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


mate upon The rotds.
sThe Count Or head man o. these Guiluno.
{ had an only daughter, ab0u, my own zee shs
sas very beautiful but, At The same time. sx.
eeedingly strong and robust this Gisanos was
given 20 me asa wife OF cadiss. and lived
with her several year, and she bore me Chi
dran.
my wife was an arrans Giiana. and II be-
al the wickedness Of Der nce seemed q b
concentrated. Al last her father was killed n
an Array with the troopers Of the Hernandez
whereupon my wife and myself succeeded 70
the authority which he bad fRmeriy exefcis
ed in the tribe. We bad az ist loved each
other, but at last the GiianO lie. with Ils &C.
eompanying wickedness becoming hateful
to my syes, my vile who was not slow IN
peroeiving my altered disposition conceived
for me the mos, deadly hatred apprehending
that meditated Withdrawing myself from the
society and perhaps besraying the secrets Of
the band, she formed aconspicary against me.
and at one time being opposite the Moorish
coast was seized and bound BY the other Gil
tanos conveyed across the sea and delivered
as a slave into tho hands Of the Moors,
81 continued for long time IN various parts
Of Morocco and Fec, until at length / was rs-
deemed from my stare Of bondage BY amissiol.
arr, from who paid my ransom With him
shortly after departed for Italy, Of which he
was a 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 hV-
ed, by vending books,mmy Of which brought
from the strange lands which / visited. /
kept my history, however a profound secret
being afraid Of exposing myselfto the laws in
force against the Gitanos to which should
instantly become amenabe we're it once
known that had at any time been a member
ofthis detestable sect.
AMY prese It wrelchedness, Of which you
have demadned the cause dates from yoster-
day | had been on a short journey to the Au-
CUISINE convent which stands on the plain,
in the direction Of Saragossa, carrying with
me IN Arabian book, which a learned monk
was deHrous Of seeing. Night overlook mo
ere could return! speedily lost my way, and
wandering about until came near q dilapida-
ted edIfce with hich was aequainl ed | was
about 10 proceed IN the direction Of a town
when heard voices within the ruined walls
listened, and recognized the abhorred Giian-
os was about TO fg, when a word arrested
me. II was Dran, which in their tongue sig
nifes the hoInd poison, with which this race
are in the habit Of destroying the scatlle they
nowsaid that the men Of Logron0 should rue
the Dra0 which they had been casting. heard
no more, but fed. What increased my fear
was, that in the words spoken, thought re-
eognized the peculiar jargon Of my own tribe
| repeat that believe some horrible misfor-
tune is overhanging this cty,and that my own
days are numbered"
The priest having eonversed with him for
some time upon particular points Of tho histo.
~ that he nd related, took his leave, advis-
ing him 10 compose bis spirits as he saw no
reason why he should indulge in such gloomy
forebordings.
The very next day a sickness broke out IN
the town Of Logrono. It was one Of peeu'
lar kind unlike m9st others, It did not arse
by slow and gradual degrees, but at once az
peared in full violence, in the shape Of epid.
emic. Dizziness in the head was the first
symtom then oonvulsve retchings, followed
by dreadful struggle between life and death
which generally terminated in favor Of tho
grim destroyer. The bodies, afteg the spirit
which animated them had taken fight, were
iearfully swollen and exhibited a dark blue
color, chequered with crimson spots. Moth
ing was heard within these houses or The
streets, but gToans Of agony; no remedy was
at hand and the powers Of medicine we're ex-
hausted in vain upon this terrible pest 90 that
within a few days the greatest part Of the in.
habiiants Of lsogrono had persisted. The book
seller had not been seen since the commence
ment Of this lrightful visitation.
Once at the dead OF night knock was
he ard at the door Of the priest, Of whom We
have already spoken the priest himself stag
geFed 10 the door and opened it-he was the
only one who remained alive In the house, and
was slowly recovering from the malady which
had destroyed all the other inmates wild
spectral loOkingsfgure presented Itself to bis
eye--it was his friend, Alvarez. Both went
into the house, when The bookseller, glancing
gl0omily on the wasted features Of the priest
exclaimed, 'You too, see, among others, have
cause to rue the Dao which the Gitsnos
have east. aKnow," he continued, shat in
order to accomplish a delestahlo pian.Ihe
fountains Of Logrono have been poisoned BY
emissaries Of the rowing bands, who are as
sembled in the neighborhood. On the first
appearance Of the disorder, from which hap
ply escaped BY tasting the water Of private
fountain which Ipossess in my own house,
IF The GuitanoS brought BY their ancestors
rom the isles Of the Indian sea, aid instantly
,uspecting their Intentions lldisguised myself
as gitauo,and went forth IN The hope'of being
lble 10 act as a spy upon their actions /
have been successful, and am at present thor
,ughly acquainted with their designs. They
intended from the first to sack the town, as
soon as il should have been emptied ofits de-
lenders.
HMidday Tomorrow is the hour in which
.hey have determined TO make the attempt
There IS no time 10 be lost ! LETT s therefore
warn those OF our townsmen who still survive
IN order that they may make preparations for
their Defence"
Whereupon the two friends proceeded to-
he chief magistrate, who bad been but slight
" affected BY the disorder he heard the tale
IF the bookseller with horror and astonlshment
md instantly took the best measures possibly
-or frustrating the designs Of the Guiianoa
weapons Of every description put IN their
hands. By the advice Of the bookseller, eli
he gates Of the town we're shut, with the ex-
seption Of the principal one and the little
band defenders, which barely amounted 20
.ixty men was stationed in the great square,
% which, he said, Il was the intention Of the
Gitanos 10 penetrate in the first instance, and
then dividing themselves into various parties
10 sack the place. The bookseller was, by
general desire, constituted leader Of the guar
dams Of the town.
Il was considerably past neon fths sky was
overcast, and tempest Glsudss frsught with
ightehhlg and thunder, were hanging black