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！
to medicine。 By means of drao； they likewise procured themselves
food； poisoning swine； as their brethren in England still do； （57）
and then feasting on the flesh； which was abandoned as worthless：
witness one of their own songs：…
'By Gypsy drow the Porker died；
I saw him stiff at evening tide；
But I saw him not when morning shone；
For the Gypsies ate him flesh and bone。'
By drao also they could avenge themselves on their enemies by
destroying their cattle； without incurring a shadow of suspicion。
Revenge for injuries； real or imaginary； is sweet to all
unconverted minds； to no one more than the Gypsy； who； in all parts
of the world； is； perhaps； the most revengeful of human beings。
Vidocq in his memoirs states； that having formed a connection with
an individual whom he subsequently discovered to be the captain of
a band of Walachian Gypsies； the latter； whose name was Caroun；
wished Vidocq to assist in scattering certain powders in the
mangers of the peasants' cattle； Vidocq； from prudential motives；
refused the employment。 There can be no doubt that these powders
were； in substance； the drao of the Spanish Gitanos。
LA BAR LACHI； OR THE LOADSTONE。 … If the Gitanos in general be
addicted to any one superstition； it is certainly with respect to
this stone； to which they attribute all kinds of miraculous powers。
There can be no doubt； that the singular property which it
possesses of attracting steel； by filling their untutored minds
with amazement； first gave rise to this veneration； which is
carried beyond all reasonable bounds。
They believe that he who is in possession of it has nothing to fear
from steel or lead； from fire or water； and that death itself has
no power over him。 The Gypsy contrabandistas are particularly
anxious to procure this stone； which they carry upon their persons
in their expeditions； they say； that in the event of being pursued
by the jaracanallis； or revenue officers； whirlwinds of dust will
arise； and conceal them from the view of their enemies； the horse…
stealers say much the same thing； and assert that they are
uniformly successful； when they bear about them the precious stone。
But it is said to be able to effect much more。 Extraordinary
things are related of its power in exciting the amorous passions；
and； on this account； it is in great request amongst the Gypsy
hags； all these women are procuresses； and find persons of both
sexes weak and wicked enough to make use of their pretended
knowledge in the composition of love…draughts and decoctions。
In the case of the loadstone； however； there is no pretence； the
Gitanas believing all they say respecting it； and still more； this
is proved by the eagerness with which they seek to obtain the stone
in its natural state； which is somewhat difficult to accomplish。
In the museum of natural curiosities at Madrid there is a large
piece of loadstone originally extracted from the American mines。
There is scarcely a Gitana in Madrid who is not acquainted with
this circumstance； and who does not long to obtain the stone； or a
part of it； its being placed in a royal museum serving to augment；
in their opinion； its real value。 Several attempts have been made
to steal it； all of which； however； have been unsuccessful。 The
Gypsies seem not to be the only people who envy royalty the
possession of this stone。 Pepita； the old Gitana of whose talent
at telling fortunes such honourable mention has already been made；
informed me that a priest； who was muy enamorado （in love）；
proposed to her to steal the loadstone； offering her all his
sacerdotal garments in the event of success： whether the singular
reward that was promised had but slight temptations for her； or
whether she feared that her dexterity was not equal to the
accomplishment of the task； we know not； but she appears to have
declined attempting it。 According to the Gypsy account； the person
in love； if he wish to excite a corresponding passion in another
quarter by means of the loadstone； must swallow； IN AGUARDIENTE； a
small portion of the stone pulverised； at the time of going to
rest； repeating to himself the following magic rhyme：…
'To the Mountain of Olives one morning I hied；
Three little black goats before me I spied；
Those three little goats on three cars I laid；
Black cheeses three from their milk I made；
The one I bestow on the loadstone of power；
That save me it may from all ills that lower；
The second to Mary Padilla I give；
And to all the witch hags about her that live；
The third I reserve for Asmodeus lame；
That fetch me he may whatever I name。'
LA RAIZ DEL BUEN BARON； OR THE ROOT OF THE GOOD BARON。 … On this
subject we cannot be very explicit。 It is customary with the
Gitanas to sell； under this title； various roots and herbs； to
unfortunate females who are desirous of producing a certain result；
these roots are boiled in white wine； and the abominable decoction
is taken fasting。 I was once shown the root of the good baron；
which； in this instance； appeared to be parsley root。 By the good
baron is meant his Satanic majesty； on whom the root is very
appropriately fathered。
CHAPTER VII
IT is impossible to dismiss the subject of the Spanish Gypsies
without offering some remarks on their marriage festivals。 There
is nothing which they retain connected with their primitive rites
and principles； more characteristic perhaps of the sect of the
Rommany； of the sect of the HUSBANDS AND WIVES； than what relates
to the marriage ceremony； which gives the female a protector； and
the man a helpmate； a sharer of his joys and sorrows。 The Gypsies
are almost entirely ignorant of the grand points of morality； they
have never had sufficient sense to perceive that to lie； to steal；
and to shed human blood violently； are crimes which are sure；
eventually； to yield bitter fruits to those who perpetrate them；
but on one point； and that one of no little importance as far as
temporal happiness is concerned； they are in general wiser than
those who have had far better opportunities than such unfortunate
outcasts； of regulating their steps； and distinguishing good from
evil。 They know that chastity is a jewel of high price； and that
conjugal fidelity is capable of occasionally flinging a sunshine
even over the dreary hours of a life passed in the contempt of
almost all laws； whether human or divine。
There is a word in the Gypsy language to which those who speak it
attach ideas of peculiar reverence； far superior to that connected
with the name of the Supreme Being； the creator o