1920.] Further notes on Gypsies in Persia. 283 
reside there permanently, and the others come Brigg oogtega A 
chiefly to spend the winter. I failed to find out from the 
local inhabitants how old this custom is. Usually gypsies are 
not regarded as good neighbours, and in Bukhara the ancient 
restriction upon this tribe prohibits them remaining or adiain 
inside city-walls after sunset. 
n Nishapur and Sabzawar they are in fact recognised as 
one of the trade-corporations of the bazar, and if they do not 
enjoy complete equality of rights with other craftsmen, the 
cause may be only their great poverty and illiteracy. They 
fe) 
times hereditary, who is as primitive and illiterate as his tribes- 
men. Therefore he can hardly protect them sufficiently against 
extortion and all sorts of injustice, etc., on the part of the 
corrupt Persian officials, 
nmy previous paper I dealt to some extent with the family 
life of gypsies. At present I have nothing to add, and I will 
mention only the point which seems to be essential. The 
more I saw of gypsies the more I was pee by the low 
ns them quite faotatod from their intimate life. Cases of the 
engagement of a gypsy as a servant are very rare, and I kn 
only one instance — a boy of this tribe was aueiased as 
a muleteer by a Persia 
It may be added that the recent great famine in Persia 
(1916-17) reduced the number of gypsies very considerably, 
all their flocks were starving and afterwards fell a prey to 
typhus and other epidemic diseases. 
Il. 
If asked, gypsies will invariably maintain that their 
laidaane is absolutely the same all over Persia, Afghanistan 
and other countries of the East. This statement is very doubt- 
ful however. In reality, as far as I could see in Persia and 
e greater unbelievers than fire-worshippers in Mohammadan os 
but notwithstanding this they stay in the city in large nu timbers 
