Anniversary Address. 3G9 



This subject of the Gipsy has always been one of much 

 interest to myself. By Statutes 1 and 2 Philip and Mary, 

 and 5 Elizabeth, it became felony, without benefit of clergy, 

 to be found in fellowship with gipsies ; and Sir Matthew 

 Hale states, that at one Suffolk assizes no less than thirteen 

 gipsies were executed upon these statutes. Their ancient 

 history is veiled in obscurity ; but their features and 

 language remain, after hundreds of years, to this present 

 moment. They are swarthy in complexion, with very dark, 

 long eyes, black hair, and rather an oval face — clearly of an 

 Eastern origin. Many of their words are identical with 

 words used in India at this time by the natives — such as, 

 pane, water; bal, hair; baura, large; halo, black; churi, 

 knife; dur, far; sham, evening.* Dr. Knox says they very 

 rarely intermarry with other races, so far as the females are 

 concerned, but the male has no such scruples. He describes 

 a young gipsy he saw at Kirkyetholm. She was about 16, 

 and the finest specimen of the race he ever saw — features 

 regular ; eyes and hair, black. Even in the best specimens, 

 the mouth is too large, and the upper jaw, as in the Jewess, 

 quite disproportioned to the lower jaw and to the rest of 

 the features. The lips are large, and partake of the African 

 character. To detain her at the door, he asked her the way 

 to the head of the College water. She raised her fine arm 

 to point out the mountain path. On the inner side of the 

 arm there stood a circular leprous spot, not to be mistaken. 

 Quick as thought she observed, by a look I gave my friend, 

 that the spot had been noticed by me, and as suddenly with- 

 drew her arm retiring within the hovel immediately. He 

 adds, " they are dying out ; they do not work, and like to 

 live on the industry of others; they have found out the 

 great secret, that they can live by the labour of others." 



At Cherrytrees, that warm and sunny abode of Mr. 



* Works on Gipsies: — Hoyland's " Survey of the Gipsy;" Geo Borrow' s 

 "Gipsies in. Spain;" " English Gipsy Songs, in Eommany, with English 

 Translation," by Chas. Leland, Professor Parker, and Miss Janet Tuckey, 

 1875 (Turner & Co., Ludgate Hill, London). 



