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
After having shewn how little delicate they are in satisfying their
appetites, we should scarcely expect to find them squeamish with regard
to articles of diet that are highly esteemed among civilised people. But
Griselini gives a long catalogue of things which, he says, are
disagreeable to a Gipsey’s palate; among which, he particularly mentions
beans and onions, red bream, pearch, lampreys, with every kind of
wild-fowl. Whereas the fact is, Gipseys not only eat beans and onions,
but are very fond of them; and as for the red bream, pearch and lampreys,
pheasants, partridges, &c. their only reason for abstaining from them is,
the difficulty of procuring them: in which they are not singular; many
other people being in the same predicament.
The Gipseys are not much accustomed to baking of bread; that is an
article which they usually buy, beg or steal, or go entirely without. If
by chance they do bake, the business is performed quite in the eastern
method:—a wood fire is made on the ground, which soon becomes embers; in
the mean time the mother kneads her dough, forms it into small cakes,
lays them on the hot ashes, and thus they are baked.
To eat with a knife and fork, is no part of a Gipsey’s politeness; nor is
a table or plate thought necessary: even a dish is frequently dispensed
with. The whole kitchen and table apparatus consists of an earthen pot,
an iron pan (which is also used as a dish), a knife, and a spoon. When
the meal is ready, all the family sit around the pot or pan, the boiled
or roast is divided into pieces, on which they fall-to; their teeth and
fingers serving them for knives and forks, as does the ground for table
and plates.
The common beverage of the Gipseys is water; now and then beer, when it
costs them nothing. Wine is too expensive, nor is it particularly
grateful to them. The case is very different when brandy comes in
question, of which they are immoderately fond. They feel great pleasure
in intoxicating themselves; which being easiest and soonest effected with
brandy, it is in their esteem the only liquor worth purchasing: all they
can earn goes that way: and whenever by chance they become possessed of a
penny, it is expended at the first house where brandy is to be met with.
Every christening, wedding, or other occasion of rejoicing, is solemnised
with brandy: if they have plenty of it, they, as it were, drive the world
before them; each trying, by screaming or holloing, to express his
felicity and consummate happiness.
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