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！
nevertheless found admirers in Spain； individuals who have taken
pleasure in their phraseology； pronunciation； and way of life； but
above all； in the songs and dances of the females。 This desire for
cultivating their acquaintance is chiefly prevalent in Andalusia；
where； indeed； they most abound； and more especially in the town of
Seville； the capital of the province； where； in the barrio or
Faubourg of Triana； a large Gitano colon has long flourished； with
the denizens of which it is at all times easy to have intercourse；
especially to those who are free of their money； and are willing to
purchase such a gratification at the expense of dollars and
pesetas。
When we consider the character of the Andalusians in general； we
shall find little to surprise us in this predilection for the
Gitanos。 They are an indolent frivolous people； fond of dancing
and song； and sensual amusements。 They live under the most
glorious sun and benign heaven in Europe； and their country is by
nature rich and fertile； yet in no province of Spain is there more
beggary and misery； the greater part of the land being
uncultivated； and producing nothing but thorns and brushwood；
affording in itself a striking emblem of the moral state of its
inhabitants。
Though not destitute of talent； the Andalusians are not much
addicted to intellectual pursuits； at least in the present day。
The person in most esteem among them is invariably the greatest
MAJO； and to acquire that character it is necessary to appear in
the dress of a Merry Andrew； to bully； swagger； and smoke
continually； to dance passably； and to strum the guitar。 They are
fond of obscenity and what they term PICARDIAS。 Amongst them
learning is at a terrible discount； Greek； Latin； or any of the
languages generally termed learned； being considered in any light
but accomplishments； but not so the possession of thieves' slang or
the dialect of the Gitanos； the knowledge of a few words of which
invariably creates a certain degree of respect； as indicating that
the individual is somewhat versed in that kind of life or TRATO for
which alone the Andalusians have any kind of regard。
In Andalusia the Gitano has been studied by those who； for various
reasons； have mingled with the Gitanos。 It is tolerably well
understood by the chalans； or jockeys； who have picked up many
words in the fairs and market…places which the former frequent。 It
has； however； been cultivated to a greater degree by other
individuals； who have sought the society of the Gitanos from a zest
for their habits； their dances； and their songs； and such
individuals have belonged to all classes； amongst them have been
noblemen and members of the priestly order。
Perhaps no people in Andalusia have been more addicted in general
to the acquaintance of the Gitanos than the friars； and pre…
eminently amongst these the half…jockey half…religious personages
of the Cartujan convent at Xeres。 This community； now suppressed；
was； as is well known； in possession of a celebrated breed of
horses； which fed in the pastures of the convent； and from which
they derived no inconsiderable part of their revenue。 These
reverend gentlemen seem to have been much better versed in the
points of a horse than in points of theology； and to have
understood thieves' slang and Gitano far better than the language
of the Vulgate。 A chalan； who had some knowledge of the Gitano；
related to me the following singular anecdote in connection with
this subject。
He had occasion to go to the convent； having been long in treaty
with the friars for a steed which he had been commissioned by a
nobleman to buy at any reasonable price。 The friars； however； were
exorbitant in their demands。 On arriving at the gate； he sang to
the friar who opened it a couplet which he had composed in the
Gypsy tongue； in which he stated the highest price which he was
authorised to give for the animal in question； whereupon the friar
instantly answered in the same tongue in an extemporary couplet
full of abuse of him and his employer； and forthwith slammed the
door in the face of the disconcerted jockey。
An Augustine friar of Seville； called； we believe； Father Manso；
who lived some twenty years ago； is still remembered for his
passion for the Gitanos； he seemed to be under the influence of
fascination； and passed every moment that he could steal from his
clerical occupations in their company。 His conduct at last became
so notorious that he fell under the censure of the Inquisition；
before which he was summoned； whereupon he alleged； in his defence；
that his sole motive for following the Gitanos was zeal for their
spiritual conversion。 Whether this plea availed him we know not；
but it is probable that the Holy Office dealt mildly with him； such
offenders； indeed； have never had much to fear from it。 Had he
been accused of liberalism； or searching into the Scriptures；
instead of connection with the Gitanos； we should； doubtless； have
heard either of his execution or imprisonment for life in the cells
of the cathedral of Seville。
Such as are thus addicted to the Gitanos and their language； are
called； in Andalusia； Los del' Aficion； or those of the
predilection。 These people have； during the last fifty years；
composed a spurious kind of Gypsy literature： we call it spurious
because it did not originate with the Gitanos； who are； moreover；
utterly unacquainted with it； and to whom it would be for the most
part unintelligible。 It is somewhat difficult to conceive the
reason which induced these individuals to attempt such
compositions； the only probable one seems to have been a desire to
display to each other their skill in the language of their
predilection。 It is right； however； to observe； that most of these
compositions； with respect to language； are highly absurd； the
greatest liberties being taken with the words picked up amongst the
Gitanos； of the true meaning of which the writers； in many
instances； seem to have been entirely ignorant。 From what we can
learn； the composers of this literature flourished chiefly at the
commencement of the present century： Father Manso is said to have
been one of the last。 Many of their compositions； which are both
in poetry and prose； exist in manuscript in a compilation made by
one Luis Lobo。 It has never been our fortune to see this
compilation； which； indeed； we scarcely regret； as a rather curious
circumstance has afforded us a perfect knowledge of its contents。
Whilst at Seville； chance made us acquainted with a highly
extraordinary individual； a tall； bony； meagre figure； in a
tattered Anda