The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of SpainBorrow, George
History
The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of Spain
Borrow, George
Romanies -- Languages; Romanies -- Spain
It may be said, that if the Gitános were able to make their way from the
north of India, from Multan, for example, the province which the learned
consider to be the original dwelling-place of the race, to such an
immense distance as the western part of Spain, passing necessarily
through many wild lands and tribes, why might they not have penetrated
into the heart of Barbary, and wherefore may not their descendants be
still there, following the same kind of life as the European Gypsies,
that is, wandering about from place to place, and maintaining themselves
by deceit and robbery?
But those who are acquainted but slightly with the condition of Barbary
are aware that it would be less difficult and dangerous for a company of
foreigners to proceed from Spain to Multan, than from the nearest seaport
in Barbary to Fez, an insignificant distance. True it is, that, from
their intercourse with the Moors of Spain, the Gypsies might have become
acquainted with the Arabic language, and might even have adopted the
Moorish dress, ere entering Barbary; and, moreover, might have professed
belief in the religion of Mahomet; still they would have been known as
foreigners, and, on that account, would have been assuredly attacked by
the people of the interior, had they gone amongst them, who, according to
the usual practice, would either have massacred them or made them slaves;
and as slaves, they would have been separated. The mulatto hue of their
countenances would probably have insured them the latter fate, as all
blacks and mulattos in the dominions of the Moor are properly slaves, and
can be bought and sold, unless by some means or other they become free,
in which event their colour is no obstacle to their elevation to the
highest employments and dignities, to their becoming pashas of cities and
provinces, or even to their ascending the throne. Several emperors of
Morocco have been mulattos.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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