or GIPSYs, a remarkable race of Asiatic origin, found in almost every country of Europe, in most parts of Asia, and in the interior of Africa, and characterized for the most part by their vagabond course of life. The word gypsy is a corruption of Egyiptian—the common designation of the vagrant race in old English statutes, in accordance with this prevalent belief, founded on their own assertion, that they came from Egypt. Their first appearance in Europe was about the year 1417; though all evidence is opposed to their being of an Egyptian stock, it seems not improbable that some at least of this scattered race may have sojourned for a time in Egypt in their migration from the East. A very circumstantial and elaborate account of this singular race is given by Grellmann, in his Histor. Versuch über die Zigeuner, which has been translated into English by Mr Raper, under the title of Dissertation on the Gipsys, Lond. 1787, 4to. "The Egyptian descent of these people," says Grellmann, "is not only destitute of proofs, but the most positive evidence is found to contradict it. Their language differs entirely from the Coptic; and their customs are very different from those of the Egyptians. They are indeed to be found in Egypt; but they wander about there as strangers, and form a distinct people, as in other countries." He afterwards proceeds to show that they are sprung from the lowest class of Indians, namely, the degraded Pariahs; or, as they are called in Hindustan, Sudras. The emigration from their country he conjectures, with much apparent probability, to have been occasioned by the devastating expedition of Timour Beg, in the years 1408-9, when that savage conqueror ravaged India, destroying all who offered resistance to his arms; while those who fell into the enemy's hands were made slaves, of whom, however, 100,000 were put to death. In the universal panic occasioned by these cruelties, it is conjectured that a large number of the terrified inhabitants saved themselves by flight; but at this point Grellmann frankly acknowledges Gypsies, that he is unable to trace the route by which the fugitives passed from Hindustan to Europe.

The gypsies are variously designated in different countries; thus, in France they are called Bohemians, as coming thither from Bohemia; in Spain, Gitanos—a designation expressive of their crafty character; in Portugal, Ciganos; in Germany, Zigeuner; by the Italians, the Walachians; and the Turks, Zingari, Zigani, or Zingani, and Chinganch. These various appellations would appear to have, for the most part, a common origin; and this perhaps is to be found in the word Tokingani, the name of a tribe met with by Lieutenant Pottinger in Beloochistan, near the mouth of the Indus, and who are described as resembling the gypsies in many of their peculiar customs. The gypsies, too, call themselves Pharadon or Sinte, which corresponds to Sinde, the Hindu name for the inhabitants of Hindustan.

The language of the gypsies, though a kind of lingua-franca, being formed out of fragments and corruptions of many tongues, has, nevertheless, a marked oriental cast. Most of the words are of Indian origin, and are found, in part, with little variation, in the Sanscrit, the Malabar, and the Bengal languages; and many words have been adopted from the different nations among whom they sojourn. Bishop Heber relates that he met with a camp of gypsies on the banks of the Ganges, who spoke the Hindu language as their mother tongue; and he also found the same people in Persia and Russia. Their persons and customs also bear a striking resemblance to those of the Hindus.

There can scarcely be a doubt that at one period a very considerable number of the gypsy race passed into Europe from Egypt; and, indeed, history informs us that when the Sultan Selim conquered Egypt, A.D. 1517, many of the inhabitants refused to submit to the Turkish yoke, and revolted under one Zinganics (whence their Turkish appellation of Zingani); and being at length subdued and banished, they agreed to disperse in numerous small parties over different countries, where their supposed skill in the black art procured them a favourable reception in that age of general superstition. Their numbers were quickly multiplied by the accession of persons who imitated their language, manners, and complexion, and betook themselves to the practice of chiromancy, begging, and pilfering, so that the gypsy race came to be regarded as a nuisance in most of the states of Europe. Accordingly, they were expelled from France in the year 1560, and from Spain in 1591. But in 1531 they are described by statute 22d Henry VIII., c. 10, as "an outlandish people calling themselves Egyptians, using no craft nor feat of merchandise, who have come into this realm, and gone from shire to shire, and place to place, in great companies, and used great, subtle, and crafty means to deceive the people; bearing them in hand that they by palmistry could tell men's and women's fortunes; and so many times by craft and subtilty have deceived the people of their money, and also have committed many heinous felonies and robberies." They are, therefore, directed to avoid the realm, and not to return under pain of imprisonment, and forfeiture of their goods and chattels; and it is further declared, that upon their trials for any felony which they may have committed, they shall not be entitled to a jury de mediate lingua. It was afterwards enacted, by statutes 1st and 2d Philip and Mary, c. 4, and 5th Eliz. c. 20, that if any such persons shall be imported into the kingdom, the importer shall forfeit L.40. And if the Egyptians themselves remain one month in the kingdom, or if any person being fourteen years old, whether natural-born subject or stranger, who has been seen or found in the fellowship of such Egyptians, or having disguised him or herself like them, shall remain in the same one month at one or several times, it is felony without benefit of clergy. Sir Matthew Hale tells us that on one occasion at the Suffolk assizes, no less than thirteen persons were executed upon these statutes a few years before the Restoration. These are the latest instances of condemnation under these statutes; yet the last sanguinary act itself was not repealed till 23d Geo. III., c. 54.

In Scotland the gypsy tribe seem to have enjoyed some share of indulgence; for a writ of privy seal, dated 1594, supports John Faw, lord and earl of Little Egypt, in the execution of justice on his company and folk, conform to the laws of Egypt, and in punishing certain persons therein named, who had rebelled, robbed him, absconded, and refused to return home. James's subjects are commanded to assist in apprehending the fugitives, and in assisting Faw and his adherents to return to Egypt. There is another writ in his favour from Mary Queen of Scots, 1558; and in 1554 he obtained a pardon for the murder of Numan Small; so that it appears he had remained long in Scotland, and perhaps spent some time in England. From him this kind of strolling people received in Scotland the name of the Fine Gang.

In the reigns of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, the gypsy tribe were marked out for general persecution in England; yet their numbers do not appear to have diminished greatly in consequence. They are spread over all Europe; and about the year 1830, their total number was estimated at about three quarters of a million. It is in the south of Spain, however, that these strolling people appear in greatest numbers. They are also numerous in Hungary, Transylvania, and Moldavia; and are found in still greater numbers in Bessarabia, near Constantinople, and throughout Turkey. For nearly four centuries have these people wandered through the world; and in every region, and among every people, whether barbarous or civilized, they have continued equally unchanged by the lapse of time, the variety of climate, or the force of example. Their singular physiognomy, and their peculiar manners, are the same in every country; their complexion receives no darker shade from the burning sun of Africa, nor any fairer tincture from the temperate climes of Europe. As to religion they have none; though from motives of policy they generally profess the established faith of the country in which they live. Many attempts have been made to educate and civilize them; but they seem singularly unsusceptible of religious impressions. In the neighbourhood of civilized life they continue barbarous; are content to live in tents or in holes in the earth, and wander in companies from place to place as fugitives and vagabonds. In Transylvania the gypsies have a form of constitution, being in a manner governed by chiefs, whom they distinguish by the Slavonian title of waywoode. To this dignity every one is eligible who is of a family descended from a former waywoode; but the preference is usually given to those who have the most wealth, or who are of a large stature, and not past the meridian of life.

In appearance, the gypsies are of a brownish or olive complexion, with jet black hair and dark eyes, and very white teeth. In Spain many of the gypsy girls are considered beauties,—a fact dependent not a little, it is probable, on the intermixture of Spanish blood. They are also noted for the symmetry of their limbs, which distinguishes even the men, whose general appearance, however, is shy and repulsive. Seldom tall or powerful in frame, they possess much elasticity and activity, and their physiognomy denotes carelessness and levity. In mild climates they dispense with tents, and congregate in companies in forests and deserts. In cold countries they find shelter in caves, or build huts sunk in the earth, and cover them with sods laid on poles. In Spain, and also in Hungary and Transylvania, there are some gypsies who follow trades. They are innkeepers, carriers, and dealers in horses; smiths, nail-makers, tinkers, and menders of old pots and kettles; makers of wooden spoons, spindles, &c.; and occasionally they engage in the labours of the field. They have a certain degree of natu- GYPY

Gypsies have a talent for music, and are often respectable performers on the violin, flute, Jew's-harp, &c. Their skill in this art is confined to instrumental music, particularly of the dance kind. In many places the gypsies support themselves by rope-dancing and tricks of legerdemain; while the women find occupation in fortune-telling, the interpretation of dreams, and the like. In the earlier part of life, particularly in Spain, the women are dancers; and when they grow older, they invariably practise fortune-telling and chiromancy. In warm countries the gypsy children go perfectly naked for the first few years of their life, yet are objects of much solicitude to their parents, by whom they are carefully instructed in lying, thieving, and all kinds of knavery, and regarded with a degree of blind affection that seems to border on animal instinct. The gypsies have a passion for rings, trinkets, and all kinds of ornaments, and frequently adorn themselves in the most heterogeneous fashion. In England the females are generally distinguished by a cloak, gray or red, and a coloured kerchief tied around the head. Their domestic utensils are few, consisting usually of a pan, a dish, a kettle, and a silver cup. They frequently possess horses and pigs; and in England every gypsy company has one donkey or more for the conveyance of their effects.

The gypsies, like the Pariahs, are very disgusting in many of their customs; such as, for instance, that of eating the flesh of animals that have died of disease. A murrain, accordingly, is to them a welcome event. They are fond of brandy; and both sexes are excessively addicted to the use of tobacco, which they regard as a luxury to be obtained at almost any sacrifice. There is no species of roguery they will not practise in order to obtain money; for instance, it is a common trick among the Transylvanian gypsies to have their children baptized repeatedly, at different places, for the sake of the present usually bestowed by the godfather on such occasions on the poor parents of the child. They marry very early: boys of fourteen and girls of twelve are often man and wife; nor is the closest propinquity any bar to their union. But in these matches the wily gypsy carefully avoids the legal forms that might prevent a separation in case he should tire of his mate—a thing of very common occurrence. They never marry any but of their own race. Such is their natural depravity, that they have a real enjoyment in cruelty; so that they were formerly employed in preference as executioners. At the same time their cowardice is notorious. They have occasionally been taken into the armies in Hungary and Transylvania, but have always been themselves very indifferent soldiers.

Besides Grellmann's work already cited, the reader may consult with advantage Mr Marsden's paper on the Gypsy Language, in vol. vii. of the Archaeologia; Captain Richardson's paper on the Natas, in vol. vii. of the Asiatic Researches; Bischoff's Deutsch-Zigeunerisches Wörterbuch, of which the preface contains an excellent summary of the history and present state of this singular people; Hoyland's Historical Survey of the Gypsies; see also the graphic descriptions of gypsy life, as contained in Scott's Guy Mannering, and in Borrow's Gypsies in Spain.