards of cloth； a Dutch cheese and a bottle of
wine。 Nothing that she can eat； drink； or sell； comes amiss to a
veritable Gitana； and sometimes the contents of her pocket would
afford materials for an inventory far more lengthy and curious than
the one enumerating the effects found on the person of the man…
mountain at Lilliput。
CHIVING DRAO。 … In former times the Spanish Gypsies of both sexes
were in the habit of casting a venomous preparation into the
mangers of the cattle for the purpose of causing sickness。 At
present this practice has ceased； or nearly so； the Gitanos；
however； talk of it as universal amongst their ancestors。 They
were in the habit of visiting the stalls and stables secretly； and
poisoning the provender of the animals； who almost immediately
became sick。 After a few days the Gitanos would go to the
labourers and offer to cure the sick cattle for a certain sum； and
if their proposal was accepted would in effect perform the cure。
Connected with the cure was a curious piece of double dealing。
They privately administered an efficacious remedy； but pretended to
cure the animals not by medicines but by charms； which consisted of
small variegated beans； called in their language bobis； （56）
dropped into the mangers。 By this means they fostered the idea；
already prevalent； that they were people possessed of supernatural
gifts and powers； who could remove diseases without having recourse
to medicine。 By means of drao； they likewise procured themselves