Dissertation on the Gipseys: Representing their manner of life, family economy, occupations & trades, marriages & education, sickness, death, & burial, religion, language, sciences & arts, &c. &c. &c.; with an historical enquiry concerning their origin & first appearance in EuropeGrellmann, Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb
History
Dissertation on the Gipseys: Representing their manner of life, family economy, occupations & trades, marriages & education, sickness, death, & burial, religion, language, sciences & arts, &c. &c. &c.; with an historical enquiry concerning their origin & first appearance in Europe
Grellmann, Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb
Romanies
return several times, provide themselves plentifully with this roast
meat, and gluttonise in their huts as long as their noble fare lasts.
Their manner of dressing this delicious food is curious:—they boil or
roast what is intended for the first day; if they have more than they can
devour at once, the remainder is either dried in the sun, or smoked in
their huts, and eaten without any further preparation.
Something might here be introduced concerning their relish for human
flesh, and the instances which some years ago happened in Hungary might
be adduced as proofs, {16} were it not likely to be objected, that these
examples are at variance with common experience, as well as with the old
accounts handed down to us concerning these people. We shall, therefore,
not insist on this accusation: but entirely give up the point of Gipseys
being men-eaters, except just hinting, that it would be expedient for
governments to be watchful. But the instances in Hungary do not appear,
by any means, so casual and uncommon as people may imagine.—What,
according to the strictest examination, has been done, not by _one_, but
_many_; not by _ten_, but even _two hundred_, and perhaps by _thousands_;
not _yesterday_ and _to-day_, but _many years back_; finally, not _by the
whole body together_, but _single parties by themselves_, _in different
places_: Shall these things be deemed only casual excesses? Should it be
asserted, in addition to this, that eating human flesh is in practice and
allowed, in the country whence they originate; we might with greater
probability mention this shocking fact, of feeding on human flesh, as a
prevailing custom among the Gipseys. This circumstance is expressly
mentioned in histories: which assure us, that among the particular class
of people from whom the Gipseys sprung, it is a long-established custom
for the nearest relations and friends to kill and eat each other. It is
unnecessary to bring proof of it in this place, as it belongs to the
second section: let it suffice just to have hinted the matter, in order
that it may be known towards what people we are to look for the origin of
the Gipseys. As to the objection, that among all the crimes with which
they have been charged, in the older writings, _eating human flesh_ is
not positively alledged against them, it may be obviated by more than one
answer. In the first place, let it be observed, history relates, and the
event in Hungary confirms, that they murder one another; further,
consider their wandering mode of life; lastly, that they generally abide
in byplaces: and all may be easily accounted for. A hundred fathers may
sacrifice their children to their voluptuousness, and the crime still
remain concealed. The absent person is not missed; as nobody watches
over a family continually in motion, and every-where a stranger. Just as
unlikely is it, that information should be given to government. There is
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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