the zincali-第18章
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for being sure of the forest and the Gypsies; few would be
incredulous enough to doubt the facts of the murder and
cannibalism。 。 。 。
On being put to the rack a second time; the Gitanos confessed that
they had likewise murdered and eaten a female pilgrim in the forest
aforesaid; and on being tortured yet again; that they had served in
the same manner; and in the same forest; a friar of the order of
San Francisco; whereupon they were released from the rack and
executed。 This is one of the anecdotes of Quinones。
And it came to pass; moreover; that the said Fajardo; being in the
town of Montijo; was told by the alcalde; that a certain inhabitant
of that place had some time previous lost a mare; and wandering
about the plains in quest of her; he arrived at a place called
Arroyo el Puerco; where stood a ruined house; on entering which he
found various Gitanos employed in preparing their dinner; which
consisted of a quarter of a human body; which was being roasted
before a huge fire: the result; however; we are not told; whether
the Gypsies were angry at being disturbed in their cookery; or
whether the man of the mare departed unobserved。
Quinones; in continuation; states in his book that he learned (he
does not say from whom; but probably from Fajardo) that there was a
shepherd of the city of Gaudix; who once lost his way in the wild
sierra of Gadol: night came on; and the wind blew cold: he
wandered about until he descried a light in the distance; towards
which he bent his way; supposing it to be a fire kindled by
shepherds: on arriving at the spot; however; he found a whole
tribe of Gypsies; who were roasting the half of a man; the other
half being hung on a cork…tree: the Gypsies welcomed him very
heartily; and requested him to be seated at the fire and to sup
with them; but he presently heard them whisper to each other; 'this
is a fine fat fellow;' from which he suspected that they were
meditating a design upon his body: whereupon; feeling himself
sleepy; he made as if he were seeking a spot where to lie; and
suddenly darted headlong down the mountain…side; and escaped from
their hands without breaking his neck。
These anecdotes scarcely deserve comment; first we have the
statement of Fajardo; the fool or knave who tortures wretches; and
then puts them to death for the crimes with which they have taxed
themselves whilst undergoing the agony of the rack; probably with
the hope of obtaining a moment's respite; last comes the tale of
the shepherd; who is invited by Gypsies on a mountain at night to
partake of a supper of human flesh; and who runs away from them on
hearing them talk of the fatness of his own body; as if cannibal
robbers detected in their orgies by a single interloper would have
afforded him a chance of escaping。 Such tales cannot be true。 (19)
Cases of cannibalism are said to have occurred in Hungary amongst
the Gypsies; indeed; the whole race; in that country; has been
accused of cannibalism; to which we have alluded whilst speaking of
the Chingany: it is very probable; however; that they were quite
innocent of this odious practice; and that the accusation had its
origin in popular prejudice; or in the fact of their foul feeding;
and their seldom rejecting carrion or offal of any description。
The Gazette of Frankfort for the year 1782; Nos。 157 and 207;
states that one hundred and fifty Gypsies were imprisoned charged
with this practice; and that the Empress Teresa sent commissioners
to inquire into the facts of the accusation; who discovered that
they were true; whereupon the empress published a law to oblige all
the Gypsies in her dominions to become stationary; which; however;
had no effect。
Upon this matter we can state nothing on our own knowledge。
After the above anecdotes; it will perhaps not be amiss to devote a
few lines to the subject of Gypsy food and diet。 I believe that it
has been asserted that the Romas; in all parts of the world; are
perfectly indifferent as to what they eat; provided only that they
can appease their hunger; and that they have no objection to
partake of the carcasses of animals which have died a natural
death; and have been left to putrefy by the roadside; moreover;
that they use for food all kinds of reptiles and vermin which they
can lay their hands upon。
In this there is a vast deal of exaggeration; but at the same time
it must be confessed that; in some instances; the habits of the
Gypsies in regard to food would seem; at the first glance; to
favour the supposition。 This observation chiefly holds good with
respect to those of the Gypsy race who still continue in a
wandering state; and who; doubtless; retain more of the ways and
customs of their forefathers than those who have adopted a
stationary life。 There can be no doubt that the wanderers amongst
the Gypsy race are occasionally seen to feast upon carcasses of
cattle which have been abandoned to the birds of the air; yet it
would be wrong; from this fact; to conclude that the Gypsies were
habitual devourers of carrion。 Carrion it is true they may
occasionally devour; from want of better food; but many of these
carcasses are not in reality the carrion which they appear; but are
the bodies of animals which the Gypsies have themselves killed by
casting drao; in hope that the flesh may eventually be abandoned to
them。 It is utterly useless to write about the habits of the
Gypsies; especially of the wandering tribes; unless you have lived
long and intimately with them; and unhappily; up to the present
time; all the books which have been published concerning them have
been written by those who have introduced themselves into their
society for a few hours; and from what they have seen or heard
consider themselves competent to give the world an idea of the
manners and customs of the mysterious Rommany: thus; because they
have been known to beg the carcass of a hog which they themselves
have poisoned; it has been asserted that they prefer carrion which
has perished of sickness to the meat of the shambles; and because
they have been seen to make a ragout of boror (SNAILS); and to
roast a hotchiwitchu or hedgehog; it has been supposed that
reptiles of every description form a part of their cuisine。 It is
high time to undeceive the Gentiles on these points。 Know; then; O
Gentile; whether thou be from the land of the Gorgios (20) or the
Busne (21); that the very Gypsies who consider a ragout of snails a
delicious dish will not touch an eel; because it bears resemblance
to a SNAKE; and that those who will feast on a roasted hedgehog
could be induced by no money to taste a squirrel; a delicious and
wholesome species of game; living on the purest and most nutritious
food which the fields and forests can supply。 I myself; while
living among the Roms of England; have been regarded almost in the
light of a cannibal for cooking the latter animal and preferring it
to hotchiwitchu barbecued; or ragout of boror。 'You are but half
Rommany; brother;' they would say; 'and you feed gorgiko…nes (LIKE
A GENTILE); even as you talk。 Tchachipen (IN TRUTH); if we did not
know you to be of the Mecralliskoe rat (ROYAL BLOOD) of Pharaoh; we
should be justified in driving you forth as a juggel…mush (DOG
MAN); one more fitted to keep company with wild beasts and Gorgios
than gentle Rommanys。'
No person can read the present volume without perceiving; at a
glance; that the Romas are in most points an anomalous people; in
their morality there is much of anomaly; and certainly not less in
their cuisine。