GY? 
the Great sent one of his:capitains to a body 
ie osophiste, pm Poo sconference, 
ied, that it was not their: ice to visit any 
P , but that if the Macedonian king had any thing to 
Sadewtoat, they were ready to receive him. They 
maintained the lawfulness, and: even the duty of sui- 
cide, and attached a degree of infamy to a lingering 
end anticipated dissolution. « Apud hos,” says Quin- 
 tus*Curtius, “ occupare fati diem, pulchrum ; et vivos 
se cremari jubent. Quibus aut segnis «tas, aut in« 
commoda valetudoest,expectatam mortem pro dedecore 
vite habent. Nec ullus corporibus, que senectus solvit, 
honos'redditur. Inquinari putant ignem, nisi qui spi- 
rantes recipit.” De Reb. Gest, Alexand. Magn. lib. viii. 
etQis 
Apuleius Florid. lib. i. thus describes the Gymnoso- 
coe “ They areal) devoted to the study of wisdom, 
hthe elder masters and the younger pupils: and 
.What to me appears the most amiable ‘thing in their 
character, is, that they have an aversion to idleness and 
indolence ; accordingly, as ‘soon as the table is spread, 
before a bit of victuals be brought, the youth are called 
together from their several places and offices, and the 
masters examine them what good they have done since 
the sunrise’ Here one relates something he has dis- 
covered by meditation ; another has learnt something 
by demonstration ; and as for those who have nothing 
to allege why they should dine, they are turned out to 
work fasting.” O 
GYMNOTUS Exrcrnicus. See Execrrrcrry, vol. 
viii. “ 477, 478, and Plate CCXLVI. Fig. 27 
-GYNANDRIA. See Borany, vol. iv. p..74, 77,312. 
GYPSIES. Towards the earlier part of the fifteenth 
eentury, the attention of various European nations was 
attracted towards a wandering tribe of people, entirely 
different in‘appearance and manners from the establish- 
ed inhabitants, and,speaking a language peculiar to 
themselves. None could account for their origin; nei- 
ther couid the route by which they had been introdu- 
ced be explained: they took up a temporary abode in 
Copan congenial to their disposition, and were gra- 
ually iepaieed throughout the continent, and among 
the principal islands. During thGir -first introduction, 
and the periods immediately succeeding jit, the stran- 
gers received various appellations, resulting either from 
id dialects, or the opinions of Mee am 
whom they dwelt. But by common consent, conjoin 
with some imperfect traditions régarding their history, 
the name of Egyptians, or Gypsies, has been long be- 
stowed upon them. 
In so far as we are enabled to collect, these people 
have undergone no alteration with the lapse of cen- 
turies; they are a rude, illiterate, uncultivated race 
atithis day; time and climate have been alike ineffec- 
tual in ucing a change; they are the same in 
Siberia, in Turkey, in India, and in Europe: and if 
‘their vices have not increased, neither has there been 
any amelioration in their character. M. Olivier found 
a race of gypsies in Aleppo, and Lieutenant ‘Pottinger 
saw tribes resembling them in Beloochistan. © The 
gypsies are of a dark complexion, symmetrically form- 
ed, and me subject to deformity ; they have beauti- 
ful white teeth, and the women fine black eyes, but the 
men are characterised by a scowling aspect. They are 
not remarkable for strength ; they are swift of foot, 
but decidedly deficient in . The swarthiness 
of their colour is undoubted, and ‘the earlier historians 
call them “ black horrid Jooking men ;” but the com- 
plexion of those who are kept cleaner than usual, is 
ss] 
597 
GYP 
evidently lighter: besides, there can be little doubt Gypsie 
that an alteration in this respect may be slowly effected. —v——” 
by the temperature of the atmosphere, or in the course 
of successive generations, 
The gypsies testify an indifference to the quality - Gypsies re- 
tribes of puted to be 
their food, unknown among the least civilize 
Eutope. Carrion is a dainty to them; a murrain a- “nibale 
mong cattle, whereby they may obtain abundance of 
flesh from animals dying of disease, is a joyful and 
fitable event; and they are even disposed to eat 
it almost raw. ‘I'hey have been accused of cannibal 
appetites ; and as the existence of cannibals-in several 
parts of the world is beyond dispute, we are not enti- 
tled to deny the fact with respect to gypsies. In the 
a 1782, after having for a length of time disturbed 
e tranquillity of Hungary, where they are numer- 
ously disseminated, many were brought to trial, and 
convicted of various crimes, among which were rob- 
bery, murder, and feeding on human flesh, It is re- 
corded, that they confessed having killed three people, 
and ate their bodies in great festivity, among other 
delicacies, at a wedding; that they preferred young 
persons from sixteen to eighteen years of age, and burnt 
their bones for fuel." ‘The band to which these male- 
factors belonged, had subsisted 21 years, during which 
84 individuals had perished by their barbarity. But the 
punishments inflicted on the criminals, were too shocking 
to admit of description. Thirteen were put to death 
at Frauenmark, in August ; 15 at Kameza, in Septem- 
ber; and at Esabrag 13 more, including 18 women 
who were beheaded. Many others were condemned, 
but respited, and 150 remairiedin chains, Yet whether 
these gypsies were actually guilty of such enormities, 
or whether they were the victims of persecution on 
slight grounds of suspicion, appears to us problematical. 
Amidst the numerous accusations of European canni- 
balism, few if any have been satisfactorily proved ; and 
although the Asiatic gypsies are indirectly charged with 
the same depraved propensity, it is only on very slight | 
evidence. Thus they have an immoderate desire for ar- 
dent spirits ; and tobacco is so grateful, that they will 
be content to abstain from every thing else fora whole 
day, for a single leaf of it, 
Gypsies have no settled abode, and never dwell in Habitations. - 
cities, They live in huts, or even in excavations of the 
earth, generally on the side of a hillock, that has a south- 
ern exposure. A roof is formed of rafters, overlaid with 
turf, and. a woollen cloth is often drawn across the 
aperture left for a door. Some of the more miserable 
only shelter themselves in forests, or behind hedges in 
the warmer climates. A fire occupies the middle of 
the hut, around which the children lie naked ; and in- 
deed the whole tribe, although delighting in finery, go 
very scantily clothed. But if a single gaudy article 
can be obtained, the rest is disregarded ; whence a 
man is sometimes seen on the continent in an old red silk 
coat, br a woman adorned with glaring ribbons, while 
their other apparel consists of rags. Linen is a searce 
commodity among them, for the females can neither 
sew nor spin. 
None of the 
have, by unusual fortune, and by abandoning their no- 
madic life, become proprietors of spots of ground, the 
cultivation of it is left to others. Their own professions 
are gold washing in Hungary, at which they are ve 
expert, farriery, rude occupations in smith work, and, 
in Britain, they are for the most part employed in the 
lowest branches of that art. Their tools and materials 
are alike indifferent. Nothing is done but on a small 
sis are agriculturists. Where they Professions 
