Remarks on the Gypsi^ 69 



tfibe of our Bohemians and Egyptians, or the Zingari of (be 

 nations, which term still resembles the original name. 



The tribe of Tzengaris, called also Vanffaris on the coast of 

 Concan and of Malabar, is nomadic. They are often met in 

 whole bands near the ancient and magnificent city of Visapour, 

 and in the vicinity of Bangalore and Mahissour, whicli is called 

 Ml/sore, from a habit of disfiguring eastern names. They are 

 in general of a dark complexion, which justifies the Persian ap- 

 pellation of Black Hindoos. Their religion, institutions, man- 

 ners, and language differ from those of other tribes of Hindoos. 

 During a war they are addicted to pillage, carry provision for 

 the armies, and fill them with spies and dancers. During peace 

 they make coarse stuffs, and deal in rice, butter, salt, and opium, 

 &c. Their women are as handsome and agreeable as the 

 generality of Hindoos, but are very lascivious. They often carry 

 off' young girls whom they sell to natives and Europeans. They 

 are accused of immolating human victims to their demons and 

 eating human flesh. They every where follow the trade of 

 errand runners and procurers. The women are fortune-tellers, 

 a business which they practise by striking on a drum in order to 

 invoke the demon ; then pronouncing with the air of a sybil, 

 and with rare volubility, a string of mystical words, and after 

 having gazed at the sky and examined the lineaments of the 

 hand of the person who consults them, they gravely predict the 

 good or evil which is to be his destiny. The women also prac- 

 tise tatooing, and the figures of stars, flowers, animals, &c. which 

 they imprint upon the skin by -puncturation and vegetable 

 juices, are ineffaceable. They live in families, and it is not rare to 

 see father and daughter, and uncle and niece, brother and sister, 

 living like beasts together. They are suspicious, liars, gamblers, 

 drunkards, cowards, poltroons, and altogether illiterate ; they 

 despise religion, and have no other creed than the fear of evil 

 genii and of fatality They originated in the province of Mahrat 

 among the eastern Ghauts. 



The celebrated Cher'if Eddin assures us that Timur sullied 

 his conquests by the massacre of 100,000 prisoners, Persians 

 and Hindoos. The Monguls spread such terror in all parts of 

 India, that great numbers abandoned that unhappy country. 

 The Hindoos of the three first castes, indeed, remained firm to 

 their country ; — their religion made it a duty: — but no place could 



