THE KARA SHEE, OR GIPSEYS. 
529 
would give us a peep into the stars. The men stood rather aloof, 
finely limbed, erect in port, and with countenances sufficiently 
bold, and watchful of what was going forward. The complexions 
of both sexes appear much darker than the native Persians, while 
their features are of an equally regular cast with the most 
perfect in this country, though shewing an entirely different 
character. Indeed their physiognomy generally seemed to agree 
with that of most of their brethren and sisters I had met wander¬ 
ing about in various parts of Europe. The present encampment 
was composed of two tribes, both Mahomedans, but of the rival 
sects, Soonehs and Sheahs. They never intermingle in marriage, 
except to cicatrize a blood-feud. These people have their own 
priesthood or Moollahs. I asked them, if, like the Eelauts of 
the country, they had any marked place or district in Persia 
whence they originally came. “ No was the answer, “ nor did 
they know of what country they had originally belonged, but 
they were certain it was not Persia .” These people live here, 
the same vagabond life their brethren do with us. The men 
steal, make sieves, hair-ropes, &c., from the produce of which 
they pay an annual tribute to the government of two tomauns 
per family, or tent. The women, when not occupied in the 
little domestic affairs of their canvass household, beg and tell 
fortunes; the latter being generally muttered over a few torn 
leaves from a Frangy book, or the blade bone of a sheep, and 
accompanied with the thread of your life ; which mysterious gift 
consists of a piece of worsted, knotted more or less, according to 
the mishaps and obstacles to occur in the real line of the destiny 
to which it is attached. The manners of these dark sybils, here, 
and indeed almost every where else, seem to me to harmonize 
with the sort of superstitious mystery enveloping their vocation, 
3 Y 
VOL. II. 
