Chapter 21
GRAY. Essex. In Romany, _Gry_, or horse.
HARE (A). Chiefly in Hampshire.
HAZARD. Half-blood. Windsor.
HERNE. Oxfordshire and London. "Of this name there are," says Borrow (Romano Lavo-Lil), "two gypsy renderings: (1.) Rosar-mescro or Ratzie-mescro, that is, _duck_-fellow; the duck being substituted for the _heron_, for which there is no word in Romany, this being done because there is a resemblance in the sound of Heron and Herne. (2.) Balor-engre, or Hairy People, the translator having confounded Herne with Haaren, Old English for hairs."
HICKS. Half-blood. Berkshire.
HUGHES. Wiltshire.
INGRAHAM (A). Wales and Birmingham, or in the Kalo tem or Black Country.
JAMES. Half-blood.
JENKINS. Wiltshire.
JONES. Half-blood. Headquarters at Battersea, near London.
LEE (A). The same in most respects as the Smiths, but are even more widely extended. I have met with several of the most decided type of pure-blooded, old-fashioned gypsies among Lees in America. They are sometimes among themselves called _purum_, a _lee-k_, from the fancied resemblance of the words.
LEWIS. Hampshire.
LOCKE. Somerset and Gloucestershire.
LOVEL. Known in Romany as Kamlo, or Kamescro, that is, lover. London, but are found everywhere.
LOVERIDGE. Travel in Oxfordshire; are in London at Shepherd's Bush.
MARSHALL. As much Scotch as English, especially in Dumfriesshire and Galloway, in which latter region, in Saint Cuthbert's church-yard, lies buried the "old man" of the race, who died at the age of one hundred and seven. In Romany Makkado-tan-engree, that is, Fellows of the Marshes. Also known as Bungoror, cork-fellows and Chikkenemengree, china or earthenware (lit. dirt or clay) men, from their cutting corks, and peddling pottery, or mending china.
MATTHEWS. Half-blood. Surrey.
NORTH.
PETULENGRO, or SMITH. The Romany name Petulengro means Master of the Horseshoe; that is, Smith. The gypsy who made this list declared that he had been acquainted with Jasper Petulengro, of Borrow's Lavengro, and that he died near Norwich about sixty years ago. The Smiths are general as travelers, but are chiefly to be found in the East of England.
PIKE. Berkshire.
PINFOLD, or PENFOLD. Half and quarter blood. Widely extended, but most at home in London.
ROLLIN (ROLAND?). Half-blood. Chiefly about London.
SCAMP. Chiefly in Kent. A small clan. Mr. Borrow derives this name from the Sanskrit Ksump, to go. I trust that it has not a more recent and purely English derivation.
SHAW.
SMALL (A). Found in West England, chiefly in Somerset and Devonshire.
STANLEY (A). One of the most extended clans, but said to be chiefly found in Devonshire. They sometimes call themselves in joke Beshalay, that is, Sit-Down, from the word _stan_, suggesting standing up in connection with lay. Also Bangor, or Baromescre, that is, Stone (stan) people. Thus "Stony-lea" was probably their first name. Also called Kashtengrees, Woodmen, from the New Forest.
TAYLOR. A clan described as _diddikai_, or half-bloods. Chiefly in London. This clan should be the only one known as _Chokamengro_.
TURNER.
WALKER. Half-blood. Travel about Surrey.
WELLS (A). Half-blood. Somerset.
WHARTON. WORTON. I have only met the Whartons in America.
WHEELER. Pure and half-blood. Battersea.
WHITE.
"Adre o Lavines tem o Romanies see WOODS, ROBERTS, WILLIAMS, and JONES. In Wales the gypsies are Woods, Roberts, Williams, and Jones." {307a}
CHARACTERISTICS. {307b}
Of these gypsies the BAILIES are fair.
The BIRDS are in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The BLACKS are dark, stout, and strong.
The BOSVILLES are rather short, fair, stout, and heavy.
The BROADWAYS are fair, of medium height and good figures.
The BUCKLANDS are thin, dark, and tallish.
The BUNCES travel in the South of England.
The BURTONS are short, dark, and very active.
The CHAPMANS are fair.
The CLARKES are fair and well-sized men.
The COOPERS are short, dark, and very active.
The DIGHTONS are very dark and stout.
The DRAPERS are very tall and large and dark.
The FAAS are at Kirk Yetholm, in Scotland.
The GRAYS are very large and fair.
The GREENES are small and dark.
The GREGORIES range from Surrey to Suffolk.
The HARES are large, stout, and dark.
The HAZARDS are tall and fair.
The HERNES (Herons) are very large and dark.
The HICKS are very large, strong, and fair.
The HUGHES are short, stubby, and dark.
The INGRAHAMS are fair and all of medium height.
The JENKINS are dark, not large, and active.
The JONES are fair and of middling height.
The LANES are fair and of medium height.
The LEES are dark, tall, and stout.
The LEWIS are dark and of medium height.
The LIGHTS are half-bloods, and travel in Middlesex.
The LOCKES are shortish, dark, and large.
The LOVELLS are dark and large.
The MACES are about Norwich.
The MATTHEWS are thick, short, and stout, fair, and good fighters.
The MILLERS are at Battersea.
NORTH. Are to be found at Shepherd's Bush.
The OLIVERS are in Kent.
The PIKES are light and very tall.
The PINFOLDS are light, rather tall, not heavy. (Are really a Norfolk family. F. Groome.)
The ROLANDS are rather large and dark.
The SCAMPS are very dark and stout.
The SHAWS travel in Middlesex.
The SMALLS are tall, stout, and fair.
The SMITHS are dark, rather tall, slender, and active.
The STANLEYS are tall, dark, and handsome.
The TAYLORS are short, stout, and dark.
The TURNERS are also in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The WALKERS are stout and fair.
The WELLS are very light and tall.
The WHEELERS are thin and fair.
The WHITES are short and light.
The YOUNGS are very dark. They travel in the northern counties, and belong both to Scotland and England.
* * * * *
The following is a collection of the more remarkable "fore" or Christian names of Romanys:--
MASCULINE NAMES.
Opi Boswell.
Wanselo, or Anselo. I was once of the opinion that this name was originally Lancelot, but as Mr. Borrow has found Wentzlow, _i.e._, Wenceslas, in England, the latter is probably the original. I have found it changed to Onslow, as the name painted on a Romany van in Aberystwith, but it was pronounced Anselo.
Pastor-rumis.
Spico.
Jineral, _i.e._, General Cooper.
Horferus and Horfer. Either Arthur or Orpheus. His name was then changed to Wacker-doll, and finally settled into Wacker.
Plato or Platos Buckland.
Wine-Vinegar Cooper. The original name of the child bearing this extraordinary name was Owen. He died soon after birth, and was in consequence always spoken of as Wine-Vinegar,--Wine for the joy which his parents had at his birth, and Vinegar to signify their grief at his loss.
Gilderoy Buckland. Silvanus Boswell.
Lancelot Cooper. Sylvester, Vester, Wester, Westarus and 'Starus.
Oscar Buckland.
Dimiti Buckland. Liberty.
Piramus Boswell. Goliath.
Reconcile. Octavius.
Justerinus. Render Smith.
Faunio.
Shek-esu. I am assured on good authority that a gypsy had a child baptized by this name.
Artaros. Sacki.
Culvato (Claude). Spysell.
Divervus. Spico.
Lasho, _i.e._, Louis.
Vesuvius. I do not know whether any child was actually called by this burning cognomen, but I remember that a gypsy, hearing two gentlemen talking about Mount Vesuvius, was greatly impressed by the name, and consulted with them as to the propriety of giving it to his little boy.
Wisdom. Loverin.
Inverto. Mantis.
Studaveres Lovel. Happy Boswell.
FEMININE NAMES.
Selinda, Slinda, Linda, Slindi. Delilah.
Mia. Prudence.
Mizelia, Mizelli, Mizela. Providence.
Lina. Eve.
Pendivella. Athaliah.
Jewranum, _i.e._, Geranium. Gentilla, Gentie.
Virginia. Synfie. Probably Cynthia.
Suby, Azuba. Sybie. Probably from Sibyl.
Isaia.
Richenda. Canairis.
Kiomi. Fenella.
Liberina. Floure, Flower, Flora.
Malindi. Kisaiya.
Otchame. Orlenda.
Renee. Reyora, Regina.
Sinaminta. Syeira. Probably Cyra.
Y-yra or Yeira. Truffeni.
Delira, Deleera. Ocean Solis.
Marili Stanley. Penelli. Possibly from Fenella.
Britannia.
Glani. Segel Buckland.
Zuba. Morella Knightly.
Sybarini Cooper. Eza.
Esmeralda Locke. Lenda.
Penti. Collia.
Reservi. This extraordinary name was derived from a reservoir, by which some gypsies were camped, and where a child was born.
Lementina. Casello (Celia).
Rodi. Catseye.
Alabina. Trainette.
Dosia. Perpinia.
Lavi. Dora.
Silvina. Starlina.
Richenda. Bazena.
Marbelenni. Bena.
Ashena. Ewri.
Vashti. Koket.
Youregh. Lusho.
GYPSY STORIES IN ROMANY, WITH TRANSLATION.
MERLINOS TE TRINALI.
"Miro koko, pen mandy a rinkeno gudlo?"
Avali miri chavi. Me 'tvel pen tute dui te shyan trin, vonka tute 'atches sar pukeno. Shun amengi. Yeckorus adre o Lavines tem sos a boro chovihan, navdo Merlinos. Gusvero mush sos Merlinos, buti seeri covva yuv asti kair. Jindas yuv ta pur yeck jivnipen adre o waver, saster adre o rupp, te o rupp adre sonakai. Fino covva sos adovo te sos miro. Te longoduro fon leste jivdes a bori chovihani, Trinali sos lakis nav. Boridiri chovihani sos Trinali, buti manushe seerdas yoi, buti ryor purdas yoi adre mylia te balor, te ne kesserdas yeck haura pa sar lender dush.
Yeck divvus Merlinos lias lester chovihaneskro ran te jas aduro ta latcher i chovihani te pessur laki drovan pa sar lakis wafropen. Te pa adovo tacho divvus i rani Trinali shundas sa Merlinos boro ruslo sorelo chovihan se, te pendas, "Sossi ajafra mush? Me dukkerava leste or yuv tevel mer mande, s'up mi o beng! me shom te seer leste. Mukkamen dikk savo lela kumi shunaben, te savo se o jinescrodiro?" Te adoi o Merlinos jas apre o dromus, sarodivvus akonyo, sarja adre o kamescro dud, te Trinali jas adre o wesh sarja adre o ratinus, o tam, o kalopen, o shure, denne yoi sos chovihani. Kennasig, yan latcherde yeckawaver, awer Merlinos ne jindas yoi sos Trinali, te Trinali ne jindas adovo manush se Merlinos. Te yuv sos buti kamelo ke laki, te yoi apopli; kennasig yandui ankairde ta kam yeckawaver butidiro. Vonka yeck jinella adovo te o waver jinella lis, kek boro chirus tvel i dui sosti jinavit. Merlinos te Trinali pende "me kamava tute," sig ketenes, te chumerde yeckawaver, te beshde alay rikkerend adre o simno pelashta te rakkerde kushto bak.
Te adenna Merlinos pukkerdas laki, yuv jas ta dusher a buti wafodi chovihani, te Trinali pendas lesko o simno covva, sa yoi sos ruzno ta kair o simno keti a boro chovihano. Te i dui ankairede ta manger yeckawaver ta mukk o covva ja, te yoi te yuv shomas atrash o nasherin lende pireno te pireni. Awer Merlinos pendas, "Mandy sovahalldom pa o kam ta pur laki pa sar lakis jivaben adre o waves truppo." Te yoi ruvvedas te pendas, "Sovahalldas me pa o chone ta pur adovo chovihano adre a wavero, sim's tute." Denna Merlinos putcherdas, "Sasi lesters nav?" Yoi pendas, "Merlinos." Yuv rakkeredas palall, "Me shom leste, sasi tiro nav?" Yoi shelledas avri, "Trinali!"
Kenna vanka chovihanis sovahallan chumeny apre o kam te i choni, yan sosti keravit or mer. Te denna Merlinos pendas, "Jinesa tu sa ta kair akovo pennis sar kushto te tacho?" "Kekker miro kamlo pireno," pendas i chori chovihani sa yoi ruvdas." "Denna me shom kumi jinescro, ne tute," pendas Merlinos. "Shukar te kushto covva se akovo, miri romni. Me bevel pur tute adre mande, te mande adre tute. Te vonka mendui shom romadi mendui tevel yeck."
Sa yeck mush ta divvus kenna penella yoi siggerdas leste, te awavero pens yuv siggerdas laki. Ne jinava me miri kameli. Ne dikkdas tu kekker a dui sherescro haura? Avail! Wusser lis uppar, te vanka lis pellalay pukk amengy savo rikk se alay. Welsher pendas man adovo. Welsheri pennena sarja tachopen.
MERLIN AND TRINALI.
"My uncle, tell me a pretty story!"
Yes, my child. I will tell you two, and perhaps three, if you keep very quiet. Listen to me. Once in Wales there was a great wizard named Merlin. Many magic things he could do. He knew how to change one living being into another, iron into silver, and silver into gold. A fine thing that would be if it were mine. And afar from him lived a great witch. Trinali was her name. A great witch was Trinali. Many men did she enchant, many gentlemen did she change into asses and pigs, and never cared a copper for all their sufferings.
One day Merlin took his magic rod, and went afar to find the witch, and pay her severely for all her wickedness. And on that very [true] day the lady Trinali heard how Merlin was [is] a great, powerful wizard, and said, "What sort of a man is this? I will punish him or he shall kill me, deuce help me! I will bewitch him. Let us see who has the most cleverness and who is the most knowing." And then Merlin went on the road all day alone, always in sunshine; and Trinali went in the forest, always in the shade, the darkness, the gloom, for she was a black witch. Soon they found one another, but Merlin did not know [that] she was Trinali, and Trinal, did not know that man was [is to be] Merlin. And he was very pleasant to her, and she to him again. Very soon the two began to love one another very much. When one knows that and the other knows it, both will soon know it. Merlin and Trinali said "I love thee" both together, and kissed one another, and sat down wrapped in the same cloak, and conversed happily.
Then Merlin told her he was going to punish a very wicked witch; and Trinali told him the same thing, how she was bold [daring] to do the same thing to a great wizard. And the two began to beg one another to let the thing go, and she and he were afraid of losing lover and sweetheart. But Merlin said, "I swore by the sun to change her for her whole life into another form" [body]; and she wept and said, "I swore by the moon to change that wizard into another [person] even as you did." Then Merlin inquired, "What is his name?" She said, "Merlin." He replied, "I am he; what is your name?" She cried aloud, "Trinali."
Now when witches swear anything on the sun or the moon, they must do it or die. Then Merlin said, "Do you know how to make this business all nice and right?" "Not at all, my dear love," said the poor witch, as she wept. "Then I am cleverer than you," said Merlin. "An easy and nice thing it is, my bride. For I will change you into me, and myself into you. And when we are married we two will be one."
So one man says nowadays that she conquered him, and another that he conquered her. I do not know [which it was], my dear. Did you ever see a two-headed halfpenny? _Yes_? Throw it up, and when it falls down ask me which side is under. A Welsher told me that story. Welshers always tell the truth.
O PUV-SUVER.
Yeckorus sims buti kedivvus, sos rakli, te yoi sos kushti partanengri, te yoi astis kair a rinkeno plachta, yeck sar divvus. Te covakai chi kamdas rye butidiro, awer yeck divvus lakis pireno sos stardo adre staruben. Te vonka yoi shundas lis, yoi hushtiedas apre te jas keti krallis te mangerdas leste choruknes ta mukk lakis pireno ja piro. Te krallis patserdas laki tevel yoi kairdas leste a rinkeno plachta, yeck sar divvus pa kurikus, hafta plachta pa hafta divvus, yuv tvel ferdel leste, te de leste tachaben ta ja 'vri. I tani rani siggerdas ta keravit, te pa shov divvus yoi taderedas adrom, kushti zi, pa lis te sarkon chirus adre o shab yoi bitcherdas plachta keta krallis. Awer avella yeck divvus yoi sos kinlo, te pendes yoi nei kamdas kair butsi 'dovo divvus si sos brishnu te yoi nestis shiri a sappa dre o kamlo dud. Adenn' o krallis pendas te yoi nestis kair butsi hafta divvus lava lakis pireno, o rye sosti hatch staramescro te yoi ne mukkdas kamaben adosta pa leste. Te i rakli sos sa hunnalo te tukno dre lakis zi yoi merdas o ruvvin te lias puraben adre o puv-suver. Te keti divvus kenna yoi pandella apre lakris tavia, vonka kam peshella, te i cuttor pani tu dikess' apre lende shan o panni fon lakis yakka yoi ruvdas pa lakris pireno.
Te tu vel hatch kaulo yeck lilieskro divvus tu astis nasher sar o kairoben fon o chollo kurikus, miri chavi. Tu peness' tu kamess' to shun waveri gudli. Sar tacho. Me tevel puker tute rinkno gudlo apre kali foki. Repper tute sarkon me penava sa me repper das lis fon miro babus.
THE SPIDER. {317}
Once there was a girl, as there are many to-day, and she was a good needle-worker, and could make a beautiful cloak in one day. And that [there] girl loved a gentleman very much; but one day her sweetheart was shut up in prison, and when she heard it she hastened and went to the king, and begged him humbly to let her love go free. And the king promised her if she would make him a fine cloak,--one every day for a week, seven cloaks for seven days,--he would forgive him, and give him leave to go free. The young lady hastened to do it, and for six days she worked hard [lit. pulled away] cheerfully at it, and always in the evening she sent a cloak to the king. But it came [happened] one day that she was tired, and said [that] she did not wish to work because it was rainy, and she could not dry or bleach the cloth [?] in the sunlight. Then the king said that if she could not work seven days to get her lover the gentleman must remain imprisoned, for she did not love him as she should [did not let love enough on him]. And the maid was so angry and vexed in her heart [or soul] that she died of grief, and was changed into a spider. And to this day she spreads out her threads when the sun shines, and the dew-drops which you see on them are the tears which she has wept for her lover.
If you remain idle one summer day you may lose a whole week's work, my dear. You say that you would like to hear more stories! All right. I will tell you a nice story about lazy people. {317b} Remember all I tell you, as I remembered it from my grandfather.
GORGIO, KALO-MANUSH, TE ROM.
Yeckorus pa ankairoben, kon i manushia nanei lavia, o boro Duvel jas pirian. Sa si asar? Shun miri chavi, me givellis tute:--
Buti beshia kedivrus kenna Adre o tem ankairoben, O boro Duvel jas 'vri aja, Ta dikk i mushia miraben.
Sa yuv pirridas, dikkdas trin mushia pash o dromescro rikk, hatchin keti chomano mush te vel de lendis navia, te len putcherde o boro Duvel ta navver lende. Dordi, o yeckto mush sos pano, te o boro Duvel pukkerdas kavodoi, "Gorgio." Te yuv sikkerdas leste kokero keti dovo, te suderdas leste buti kameli sa jewries, te rinkeni rudaben, te jas _gorgeous_. Te o wavescro geero sos kalo sa skunya, te o boro Duvel pendas, "Nigger!" te yuv _nikkeredas_ adrom, sa sujery te muzhili, te yuv se _nikkerin_ sarja keti kenna, adre o kamescro dud, te yuv's kalo-kalo ta kair butsi, nanei tu serbers leste keti lis, te tazzers lis. Te o trinto mush sos brauuo, te yuv beshdas pukeno, tuvin leste's swagler, keti o boro Duvel rakkerdas, "Rom!" te adenna o mush hatchedas apre, te pendas buti kamelo, "Parraco Rya tiro kushtaben; me te vel mishto piav tiro sastopen!" Te jas romeli a _roamin_ langs i lescro romni, te kekker dukkerdas lester kokerus, ne kesserdas pa chichi fon adennadoi keti kenna, te jas adral o sweti, te kekker hatchedas pukenus, te nanei hudder ta keravit ket' o boro Duvel penell' o lav. Tacho adovo se sa tiri yakka, miri kamli.
GORGIO, {319a} BLACK MAN, AND GYPSY.
Once in the creation, when men had no names, the Lord went walking. How was that? Listen, my child, I will sing it to you:--
Many a year has passed away Since the world was first begun, That the great Lord went out one day To see how men's lives went on.
As he walked along he saw three men by the roadside, waiting till some man would give them names; and they asked the Lord to name them. See! the first man was white, and the Lord called him Gorgio. Then he adapted himself to that name, and adorned himself with jewelry and fine clothes, and went _gorgeous_. And the other man was black and the Lord called him Nigger, and he lounged away [_nikker_, to lounge, loiter; an attempted pun], so idle and foul; and he is always lounging till now in the sunshine, and he is too lazy [_kalo-kalo_, black-black, or lazy-lazy, that is, too black or too lazy] to work unless you compel and punish him. And the third man was brown, and he sat quiet, smoking his pipe, till the Lord said, Rom! [gypsy, or "roam"]; and then that man arose and said, very politely, "Thank you, Lord, for your kindness. I'd be glad to drink your health." And he went, Romany fashion, a-roaming {319b} with his romni [wife], and never troubled himself about anything from that time till to-day, and went through the world, and never rested and never wished to until the Lord speaks the word. That is all as true as your eyes, my dear!
YAG-BAR TE SASTER. SA O KAM SOS ANKERDO.
"Pen mandy a waver gudlo trustal o ankairoben!"
Ne shomas adoi, awer shundom buti apa lis fon miro babus. Foki pende mengy sa o chollo-tem {320} sos kerdo fon o kam, awer i Romany chalia savo keren sar chingernes, pen o kam sos kerdo fon o boro tem. Wafedo gry se adovo te nestis ja sigan te anpali o kushto drom. Yeckorus 'dre o puro chirus, te kenna, sos a bori pureni chovihani te kerdas sirini covvas, te jivdas sar akonyo adre o heb adre o ratti. Yeck divvus yoi latchedas yag-bar adre o puv, te tilldas es apre te pukkeredas lestes nav pale, "Yag-bar." Te pash a bittus yoi latchedas a bitto kushto-saster, te haderdas lis apre te putchedas lestis nav, te lis rakkerdas apopli, "Saster." Chivdasi dui 'dre lakis putsi, te pendas Yag-bar, "Tu sosti rummer o rye, Saster!" Te yan kerdavit, awer yeck divvus i dui ankairede ta chinger, te Saster des lestis juva Yag-bar a tatto-yek adre o yakk, te kairedas i chingari ta mukker avri, te hotcher i puri juva's putsi. Sa yoi wusserdas hotcherni putsi adre o hev, te pendas lis ta kessur adrom keti avenna o mush sari juva kun kekker chingerd chichi. I chingari shan staria, te dovo yag se o kam, te lis nanei jillo avri keti kenna, te lis tevel hotcher anduro buti beshia pa sar jinova me keti chingerben. Tacho si? Ne shomas adoi.
FLINT AND STEEL. OR HOW THE SUN WAS CREATED.
"Tell me another story about the creation!"
I was not there at the time, but I heard a great deal about it from my grandfather. All he did there was to turn the wheel. People tell me that the world was made from the sun, but gypsies, who do everything all contrary, say that the sun was made from the earth. A bad horse is that which will not travel either way on a road. Once in the old time, as [there may be] now, was a great old witch, who made enchantments, and lived all alone in the sky in the night. One day she found a flint in a field, and picked her up, and the stone told her that her name was Flint. And after a bit she found a small piece of steel, and picked him up, and asked his name, and he replied, "Steel" [iron]. She put the two in her pocket, and said to Flint, "You must marry Master Steel." So they did, but one day the two began to quarrel, and Steel gave his wife Flint a hot one [a severe blow] in the eye, and made sparks fly, and set fire to the old woman's pocket. So she threw the burning pocket up into the sky, and told it to stay there until a man and his wife who had never quarreled should come there. The sparks [from Flint's eye] are the stars, and the fire is the sun, and it has not gone out as yet, and it will burn on many a year, for all I know to the contrary. Is it true? I was not there.
O MANUSH KON JIVDAS ADRE O CHONE (SHONE).
"Pen mandy a waver gudlo apa o chone?"