The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-17

From their first appearance in Europe,
about the middle OF the fifteenth century,
to the present day, the giPsies have been
objects Of wonder. curiosity, or interest,
from the mystery in which their origin is
enveloped, and from the singular manner
in which they have kept apart from the ma
tons amongst whom they wander. They
were originally believed TO be Egyptians,
but the researches OF late years establish
the probability, il not the certainty. of India
being their mother country. Their lam
euage is found to have no affinity with the
Coptie; but it bears a strong resemblance
TO that Of Hindoostan; and their arrival IN
Christendom followed at no great interval
Of time the period when Timour ravaged
and desolated the East, practising crueliles
ON the wretched natives Of India, which
might have very probably induced thesn to
emigrate in vast numbers.
Whether this latter suppostlon be cor
rect or not, it is difficult to determine; il is,
however, fact that the gipsies exist as
distinct and numerous caste in Asia; and
during a recent visit to the Deccan, 1
CHANGED to have an opportunity OF seeing
large tribe OF these singular oltcasts, who
came down from the mountains to pay
rude homage to the governor, by exhibit
ing before him the magic ats which, from
far.off ages, have been the heritage of their
race.
For this purpose they were assemb-
led outside the governors bungalow at
Dahpooree, in large open space, bounded
on one side by the broad stream running
through the garden in which the residence
is built, and on the other by a hedge Of giant
lessamine, the post Of Hindoo sentinel.
The whole population Of the neighboring
little village was assembled, and covered
every part Of the ground, sitting, after their
own strange fashion, on their heels, and all
gaping with intense eagerness on the space
left near the yeranda for the performances
of their admired sorceries. OF the simple
faith with which they were prepared to wit
ness the spectacle, we had no doubt, both
from the expression Of their countensnces
and our knowledge Of their extreme SUPER
stitiop; for near our seats stood young
Hindoo mother, carrying an infant whose
tiny ankles were tied up in rags, to preserve
it from the effects of the "evil eye" which
is peculiarly baneful when blue-and we
had unhaPPily admired the little creature
on the previous day.
Ii was about three in the afternoon, and
the sun, still glorious in the cloudless,
glowing sky. poured a flood of light upon
the whole scene, which was highly pic
turesque. In few seconds the circle BY
the veranda was occupied by an aged wiz
ard, and an assistant beating a tomtom, OF
drum. He placed small pan Of lighted
charcoal on one side, and cast into il a few
grains of incense, muttering at the same
time an incarnation. A wicker basket, OF
about the size used to hold baby's ward
robe, was then brought forward, and our
gypsy informed US that it was his intention
to put a bahia youth into it: afterwards to
change him into pigeon or dove, and make
him fly off withersoever we chose. The
trick did not promise to be very difficult;
but we thought differently when we saw
the candidate for the metamorphosis. He
was a tall, fine looking lad Of sixteen OF
seventeen, apparently much too big to &C.
cupy the space assigned him: but the wizard
approaching, threw him on the ground, tied
his feet to his hand, and literally doubling
him together, dropped him into sort OF
cabbage-net, which he fastened over his
head. He then brought him round for US
to examine the strange prison; and, certain
ly it appeared a clear case of 81 can't get
out" He was consigned to the basket,
and cloth thrown over him, both of course
being much raised and distended by the
captive they covered. The wizard now
began solemn promenade round the bask ct
to the sound Of the tom-tom, mutterrng
mysteriously the while. By degrees the
cloth and basket shrank down, growing
smaller and smaller, till the latter appeared
empty; then the lid was gently raised, and
the net and ligatures thrown out; second
circuit made by the old gypsy effected the
promised translation, and white pigeon
fiuttered from the basket, and directed its
flight las we desired) to Poonah. The en-.
chanter now affected great amazement,
called on the boy to come forth, raised and
shook the basket, and finally producing a
long naked sword, thrust it with loud cries
apparently into every creyice OF the wick.
er-work. He then turned, and called in
the direction of Poonah, which was only
seven miles of, was answered from a dis
lance by the best ventriloquism ever
heard. This was a summons for the lad
to return. Tie, or rather the pigeon, obeyed.
The basket began to swell again, the cloth
rose. and the young gypsy sprang forth.
leaving US in admiration Of his wonderful
power of selEcompression; as how he could
have folded himself into so small space.
we were unable to conceive, or how he
avoided the sharp point of the sword.
The second exhibition was far more ex.
traordnary, and more difficult; indeed |
could not have believed it, had not wit
messed it myself. A young man stepped
forward, and by the assistance of one of
the Parsees. who acted as interpreter, in.
formed US, "that though it was not usual
for the eyes to work as the hands did, he
would for once, and to show his respect,
&C., for the burra sahib (great mani use
them in a similar manner" A huge niece
OF stone, two or three feet thick and SQUARE
was then placed before him, to which two
short lines were strongly attached, having
at the ends small round piece of tin, the