286 WILD SPAIN. 



with other Spanish subjects. The whole range of trade, 

 art, science, and the professions, were thrown open to such 

 of the gitanos as should abjure their former vagabond 

 life with all its evil associations ; and penalties were 

 imposed on any who should attempt to molest them or to 

 oppose their entry within the pale of civilized life. 



Finally, the law was declared to be equal as between a 

 reclaimed gypsy and any other " vassal " of Spain : but a 

 death-penalty was prescribed against such of the nomad 

 race as declined this invitation to embrace an honest life, 

 and who continued their former habits. 



The effect of this measure is marked, though the gitano 

 survives. Fifty years of equal rights accomplished in this 

 case what centuries of oppression had failed to achieve. 

 Gitanismo is certainly not extinguished, but it was 

 modified and brought more or less under control. The 

 numbers of the gitanos have ever since decreased : they are 

 slowly relinquishing their vagrant habits, and live more in 

 cities and towns, and less in the mountains and fields. 

 Ages, probably, would be required wholly to eradicate the 

 inveterate criminality practised from birth by the Eom- 

 many race since unknown times — if, indeed, its entire 

 eradication is possible. But certainly the humane measure 

 of Charles III. during the lifetime of a man produced 

 more tangible results than the persecution of preceding 

 centuries. 



The gitano caste in Spain were at one time estimated at 

 (50,000. Fifty years ago, after half a century of equal 

 laws, their numljers had fallen to 40,000, of which one- 

 third were inhabitants of Andalucia ; while at the present 

 day, even that total might probably be reduced by one-half. 



