The Gipseys have no writing, peculiar to them, in which to express their language. [87] Writing, or reading, is, in general, a very uncommon accomplishment with any of them; nor must either of these attainments be at all expected among the wandering sort. Sciences and the refined arts are never to be looked for amongst people whose manner of living and education are so irregular. Twiss does, indeed, mention, that the Spanish Gipseys have some knowledge of medicine and surgery; but woe betide the person who confides in their skill! It is absurd to suppose that they are possessed of any secret for extinguishing fire: superstition formerly gave the Jews credit for this art; in process of time, the Gipseys also were believed to be gifted with it. Music is the only science in which the Gipseys participate, in any considerable degree: they likewise compose, but it is after the manner of the eastern people, extempore. In Wallachia, no other people possess this talent; and, like the Italian improvisatori, they always accompany their verses with singing and music. The quality of the poetry of these ready composers may be appreciated, when it is known that the rhyme is the part most considered: to accomplish this, they are frequently guilty of the most glaring solecisms in grammar; besides their ideas are usually of the most obscene kind, and these expressed in the gross style of rude unpolished people. It is not necessary, therefore, to be a master, to hold their art in the greatest contempt. [88]
CHAPTER XIII.
Character and Capacities of the Gipseys; whether they are an Advantage or a Detriment to States.
Imagine a people of childish thoughts, whose minds are filled with raw indigested conceptions, guided more by sense than reason, and using understanding and reflection only so far as they promote the gratification of any particular appetite;—and you have a perfect sketch of the general character of the Gipseys.
They are lively; uncommonly loquacious; fickle to an extreme, consequently inconstant in their pursuits; faithless to every body, even of their own caste; void of the least emotion of gratitude, frequently returning benefits with the most insidious malice. Fear makes them slavishly compliant [89] when under subjection; but having nothing to apprehend, like other timorous people, they are cruel. A desire of revenge often causes them to take the most desperate resolutions. Thus they vowed no less than death against a respectable German prince who died not many years ago, because, on account of their misdeeds, he had persecuted and driven them from his territories. They even went so far as to offer a reward among themselves (probably something considerable) to whoever would deliver him to them, either alive or dead. Nor did they give up this insolent design, till some of them, who talked too openly about it in the Darmstadt dominions, were taken, and being delivered up to the parties concerned, paid the forfeit of their lives for their good intentions.
To such a degree of violence is their fury sometimes excited, that a mother has been known, in the excess of passion, to take her small infant by the feet, when no other instrument has readily presented, and therewith strike the object of her anger. They are so addicted to drinking, as to sacrifice what is most necessary to them, that they may gratify their taste for spirituous liquors. They have likewise, what one would little expect, an enormous share of vanity, which is evidenced in their fondness for fine clothes, and their gait and deportment when dressed in them. It might be supposed that this pride would have the good effect of rendering the Gipsey cautious not to be guilty of such crimes as subject him to public shame: but here his levity of character is rendered conspicuous, for he never looks either to the right or to the left in his transactions; and though his conceit and pride are somewhat humbled during the time of punishment, and while the consequent pain lasts, these being over, he no longer remembers his disgrace, but entertains quite as good an opinion of himself as before. The Gipseys are loquacious and quarrelsome in the highest degree, though they seldom make much noise in their huts, in which they generally keep quiet enough: but in the public markets, and before alehouses, where they are surrounded by a number of spectators, they bawl, spit at each other—catch up sticks and cudgels, vapour and brandish them over their heads—throw dust and dirt—now run from each other, then back again, with furious gestures and threats. The women scream, drag their husbands by force from the scene of action; these break from them again, and return to it: the children, too, howl piteously. After a short time, without any person’s interference, when they have cried and made a noise till they are tired, and without either party having received any personal injury, the affair finishes itself, and they separate, with as much ostentation as if they had performed the most heroic feats.
Thus the Gipsey seeks honour! of which his ideas seldom coincide with those of other people, and sometimes deviate entirely from propriety: we may therefore assert, what all, who have made observations on these people agree in, that honour and shame are to them totally indifferent. We establish this decision by comparing Gipsey notions with our own: trying their dealings and conduct by this standard, they will often appear ridiculous, frequently even infamous.
Nothing can exceed the unrestrained depravity of manners existing among these people, particularly the softer sex. Unchecked by any idea of shame, they give way to every desire. The mother endeavours, by the most scandalous arts, to train her daughter for an offering to sensuality; and the latter is scarcely grown up, before she becomes the seducer of others. Let the dance, formerly mentioned, be called to mind; it will then be unnecessary to adduce fresh examples, of which regard for decency will not permit a detail.
Their indolence has been already quoted. Laziness is so natural to them, that were they to subsist by their own labour only, they would hardly have bread for two of the seven days in the week. This disposition increases their propensity to stealing and cheating—the common attendants on idleness. They seek and avail themselves of every opportunity to satisfy their lawless desires. Thomasius endeavours to propagate a notion, that this habit has grown upon the latter Gipseys by degrees, in opposition to the practice of those who first arrived, quoting Stumpf for his authority, who talks of Christian discipline and order among the original Gipseys; he assures us, too, that they paid ready money for all they wanted; but this testimony does not deserve attention: the Gipseys in Stumpf’s time were the same as they are at this day, nor are they differently described by any of the old writers.
This is a lamentable enumeration of evil and ruinous properties in the Gipsey’s character, which applies not only to a few individuals, but to by far the greatest number of these people. Scarcely any virtue could exist in a soul so replete with vices. What at first sight appears less censurable, or perhaps even amiable, in them is, their habitual content in their situation. They have no care about futurity; they are unacquainted either with anxiety or solicitude: and pass through every day lively and satisfied. But this, in itself commendable resignation, is as little to be accounted a virtue among the Gipseys as among the Iroquois, and proceeds from the excessive levity of their dispositions.