Colonel Harriot on the Oriental Origin of the Gypsies. 519 



The Gypsies are possessed of a language, hitherto so much unknown, as 

 to be vulgarly designated ' cant,' or ' canting/ 



The English word ' Gypsey' is corrupted from Egyptian, and originates 

 in the vulgar error of Egypt being their native place ; the same people being 

 called in France, for a similar reason, « Egyptien and Bohemien ;' because, 

 when first noticed as jungleurs, jugglers, and minstrels, in the vicinity 

 of Paris, they said that they came from the respective countries of Egypt 

 and Bohemia. 



Nathan Bailey, the lexicographer, and Skinner, call them « a crew of 

 pilfering stragglers, who rove up and down the country, under pretence of 

 being Egyptians, and tell people their fortunes."* 



The history of this singular people, although spread or rather scattered 

 over the greater part of the Old World, is very little known ; arising evi- 

 dently from the erratic life they lead, their forlorn appearance, their poverty, 

 and apparent wretchedness. Comparatively speaking, we may say of this 

 strange society that, without house or home, without national or kindred 

 ties, and almost without religious rites, without any communication with 

 those of a similar denomination and mode of life, either on the European 

 or Asiatic continent, they still maintain nearly the same customs, habits, 

 and principles of conduct ; the same language, and means of supporting 

 themselves; the same general spirit of independence and freedom from 

 controul : a race of men who, in all climates, take, it may be said, from 

 choice 



" This frantic dress, and make the earth their bed." 



They are dispersed over the face of Europe, the greater part of Asia, 

 and a part of Africa ; but, without letters or a vestige of science, they are 

 every where the same unchangeable race of beings; the same in appearance, 

 manners, habits, and language ; whether in England, Spain, Bohemia, the 

 Deserts around Aleppo, the Plains of Persia, or of India. 



Their real name in England, and that by which they exclusively call 

 themselves, is Romnichal ; their language Romanes ;■[ 3inA in tracing their 

 origin these terms should be remembered. 



* Errones nequissimi Gallis nomine jEgyptiorum, et Bohemorum, Italis Zingarorum notissimi 



proculdubio, sic dicti, quia ob subnigrum, Fuscum colorem jEgyptii vulgo credebantur Skinner. 



Etymotogicon Angl. 



t The Germans call this language ' Rotwelsh ;' hoc est rubrum barbarissimum.— MwHrfsr. 



3X2 ' Komnichal ;' 



