Romany Life: Experienced and Observed during many Years of Friendly Intercourse with the GypsiesCuttriss, Frank
History
Romany Life: Experienced and Observed during many Years of Friendly Intercourse with the Gypsies
Cuttriss, Frank
Romanies -- England
Although there is in most tents a box in which food and breakables are
stored, yet one may often see a loaf or loaves of bread in an uncovered
basket, or otherwise exposed to sun and wind; under these conditions it
speedily becomes as dry as the proverbial chip, but hunger and good
teeth make all the difference in one’s ideas as to what is eatable. I
have seen the children devouring such bread with an appetite and with a
zest that would be the envy of many an epicure.
I hope, however, to say something about food and roadside cookery later.
As most of the gypsies go to sleep at dusk, or as soon as night has
fallen, it will be understood that little provision is made for
illuminating their tents, and, as would be expected, such as exists is
primitive, a lamp usually consisting of a small bowl supported by a
bent wire terminating with a loop or hook for suspending from the tent
rods. A heavy oil such as colza is used, the wick being supported by a
bent wire. Candles are also used in these lamps, but I have seen in use
lamps made especially for them.
The tent dwellings of the gypsies greatly resemble each other, and,
with few exceptions, are of the simple arched form that has probably
characterized them from the earliest times: a close acquaintance with
them, however, will reveal certain differences or modifications which
may perhaps be peculiar to members of a certain family or tribe. I
do not wish to convey the idea that different tribes have any very
decided differences in their tents, nevertheless in some respects they
will probably differ sufficiently to enable one who is well acquainted
with these people to say, almost with certainty, what families
inhabit certain tents. Alterations are also made to suit the changing
seasons and the differences of camping grounds. In summer the single
tent is principally in evidence, in winter nearly all who possess
sufficient material make up a double tent by the simple method of
placing two single ones in line, face to face a short distance apart,
the intervening space being filled in by a few long rods pushed into
the ground at an angle approximating the curve of the tents on either
side, and covered with blanketing pinned in position to connect the two
tents, and as the upper ends of the rods are free and uncovered, they
provide a combination of ventilating shaft and chimney, the fire being
always made directly beneath the opening. As a whole this arrangement
bears a certain resemblance to the wigwam of the Red man.
The construction of one of the tents is quite a simple matter, and
although no ropes or similar stays are used, the tent has yet to be
devised that will prove to be more secure in rough weather, more
comfortable in all weathers to the occupier, more “roomy” for its
size, or less costly to construct; at the same time the gypsy tent may
be very quickly erected or dismantled and packs into a small compass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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