The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-04-27


mate upon the roads.
y "The Count or head man Of these Guitan
ut had an only daughter. about my own aQa 8
4. WINS very beautiful, but, at the same time \,
ceedingly strong and robust this Gitanos w,
given 70 me a. wife OF cadiee, and / live
with her several years. and she bore me oh
= dren.
AZ "My wife was an arrant Gitana, and il b,
: all the wickednesn OF her race seemed %
/, concentrated. Al last her father was killed
an affay with the troopers Of the Hermands
= whereuPon my wife and myself succeeded I
4 the authority which he had formerly exefcil
ed in the tribe. We had at first loved eac
other, but at last the Gitano life, with Its ac
I companying wickedness becoming hatefI
? to my eyes, my wife who was not slow 4
perceiving my altered disposition conceive
for me the most deadly hatred apprehendins
that meditated Withdrawing myself from the
society and perhaps betraying the secrets o.
the band, she formed conspicary against me
and at one time being opposite the Moorish
coast was seized and bound by the other Gi.
tanos conveyed across the sea and delivered
as a slave into the hands of the Moors.
81 continued for long time in various parts
Of Morocco and Fee, until at length was re-.
deemed from my stale of bondage by amissiop-
airy. from who paid my ransom. With him
shortly after departed for Italy, of which he
was native. In that country / remained
some years until longing to revisit my native
( land seized me when returned to Spain and
established myself here where have since liV.
dSby vending books,many OF which brought
from the strange lands which | visited.
kept my history, however profound secret
being afraid of exposing myselfto the laws in
force against the Gitanos to which should
instantly become amenable were it once
known that had at any time been a member
ofthis 6etestable sect.
any prese 1t wretchedness, Of which you
have demadned the cause dates from yester-
day l had been on a short journey to the Au-
gustine convent which stands on the plain,
in the direction of Saragossa, carrying with
me an Arabian book which learned monk
was deslrous of seeing. Night overlook me
ere could return! speedily lost my way, and
wandering about until came near a dilapida-
ted edIfice with " hich was acquaini ed; was
about to proceed IN the direction of town
when heard voices within the ruined walls
listened, and recognized the abhorred GtaII-
oS was about TO fly, when word arrested
me. 1t was Drao, which in their tongue sig
niies the horrid poison, with which this race
are in the habit of destroying the scattle; they
now'said that the men of Logron0 should rue
the Drao which they had been casting. heard
no more, but fed. What increased my fear
was, that in the words spoken, thought re-
cognized the peculiar jargon of my own tribe
repeat that believe some horrible misfor-
tune is overhanging this city,and that my own
days are numbered"
The priest having conversed with him for
some time upon particular points of the hist0-
~ that he had related, took his leave, advis-
ing him TO compose his spirits as he saw no
reason why he should Indulge in such gloomy
forebordings.
The very next day a sickness broke out in
he town ofLogrono. IL was one of a pecI.
iar kind unlike most others, it did not arse
W slow and gradual degrees, but at once aP-
mic Dizziness IN the head was the first
ymtom then convulsive retchings, followed
y dreadful struggle between life and death
which generally terminated in favor of tho
rim DESTROYER. The bodies, after the spirit
vhich animated them had taken flight, were
sarfully swollen and exhibited a dark blue
dior, chequered with crimson spots. Moth
IL was heard within these houses or the
Ireets, but groans of agony no remedy was
hand and the powers Of medicine were ex-
austed in vain upon this terrible pest so that
'ithin few days the greatest part of the in.
abtants Of Logrono had persisted. The book.
sller had not been seen since the commence.
Ient Of this frightful visitation.
Once at the dead OF night knock was
= ard at the door of the priest, of whom We
I'VE already spoken the priest himself stag.
cred to the door and opened it-he was the
lly one who remained alive in the house, and
IS slowly recovering from the malady which
I'd destroyed all the other inmates: q wild
ectral loOkingsfgure presented Itself 60 bis
,e-it was his friend, Alvarez. Both went
TO the house, when the bookseller, CHANGING
oomily on the wasted features of the priest
;claimed, you too, see, among others. have
use to rue the Drao which the Gitanos
ne east. "Know," he continued, 'sthat in
der to accomplish q detestablo plan,,the
untains Of Logrono have been poisoned by
nssaries Of the, rowing bands, who are as
mbled in the nefghborhood. On the first
of the disorder, from which hap
" escaped by tasting the water of private
1ntain which possess in my own house, /
stanily recognized the effects Of the poison
the Guitanos, brought by their ancestors
nm the ISLES of the Indian sea, ard instantly
specting their intentions, Ydisguised myself
gitano,and went forth m the hopeiof being
le to act as a spy upon their actions. !
We been successful, and am at present thor
ghly acquainted with their designs They
tended from the first TO sack the town, az
on as il should have been emptied Gifts de-
nders.
~Midday tomorrow, 10 the hour in which
ey have determined 70 make the attempt.
here Il ms time to be lost let US therefore
arn those Of our tOwnsnngn who still survive
order that they may make preparations for
Whersupon the two friends procseded to-
) chief magistrate, who had been but slight
affected BY the disorder he heard the tale
the bookseller with horror and asfonishment
4 instantly took the best measures possibly
. frustrating the designs OF the Guitancs
sapons Of every description put IN their
nds. By the advice of the bookseller, alf
} gates Of the town were shut, with the ex-
ption of the principal one and the IIatle
nd defenders which barely amounted 90
Nv men was stationed in che great square
which, he said, il was the intention OF the
Eanos 10 penetrate ii the dfst instance and
"a dividing themselves INTO various parties
sack the place. The Bookseller was. ~
nsfaI desire. constituted header q the guar.
ms 81 the town.
II was considerably past neon sths sky was
ercast. and teinb3ts 6lgudss fraughf NTH
8f6fairip md thunder, Were hanging nlacR
Il hnfrsd over tha town 0f LeRf0n0. The
IIs lFooi. resting o. their arms, etocd aWar