GYPSIES, jlp'siz (from Egyptians, the name by which they were known in the English statutes), a race of wandering tribes scattered over all the civilized countries of the world, but more especially over western Asia, Europe and northern Africa. They are called by the French Bohemiens, from the belief that they were Hussites driven from their country. In Switzerland, the Netherlands and the Black Forest they go under the names of Heiden (Pagans) ; in North Germany, Denmark and Sweden they are called Tater (Tartars). The name they most frequently pass under in Ger many is Zigeuner, which is not unlike the Italian Zingaro or Zingano, the Spanish Zingaro or Gitano, the Hungarian Cigany, the Turkish Tschinganeh. They call themselves Rona, whence Romani, or Romany, the name of their language. The number of gypsies in Europe is roughly set at perhaps 750,000. Of this number about 200,000 are in Rumania; 95,000 in Austria Hungary; 120,000 in European Turkey; 40,000 in Spain; 40,000 spread over Germany, France and Italy; 18,000 Great Britain; and the re mainder scattered• over other countries. The main body of their language is the same throughout Europe, and has a close affinity with the dialects of Hindustan, though it is mixed with a great number of words and ex pressions borrowed from the races among whom they have sojourned. The gypsies are distinct from the people among whom they dwell, especially in their bodily appearance as a race and in their language. They are slight and agile in frame, though sometimes tall of stature. Their skin is tawny, or olive-colored, their eyes large, dark and brilliant. They have long hair, raven-black and sometimes ringletted. The mouth of the gypsy is small and finely shaped, and the teeth of pearly whiteness. Scientific men have come to the conclusion that these wanderers are neither of European nor of African origin, but are a remnant of some obscure Indian tribe. This ethnological con clusion is borne out by the fact that their language is derived from the Sanskrit, although intermingled with Oriental terms and inflections appear words of Greek, Slavic, Rumanian, Magyar, German, French and English origin.
Organized gypsy bands first appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 15th century, and in Italy their number in 1422 was computed at 14,000. Five years later they made their i first appearance in Paris, saying that they were Christians of Lower Egypt, driven to take refuge in Europe from the Saracens, and had recently left Bohemia. They professed to be perform ing a penance imposed upon them by Pope Martin V, who, after hearing their confessions of sins committed during their travels, had or dered them to wander over the earth for seven years without taking rest on beds. They were
permitted to settle outside the city of Paris; but when they began to practise palmistry and fortune-telling the archbishop had them driven away, and excommunicated the vast number of citizens who had consulted them. Other bands succeeded the 120 gypsies who first made their appearance in Paris; these latter had crossed the Channel for England. They were great thieves and in every European country they visited were regarded with disfavor. In vain laws were passed against them. Francis I of France ordered them to leave the country on pain of being sent to the galleys without trial. The States-General of Orleans condemned them to perpetual banishment. In the middle of the 15th century Pope Pius II cites them as thieves from the Caucasus. In 1492 Spain exiled them and renewed the decree 100 years later. Eliza beth of England followed Henry VIII in ut tering a proclamation against them. In Scot land they were sheltered and protected, and John Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt, was empowered by royal writ to exercise authority over his gypsy subjects. Germany tried to eliminate them, and Maria Theresa, in 1768, undertook to settle them as peasants on the land. This attempt was not successful, but Joseph II by severe measures induced many of them to settle, practise trades and have their children educated. They are less a vagrant class than formerly. This is due largely to the stricter policing of the rural districts, and the increase of intelligence among the peasantry, and among the gypsies themselves. See GYPSY LANGUAGE, GYPSY RELIGION AND FOLKLORE.
Bibliography.— Black, (A Gypsy Bibliog raphy) (London 1913) ; Barrow, (The Zincali, or an Account of the Gypsies of
(Lon don 1861); Breithaupt, (Die Zigeuner und der deutsche Staat'
1907) ; Callot, (Les Boheiniens) (Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, Liverpool 1907); Colocci,
Zingari) (Turin 1889) ; De Gocje, (Bijdrage tot de Geschiedenis der Zigeuners' (Amsterdam 1875) ; Drylund,
og Natimandsfolk i Danmark) (Copenhagen 1872) ; Dumbarton,
Life in the Mysore Jungle) (London 1902) ; Grellmann,