Gipsy Life Part 9

Jockey, Kestermengro.

Judgment, b.i.t.c.hama.

Jump, Hokter hok xta.

Jumper, Hoxterer.

Just now, Kenaw sig.

Justice of the peace, Chivlo-gaujo, chuvno-gaujo, pkenyus, pokinyus.

K.

Keep, Righer, riker.

Kettle, Kekavvi, kavvi.

Key, Klerin klisin.

Kick, Del, de.

Kill, Maur.

Kin, Simensa.

Kind, Komelo komomuso.

King, Kralis.

Kingdom, Kralisom tem.

Kiss, Chooma.

Knee, Chong, choong.

Knife, Choori chivomengro chinomengro.

Knock, Koor, de.

Know, Jin.

Knowing, Yoki, jinomengro, jinomeskro.

Q.

Quarrel, Chingar.

Quarrel, Chingariben, gdli.

Quart, Troshni.

Queen, Kralisi krailisi.

Quick, Sig.

Quick, Be, Sigo toot, ressi toot kair abba.

Quietly, Shookar.

The following dozen words will show, in some degree, the fearful amount of ignorance there is amongst them, even when using the language of their mother country, for England is the mother country of the present race of Gipsies. For-

Expensive, Expencival.

Decide, Cide.

Advice, Device.

Dictionary, Dixen.

Equally, Ealfully.

Instructed, Indistructed.

Gentleman, Gemmen.

Daunted, Dauntment.

Spitefulness, Spiteliness.

Habeas Corpus, Hawcus paccus.

Increase, Increach.

Submit, Commist.

I cannot find joy, delight, eternity, innocent, ever, everlasting, endless, hereafter, and similar words, and, on inquiry, I find that many of the Gipsies do not believe in an eternity, future punishment, or rewards; this belief, no doubt, has its effects upon their morals in this life.

The opinion respecting the Gipsy language at the commencement of the present century was, that it was composed only of cant terms, or of what has been called the slang of beggars; much of this probably was promoted and strengthened by the dictionary contained in a pamphlet, ent.i.tled, "The Life and Adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew." It consists for the most part of English words trumped up apparently not so much for the purpose of concealment as a burlesque. Even if used by this people at all, the introduction of this cant and slang as the genuine language of the community of Gipsies is a gross imposition on the public.

Rees, in his Encyclopaedia, 1819, describes the Gipsies as "impostors and jugglers forming a kind of commonwealth among themselves, who disguise themselves in uncouth habits, smearing their faces and bodies, and framing to themselves a canting language, wander up and down, and under pretence of telling fortunes, curing diseases, &c., abuse the common people, trick them of their money, and steal all that they come at."

Mr. Borrow, speaking of the Hungarian Gipsies in his "Zyncali," page 7, says:-"Hungary, though a country not a tenth part so extensive as the huge colossus of the Russian empire, whose Czar reigns over a hundred lands, contains perhaps as many Gipsies, it not being uncommon to find whole villages inhabited by this race. They likewise abound in the suburbs of the towns.

"In Hungary the feudal system still exists in all its pristine barbarity.

In no country does the hard hand of oppression bear so heavy upon the lower cla.s.ses-not even in Russia. The peasants of Russia are serfs, it is true, but their condition is enviable compared with that of the same cla.s.s in the other country; they have certain rights and privileges, and are, upon the whole, happy and contented, at least, there, whilst the Hungarians are ground to powder. Two cla.s.ses are free in Hungary to do almost what they please-the n.o.bility and the Gipsies (the former are above the law, the latter below it). A toll is wrung from the hands of the hard working labourers, that most meritorious cla.s.s, in pa.s.sing over a bridge, for example, at Perth, which is not demanded from a well-dressed person, nor from Zingany, who have frequently no dress at all, and whose _insouciance_ stands in striking contrast with the trembling submission of the peasants. The Gipsy, wherever you find him, is an incomprehensible being, but nowhere more than in Hungary, where in the midst of slavery he is free, though apparently one step lower than the lowest slave. The habits of the Hungarian Gipsies are abominable; their hovels appear sinks of the vilest poverty and filth; their dress is at best rags; their food frequently of the vilest carrion, and occasionally, if report be true, still worse: thus they live in filth, in rags, in nakedness. The women are fortune-tellers. Of course both s.e.xes are thieves of the first water. They roam where they list."

The "Chronicle of Bologna," printed about the year 1422, says:-"And of those who went to have their fortunes told few there were who had not their purses stolen, or some portion of their garments cut away. Their women also traversed the city six or eight together, entering the houses of the citizens, and diverting them with idle talk while one of the party secured whatever she could lay her hands upon. In the shops they pretended to buy, but in fact stole. They were amongst the cleverest thieves that the world contained. Be it noted that they were the most hideous crew ever seen in these parts. They were lean and black, and ate like pigs. The women wore mantles flung upon one shoulder, with only a vest underneath." Forli, who wrote about them about the same time as the "Chronicle of Bologna," does not seem to have liked them, and says they were not "even civilised, and resembling rather savage and untamed beasts."