the zincali-第21章
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have also their fixed dwellings or villages； and such a place is
called 'Char Seharra；' or witch…hamlet。 Their manner of life； in
every respect； resembles that of the Gypsies of other countries；
they are wanderers during the greatest part of the year； and
subsist principally by pilfering and fortune…telling。 They deal
much in mules and donkeys； and it is believed； in Barbary； that
they can change the colour of any animal by means of sorcery； and
so disguise him as to sell him to his very proprietor； without fear
of his being recognised。 This latter trait is quite characteristic
of the Gypsy race； by whom the same thing is practised in most
parts of the world。 But the Moors assert； that the children of the
Dar…bushi…fal can not only change the colour of a horse or a mule；
but likewise of a human being； in one night； transforming a white
into a black； after which they sell him for a slave； on which
account the superstitious Moors regard them with the utmost dread；
and in general prefer passing the night in the open fields to
sleeping in their hamlets。 They are said to possess a particular
language； which is neither Shilhah nor Arabic； and which none but
themselves understand； from all which circumstances I am led to
believe； that the children of the Dar…bushi…fal are legitimate
Gypsies； descendants of those who passed over to Barbary from
Spain。 Nevertheless； as it has never been my fortune to meet or to
converse with any of this caste； though they are tolerably numerous
in Barbary； I am far from asserting that they are of Gypsy race。
More enterprising individuals than myself may； perhaps； establish
the fact。 Any particular language or jargon which they speak
amongst themselves will be the best criterion。 The word which they
employ for 'water' would decide the point； for the Dar…bushi…fal
are not Gypsies； if； in their peculiar speech； they designate that
blessed element and article most necessary to human existence by
aught else than the Sanscrit term 'Pani；' a word brought by the
race from sunny Ind； and esteemed so holy that they have never even
presumed to modify it。
The following is an account of the Dar…bushi…fal； given me by a Jew
of Fez； who had travelled much in Barbary； and which I insert
almost literally as I heard it from his mouth。 Various other
individuals； Moors； have spoken of them in much the same manner。
'In one of my journeys I passed the night in a place called Mulai…
Jacub Munsur。
'Not far from this place is a Char Seharra； or witch…hamlet； where
dwell those of the Dar…bushi…fal。 These are very evil people； and
powerful enchanters； for it is well known that if any traveller
stop to sleep in their Char； they will with their sorceries； if he
be a white man； turn him as black as a coal； and will afterwards
sell him as a negro。 Horses and mules they serve in the same
manner； for if they are black； they will turn them red； or any
other colour which best may please them； and although the owners
demand justice of the authorities； the sorcerers always come off
best。 They have a language which they use among themselves； very
different from all other languages； so much so that it is
impossible to understand them。 They are very swarthy； quite as
much so as mulattos； and their faces are exceedingly lean。 As for
their legs； they are like reeds； and when they run； the devil
himself cannot overtake them。 They tell Dar…bushi…fal with flour；
they fill a plate； and then they are able to tell you anything you
ask them。 They likewise tell it with a shoe； they put it in their
mouth； and then they will recall to your memory every action of
your life。 They likewise tell Dar…bushi…fal with oil； and indeed
are； in every respect； most powerful sorcerers。
'Two women； once on a time； came to Fez； bringing with them an
exceedingly white donkey； which they placed in the middle of the
square called Faz el Bali； they then killed it； and cut it into
upwards of thirty pieces。 Upon the ground there was much of the
donkey's filth and dung； some of this they took in their hands；
when it straight assumed the appearance of fresh dates。 There were
some people who were greedy enough to put these dates into their
mouths； and then they found that it was dung。 These women deceived
me amongst the rest with a date； when I put it into my mouth； lo
and behold it was the donkey's dung。 After they had collected much
money from the spectators； one of them took a needle； and ran it
into the tail of the donkey； crying 〃Arrhe li dar〃 （Get home）；
whereupon the donkey instantly rose up； and set off running；
kicking every now and then most furiously； and it was remarked；
that not one single trace of blood remained upon the ground； just
as if they had done nothing to it。 Both these women were of the
very same Char Seharra which I have already mentioned。 They
likewise took paper； and cut it into the shape of a peseta； and a
dollar； and a half…dollar； until they had made many pesetas and
dollars； and then they put them into an earthen pan over a fire；
and when they took them out； they appeared just fresh from the
stamp； and with such money these people buy all they want。
'There was a friend of my grandfather； who came frequently to our
house； who was in the habit of making this money。 One day he took
me with him to buy white silk； and when they had shown him some； he
took the silk in his hand； and pressed it to his mouth； and then I
saw that the silk； which was before white； had become green； even
as grass。 The master of the shop said； 〃Pay me for my silk。〃 〃Of
what colour was your silk？〃 he demanded。 〃White；〃 said the man；
whereupon； turning round； he cried； 〃Good people； behold； the white
silk is green〃； and so he got a pound of silk for nothing； and he
also was of the Char Seharra。
'They are very evil people indeed； and the emperor himself is
afraid of them。 The poor wretch who falls into their hands has
cause to rue； they always go badly dressed； and exhibit every
appearance of misery； though they are far from being miserable。
Such is the life they lead。'
There is； of course； some exaggeration in the above account of the
Dar…bushi…fal； yet there is little reason to doubt that there is a
foundation of truth in all the facts stated。 The belief that they
are enabled； by sorcery； to change a white into a black man had its
origin in the great skill which they possess in altering the
appearance of a horse or a mule； and giving it another colour。
Their changing white into green silk is a very simple trick； and is
accomplished by dexterously substituting one thing for another。
Had the man of the Dar…bushi…fal been searched； the white silk
would have been found upon him。 The Gypsies； wherever they are
found； are fond of this species of fraud。 In Germany； for example；
they go to the wine…shop with two pitchers exactly similar； one in
their hand empty； and the other beneath their cloaks filled with
water； when the empty pitcher is filled with wine they pretend to
be dissatisfied with the quality； or to have no money； but contrive
to substitute the pitcher of water in its stead； which the wine…
seller generally snatches up in anger； and pours the contents back；
as he thinks； into the butt … but it is not wine but water which he
pours。 With respect to the donkey； which APPEARED to be cut in
pieces； but which afterwards； being pricked in the tail； got up and
ran home； I have little to say； but that I have myself seen almost
as strange things without believing in sorcery。
As for the dates of dung； and the paper money
