CHAPTER XIII.

_Character and Capacities of the Gipseys_; _whether they are an Advantage or a Detriment to States_.

IMAGINE a people of childish thoughts, whose minds are filled with raw indigested conceptions, guided more by sense than reason, and using understanding and reflection only so far as they promote the gratification of any particular appetite;—and you have a perfect sketch of the general character of the Gipseys.

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, the affair finishes itself, and they separate, with as much ostentation as if they had performed the most heroic feats.

_Thus_ the Gipsey seeks honour! of which his ideas seldom coincide with those of other people, and sometimes deviate entirely from propriety: we may therefore assert, what all, who have made observations on these people agree in, that honour and shame are to them totally indifferent. We establish this decision by comparing Gipsey notions with our own: trying their dealings and conduct by this standard, they will often appear ridiculous, frequently even infamous.

Nothing can exceed the unrestrained depravity of manners existing among these people, particularly the softer sex. Unchecked by any idea of shame, they give way to every desire. The mother endeavours, by the most scandalous arts, to train her daughter for an offering to sensuality; and the latter is scarcely grown up, before she becomes the seducer of others. Let the dance, formerly mentioned, be called to mind; it will then be unnecessary to adduce fresh examples, of which regard for decency will not permit a detail.

Their indolence has been already quoted. Laziness is so natural to them, that were they to subsist by their own labour only, they would hardly have bread for two of the seven days in the week. This disposition increases their propensity to stealing and cheating—the common attendants on idleness. They seek and avail themselves of every opportunity to satisfy their lawless desires. Thomasius endeavours to propagate a notion, that this habit has grown upon the latter Gipseys by degrees, in opposition to the practice of those who first arrived, quoting Stumpf for his authority, who talks of Christian discipline and order among the original Gipseys; he assures us, too, that they paid ready money for all they wanted; but this testimony does not deserve attention: the Gipseys in Stumpf’s time were the same as they are at this day, nor are they differently described by any of the old writers.

This is a lamentable enumeration of evil and ruinous properties in the Gipsey’s character, which applies not only to a few individuals, but to by far the greatest number of these people. Scarcely any virtue could exist in a soul so replete with vices. What at first sight appears less censurable, or perhaps even amiable, in them is, their habitual content in their situation. They have no care about futurity; they are unacquainted either with anxiety or solicitude: and pass through every day lively and satisfied. But this, in itself commendable resignation, is as little to be accounted a virtue among the Gipseys as among the Iroquois, and proceeds from the excessive levity of their dispositions.

Let us now take a view of the natural qualities, and capacities, of the Gipseys. Here they will appear to advantage. Observe them at whatever employment you may, there always appear sparks of genius. It is well known, and no writer omits to remark, what artful curious devices they have recourse to in perpetrating any cheat or robbery: but this is not the only particular in which they shew brains and capacity. The following extract from an Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer of these people, contains corroborating instances:

“The Gipseys,” he says, “have a fertile imagination in their way, and are quick and ready at expedients, so that in many serious doubtful cases they soon recollect how to act, in order to extricate themselves. We cannot, indeed, help wondering, when we attend to and consider the skill they display in preparing and bringing their works to perfection, which is the more necessary, from the scarcity of proper tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning in cheating or thieving: and when called to account, for any fraud or robbery, fruitful in invention and persuasive in their arguments to defend themselves.”

At Debrezin, as well as at other schools in Hungary and Transylvania, there have been several lads admitted for instruction. Cleverness is observable in all, with no despicable talents for study. If another proof should be wanting, let us advert to their skill in music. That no Gipsey has ever signalised himself in literature, notwithstanding, according to the foregoing accounts, many of them have partaken of the instruction to be obtained at public schools, is no contradiction to the point in question. Their volatile disposition and unsteadiness will not allow them to complete any thing which requires perseverance or application. Frequently the bud perishes before it blows; or if it proceed so far that fruit appears, it commonly falls off and rots ere it attains maturity. In the midst of his career of learning, the recollection of his origin seizes him; a desire arises to return to, what he thinks, a more happy manner of life; this solicitude increases; he gives up all at once, turns back again, and consigns over his knowledge to oblivion. Such is the reason why the Gipsey race has never produced a learned man, nor ever will so long as these principles are retained.

It appears certain that the Gipseys are not deficient in capacity; and it seems equally decided that they have throughout a wicked depraved turn of mind. Their skill and ingenuity might render them very profitable subjects to the state, but their disposition makes them the most useless pernicious beings. They are not fit for agriculture, nor any other art which requires industry; on the contrary, they are burthensome from their begging, they do mischief by their various impositions, besides, being thieves and robbers, they destroy the security of a state. The goldwashers, in Transylvania and the Banat, are the only considerable exceptions; these Gipseys are considered the best of the caste; they have no intercourse with those of their own nation, nor do they like to be called Gipseys, but Bräschen, and in the Hungarian language _Aranyasz_ (gold collectors). Their employment not being profitable, they are generally poor and necessitous; yet seldom beg, and it is still more rare for them to steal. Content with their scanty subsistence, they sift gold sand in summer; in winter they make trays and troughs, which they sell in an honest way. These properties render them, not only harmless, but serviceable to government; as they annually produce large sums, which, but for them, would remain in the earth. What pity it is, that so small a part should be well inclined, in proportion to the multitude, in Transylvania and elsewhere, who live in the manner above described! There remains perhaps one more profession, in which a state might reap advantage from the Gipseys, viz. that of a military life. This seems to be doubted in Spain, as no Gipsey there, even were he so inclined, can become a soldier. In other countries, people think differently. For example, in the two Hungarian regiments, the Orosaish and the Julaish, nearly every eighth man is a Gipsey. In order to prevent either them or any other persons from remembering their descent, it is ordered by government, that as soon as a Gipsey joins the regiment, he is no longer to be called by that appellation. Here he is placed, promiscuously with other men; and by this wise regulation, may be systematically rendered useful. But whether he would be adequate to a soldier’s station, unmixed with strangers, in the company of his equals only, is very doubtful. His healthy robust body, active on every occasion; at the same time so inured to hardship, that he can defy hunger, thirst, heat, cold, and other inconveniences; makes him extremely well qualified for a military life: on the other hand, his innate properties seem incompatible with his profession, and he has little of the essential requisite for a serviceable soldier. How could a regiment composed of people without heart or courage, who would be overcome with fear and dismay on the least appearance of danger, who would give up every thing, and only think of saving themselves by flight, ever perform any great action? Or how could we expect, from their levity, and unspeakable want of foresight, that they should avail themselves to the utmost of any advantage with proper precaution and judgment? The following incident, taken from the Hungarian annals, may serve as proof, whether this suspicion be or be not well founded.—In the year 1557, during the troubles in Zapoly, the castle of Nagy Ida, in the county of Abauywar, was in danger of being besieged and taken by the imperial troops. Francis von Perenyi, who had the command, being short of men, was obliged to have recourse to the Gipseys, of whom he collected a thousand; these he furnished with proper means of defence, and stationed them in the outworks, keeping his own small compliment of men to garrison the citadel. The Gipseys imagined that they should be perfectly free from annoyance behind their entrenchments, and therefore went courageously to their posts. Every thing was in order when the enemy arrived, and the storm commenced. The Gipseys, behind their fortifications, supported the attack with so much more resolution than was expected, returning the enemy’s fire with such alacrity, that the assailants, little suspecting who were the defendants, were actually retreating. They had hardly quitted their ground, when the conquerors, elated with joy on their victory, crept out of their holes, crying after them, “Go and be hanged, you rascals! Thank God we had no more powder and shot, or we would have played the very devil with you!”—“What!” replied the retiring besiegers, as they turned about, and, to their great astonishment, instead of regular troops, discovered a motley Gipsey tribe, “are you the heroes! is it so with you!” immediately wheeling about to the left, sword in hand, they drove the black crew back to their works, forced their way after, and in a few minutes totally subdued them. Thus the affair ended. In this manner Gipseys would frequently trifle away by heedlessness, what they might have secured by good fortune and alacrity, if they were permitted to act in separate corps.

There are many instances recorded in the annals of former centuries, {89a} of Gipseys having been employed in military expeditions: but seldom, or rather never, were they thought of as solders. At Crupa, 1565, they prepared cannon balls for the Turks: still earlier, in 1496, they served Bishop Sigismund at Fünfkirchen in the same manner. In the thirty-years war, the Swedes likewise had a body of Gipseys in their army. And when, in 1686, Hamburgh was besieged by the Danes, there were three companies of them in the Danish army. Their destination was not so much to stand to their arms, as to perform other services; they were chiefly employed in flying parties, to burn, plunder, or lay waste, the enemy’s country. As these are the operations most suitable to their genius, they are now by the Turks destined to such purposes, and incorporated with the Sains Serdenjesti, and Nephers.

Such is the assistance which has hitherto been derived from the Gipseys in war; whence we experience the possibility of their being rendered serviceable, although the strict watch necessary to be kept over them, on account of their propensity to be guilty of excesses and irregularities, would be exceedingly troublesome.

But, in order to bring the advantages and disadvantages attending them to a fair discussion, it must not be forgotten, that at the very time one part of these people might be rendered beneficial, viz. in time of war, another part would have it in their power to do more mischief; by reason of the disorder which then prevails, when the relaxed attention of the magistrates makes them more daring in their depredations. Besides, what is still worse, they are very convenient for the enemy to use as machines for treachery. What they were in former times accustomed to practise very commonly, they still continue whenever they have an opportunity. They have been generally decried, in early ages, as traitors and spies: perhaps this accusation may be too far extended, but it is not without foundation. A Gipsey possesses all the properties required to render him a fit agent to be employed in traitorous undertakings. Being necessitous, he is easily corrupted; and his misconceived ambition and pride persuade him that he thus becomes a person of consequence: he is at the same time too inconsiderate to reflect on danger; and, artful to the greatest degree, works his way under the most difficult circumstances.

This accusation may be proved by more than one instance.—Count Eberhard, of Wirtemberg, with a train of forty people, made a pilgrimage to Palestine in the year 1468: and, as Crusius says, fell into the hands of the Sultan of Egypt, through the treachery of the Gipseys. Further, during the troubles excited by John Zapolya, in Hungary, in the sixteenth century, sundry spies and delegated incendiaries were taken, which proved to be Gipseys. In 1602 Count Basta, the imperial general, who besieged the city of Bistritz in Transylvania, when he wanted to circulate a letter among the besieged, effected it by means of a Gipsey.

They have been sometimes still more dangerous to a country, by harbouring other spies, who, under the disguise of Gipseys, made excursions, surveying cities and countries, without being noticed. An example of this kind is recited in the Adventures of a certain French engineer, Peter Durois; which is a circumstance, in the records of Louis XIV. perhaps as much unknown as it is remarkable. It relates, that at Padock (Patak), in Upper Hungary, a great fire happened, through the carelessness of the Gipseys; by which not only the little city adjoining the fort was burnt, but the beautiful Bruderhoff was also reduced to ashes: on which occasion seven supposed Gipseys were taken into custody, one of whom was the French engineer above mentioned. This person had travelled about with them during nine years: he had sketches of all the principal fortifications in the whole Roman empire, and the imperial hereditary dominions, taken in the most concise manner, with remarks where each place was least defensible.—This affair has still another voucher, who says, “in the month of June of the year 1676, the Gipseys fired this little city (Patak), together with the church. With these Gipseys was found a French engineer, named Peter Durois, who had been nine years in this disguise, and received considerable remittances from France. He was taken by the imperialists, and there were found upon him plans of almost all the cities of Upper Hungary, and the German empire.”

Thus these people, in whatever point of view they are considered, are found to cause incalculable damage and mischief, without, in general, returning the smallest profit or benefit to the state in which they reside.