Carlos, for the latter was a dwarf (_chicotito_) and a tyrant, and the others were plunderers and robbers. I told them that they must beware of confounding religion with priestcraft, and that in their abhorrence of the latter they must not forget that there is a God and a Christ, to whom they must look for salvation, and whose word it was incumbent upon them to study on every occasion; whereupon they all expressed a devout belief in Christ and the Virgin. These men, though in many respects far more enlightened than the surrounding peasantry, were in others quite as much in the dark; they believed in witchcraft and in the efficacy of particular charms. The night was very stormy, and about nine we heard a galloping towards the door, and then a loud knocking; it was opened, and in rushed a wild-looking man mounted upon a donkey. He wore a jerkin of sheepskin, called in Spanish _zamarras_, with breeches of the same as far down as his knee; his legs were bare. Around his _sombrero_, or shadowy hat, was tied a large quantity of the herb called in English rosemary, in Spanish _romero_, and in the rustic language of Portugal _ellecrin_, which last is a word of Scandinavian origin, and properly signifies the elfin plant. [It was probably] carried into the south by the Vandals or the Alani. The [man seemed] frantic with terror, and said that the witches had been pursuing him, and hovering over his head, for the last two leagues. He came from the Spanish frontier with meal and other articles; he informed us that his wife was following him and would soon arrive, and within a quarter of an hour she made her appearance, dripping with rain, and also mounted upon a donkey. I asked my friends the _contrabandistas_ why he wore the rosemary in his hat, and they told me that it was good against witches and the mischances of the road. I had no time to argue against this superstition, for as the chaise was to be ready at five o'clock next morning I wished to make the most of the few hours which I could devote to rest. To the Rev. A. Brandram (_Endorsed_: recd. Feb. 15, 1836) The following Translations into the Romanee, or language of the Spanish Tchai, Tchabos, Gitanos, Callos, or Gypsies, were made by me at Badajoz during the first two weeks of January 1836. THE 15TH CHAP. OF THE BLESSED GOSPEL OF SAINT LUKE. [Here follow thirty-two verses of the translation, followed by a version of the Lord's Prayer.] SPECIMENS OF THE HORRID CURSES IN USE AMONGST THE SPANISH GYPSIES. [Here follow sixteen of these 'curses,' to each of which is added a rendering in English.] To the Rev. A. Brandram (_Endorsed_: recd. Feb. 29th, 1836) MADRID, CALLE DE LA ZARZA, _Feby._ 13_th_, 1836.