letters-第26章
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to hold Portuguese in great contempt； their magnificent Spanish tones were heard to great advantage amidst the shrill chirping dialect of Portugal。 I was soon in deep conversation with them； and was much pleased to find that all of them could read。 I presented the eldest of them； a man of about fifty years of age； with a tract in Spanish。 He examined it for some time with great attention； he then rose from his seat； and going into the middle of the apartment； began reading it aloud； slowly and emphatically； his companions gathered round him； and every now and then expressed their satisfaction at what they heard。 The reader occasionally called upon me to explain particular passages which； as they referred to Scripture； he did not exactly understand； for not one of the party had ever seen either the Old or New Testament。 He continued reading for nearly an hour until he had finished the tract； and at its conclusion the whole party were clamorous for similar ones； with which I was happy to be able to supply them。 Most of them spoke of priestcraft and the monks with the utmost abhorrence； and said that they should prefer death to again submitting to the yoke which had formerly galled their necks。 I questioned them very particularly respecting the opinion of their neighbours and acquaintances on this point； and they assured me that in their part of the Spanish frontier all were of the same mind； and that they cared as little for the Pope and his monks as they did for Don Carlos； for the latter was a dwarf （CHICOTITO） and a tyrant； and the others were plunderers and robbers。 I told them that they must beware of confounding religion with priestcraft； and that in their abhorrence of the latter they must not forget that there is a God and a Christ； to whom they must look for salvation； and whose word it was incumbent upon them to study on every occasion； whereupon they all expressed a devout belief in Christ and the Virgin。
These men； though in many respects far more enlightened than the surrounding peasantry； were in others quite as much in the dark； they believed in witchcraft and in the efficacy of particular charms。 The night was very stormy； and about nine we heard a galloping towards the door； and then a loud knocking； it was opened； and in rushed a wild…looking man mounted upon a donkey。 He wore a jerkin of sheepskin； called in Spanish ZAMARRAS； with breeches of the same as far down as his knee； his legs were bare。 Around his SOMBRERO； or shadowy hat； was tied a large quantity of the herb called in English rosemary； in Spanish ROMERO； and in the rustic language of Portugal ELLECRIN； which last is a word of Scandinavian origin； and properly signifies the elfin plant。 ＇It was probably＇ carried into the south by the Vandals or the Alani。 The ＇man seemed＇ frantic with terror； and said that the witches had been pursuing him； and hovering over his head； for the last two leagues。 He came from the Spanish frontier with meal and other articles； he informed us that his wife was following him and would soon arrive； and within a quarter of an hour she made her appearance； dripping with rain； and also mounted upon a donkey。 I asked my friends the CONTRABANDISTAS why he wore the rosemary in his hat； and they told me that it was good against witches and the mischances of the road。 I had no time to argue against this superstition； for as the chaise was to be ready at five o'clock next morning I wished to make the most of the few hours which I could devote to rest。
LETTER： Undated
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED。 recd。 Feb。 15； 1836）
The following Translations into the Romanee； or language of the Spanish Tchai； Tchabos； Gitanos； Callos； or Gypsies； were made by me at Badajoz during the first two weeks of January 1836。
THE 15TH CHAP。 OF THE BLESSED GOSPEL OF SAINT LUKE。
＇Here follow thirty…two verses of the translation； followed by a version of the Lord's Prayer。＇
SPECIMENS OF THE HORRID CURSES IN USE AMONGST THE SPANISH GYPSIES。
＇Here follow sixteen of these 'curses；' to each of which is added a rendering in English。＇
LETTER： 13th February； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED。 recd。 Feb。 29th； 1836） MADRID； CALLE DE LA ZARZA； FEBY。 13TH； 1836。
THE game is now in our own hands； and it is our fault if we do not win it； for a little patience and a little prudence is all that is required。 I came to Madrid without a single letter of introduction； and without knowing an individual there。 I have now some powerful friends； and through the kindness of Sir Geo。 Villiers； the British Ambassador at the Spanish Court； I have had an interview with that most singular man； Mendizabal； whom it is as difficult to get nigh as it is to approach the North Pole。 I have obtained his promise that when matters are in some degree settled in this country； he will allow us to commence our operations； but the preposterous idea； which by some means or other he has embraced； that we have been endeavouring to foment disturbances amongst the slaves of Cuba； prevents his looking upon us with favourable eyes。
I now write for orders； if you have received my letters and journals （copious extracts from which you had better print）； you will see how successful I have been in the Alemtejo； as our books are now for sale at Evora and Elvas； the two principal towns； and the Gospel of Christ has been preached to many who were ignorant of it even by name； you will see what I have been doing at Badajoz； especially amongst the Spanish Gypsies； whose dialect of the Rommany I have so far mastered as to be able to translate into it with tolerable ease。 Now； until my friends here and myself can claim the fulfilment of Mr。 Mendizabal's promise； do you wish me to go to Granada； or back to Badajoz； and finish my translation of St。 Luke into Rommany； with the assistance of the Gypsies of those places； who are far more conversant with their native language than their brethren in other parts of Spain； or shall I return to Lisbon and exert all my interest towards the execution of the plan which I communicated first to Mr。 Wilby； and then to yourself； namely； attempting to induce the Government to adopt the Scriptures in the schools which they are about to establish？ Since I have been at Madrid I have obtained letters to individuals of great importance at Lisbon； and I know that Don Jose d'Azveto will do anything to serve me within the limits of reason。 Therefore let the Committee be summoned； and a resolution forthwith adopted as to my next course。 I think all our negotiations in the Peninsula may be brought to a successful termination in a few months； then you must send over an agent； a plain man of business； to engage colporteurs and to come to arrangements with booksellers； both in Spain and in the provincial towns of Portugal； but let him not be a hesitater and starter of needless doubts and difficulties； anything may be accomplished with a little shrewdness； a little boldness； and a great trust in God。 I hope that my exertions have afforded satisfaction at home； but if not； let me be allowed to state that it was not in my power to accomplish more than I have。 I have borne hunger and thirst； cold and fatigue； I have exposed myself to danger from robbers； and was near losing my life from the ruffian soldiery at Arrayolos； whose bullets so narrowly missed me。 I have been as economical as possible； though the charges in Portugal for everything are enormous； and a stranger there is like a ship on shore； a mark for plunder。 In Spain the people are far more honest； and the charges； though high； reasonable in comparison。 Before leaving Lisbon I drew on excellent Mr。 Wilby for 75 pounds； of this sum 12 pounds was remitted to Malaja； through which place I shall probably pass on my return to Lisbon。 I have still remaining by me money sufficient for two months； I therefore need not enter into a detail of my expenses。 I now wait for a letter from you； and when you write； please to remit to me a small letter of credit on some one at Madrid； or request Mr。 Wilby to do so； as he has correspondents here； and in that case co
