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and of luxury and refinement； but even those which serve to express
many of the most common objects； necessities； and ideas； so that at
the present day a knowledge of the Persian is essential for the
thorough understanding of the principal dialects of Hindustan； on
which account； as well as for the assistance which it affords in
communication with the Mahometans； it is cultivated with peculiar
care by the present possessors of the land。
No surprise； therefore； can be entertained that the speech of the
Gitanos in general； who； in all probability； departed from
Hindustan long subsequent to the first Mahometan invasions；
abounds； like other Indian dialects； with words either purely
Persian； or slightly modified to accommodate them to the genius of
the language。 Whether the Rommany originally constituted part of
the natives of Multan or Guzerat； and abandoned their native land
to escape from the torch and sword of Tamerlane and his Mongols； as
Grellmann and others have supposed； or whether； as is much more
probable； they were a thievish caste； like some others still to be
found in Hindustan； who fled westward； either from the vengeance of
justice； or in pursuit of plunder； their speaking Persian is alike
satisfactorily accounted for。 With the view of exhibiting how
closely their language is connected with the Sanscrit and Persian；
we subjoin the first ten numerals in the three tongues； those of
the Gypsy according to the Hungarian dialect。 （69）
Gypsy。 Persian。 Sanscrit。 （70）
1 Jek Ek Ega
2 Dui Du Dvaya
3 Trin Se Treya
4 Schtar Chehar Tschatvar
5 Pansch Pansch Pantscha
6 Tschov Schesche Schasda
7 Efta Heft Sapta
8 Ochto Hescht Aschta
9 Enija Nu Nava
10 Dosch De Dascha
It would be easy for us to adduce a thousand instances； as striking
as the above； of the affinity of the Gypsy tongue to the Persian；
Sanscrit； and the Indian dialects； but we have not space for
further observation on a point which long since has been
sufficiently discussed by others endowed with abler pens than our
own； but having made these preliminary remarks； which we deemed
necessary for the elucidation of the subject； we now hasten to
speak of the Gitano language as used in Spain； and to determine； by
its evidence （and we again repeat； that the language is the only
criterion by which the question can be determined）； how far the
Gitanos of Spain are entitled to claim connection with the tribes
who； under the names of Zingani； etc。； are to be found in various
parts of Europe； following； in general； a life of wandering
adventure； and practising the same kind of thievish arts which
enable those in Spain to obtain a livelihood at the expense of the
more honest and industrious of the community。
The Gitanos of Spain； as already stated； are generally believed to
be the descendants of the Moriscos； and have been asserted to be
such in printed books。 （71） Now they are known to speak a language
or jargon amongst themselves which the other natives of Spain do
not understand； of course； then； supposing them to be of Morisco
origin； the words of this tongue or jargon； which are not Spanish；
are the relics of the Arabic or Moorish tongue once spoken in
Spain； which they have inherited from their Moorish ancestors。 Now
it is well known； that the Moorish of Spain was the same tongue as
that spoken at present by the Moors of Barbary； from which country
Spain was invaded by the Arabs； and to which they again retired
when unable to maintain their ground against the armies of the
Christians。 We will； therefore； collate the numerals of the
Spanish Gitano with those of the Moorish tongue； preceding both
with those of the Hungarian Gypsy； of which we have already made
use； for the purpose of making clear the affinity of that language
to the Sanscrit and Persian。 By this collation we shall at once
perceive whether the Gitano of Spain bears most resemblance to the
Arabic； or the Rommany of other lands。
Hungarian Spanish Moorish
Gypsy。 Gitano。 Arabic。
1 Jek Yeque Wahud
2 Dui Dui Snain
3 Trin Trin Slatza
4 Schtar Estar Arba
5 Pansch Pansche Khamsa
6 Tschov Job。 Zoi Seta
7 Efta Hefta Sebea
8 Ochto Otor Sminia
9 Enija Esnia （Nu。 PERS。） Tussa
10 Dosch Deque Aschra
We believe the above specimens will go very far to change the
opinion of those who have imbibed the idea that the Gitanos of
Spain are the descendants of Moors； and are of an origin different
from that of the wandering tribes of Rommany in other parts of the
world； the specimens of the two dialects of the Gypsy； as far as
they go； being so strikingly similar； as to leave no doubt of their
original identity； whilst； on the contrary； with the Moorish
neither the one nor the other exhibits the slightest point of
similarity or connection。 But with these specimens we shall not
content ourselves； but proceed to give the names of the most common
things and objects in the Hungarian and Spanish Gitano；
collaterally； with their equivalents in the Moorish Arabic； from
which it will appear that whilst the former are one and the same
language； they are in every respect at variance with the latter。
When we consider that the Persian has adopted so many words and
phrases from the Arabic； we are at first disposed to wonder that a
considerable portion of these words are not to be discovered in
every dialect of the Gypsy tongue； since the Persian has lent it so
much of its vocabulary。 Yet such is by no means the case； as it is
very uncommon； in any one of these dialects； to discover words
derived from the Arabic。 Perhaps； however； the following
consideration will help to solve this point。 The Gitanos； even
before they left India； were probably much the same rude； thievish；
and ignorant people as they are at the present day。 Now the words
adopted by the Persian from the Arabic； and which it subsequently
introduced into the dialects of India； are sounds representing
objects and ideas with which such a people as the Gitanos could
necessarily be but scantily acquainted； a people whose circle of
ideas only embraces physical objects； and who never commune with
their own minds； nor exert them but in devising low and vulgar
schemes of pillage and deceit。 Whatever is visible and common is
seldom or never represented by the Pers