CtGANOS. 



Q23 



among the others which are of more importance. 

 Still the giganos*, for thus they are called, must 

 not be forgotten. I frequently heard of these 

 people, but never had an opportunity of seeing 

 any of them. Parties of giganos were in the 

 habit of appearing formerly once every year at 

 the village of Pasmado, and other places in that 

 part of the country ; but the late governor of 

 the province was inimical to them, and some 

 attempts having been made to apprehend some 

 of them, their visits were discontinued. They 

 are represented as being a people of a brownish 

 cast, with features which resemble those of white 

 persons, and as being tall and handsome. They 

 wander from place to place in parties of men, 

 women, and children; exchanging, buying, and 

 selling horses, and gold and silver trinkets. The 

 women travel on horseback, sitting between the 

 panniers of the loaded horses, and the young 

 ones are placed within the panniers among the 

 baggage. The men are excellent horsemen, and 

 although the packhorses may be*overburthened, 

 these fellows will only accommodate matters by 

 riding slowly upon their own horses, and never 

 think of dividing the loads more equally ; but 

 they preserve themselves and the animals upon 



. 



* This word is without doubt derived from Eg/j/tyicutos ; 

 I am told that the word gitanos is also used ai> a name tot 

 these people. 



