Heredity and National Character. 115 



In England they are tinkers and horse-dealers. In Transylvania, 

 Moldavia, and Wallachia, they have their own chiefs, and enjoy 

 a fair share of the comforts of life. In Russia there are some 

 Gypsies that are rich and respected. But the classic land of the 

 Gypsies is Spain. Seville, Cordova, the caves of Monte Sagro, 

 near Grenada, and the forests of Andalusia, the cellars and attics 

 of Madrid, swarm with them. They live in squalid huts, surrounded 

 by all the paraphernalia of sorcery, and their only business is 

 thieving, dancing, and fortune-telling. An English missionary, Mr. 

 Borrow, who succeeded in overcoming their abhorrence of all 

 Christians, who lived with them and spoke their language, has 

 given us valuable particulars as to their habits and usages. 1 



It is generally believed that the Gypsies are of Hindu origin ; 

 that they may have passed through Egypt, but do not spring from 

 it ; that they were a despised caste, probably expelled from India, 

 unless, indeed, they left it after the conquest of Tamerlane. Their 

 true and sacred name is Romi. ' All the world over,' says Borrow, 

 ' their usages are the same, and they employ the same words.' 

 When we compare sundry terms of their idiom with the corre- 

 sponding Sansciit words (especially those denoting number), the 

 analogy is striking. 



Undoubtedly the physical and mental constitution of Gypsies 

 is the same in all countries. It is, no doubt, somewhat difficult to 

 decide how much is due to education, that is to say, to tradition 

 and how much to heredity. To the latter, however, these facts 

 seem due. 



As regards physical constitution, Borrow finds in all Gypsies 

 hard, sharp features, jet black hair, fine, white teeth, bright eyes, 

 and the ' fascinating ' glance. 



As regards their intellect, they appear to be as thoughtless and 

 frivolous as children. ' Nothing makes a lasting impression on 

 the Gypsy's mind ; it is as restless as running water, and reflects 

 all images alike. The Gypsy believes everything and nothing, 

 or, rather, believes only in the sensation of the moment; a 

 sensation that is past is for him only a fable. Hence he is 

 sceptical, not only as regards moral and social ide t as, but even with 



1 An Account of the Gypsies of Spain. By G. Borrow. 



