Chapter IX: Language (1)

The Scottish Gipsies appear to be extremely tenacious of retaining their language, as their principal secret, among themselves, and seem, from what I have read on the subject, to be much less communicative, on this and other matters relative to their history, than those of England and other countries. On speaking to them of their speech, they exhibit an extraordinary degree of fear, caution, reluctance, distrust, and suspicion; and, rather than give any information on the subject, will submit to any self-denial. It has been so well retained among themselves, that I believe it is scarcely credited, even by individuals of the greatest intelligence, that it exists at all, at the present day, but as slang, used by common thieves, house-breakers and beggars, and by those denominated flash and family men.[189]

[189] Before considering this trait in the character of the Scottish
Gipsies, it may interest the reader to know that the same peculiarity
obtains among those on the continent.

Of the Hungarian Gipsies, Grellmann writes: "It will be recollected,
from the first, how great a secret they make of their language, and
how suspicious they appear when any person wishes to learn a few words
of it. Even if the Gipsy is not perverse, he is very inattentive, and
is consequently likely to answer some other rather than the true Gipsy
word."

Of the Hungarian Gipsies, Bright says: "No one, who has not had
experience, can conceive the difficulty of gaining intelligible
information, from people so rude, upon the subject of their language.
If you ask for a word, they give you a whole sentence; and on asking a
second time, they give the sentence a totally different turn, or
introduce some figure altogether new. Thus it was with our Gipsy, who,
at length, tired of our questions, prayed most piteously to be
released; which we granted him, only on condition of his returning in
the evening."

Of the Spanish Gipsies, Mr. Borrow writes: "It is only by listening
attentively to the speech of the Gitanos, whilst discoursing among
themselves, that an acquaintance with their dialect can be formed, and
by seizing upon all unknown words, as they fall in succession from
their lips. Nothing can be more useless and hopeless than the attempt
to obtain possession of their vocabulary, by enquiring of them how
particular objects and ideas are styled in the same; for, with the
exception of the names of the most common things, they are totally
incapable, as a Spanish writer has observed, of yielding the required
information; owing to their great ignorance, the shortness of their
memories, or, rather, the state of bewilderment to which their minds
are brought by any question which tends to bring their reasoning
faculties into action; though, not unfrequently, the very words which
have been in vain required of them will, a minute subsequently,
proceed inadvertently from their mouths."

What has been said by the two last-named writers is very wide of the
mark; Grellmann, however, hits it exactly. The Gipsies have excellent
memories. It is all they have to depend on. If they had not good
memories, how could they, at the present day, speak a word of their
language at all? The difficulty in question is down-right shuffling,
and not a want of memory on the part of the Gipsy. The present chapter
will throw some light on the subject. Even Mr. Borrow himself gives an
ample refutation to his sweeping account of the Spanish Gipsies, in
regard to their language; for, in another part of his work, he says:
"I recited the Apostles' Creed to the Gipsies, sentence by sentence,
which they translated as I proceeded. They exhibited the greatest
eagerness and interest in their unwonted occupation, and frequently
broke into loud disputes as to the best rendering, many being offered
at the same time. I then read the translation aloud, whereupon they
raised a shout of exultation, and appeared not a little proud of the
composition." On this occasion, Mr. Borrow evidently had the Gipsies
in the right humour--that is, off their guard, excited, and much
interested in the subject. He says, in another place: "The language
they speak among themselves, and they are particularly anxious to keep
others in ignorance of it." As a general thing, they seem to have been
bored by people much above them in the scale of society; with whom,
their natural politeness, and expectations of money or other benefits,
would naturally lead them to do anything than give them that which it
is inborn in their nature to keep to themselves.--ED.

Among the causes contributing to this state of things among the Scottish Gipsies, and what are called Tinklers or Tinkers, for they are the same people, may be mentioned the following: The traditional accounts of the numerous imprisonments, banishments, and executions, which many of the race underwent, for merely being "by habit and repute Gipsies," under the severe laws passed against them, are still fresh in the memories of the present generation. They still entertain the idea that they are a persecuted race, and liable, if known to be Gipsies, to all the penalties of the statutes framed for the extirpation of the whole people. But, apart from this view of the question, it may be asked, how is it that the Gipsies in Scotland are more reserved, (they are generally altogether silent,) in respect to themselves, than their brethren in other countries seem to be? It may be answered, that our Scottish tribes are, in general, much more civilized, their bands more broken up, and the individuals more mixed with, and scattered through, the general population of the country, than the Gipsies of other nations; and it therefore appears to me that the more their blood gets mixed with that of the ordinary natives, and the more they approach to civilization, the more determinedly will they conceal every particular relative to their tribe, to prevent their neighbours ascertaining their origin and nationality. The slightest taunting allusion to the forefathers of half-civilized Scottish Tinklers kindles up in their breasts a storm of wrath and fury: for they are extremely sensitive to the feeling which is entertained toward their tribe by the other inhabitants of the country.[190] "I have," said one of them to me, "wrought all my life in a shop with fellow-tradesmen, and not one of them ever discovered that I knew a single Gipsy word." A Gipsy woman also informed me that herself and sister had nearly lost their lives, on account of their language. The following are the particulars: The two sisters chanced to be in a public-house near Alloa, when a number of colliers, belonging to the coal-works at Sauchie, were present. The one sister, in a low tone of voice, and in the Gipsy language, desired the other, among other things, to make ready some broth for their repast. The colliers took hold of the two Gipsy words, _shaucha_ and _blawkie_, which signify broth and pot; thinking the Tinkler women were calling them _Sauchie Blackies_, in derision and contempt of their dark, subterraneous calling. The consequence was, that the savage colliers attacked the innocent Tinklers, calling out that they would "grind them to powder," for calling them _Sauchie Blackies_. But the determined Gipsies would rather perish than explain the meaning of the words in English, to appease the enraged colliers; "for," said they, "it would have exposed our tribe, and made ourselves odious to the world." The two defenceless females might have been murdered by their brutal assailants, had not the master of the house fortunately come to their assistance. The poor Gipsies felt the effects of the beating they had received, for many months thereafter; and my informant had not recovered from her bruises at the time she mentioned the circumstances to me.[191]

[190] This opinion is confirmed by the fact that the Gipsies whom the
Rev. Mr. Crabbe has civilized will not now be seen among the others of
the tribe, at his annual festival, at Southampton. We have already
seen, under the head of Continental Gipsies, that "those who are
gold-washers in Transylvania and the Banat have no intercourse with
others of their nation; nor do they like to be called Gipsies."

[191] On the whole, however, our Scottish peasantry, in some
districts, do not greatly despise the Tinklers; at least not to the
same extent as the inhabitants of some other countries seem to do.
When not involved in quarrels with the Gipsies, our country people,
with the exception of a considerable portion of the land-owners, were,
and are even yet, rather fond of the _superior_ families of the
_nomadic_ class of these people, than otherwise.

They are also anxious to retain their language, as a secret among themselves, for the use which it is to them in conducting business in markets or other places of public resort. But they are very chary of the manner in which they employ it on such occasions. Besides this, they display all the pride and vanity in possessing the language which is common with linguists generally. The determined and uniform principle laid down by them, to avoid all communications with "strangers" on the subject, and their resolution to keep it a secret within their own tribe, will be strikingly illustrated by the following facts.

For seven years, a woman, of the name of Baillie, about fifty years of age, and the mother of a family, called regularly at my house, twice a year, while on her peregrinations through the country, selling spoons and other articles made from horn. Every time I saw her, I endeavoured to prevail upon her to give me some of her secret speech, as I was certain she was acquainted with the Gipsy tongue. But, not to alarm her by calling it by that name, I always said to her, in a jocular manner, that it was the _mason_ word I wished her to teach me. She, however, as regularly and firmly declared that she knew of no such language among the Tinklers. I always treated her kindly, and desired her to continue her visits. I gave her, each time she called, a glass of spirits, a piece of flesh, and such articles; and generally purchased some trifle from her, for which I intentionally paid her more than its value. She so far yielded to my importunities, that, for the last three years she called, she went the length of saying that she would tell me "something" the next time she came back. But when she returned, she guardedly evaded all my questions, by constantly repeating nearly the same answer, such as, "I will speak to you the next time I come back, sir." After having been put off for _seven_ years in this manner, I was determined to put her to the usual test, should she never enter my door again, and, as she was walking out of the gate of my garden, I called to her, in the Gipsy language, "_Jaw vree, managie!_"--(go away, woman.) She immediately turned round, and, laughing, replied, "I will _jaw_ with you when I come back, _gaugie_"--(I will go or speak with you, when I come back, man.) She returned, as usual, in December following. I again requested her to give me some of her words, assuring her that she would be in no danger from me on that account. I further told her it was of no use to conceal her speech from me, having, the last time she was in my house, shown her that I was acquainted with it. After considerable hesitation and reluctance, she consented; but then, she said, she would not allow any one in the house to hear her speak to me but my wife. I took her at once into my parlour, and, on being desired, she, without the least hesitation or embarrassment, took the seat next the fire. Observing the door of the room a little open, she desired it to be shut, in case of her being overheard, again mentioning that she had no objections to my wife being present, and gravely observing that "husbands and wives were one, and should know all one another's secrets." She stated that the public would look upon her with horror and contempt, were it known she could speak the Gipsy language. She was extremely civil and intelligent, yet placed me upon a familiar equality with herself, when she found I knew of the existence of her speech, and could repeat some of the words of it. Her nature, to appearance, seemed changed. Her bold and fiery disposition was softened and subdued. She was very frank and polite; retained her self-possession, and spoke with great propriety.[192] The words which I got on this occasion will be found in another part of the chapter.

[192] Their (the female's) speech is as fluent, and their eyes as
unabashed, in the presence of royalty, as before those from whom they
have nothing to hope or fear; the result of which is, that most minds
quail before them.--_Borrow on the Spanish Gipsies._--ED.

In corroboration of this principle of concealment observed by the Scottish Gipsies, relative to their language, I may give a fact which will show how artful they are in avoiding any allusion to it. One evening, as a band of _potters_, with a cart of earthenware, were travelling on the high-road, in a wild glen in the south of Scotland, a brother of mine overheard them, male and female, conversing in a language, a word of which he did not understand. As the road was very bad, and the night dark, one of the females of the band was a few yards in advance of the cart, acting as a guide to the horde. Every now and then, among other unintelligible expressions, she called out "_Shan drom_." My brother's curiosity was excited by hearing the potters conversing in this manner, and, next morning, he went to where they lodged, in an out-house on the farm, and enquired of the female what she was saying on the road, the night before, and what she meant by "_Shan drom_." The woman appeared confused at the unexpected question; but in a short time recovered her self-possession, and artfully replied that they were talking _Latin_(_!_) and that "_Shan drom_," in Latin, signified "bad road." But the truth is, "_Shan drom_" is the Gipsy expression for bad road, as will by and by be seen.

Besides the difficulties mentioned in the way of getting any of their language from them, there is a general one that arises from the suspicious, unsettled, restless, fickle and volatile nature by which they are characterized. It is a rare thing to get them to speak consecutively for more than a few minutes on any subject, thus precluding the possibility, in most instances, of taking advantage of any favourable humour in which they may be found, in the matter of their general history--leaving alone the formal and serious procedure necessary to be followed in regard to their language. If this favourable turn in their disposition is allowed to pass, it is rarely anything of that nature can be got from them at that meeting; and it is extremely likely that, at any after interviews, they will entirely evade the matter so much desired.

With these remarks, I will now proceed to state the method I adopted to get at the Gipsy language.

Short vocabularies of the language of the _Tschengenes_ of Turkey, the _Cyganis_ of Hungary, the _Zigeuners_ of Germany, the _Gitanos_ of Spain, and the _Gipsies_ of England, have, at different periods, since 1783, issued from the press, in this country and in Germany; but I am not aware of any specimens of our Scottish _Tinkler_ or Gipsy language having as yet been submitted to the public. Some of the former I committed to memory, and used, intermixed with English words, in questions I would put to the Scottish Gipsies. In this way, one word would lead to another. I would address them in a confident and familiar manner, as if I were one of themselves, and knew exactly who they were, and all about them. I would, for instance, ask them: Have you a _grye_ (horse)? How many _chauvies_ (children) have you? Where is your _gaugie_ (husband)? Do you sell _roys_ (spoons)? Being taken completely by surprise, they would give me at once a true answer. For, being the first, as far as I know, to apply the language of the Gipsies of the continent to our own tribes, they could naturally have no hesitation in replying to my questions; although they would wonder what kind of a Gipsy I could possibly be--dressed, as I was, in black, with black neck-cloth, and no display of linen, save a ruffled breast, thick-soled shoes and gaiters. The consequence was, I became a character of interest to many of the Gipsies to be found in a circuit of many miles; and great wonder was excited in their untutored minds, leading to a desire to see, and know something of, the _Riah Nawken_, or the gentleman Gipsy. On such occasions, I would treat them as I would land a fish--give them hook and line enough. But the circumstance was to them something incomprehensible, for, although Gipsies are very ready-witted, and possess great natural resources, in thieving, and playing tricks of every kind, and great tact in getting out of difficulties of that nature--which, with them, are matters of instinct, training, and practice--their whole mind being bent, and exclusively employed, in that direction, it was almost impossible for them to form any intelligible opinion as to my true character, provided I was any way discreet in disguising my real position among them. As little chance was there of any of themselves informing the others of what assistance they had inadvertently been to me, in getting at their language. Some of them might have an idea that one of their race had, in their own way of thinking, peached, turned traitor to their blood, and let the cat out of the bag. At times, if they happened to see me approach them, so as to have an opportunity to scrutinize me--which they are much given to, with people generally--they would not be so easily disconcerted at any question put to them in their language; but the result would be either direct replies, or the most ludicrous scenes of surprise and terror imaginable, which, to be enjoyed, were only to be seen, but could not be described, although the sequel will in some measure illustrate them. At other times, if I addressed a Gipsy in his own language, and spoke to him in a kind and familiar manner, as if I had been soothing a wild and unmanageable horse, before mounting him, he would either very awkwardly pretend not to understand what I meant, or, with a downcast and guilty look, and subdued voice, immediately answer my Gipsy words in English. But if I put the words to him in an abrupt, hasty, or threatening manner, he would either take to his heels, or turn upon me, like a tiger, and pour out upon me a torrent of abusive language. The following instances will show the manner in which my use of their language was sometimes appreciated by the female Gipsies.

When I spoke in a sharp manner to some of the old women, on the high-road, by way of testing them, they would quicken their paces, look over their shoulders, and call out, in much bitterness of spirit, "You are no gentleman, sir, otherwise you would not insult us in that way." On one occasion, I observed a woman with her son, who appeared about twelve years of age, lingering near a house at which they had no business, and I desired her, rather sharply, to leave the place, telling her that I was afraid her chauvie was a _chor_--(that her son was a thief). I used these two words merely to see what effect they would have upon her, as I did not really think she was a Gipsy. She instantly flew into a dreadful passion, telling me that I had been among thieves and robbers myself, otherwise I could not speak to her in such words as these. She threatened to go to Edinburgh, to inform the police that I was the head and captain of a band of thieves,[193] and that she would have me immediately apprehended as such. Four sailors who were present with me were astonished at the sudden wrath and insolence of the woman, as they could not perceive any provocation she had received from me--being ignorant of the meaning of the words _chauvie_ and _chor_, which I applied to her boy.

[193] This woman evidently mistook our author for a Gipsy _gent_, such
as he is described at page 169.--ED.

One day I fell in by chance, on a lonely part of the old public road, on the hills within half a mile of the village of North Queensferry, with a woman of about twenty-seven years of age, and the mother, as she said, of seven children. She had light hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. The youngest of her children appeared to be about nine months old, and the eldest about ten years. The mother was dressed in a brown cloak, and the group had altogether a very squalid appearance. In the most lamentable tone of voice, she informed me that her husband had set off with another woman, and left her and her seven children to starve; and that he had been lately employed at a paper-mill in Mid-Lothian. She sometimes appeared almost to choke with grief, but, nevertheless, I observed no tears in her eyes. She often repeated, in a sort of hypocritical and canting manner, "The Lord has been very kind to me, and will still protect me and my helpless babes. Last night we all slept in the open fields, and gathered peas and beans from the stubble for our suppers." She certainly seemed to be in very indigent circumstances; but that her husband had abandoned her, I did not credit. However, I gave her a few half-pence, for which she thanked me very civilly. From her extravagant behaviour, and a peculiar wildness in her looks, it occurred to me that she belonged to the lowest caste of Gipsies, although her appearance did not indicate it; that her grief was, for the most part, feigned, and that the story of her husband having abandoned her was got up merely to excite pity, for the purpose of procuring a little money for the subsistence of her band. I now put a number of questions to her, relative to many individuals whom I knew were Gipsies of a superior class, taking care not to call them by that name, in case of alarming her. I spoke to her as if I had been quite intimate with all the persons I was enquiring about. She gave me satisfactory answers to almost every question, and seemed well acquainted with every individual I named. She now appeared quite calm and collected, and answered me very gravely. But she said that some of the men I mentioned were rogues, and that their wives played many clever tricks. On mentioning the tricks of the wives, I noticed a smile come over her countenance. I observed to her that they were not faultless, but that they were often blamed for crimes of which they were not guilty. Upon perceiving that I took their part, which I did on purpose, to hear what she would say, she gradually changed her mind, and came over to my opinion. She said that they were exceedingly good-hearted people, and that some of them had frequently paid a night's lodging for herself and family. I now ventured to put a question to her, half in Gipsy and half in English. After a short pause and hesitation, she signified that she understood what I said. I then asked one or two questions in Gipsy words only. A Gipsy, with crockery-ware in a basket, happened to pass us at the very moment I was speaking to her; and to show her the knowledge I had of her speech and people, I said, "There is a _nawken_"--(there is a Gipsy.) She, in a very civil and polite manner, immediately replied, "Sir, I hope you will not take it ill, when I use the freedom of saying that you must have been among the people you are enquiring about, otherwise you could not speak to me in that way." To show her that I did not despise her for understanding my Gipsy words, I gave her a few pence more, and spoke kindly to her. She then became quite cheerful and frank, as if we had been old acquaintances. Instead of trying to impose upon me, by tales of grief and woe, and feigned piety, she appeared happy and contented, her whole conduct indicating that it was useless to play off her tricks upon me, as she was now sensible that I knew exactly what she was, and yet did not treat her contemptuously. She said her husband's name was Wilson, and her own Jackson, (the names of two Gipsy tribes;) that she could tell fortunes, and was acquainted with the _Irish_ words I spoke, being afraid to call them by their right name. She further stated that every one of the people I was enquiring about spoke in the same language.

About half an hour after I parted with her, on the road, I met her in the village of North Queensferry, while I was walking with a friend. I then put a question to her in Gipsy words, in the presence of this third party, who knew not what she was, to see how she would conduct herself in public. She seemed surprised at my question, as if she did not understand a word of it--to prevent it being discovered to others of the community that she was a Gipsy. But she publicly praised me highly, for having given her something to help her poor children; and, with her trumped-up story at her tongue's end, proceeded on her travels.

These poor people were much alarmed when I let them see that I knew they were Gipsies. They thought I was despising them, and treating them with contempt; or they were afraid of being apprehended under the old sanguinary laws, condemning the whole unfortunate race to death; for the Gipsies, as I have already said, still believe that these bloody statutes are in full force against them at the present day.

I was advised by Sir Walter Scott, as mentioned in the Introduction, to "get the same words from different individuals; and, to verify the collection, to set down the names of the persons by whom they were communicated;" which I have done. For this reason, the words now furnished will appear as the confessions of so many individuals, rather than a vocabulary drawn up in the manner in which such is usually done; and which will be more satisfactory to the general reader, as well as the philologist, than if I had presented the words by themselves, without any positive or circumstantial evidence of their genuineness. To the general reader, as distinguished from the philologist, the anecdotes connected with the collection may prove interesting, if the words themselves have no attraction for him; while they will satisfy the latter, as far as they go, as to the existence of a language which has almost always been denied, yet which is known, at the present day, to a greater number of the population of the country than could at first have been imagined; this part of it having been drawn from a variety of individuals, at different and widely-separated times and places. On this account, I hope that the minuteness of the details of the present enquiry may not appear tedious, but, on the contrary, interesting, to my readers generally; inasmuch as the present collection is the first, as far as I know, of the Scottish Gipsy language that has ever been made; although the people themselves have lived amongst us for three hundred and fifty years, and talked it every hour of the day, but hardly ever in the hearing of the other inhabitants, excepting, occasionally, a word of it now and then, to disguise their discourse from those around them; which, on being questioned, they have always passed off for _cant_, to prevent the law taking hold of them, and punishing them for being Gipsies. These details will also show that our Scottish Tinklers, or Gipsies, are sprung from the common stock from which are descended those that are to be found in the other parts of Europe, as well as those that are scattered over the world generally; what secrecy they observe in all matters relative to their affairs; what an extraordinary degree of reluctance and fear they evince in answering questions tending to develop their history; and, consequently, how difficult it is to learn anything satisfactory about them.[194]

[194] It would be well for the reader to consider what a _Gipsy is_,
irrespective of the _language which he speaks_; for the _race_ comes
_before_ the _speech_ which it uses. That will be done fully in my
Disquisition on the Gipsies. The language, considered in itself,
however interesting it may be, is a secondary consideration; it may
ultimately disappear, while the people who now speak it will
remain.--ED.

I fell in one day, on the public road, with an old woman and her two daughters, of the name of Ross, selling horn spoons, made by Andrew Stewart, a Tinkler at Bo'ness. I repeated to the woman, in the shape of questions, some of the Gipsy words presented in these pages. She at first affected, though very awkwardly, not to understand what I said, but in a few minutes, with some embarrassment in her manner, acknowledged that she knew the speech, and gave me the English of the following words:

_Gaugie_, man.
_Managie_, woman.
_Chauvies_, children.
_Grye_, horse.
_Grye-femler_, horse-dealer.
_Roys_, spoons.

I observed to this woman, that I saw no harm in speaking this language openly and publicly. "None in the least, sir," was her reply.

Two girls, of the name of Jamieson, came one day begging to my door. They appeared to be sisters, of about eight and seventeen years of age, and were pretty decently clothed. Both had light-blue eyes, light-yellow, or rather flaxen, hair, and fair complexions. To ascertain whether they were Tinklers or not, I put some Gipsy words to the eldest girl. She immediately hung down her head, as if she had been detected in a crime, and, pretending not to understand what was said, left the house; but, after proceeding about twelve paces, she took courage, turned round, and, with a smile upon an agreeable countenance, called back, "There are eleven of us, sir." I had enquired of her how many children there were of her family. I called both the girls back to my house, and ordered them some victuals, for which they were extremely grateful, and seemed much pleased that they were kindly treated. After I had discovered they were Gipsies, I wormed out of them the following words:

_Gaugie_, man.
_Managie_, woman.
_Chauvies_, children.
_Grye_, horse.
_Jucal_, dog.

When I enquired of the eldest girl the English of _Jucal_, she did not, at first, catch the sound of the word; but her little sister looked up in her face, and said to her, "Don't you hear? That is dog. It is dog he means." The other then added, with a downcast look, and a melancholy tone of voice, "You gentlemen understand all languages now-a-days."

At another time, four or five children were loitering about, and diverting themselves, before the door of a house, near Inverkeithing. The youngest appeared about five, and the eldest about thirteen years of age. One of the boys, of the name of McDonald, stepped forward, and asked some money from me in charity. From his importunate manner of begging, I suspected the children were Gipsies, although their appearance did not indicate them to be of that race. After some questions put to them about their parents and their occupations, they gave me the English of the following words:

_Gaugie_, man.
_Chauvies_, children.
_Riah_, gentleman.
_Grye_, horse.
_Jucal_, dog.
_Aizel_, ass.
_Lowa_, silver.
_Chor_, thief.
_Staurdie_, prison.
_Bing_, the devil.

A gentleman, an acquaintance of mine, was in my presence while the children were answering my words; and as the subject of their language was new to him, I made some remarks to him in their hearing, relative to their tribe, which greatly displeased them. One of the boys called out to me, with much bitterness of expression, "You are a Gipsy yourself, sir, or you never could have got these words."

Some years since, a female, of the name of Ruthven, was in the habit of calling at a farm occupied by one of my brothers. My mother, being interested about the Gipsies, began, on one occasion, to question this female Tinkler, relative to her tribe, and, among other things, asked if she was a Gipsy. "Yes," replied Ruthven, "I am a Gipsy, and a desperate, murdering race we are. I will let you hear me speak our language, but what the better will you be of that?" She accordingly uttered a few sentences, and then said, "Now, are you any the wiser of what you have heard? But that infant," pointing to her child of about five years of age, "understands every word I speak." "I know," continued the Tinkler, "that the public are trying to find out the secrets of the Gipsies, but it is in vain." This woman further stated that her tribe would be exceedingly displeased, were it known that any of their fraternity taught their language to "strangers."[195] She also mentioned that the Gipsies believe that the laws which were enacted for their extirpation were yet in full force against them. I may mention, however, that she could put confidence in the family in whose house she made these confessions.

[195] The Gipsies are always afraid to say what they would do in such
cases. Perhaps they don't know, but have only a general impression
that the individual would "catch it;" or there may be some old law on
the subject. What Ruthven said of her's being a desperate race is true
enough, and murderous too, among themselves as distinguished from the
inhabitants generally. Her remark was evidently part of that
_frightening_ policy which keeps the natives from molesting the tribe.
See page 44.--ED.

On another occasion, a female, with three or four children, the eldest of whom was not above ten years of age, came up to me while speaking to an innkeeper, on a public pier on the banks of the Forth. She stated to us that her property had been burned to the ground, and her family reduced to beggary, and solicited charity of us both. After receiving a few half-pence from the innkeeper, she continued her importunities with an unusual impertinence, and hung upon me for a contribution. Her barefaced conduct displeased me. I thought I would put her to the test, and try if she was not a Gipsy. Deepening the tone of my voice, I called out to her, in an angry manner, "_Sallah, jaw drom_"--("Curse you, take the road.") The woman instantly wheeled about, uttered not another word, but set off, with precipitation; and so alarmed were her children, that they took hold of her clothes, to hasten and pull her out of my presence; calling to her, at the same time, "Mother, mother, come away." Mine host, the innkeeper, was amazed at the effectual manner in which I silenced and dismissed the importunate and troublesome beggars. He was anxious that I should teach him the unknown words that had so terrified the poor Gipsies; with the design, it appeared to me, of frightening others, should they molest him with their begging. Had I not proved this family by the language, it was impossible for any one to perceive that the group were Gipsies.

In prosecuting my enquiries into the existence of the Gipsy language, I paid a visit to Lochgellie, once the residence of four or five families of Gipsies, as already mentioned, and procured an interview with young Andrew Steedman, a member of the tribe. At first, he appeared much alarmed, and seemed to think I had a design to do him harm. His fears, however, were in a short while calmed; and, after much reluctance, he gave me the following words and expressions, with the corresponding English significations. Like a true Gipsy, the first expression which he uttered, as if it came the readiest to him, was, "_Choar a chauvie_"--("rob that person") which he pronounced with a smile on his countenance.

_Gaugie_, man.
_Gourie_, man.
_Managie_, woman.
_Chauvie_, a person of either sex.
_Chauvies_, children.
_Been gaugie_, gentleman.
_Been gourie_, gentleman.
_Rajah_, a chief, governor.
_Baurie rajah_, the king.
_Greham_, horse.
_Grye_, horse.
_Seefer_, ass.
_Jucal_, dog.
_Mufler_, cat.
_Sloof_, sheep.
_Bashanie_, cock.
_Caunie_, hen.
_Borlan_, sun.
_Mang_, moon.
_Goff_, fire.
_Garlan_, ship.
_Heefie_, spoon.
_Keechan_, knife.
_Chowrie_, knife.
_Seaf_, hat.
_Mass_, flesh.
_Mass_, hand.
_Bar_, money.
_Lowie_, coin or money.
_Roug_, silver.
_Neel_, shilling.
_Deek_, to listen.
_Chee_, tongue.
_Chee chee_, hold your tongue.
_Chor_, thief.
_Choar_, to steal.
_Quad_, prison.
_Moolie_, death.
_Moolie_, I'll kill you.
_Bing_, the devil.
_Bing feck_, devil take you.
_Bing feck eelreelee_, devil take your soul.
_Choar a chauvie_, rob that person.
_Choar a gaugie_, steal from that man.
_Cheeteromanie_, a dram of whiskey.
_Glowie a lowa_, pay him the money.

The first expression which the Gipsies use in saluting one another, when they first meet, anywhere, is "_Auteenie, auteenie_." Steedman, however, did not give me the English of this salutation. He stated to me that, at the present day, the Gipsies in Scotland, when by themselves, transact their business in their own language, and hold all their ordinary conversations in the same speech. In the course of a few minutes, Steedman's fears returned upon him. He appeared to regret what he had done. He now said he had forgotten the language, and referred me to his father, old Andrew Steedman, who, he said, would give me every information I might require. I imprudently sent him out, to bring the old man to me; for, when both returned, all further communication, with regard to their speech, was at an end. Both were now dead silent on the subject, denied all knowledge of the Gipsy language, and were evidently under great alarm. The old man would not face me at all; and when I went to him, he appeared to be shaking and trembling, while he stood at the head of his horses, in his own stable. Young Steedman entreated me to tell no one that he had given me any words, as the Tinklers, he said, would be exceedingly displeased with him for doing so. This man, however, by being kindly treated, and seeing no intention of doing him any harm, became, at an after period, communicative on various subjects relative to the Gipsies.

The following are the words which I obtained during an hour's interrogation of the woman that baffled me for seven years, and of whom I have said something already:

_Gaugie_, man.
_Chauvie_, child.
_Mort_, wife.
_Shan mort_, bad wife.
_Blawkie_, pot.
_Roys_, spoons.
_Snypers_, shears.
_Fluff_, tobacco-pipe.
_Baurie mort_, good wife.
_Nais mort_, grandmother.
_Nais gaugie_, grandfather.
_Been riah_, gentleman.
_Been raunie_, gentlewoman.
_Dill_, servant-maid.
_Loudnie_, whore.
_Chor_, thief.
_Gawvers_, pickpockets.
_Nawkens_, Tinklers.
_Rachlin_, hanged man.
_Klistie_, soldier.
_Paunie-col_, sailor.
_Femmel_, hand.
_Yak_, eye.
_Sherro_, head.
_Mooie_, mouth.
_Chatters_, teeth.
_Rat_, blood.
_Rat_, night.
_Moolie_, death, to die, kill.
_Shucha_, coat.
_Teeyakas_, shoes.
_Gawd_, shirt.
_Olivers_, stockings.
_Wiper_, napkin.
_Coories_, blankets.
_Grye_, horse.
_Aizel_, ass.
_Jucal_, dog.
_Routler_, cow.
_Bakra_, sheep.
_Kair_, house.
_Blinker_, window.
_Kep_, bed.
_Fluffan_, tobacco.
_Lowie_, money.
_Roug_, silver.
_Leel_, bank notes.
_Casties_, trees.
_Quad_, prison.
_Harro_, sword.
_Chourie_, bayonet-knife.
_Mass_, meat, flesh.
_Guffie_, swine's flesh.
_Flatrins_, fish.
_Habben_, bread.
_Blaw_, meal.
_Neddies_, potatoes.
_Thood_, milk.
_Smout_, butter.
_Chizcazin_, cheese.
_Bobies_, peas.
_Pooklie_, pot-barley.
_Shaucha_, broth.
_Geeve_, corn, wheat, grain.
_Faizim_, hay.
_Stramel_, straw.
_Paunie_, water.
_Yak_, coal.
_Mouds_, peats.
_Shan drom_, bad road.
_Beenlightment_, daylight.
_Jaw vree_, go away.
_Aucheer mangan_, hold your tongue.
_Bing lee ma_, devil miss me.
_Ruffie feck ma_, devil take me.
_Ruffie lee ma_, devil miss me.

I observed to this woman that her language would, in course of time, be lost. She replied, with great seriousness, "It will never be forgotten, sir; it is in our hearts, and as long as a single Tinkler exists, it will be remembered." I further enquired of her, how many of her tribe were in Scotland. Her answer was, "There are several thousand; and there are many respectable shop-keepers and house-holders in Scotland that are Gipsies." I requested of this woman the Gipsy word for God.[196] She said they had no corresponding word for God in their speech; adding, that she thought "it as well, as it prevented them having their Maker's name often unnecessarily and sinfully in their mouths." She acknowledged the justice, and highly approved of the punishment of death for murder; but she condemned, most bitterly, the law that took away the lives of human beings for stealing. She dwelt on the advantages which her secret speech gave her tribe in transacting business in markets. She said that she was descended from the first Gipsy family in Scotland. I was satisfied that she was sprung from the second, if not the first, family. I could make out, with tolerable certainty, the links of her descent for four generations of Gipsies. I have already described the splendid style in which her ancestors travelled in Tweed-dale. Her mother, above eighty years of age, also called at my house. Both were fortune-tellers. It was evident, from this woman's manner, that she knew much she would not communicate. Like the Gipsy chief, in presence of Dr. Bright, at Csurgo, in Hungary, she, in a short time, became impatient; and, apparently, when a certain hour arrived, she insisted upon being allowed to depart. She would not submit to be questioned any longer.

[196] Ponqueville, in his travels, says that the Gipsies in the Levant
have no words in their language to express either God or the soul. Of
ten words of the Greek Gipsy, given by him, five of them are in use in
Scotland.--_Paris_, 1820.

[The Gipsy for God, according to Grellmann, is _Dewe_, _Dewel_,
_Dewol_, _Dewla_.]--ED.

Owing to the nature of my enquiries, and more particularly the fears of the tribe, I could seldom venture to question the Gipsies regarding their speech, or their ancient customs, with any hope of receiving satisfactory answers, when a third party was present. The following, however, is an instance to the contrary; and the facts witnessed by the gentleman who was with me at the time, are, besides the testimony of the Gipsies themselves, convincing proofs that these people, at the present day, in Scotland, can converse among themselves, on any ordinary subject, in their own language, without making use of a single word of the English tongue.[197]

[197] Had a German listened a whole day to a Gipsy conversation, he
would not have understood a single expression.--_Grellmann._

The dialect of the English Gipsies, though mixed with English, is
tolerably pure, from the fact of its being intelligible to the race in
the centre of Russia.--_Borrow._--ED.

In May, 1829, while near the manse of Inverkeithing, my friend and I accidentally fell in, on the high road, with four children, the youngest of whom appeared to be about four, and the eldest about thirteen, years of age. They were accompanied by a woman, about twenty years old, who had the appearance of being married, but not the mother of any of the children with her. Not one of the whole party could have been taken for a Gipsy, but all had the exact appearance of being the family of some indigent tradesman or labourer. Excepting the woman, whose hair was dark, all of the company had hair of a light colour, some of them inclining to yellow, with fair complexions. In not one of their countenances could be seen those features by which many pretend the Gipsies can, at all times, be distinguished from the rest of the community. The manner, however, in which the woman, at first, addressed me, created in my mind a suspicion that she was one of the tribe. In order to ascertain the fact, I put a question to her in Gipsy, in such a manner that it might appear to her that I was quite certain she was one of the fraternity. She immediately smiled at my question, held down her head, cast her eyes to the ground, then appeared as if she had been detected in something wrong, and pretended not to understand what I said. One of the children, however, being thrown entirely off his guard, immediately said to her, "You know quite well what he says." The woman, recovering from her surprise and confusion, and being assured she had nothing to fear from me, now answered my question. She also replied to every other interrogation I put to her, without showing the least fear or hesitation. After I had repeated a few words more, and a sentence in the Gipsy tongue, one of the boys exclaimed, "He has good cant!" and then addressed me entirely in the Gipsy language. (All the Gipsies, as I have already mentioned, call their language _cant_, for the purpose of concealing their tribe.) The whole party seemed extremely happy that I was acquainted with their speech. The woman put several questions to me, in return, some of which were wholly in her own peculiar tongue. She asked my name, place of residence, and whether I was a _nawken_--that is a Gipsy. She further enquired whether my friend was also a _nawken_; adding, with a smile, that she was sure I was a _tramper_. The children sometimes conversed among themselves wholly in their own language; and, when I could not understand the woman, as she requested, in her own speech, to know my name, &c., one of them instantly interpreted the sentence into English for me. One of the oldest boys, however, thinking I was only pretending to be ignorant of their speech, observed, in English, to his companions, "I am sure he is a tramper, and can speak as good cant as any of us." To keep up the character, my friend told them that I had been a tramper in my youth, but that I had now nearly lost the language. On hearing this, the woman, with great earnestness, exclaimed, "God bless the gentleman!" In order to confirm their belief that I was one of their tribe, I bade the woman good-day in her own tongue, and parted with them. She informed me, on leaving, that she resided at Banff, but that her husband was then at Perth.

During the short interview which I had with these Gipsies, I collected the following words:

_Gaugie_, man.
_Riah_, gentleman.
_Raunie_, lady.
_Vast_, hand.
_Sonnakie_, gold.
_Sonnakie vanister_, gold ring.
_Roug_, silver.
_Lowie_, money.
_Grye_, horse.
_Aizel_, ass.
_Jucal_, dog.
_Matchka_, cat.
_Baurie_, great.
_Vile_, village.
_Baurie vile_, large village.
_Nawken_, Gipsy.
_Davies_, day.
_Beenship davies_, _Nawken_, good-day, Gipsy.
_Pen yer naam?_ what is your name?
_Shucha_, coat.
_Calshes_, breeches.
_Gogle_, hat.
_Coories_, blankets.
_Roys_, spoons.
_Skews_, platters.
_Habben kairer_, baker of bread.

The method I adopted with them, as I have already hinted, was to ask them the English of the words I gave them in Gipsy, so that the answers I got were confirmations of the same words collected from other individuals, and which I drew from memory for the occasion. Had I attempted to write down any of their sentences, it would have instantly shut the door to all further conversation on the subject, and, in all probability, the Gipsies would have taken to their heels, muttering imprecations against me for having insulted them. Of this I was satisfied, that had I really been acquainted with their speech, these Gipsy children could have kept up a regular and connected conversation with me, with the greatest fluency, and without their sentences being intermixed with any English or Scotch words whatever, a fact which has been repeatedly stated to me by the Gipsies.

In confirmation of these facts, I shall transcribe a letter addressed to me by the gentleman who was present on the occasion.[198]

[198] This letter is interesting to the extent that it illustrates the
amount of knowledge possessed by the Scottish community, generally,
regarding the subject of the Gipsies.--ED.

INVERKEITHING, _25th May, 1829._

"MY DEAR SIR:

"Agreeably to your desire, I have looked over that part of your
manuscript of the Scottish Gipsies which details the particulars of
a short and accidental interview which we had with a woman and four
children, whom we met near Inverkeithing Manse, on the 22d inst.,
and who turned out to be Gipsies. I have no hesitation in averring
that your statements, to my knowledge, are substantially
correct--being present during the whole conversation which took
place with the individuals mentioned. It was the first time I ever
heard the Gipsy language spoken, and it appeared quite evident that
those Gipsies could converse, in a regular and connected manner, on
any subject, without making use of a single English word; and which
particularly appeared from the questions which they put to you, as
well as from the conversation which they had among themselves, in
their own peculiar speech: and that, otherwise, the woman and
children had not, in the colour of their hair, complexion, and
general appearance, any resemblance to those people whom I always
considered to be Gipsies. I am, &c.,

"JAMES H. COBBAN,
_Deputy Compt. of Customs, Inverkeithing._

"MR. WALTER SIMSON,
_Supt. of Quarantine, Inverkeithing_."[199]

[199] Sir Walter Scott was disposed to think that our Gipsy population
was rather exaggerated at five thousand souls; but when families such
as the above mentioned are taken into account--leaving alone those who
may be classed as settled Gipsies--I am convinced that their number is
not over-estimated.

[Not being in possession of sufficient information on the subject of
the Gipsies, the opinion of Sir Walter Scott, on the point in
question, amounted to nothing. See the Index, for Sir Walter Scott's
ideas of the Scottish Gipsy population.--ED.]

I have already mentioned having succeeded in obtaining a few words of Gipsy, from two sisters, of the name of Jamieson, who came begging to my door. I had reason to suppose they would acquaint their relatives of having been questioned in their own speech, and would greatly exaggerate my knowledge of it; for I always observed that the individuals with whom I conversed were at first impressed with a belief that I knew much more of it than I really did.

During the following summer, a brother and a cousin of these girls called at my house, selling baskets. The one was about twenty-one, the other fifteen, years of age. I happened to be from home, but one of my family, suspecting them to be Gipsies, invited them into the house, and mentioned to them, (although very incorrectly,) that I understood every word of their speech. "So I saw," replied the eldest lad, "for when he passed us on the road, some time ago, I called, in our language, to my neighbour, to come out of the way, and he understood what I said, for he immediately turned round, and looked at us." I, however, knew nothing of the circumstance; I did not even recollect having seen them pass me. It is likely, however, I had been examining their appearance, and it is as likely they had been trying if I understood their speech. At all events, they appeared to have known me, while I was entirely ignorant of who they were, and to have had their curiosity excited, on account, as I imagined, of their relatives having told them I was acquainted with their language. This occurrence produced a wonderful effect upon the two lads, for they appeared pleased to think I could speak their language. At this moment, one of my daughters, about seven years of age, repeated, in their hearing, the Gipsy word for pot, having picked it up from hearing me mention it. The young Tinklers now thought they were in the midst of a Gipsy family, and seemed quite happy. "But are you really a _nawken_?" I asked the eldest of them. "Yes, sir," he replied; "and to show you I am no impostor, I will give you the names of everything in your house;" which, in the presence of my family, he did, to the extent I asked of him. "My speech," he continued, "is not the cant of packmen, nor the slang of common thieves."