友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

gypsy dictionary-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



ellers; show…folks; and the like; is very great; every small person who wishes to buy a horse; or to sell a horse; or to swop a horse; goes to Mr。 G。; and has never reason to complain; for all acknowledge that he has done the fair thing by them; though all agree that there is no overreaching him; which indeed very few people try to do; deterred by the dread of his manual prowess; of which a Gypsy once gave to the writer the following striking illustration: 〃He will jal oprey to a gry that's wafodu; prawla; and coure leste tuley with the courepen of his wast。〃  (He will go up to a vicious horse; brother; and knock him down with a blow of his fist。)

The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the west and north serve as a resort for Gypsies; who erect within them their tents; which are thus sheltered in summer from the scorching rays of the sun; and in winter from the drenching rain。  In what close proximity we sometimes find emblems of what is most rude and simple; and what is most artificial and ingenious!  For example; below the arch is the Gypsy donkey…cart; whilst above it is thundering the chariot of fire which can run across a county in half an hour。  The principal frequenters of these arches are Bosvils and Lees; the former are chiefly tinkers; and the latter esconyemengres; or skewer… makers。  The reason for this difference is that the Bosvils are chiefly immigrants from the country; where there is not much demand for skewers; whereas the Lees are natives of the metropolis or the neighbourhood; where the demand for skewers has from time immemorial been enormously great。  It was in the shelter of one of these arches that the celebrated Ryley Bosvil; the Gypsy king of Yorkshire; breathed his last a few years ago。



THE MOUNT



Before quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is another place to which it will be necessary to devote a few words; though it is less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery。  It is situated in the East of London; a region far more interesting to the ethnologist and the philologist than the West; for there he will find people of all kinds of strange races;the wildest Irish; Greeks; both Orthodox and Papistical; Jews; not only Ashkenazim and Sephardim; but even Karaite; the worst; and consequently the most interesting; description of Germans; the sugar…bakers; lots of Malays; plenty of Chinamen; two or three dozen Hottentots; and about the same number of Gypsies; reckoning men; women; and children。  Of the latter; and their place of abode; we have now only to do; leaving the other strange; odd people to be disposed of on some other occasion。

Not far from Shoreditch Church; and at a short distance from the street called Church Street; on the left hand; is a locality called Friars' Mount; but generally for shortness called The Mount。  It derives its name from a friary built upon a small hillock in the time of Popery; where a set of fellows lived in laziness and luxury on the offerings of foolish and superstitious people; who resorted thither to kiss and worship an ugly wooden image of the Virgin; said to be a first…rate stick at performing miraculous cures。  The neighbourhood; of course; soon became a resort for vagabonds of every description; for wherever friars are found rogues and thieves are sure to abound; and about Friars' Mount; highwaymen; coiners; and Gypsies dwelt in safety under the protection of the ministers of the miraculous image。 The friary has long since disappeared; the Mount has been levelled; and the locality built over。  The vice and villainy; however; which the friary called forth still cling to the district。  It is one of the vilest dens of London; a grand resort for housebreakers; garotters; passers of bad money; and other disreputable people; though not for Gypsies; for however favourite a place it may have been for the Romany in the old time; it no longer finds much favour in their sight; from its not affording open spaces where they can pitch their tents。  One very small street; however; is certainly entitled to the name of a Gypsy street; in which a few Gypsy families have always found it convenient to reside; and who are in the habit of receiving and lodging their brethren passing through London to and from Essex and other counties east of the metropolis。  There is something peculiar in the aspect of this street; not observable in that of any of the others; which one who visits it; should he have been in Triana of Seville; would at once recognise as having seen in the aspect of the lanes and courts of that grand location of the Gypsies of the Andalusian capital。

The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their brethren in the other Gypsyries of London。  They chin the cost; make skewers; baskets; and let out donkeys for hire。  The chief difference consists in their living in squalid houses; whilst the others inhabit dirty tents and caravans。  The last Gypsy of any note who resided in this quarter was Joseph Lee; here he lived for a great many years; and here he died; having attained the age of ninety。  During his latter years he was generally called Old Joe Lee; from his great age。 His wife or partner; who was also exceedingly old; only survived him a few days。  They were buried in the same grave; with much Gypsy pomp; in the neighbouring churchyard。  They were both of pure Gypsy blood; and were generally known as the Gypsy king and queen of Shoreditch。  They left a numerous family of children and grandchildren; some of whom are still to be found at the Mount。  This old Joe Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey witchthat is; he professed secrets which enabled him to make any wretched animal of either species exhibit for a little time the spirit and speed of 〃a flying drummedary。〃  He was illustriously related; and was very proud on that account; especially in being the brother's son of old James; the cauring mush; whose exploits in the filching line will be remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum; or Lee; continues in existence。



RYLEY BOSVIL



Ryley Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire; a country where; as the Gypsies say; 〃there's a deadly sight of Bosvils。〃  He was above the middle height; exceedingly strong and active; and one of the best riders in Yorkshire; which is saying a great deal。  He was a thorough Gypsy; versed in all the arts of the old race; had two wives; never went to church; and considered that when a man died he was cast into the earth; and there was an end of him。  He frequently used to say that if any of his people became Gorgios he would kill them。  He had a sister of the name of Clara; a nice; delicate; interesting girl; about fourteen years younger than himself; who travelled about with an aunt; this girl was noticed by a respectable Christian family; who; taking a great interest in her; persuaded her to come and live with them。  She was instructed by them in the rudiments of the Christian religion; appeared delighted with her new friends; and promised never to leave them。  After the lapse of about six weeks there was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who said he wanted Clara。  Clara went out trembling; had some discourse with the man in an unkn
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!