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The Gypsies； as has been already observed； are not the sole occupiers of Wandsworth grounds。 Strange； wild guests are to be found there； who； without being Gypsies； have much of Gypsyism in their habits； and who far exceed the Gypsies in number。 To pass them by without notice would be unpardonable。 They may be divided into three classes： Chorodies； Kora…mengre； and Hindity…mengre。 Something about each：…
The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and outcasts who roamed about England long before its soil was trodden by a Gypsy foot。 They are a truly detestable set of beings； both men and women being ferocious in their appearance； and in their conversation horrible and disgusting。 They have coarse； vulgar features； and hair which puts one wonderfully in mind of refuse flax； or the material of which mops are composed。 Their complexions； when not obscured with grime； are rather fair than dark； evidencing that their origin is low； swinish Saxon； and not gentle Romany。 Their language is the frowsiest English； interlarded with cant expressions and a few words of bastard Romany。 They live in the vilest tents； with the exception of two or three families； who have their abode in broken and filthy caravans。 They have none of the comforts and elegancies of the Gypsies。 They are utterly destitute of civility and good manners； and are generally squalid in their dress； though the women sometimes exhibit not a little dirty tawdriness。 The trades of the men are tinkering and basket…making； and some few 〃peel the stick。〃 The women go about with the articles made by their husbands； or rather partners； and sometimes do a little in the fortune…telling linepretty prophetesses！ The fellows will occasionally knock a man down in the dark； and rob him； the women will steal anything they can conveniently lay their hands on。 Singular as it may seem to those not deeply acquainted with human nature； these wretches are not without a kind of pride。 〃We are no Gypsiesnot we！ no； nor Irish either。 We are English； and decent folksnone of your rubbish！〃 The Gypsies hold them； and with reason； in supreme contempt； and it is from them that they got their name of Chorodies； not a little applicable to them。 Choredo； in Gypsy； signifies a poor； miserable person； and differs very little in sound from two words； one Sanscrit and the other Hebrew； both signifying； like the Gypsy term； something low； mean； and contemptible。
Kora…mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the country villages and the streets of London； with caravans hung about with various common articles； such as mats； brooms； mops； tin pans and kettles。 These low hawkers seem to be of much the same origin as the Chorodies； and are almost equally brutal and repulsive in their manners。 The name Kora…mengre is Gypsy； and signifies fellows who cry out and shout； from their practice of shouting out the names of their goods。 The word kora； or karra； is by no means bad Hebrew： kora； in the Holy Language； signifies he cried out； called； or proclaimed： and a partridge is called in Hebrew kora； from its continually crying out to its young； when leading them about to feed。 Koran； the name of the sacred book of the Mahomedans； is of the same root。
Lastly come the Hindity…mengre； or Filthy People。 This term has been bestowed upon the vagrant Irish by the Gypsies； from the dirty ways attributed to them； though it is a question whether the lowest Irish are a bit more dirty in their ways than the English Chorodies； or indeed so much； and are certainly immeasurably superior to them in many respects。 There are not many of them here； seldom more than two families； and sometimes； even during the winter； not a single Irish tent or cart is to be seen。 The trade they ostensibly drive is tinkering； repairing old kettles； and making little pots and pans of tin。 The one； however； on which they principally depend； is not tinkering； but one far more lucrative； and requiring more cleverness and dexterity； they make false rings； like the Gypsy smiths； the fashiono vangustengre of old； and whilst speaking Celtic to one whom they deem their countryman； have no hesitation in acknowledging themselves to be 〃Cairdean droich oir；〃 workers of false gold。 The rings are principally made out of old brass buttons； those worn by old Chelsea pensioners being considered the very best for the purpose。 Many an ancient Corporal Trim； alter having spent all his money at the public…house； and only become three…parts boozy； has been induced by the Hindity…mengro to sell all his buttons at the rate of three…halfpence a…piece； in order to have wherewithal to make himself thoroughly royal。 Each of these Hindity…mengre has his blow… pipe； and some of them can execute their work in a style little inferior to that of a first…rate working goldsmith。 The rings； after being made； are rubbed with a certain stuff out of a phial； which gives them all the appearance of gold。 This appearance； however； does not long endure； for after having been worn two or three months； the ring loses its false appearance entirely； and any one can see that it is worthless metal。 A good many of these rings are disposed of at good prices by the Hindity women； the wives of these false…gold workers； to servant girls and the wives of small shopkeepers； and not a few； at a lower rate； to certain gentry who get their livelihood by the honourable profession of ring…dropping。
What is ring…dropping？
Ring…dropping is this。 A gentleman overtakes you as you are walking in some quiet street； passes by you； and at the distance of some fifteen yards stops； and stooping down； seemingly picks up something； which he inspects； and then uttering a 〃Dear me！〃 he turns to you； and says； 〃Sir； we have been fortunate to…day。 See！ I have picked up this valuable！〃 He then shows you a small case； in which is a large ring； seemingly of the finest gold； with a little label attached to it； on which is marked 2 pounds 15s。 〃Now； sir；〃 he continues； 〃I said we were fortunate； because as we were close to each other； I consider you as much entitled to gain by this windfall as myself。 I'll tell you how it shall be： the price of the ring； which was probably dropped by some goldsmith's man； is； as you see； two pound fifteen； however； as I am in a hurry； you shall only give me a quid； a pound； and then the valuable shall be all your own； it shall indeed； sir！〃 And then he stares you in the face。 Such is ring…dropping； to which many silly but greedy individuals； fall victims； giving a pound for a fine…looking ring； which； however； with its scarlet casefor the case is always of a scarlet colouris not worth sixpence。 The best thing you can do in such a case is to put your thumb to your nose； flattening your hand and sticking out your fingers far apart； moving on at the same time； or to utter the cabalistic word 〃hookey〃； in either case the ring…dropper will at once drop astern； with a half…stifled curse； for he knows that he has to do with 〃no flat；〃 and that you are 〃awake to his little game。〃 Doing so is much better than moving rapidly on； and affecting to take no notice of him； for then he will infallibly follow you to the end of the street；