They are lively; uncommonly loquacious; fickle to an extreme, consequently inconstant in their pursuits; faithless to every body, even of their own caste; void of the least emotion of gratitude, frequently returning benefits with the most insidious malice. Fear makes them slavishly compliant {89} when under subjection; but having nothing to apprehend, like other timorous people, they are cruel. A desire of revenge often causes them to take the most desperate resolutions. Thus they vowed no less than death against a respectable German prince who died not many years ago, because, on account of their misdeeds, he had persecuted and driven them from his territories. They even went so far as to offer a reward among themselves (probably something considerable) to whoever would deliver him to them, either alive or dead. Nor did they give up this insolent design, till some of them, who talked too openly about it in the Darmstadt dominions, were taken, and being delivered up to the parties concerned, paid the forfeit of their lives for their good intentions. To such a degree of violence is their fury sometimes excited, that a mother has been known, in the excess of passion, to take her small infant by the feet, when no other instrument has readily presented, and therewith strike the object of her anger. They are so addicted to drinking, as to sacrifice what is most necessary to them, that they may gratify their taste for spirituous liquors. They have likewise, what one would little expect, an enormous share of vanity, which is evidenced in their fondness for fine clothes, and their gait and deportment when dressed in them. It might be supposed that this pride would have the good effect of rendering the Gipsey cautious not to be guilty of such crimes as subject him to public shame: but here his levity of character is rendered conspicuous, for he never looks either to the right or to the left in his transactions; and though his conceit and pride are somewhat humbled during the time of punishment, and while the consequent pain lasts, these being over, he no longer remembers his disgrace, but entertains quite as good an opinion of himself as before. The Gipseys are loquacious and quarrelsome in the highest degree, though they seldom make much noise in their huts, in which they generally keep quiet enough: but in the public markets, and before alehouses, where they are surrounded by a number of spectators, they bawl, spit at each other—catch up sticks and cudgels, vapour and brandish them over their heads—throw dust and dirt—now run from each other, then back again, with furious gestures and threats. The women scream, drag their husbands by force from the scene of action; these break from them again, and return to it: the children, too, howl piteously. After a short time, without any person’s interference, when they have cried and made a noise till they are tired, and without either party having received any personal injury,