GYPSIES. Towards the earlier part of the fifteenth century, the attention of various European nations was attracted towards a wandering tribe of people, entirely different in appearance and manners from the established inhabitants, and speaking a language peculiar to them selves. None could account for their origin ; neither could the route by which they had been introduced be ex plained : they took up a temporary abode in places most congenial to their disposition, and were gradually dis persed throughout the continent, and among the principal islands. During their first introduction, and the periods immediately succeeding it, the strangers received various appellations, resulting either from corrupted dialects, or the opinions of those among whom they dwelt. But by common consent, conjoined with some imperfect traditions regarding their history, the name of Egyptians, or Gyp sies, has been long bestowed upon them.
In so far as we are enabled to collect, these people have undergone no alteration with the lapse of centuries; they are a rude, illiterate, uncultivated race at this clay ; time and elimake have been alike ineffectual in producing a change; they are the same in Siberia, in Turkey, in India, and in Europe : and if their vices have not increas ed, neither has there been any amelioration in their cha racter. M. Olivier found a race of gypsies in Aleppo, and Lieutenant Pottinger saw tribes resembling them in Beloochistan. The gypsies are of a dark complexion, symmetrically formed, and rarely subject to deformity ; they have beautiful white teeth, and the women fine black eyes, but the men are characterised by a scowling aspect. They are not remarkable for strength ; they are swift of foot, but decidedly deficient in courage. '['he swarthi ness of their colour is undoubted, and the earlier histo rians call them " black horrid looking men ;" but the complexion of those who are kept cleaner than usual- is evidently lighter : besides, there can be little doubt that an alteration in this respect may he slowly effected by the temperature of the atmosphere, or in the course of successive generations.
The gypsies testify an indifference to the quality of their food, unknown among the least civilized tribes of Europe. is a dainty to them ; a murrain among cattle, whereby they may obtain abundance of flesh from animals dying of disease, is a joyful and profitable event ; and they are even disposed to eat it almost raw. They have been accused of cannibal appetites ; and as the ex istence of cannibals in several parts of the world is be yond dispute, we are not entitled to deny the fact with re spect to gypsies. In the year 1782, after having for a length of time disturbed the tranquillity of Hungary, where they arc numerously, disseminated, many were brought to trial, and convicted of various crimes, among which were robbery, murder, and feeding on human flesh. It is recorded that they confessed having killed three people, and ate their bodies in great festivity, among other delicacies, at a wedding ; that they prefer red young persons from sixteen to eighteen years of age, and burnt their bones for fuel. The band to which these malefactors belonged, had subsisted 21 years, during which Qa individuals had perished by their barbarity. But the punishments inflicted on the criminals, were too shocking to admit of description. Thirteen were put to death at Frauenmark, in August ; 15 at Kameza, in Sep tember; and at Esabrag 13 more, including 18 women who were beheaded. Many others were condemned, but respited, and 150 remained in chains. Yet whether these gypsies were actually guilty of such enormities, or whe ther they were the victims of persecution on slight grounds of suspicion, appears to us problematical. Amidst the numerous accusations of European cannibalism, few if any have been satisfactorily proved ; and although the Asiatic gypsies are indirectly charged with the same de praved propensity, it is only on very slight evidence. Thus they have an immoderate desire for ardent spirits ; and tobacco is so grateful, that they will be content to abstain from every thing else for a whole day, for a single leaf of it.