A History of the Gipsies: with Specimens of the Gipsy LanguageSimson, Walter
History
A History of the Gipsies: with Specimens of the Gipsy Language
Simson, Walter
Romanies; Romanies -- Languages
happened to pass us at the very moment I was speaking to her; and to
show her the knowledge I had of her speech and people, I said, "There is
a _nawken_"--(there is a Gipsy.) She, in a very civil and polite manner,
immediately replied, "Sir, I hope you will not take it ill, when I use
the freedom of saying that you must have been among the people you are
enquiring about, otherwise you could not speak to me in that way." To
show her that I did not despise her for understanding my Gipsy words, I
gave her a few pence more, and spoke kindly to her. She then became
quite cheerful and frank, as if we had been old acquaintances. Instead
of trying to impose upon me, by tales of grief and woe, and feigned
piety, she appeared happy and contented, her whole conduct indicating
that it was useless to play off her tricks upon me, as she was now
sensible that I knew exactly what she was, and yet did not treat her
contemptuously. She said her husband's name was Wilson, and her own
Jackson, (the names of two Gipsy tribes;) that she could tell fortunes,
and was acquainted with the _Irish_ words I spoke, being afraid to call
them by their right name. She further stated that every one of the
people I was enquiring about spoke in the same language.
About half an hour after I parted with her, on the road, I met her in
the village of North Queensferry, while I was walking with a friend. I
then put a question to her in Gipsy words, in the presence of this third
party, who knew not what she was, to see how she would conduct herself
in public. She seemed surprised at my question, as if she did not
understand a word of it--to prevent it being discovered to others of the
community that she was a Gipsy. But she publicly praised me highly, for
having given her something to help her poor children; and, with her
trumped-up story at her tongue's end, proceeded on her travels.
These poor people were much alarmed when I let them see that I knew they
were Gipsies. They thought I was despising them, and treating them with
contempt; or they were afraid of being apprehended under the old
sanguinary laws, condemning the whole unfortunate race to death; for
the Gipsies, as I have already said, still believe that these bloody
statutes are in full force against them at the present day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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