THE ROMANY RYE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 26

THE ROMANY RYE.

The Origin ov the Gipsms.—Thkiu Nuai bebb in Europe and Asia.— A. Distinct Race. — Their Lif/s ik England. Gipsies have been a puzzle to the student of history for nearly four hundred years, that being the time which has elapsed since their immigration into England. A writer who has given much attention to the subject estimates their number at the present tini3 as from 18,000 to 20,000, while during the reign of Queen El'subath he thinks they numbered only 10,000. They are very far, therefore, from becoming extinct, even in this highly civilised land. From the bo.st iaforniaiinu obtainable, the entire race numbers about 900,000 They are very numerous in Tranpylvama ; Spain shelters ab-mfc 00,000, Hungary 40,000, and Turkey 100,000 They itbound in groat numbers ia Moldavia, Wallachin, in Ruf"sia, and in other p.uts of Europe and A-<ia. Til"* pilgrim who passes the Jaffa gate at .1 erusalem may see lioine of them at the present time Bitting in .v state of semi nudity and soliciLiug arms The exolusiveness of tho gipsica an a race is one of their moHt marked and beet known characteristics. With other men tfcoy have no bond of brotherhood ; but they ha\a a nationality of thair own, which in every way they strive to perpetuate. In this respect the pure remnants of the gipsy people differ from other wandering tribes, such as may be seen even in our own Bt&ck Couatry, and who somotimoe, from the ideuticMl character of their occupations, are mistaken (or gipsios. Tho Jatfcer bavo also certain physical peculiarities. THE GIPSIITS A BEPABATK PEOPLE. With but fuw exceptions, those who claim kindred with the pure remnants of the gipsy people may be easily known by certain physical peculiarities which that raoo everywhere pre seats. Tha men aro, as a rule, of middle stature, wall made and muscular, remarkably upright and full chested, while in walking their step id firm and quick. Some of tho gipsy mon measure six feet Ligb, and wo knew one who was two inches taller. Some of tho women in youth have very handsome features. Their arched nostrils, prominent septa, thoir hair, flowing in glossy tresses over their tawny but well- formed shoulders ; their noses, mostly of Grecian type ; the pearly lustre of their dark piercing eyes, their confident mode of address >nd ready command of language, with othor characteristics, furnish corroborative evidence that they are as distinct a people as the Jowc.

. . . A visit to tli9 greenwood side, to Lfaa deep recesses of uome widespread forest, to the bye-road, to tha unfraquonted lane with its thick shady hedgo, and to the oheitering embankment under which is pitched the humble teat, where the smoke ascends in curling clouds from the wood fire, aud where the " pot " sends forth a- savoury steam, upon which the diirk ayeo of a taway group aro intently fixed, will at once convince us thaff the gipsies' voluntarily yield to a feeling of separation from civilised society, and that they have bus littlo or no dearu to fraterntee with other raced of inon. Reform has at no time seemed to inspire thorn, for they cling to the notions and cußlomu which choir forefathers entertained and observed as !enaciou3ly as to lifa itaolf. Time, which ia i(i iovoluiioufi affeots Willujgh everything: which ctunaa throneulo fcotici aud once mighty -^npiroa to pass away like a flouting clout', has .-.oAncftly effjclad any change for Lha belter, ij ithor m the social lifo, the habits, or idoas ot rhose mysterious tribes. The niunon for gip«i*B '•ary, of courde t in different languages, Iti Poland they are called Zingani; in Italy, Zinuari; ia Franca, Bohemiauo : in Gerrciauy, Ziegpnner* ; and bo on. The Vorrfianii, it 13 slated, apnly.t-o them t\ name meaning £ 'Blao!f JiriiiaV' ■p.'hi'c ili^ir ai?rt ffudeat c-'iaao ii?

that of Sinte, which is supposed to be connected with Siud, tho native waine ior the In<3u3, A Fieaca writer lias endeavoured to prove that f>r ihrae thousand years past there nave been in Earopj waudonnff tribes be'iring a name eimikr to the ono last mentioned. It has indeed beon a pefc theory wilh many o'iß6rversthat ihe gip^iea ava of ladian origin. There aro aborigioa!, or suppoeai aboriginal, tribss outaida tue Hindu p*le, and thereforo not Sudras at all, who have baeu thought by -Eaglish officials in India to baar a closa to aamblance in thoir habito, and to a certain degree also in their physical chacactaristics, to the gipsies of Europa. Such are tho Soeris and Sansis of Northern India. Dr Oldbam, in hia "Statistical Memoir of tho Ghazipur District," gives noma interesting facts boarmg on thia subjact. Theae tribes are notorious ihievoß, and havo a secret languaga which Sir Henry EUiofe took groat pain 3to investigate. GIPSY STORIEa. Many intoreatiug sfcorieß ara told with reference to the relatioao between gipsy girls and Englishmen, which have furnished tho subject of bo many romantic taleu in fiction. Tho gipsies havo always regarded such alliances v,ifch dislike, even when men, not of gipßy birth, have, for tho purpose, adopted thoir wanderiug proclivities aud done everything to merit recognition. When gipsy women marry outside their own raie, their cbildreu, if these remain in the tribe, usually marry persons of puror gipsy blood thau their own, «o that in a generation or two their offspring lose all outward signß of the hateful foreiga taint. AN ALIEN KING OF THK GIPdIKS. Tho history and family of laaao Jowles, who waa known in Somaraetshiro as " king of the gipsies," furnish a proof of the correotnosß of tho forpgoing statements. Jowlos was a native of a village in Wiltshire, aud followed tho occupation of a fitononjiison ; bub 'he was not gip^y-born. ll:vviug had, when a young man, an unpleasant diaputo wit.h his fftaiily about some property, he left home, and waa not hoard of fov many years. Ha married a gipsy woman, by whom ha h<id two daughters, well known to us. When those girls were young their foaturea were very beautiful ; thoir gipsy characteristics were, however, decidedly prndominant. In dno ,titne they ranrried gipsy mon, awd had children by them, botwaen whom And the pureat offspring of tho gipsy raco it would have baen difficult to detect any physiolcgicil diffdroaoe. HABITS AND INDUSTRY OF GII'SY WOMEN, We can assert from practical knowledge that numbers of the females of these nomadic tribes are very particular in the cloaDline-s of theu linen, which may often be seou nearly as white as snow lying on tho grasa, or hanging on the hedgerows near thair encampments, As moat gipsy women object to entreat thair property, such aa cloth, calico., worsted, or other materials intended for wearing apparel, in the hands of strangers, the necessity of making their own garments falls upon thooiselveß. The result h that, by tao constant use of tha needle, both old and young ".moiigs!; thnm arg good seamstresses and knitters ; sorao of S;hem are embroiderers and even croohfifc workers ; while not a fow are olev9r in making fancy avticlea of various kiads, e&pecially small coloured baskols for the work-feeble. Af> a people they have a notiou that recreation is a ivceEcifcy aad an important element in tho happiness of life. They indulge, therefore, in many kinds of games, aporta, >vncl paatimw, includiug racing, jumping, feate of otrength, pparring, athletic exercise, and other things peculiar to tham as a raco, but in which no one else but those of thoir own tribes ara permitted to take a part.