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embedded within it； whether it be spoken in Spain or Germany； in
England or Italy； from which circumstance we are led to the
conclusion； that these people； in their way from the East；
travelled in one large compact body； and that their route lay
through some region where the Sclavonian language； or a dialect
thereof； was spoken。 This region I have no hesitation in asserting
to have been Bulgaria； where they probably tarried for a
considerable period； as nomad herdsmen； and where numbers of them
are still to be found at the present day。 Besides the many
Sclavonian words in the Gypsy tongue； another curious feature
attracts the attention of the philologist … an equal or still
greater quantity of terms from the modern Greek； indeed； we have
full warranty for assuming that at one period the Spanish section；
if not the rest of the Gypsy nation； understood the Greek language
well； and that； besides their own Indian dialect； they occasionally
used it for considerably upwards of a century subsequent to their
arrival； as amongst the Gitanos there were individuals to whom it
was intelligible so late as the year 1540。
Where this knowledge was obtained it is difficult to say； … perhaps
in Bulgaria； where two…thirds of the population profess the Greek
religion； or rather in Romania； where the Romaic is generally
understood； that they DID understand the Romaic in 1540； we gather
from a very remarkable work； called EL ESTUDIOSO CORTESANO； written
by Lorenzo Palmireno： this learned and highly extraordinary
individual was by birth a Valencian； and died about 1580； he was
professor at various universities … of rhetoric at Valencia； of
Greek at Zaragossa； where he gave lectures； in which he explained
the verses of Homer； he was a proficient in Greek； ancient and
modern； and it should be observed that； in the passage which we are
about to cite； he means himself by the learned individual who held
conversation with the Gitanos。 （66） EL ESTUDIOSO CORTESANO was
reprinted at Alcala in 1587； from which edition we now copy。
'Who are the Gitanos？ I answer； these vile people first began to
show themselves in Germany； in the year 1417； where they call them
Tartars or Gentiles； in Italy they are termed Ciani。 They pretend
that they come from Lower Egypt； and that they wander about as a
penance； and to prove this； they show letters from the king of
Poland。 They lie； however； for they do not lead the life of
penitents； but of dogs and thieves。 A learned person； in the year
1540； prevailed with them； by dint of much persuasion； to show him
the king's letter； and he gathered from it that the time of their
penance was already expired； he spoke to them in the Egyptian
tongue； they said； however； as it was a long time since their
departure from Egypt； they did not understand it； he then spoke to
them in the vulgar Greek； such as is used at present in the Morea
and Archipelago； SOME UNDERSTOOD IT； others did not； so that as all
did not understand it； we may conclude that the language which they
use is a feigned one； （67） got up by thieves for the purpose of
concealing their robberies； like the jargon of blind beggars。'
Still more abundant； however； than the mixture of Greek； still more
abundant than the mixture of Sclavonian； is the alloy in the Gypsy
language； wherever spoken； of modern Persian words； which
circumstance will compel us to offer a few remarks on the share
which the Persian has had in the formation of the dialects of
India； as at present spoken。
The modern Persian； as has been already observed； is a daughter of
the ancient Zend； and； as such； is entitled to claim affinity with
the Sanscrit； and its dialects。 With this language none in the
world would be able to vie in simplicity and beauty； had not the
Persians； in adopting the religion of Mahomet； unfortunately
introduces into their speech an infinity of words of the rude
coarse language used by the barbaric Arab tribes； the immediate
followers of the warlike Prophet。 With the rise of Islam the
modern Persian was doomed to be carried into India。 This country；
from the time of Alexander； had enjoyed repose from external
aggression； had been ruled by its native princes； and been
permitted by Providence to exercise； without control or reproof；
the degrading superstitions； and the unnatural and bloody rites of
a religion at the formation of which the fiends of cruelty and lust
seem to have presided； but reckoning was now about to be demanded
of the accursed ministers of this system for the pain； torture； and
misery which they had been instrumental in inflicting on their
countrymen for the gratification of their avarice； filthy passions；
and pride； the new Mahometans were at hand … Arab； Persian； and
Afghan； with the glittering scimitar upraised； full of zeal for the
glory and adoration of the one high God； and the relentless
persecutors of the idol…worshippers。 Already； in the four hundred
and twenty…sixth year of the Hegeira； we read of the destruction of
the great Butkhan； or image…house of Sumnaut； by the armies of the
far…conquering Mahmoud； when the dissevered heads of the Brahmans
rolled down the steps of the gigantic and Babel…like temple of the
great image …
＇Text which cannot be reproduced … Arabic？＇
（This image grim； whose name was Laut；
Bold Mahmoud found when he took Sumnaut。）
It is not our intention to follow the conquests of the Mahometans
from the days of Walid and Mahmoud to those of Timour and Nadir；
sufficient to observe； that the greatest part of India was subdued；
new monarchies established； and the old religion； though far too
powerful and widely spread to be extirpated； was to a considerable
extent abashed and humbled before the bright rising sun of Islam。
The Persian language； which the conquerors （68） of whatever
denomination introduced with them to Hindustan； and which their
descendants at the present day still retain； though not lords of
the ascendant； speedily became widely extended in these regions；
where it had previously been unknown。 As the language of the
court； it was of course studied and acquired by all those natives
whose wealth； rank； and influence necessarily brought them into
connection with the ruling powers； and as the language of the camp；
it was carried into every part of the country where the duties of
the soldiery sooner or later conducted them； the result of which
relations between the conquerors and conquered was the adoption
into the popular dialects of India of an infinity of modern Persian
words； not merely those of science； such as it exists in the East；
and of luxury and refinement； but even th