Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-03-26
Gipsies In louisiana.

a correspondent ifOm biloxi whites us the
following letter. which ieieres 10 facts known
10 Us historically aud personally. The settle
ment Of large colony of Gipsles, along the
Southern cost Of Mississippi, is we'll known
fact in the history OF LOUISIANA lis we'll
known as that of the existance OF large set
element Of Greeks, emigrants from the isles
CT Greece, on the Florida cost. We have
seen and conversed with the descendants OF
both these colonists. Those of the Gipsies
are quite numerous about Biloxi, having pre-
served there national more zesloasly than The
Greeks, and maintained more ainicable rela-
tions with the Indians. 10 whom. in many re-
spects. they are strongly assimiaied. The
Greeks, on the other hand, have nearly all
perished, from want aud the inInads OF the
warlike uibes. Alexander Dimmetry. the
present Superintendent of Schools. is descen-
ded from these setlefs. The Gipsies, find
ing the land barren. and sifsrding bot Iimi
ted field fnr their fsvorie pursuits. turned
their stleItioi to the sea. aud have, though
several generations. employ themselves in
cathing fish aud oysters, just enough 10 al
ford them fuga livelihood, without serious
ly interfering with their innate love Of idIeness
and quietude.
The facts referred TO By our correspondent,
illustrate an opinion we have long entertained,
that the early history OF LOUISIANA abounds 10
interest and romance, and leads US TO lament
the Indifference aud ignorance which seem to
prevail in relrence TO this subject II would
be no less profitable than pleasing task, 10
collect and publish such facts as may yet be
gathered among the old people Of the State,
relative To its early settlement, ere, they lapse
into oblivion.
But to our correspondents leueE
Editors Of the Delta. II is well known TO
the curious about LOUISIANA history. that a
colony Of GIpsies was settled at Biloxi
When this colony came over. | have never
heard, bat the remains Of il are still ihere.--
An officer in the French army. who had becu
quartered for several months at Seville. where
there are many GIpsies, and had learned
there language, inform me that he entered
the house Of one Of the residents of Biloxi,
and asked foT a drink Of waiter. The mother
told her daughter, in the Grpsy language, to
hand the gentleman tumbler Oi water. He
entered into conversation with The mother,
iu the Gypsy language, TO her great ast onish-
menL lie afterwards found that there were
many families of the same kind at Biloxi
was informed from another source, that il
was a practice with some these families TO
leave their houses, near the sea shore, in the
beach. IN the open AIR. In l647, ] was a,
Biloxi. aud became interested IN the situation
OF FIenchm ian, whn had married one OF these
Gipsles. lie was one Of three brothers, who
were engaged in a profitable retail dry goods
business, aud brought bis wife over to the
city. His wife complained that she could
not look upon the sea, nor behold the trees,
ard said she had the sensation OF being chOak :
ed and imprisoned, by being coDfiued TO a
house aud ayard, and induced her husband
to quit his business aud return TO Biloxi
II was in lrighlul state, from disease OF
the limbs. We raised n hundred dollars for
his relief. bat his brothers, on being informed
Of il. refused To allow hum TO receive it,
Both the husband and wife died shortly af
Ierwards The woman had been very beauti-
fu. and was sill hue looking. These cir
cunstances iduced me To take every occa-
sion to visit the houses Of this population:
and the physical pecuiIarlties Of the Glpsy
cast were very distinct upon them. The
small feet aud hands, the peculiar complex
ion. chIseled features, smal! steslthy eyes,
were very distinct and marked.
La reading the testimony, publised in your
paper perceived that Madame Csillavet aud
Madame Despau were two oithe witness, aud
were SISTERS Of the mother of the celebued
piaIntil, These persons were uamed TO me as
OF Gypsy origin aud decent. Ii there be any
tiuth IN this statement, It may, In the minds
OF some persons, serve as key to some ol
the singular events detail in tue evidence.