New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-12-09
DAILY CRESCENT
THE Gypsy SLAVES OF wALLAcHIA.

All travellers who have journeyed from Zem-
litza, on the Danube, to Bucharest, agree in
painting the country they are obliged to ira
verse in the most sombre colors. Once out Of
sight of the lines Of trees that border the DAN
ube, you enter upon an interminable dismal
plain, with a level horizon that surrounds you
like circle, of which you are ever the centre,
There are no objects behind, to mark your pro-
gress by their gradual disappearance there is
nothing ahead, to encourage you on no noun
tains of blue rising higher and higher, becoming
substantial az you advance, breaking up their
long line into peaks and valleys bristling with
crags or clothed in forest If you would know
that you are in motion, you must look upon the
ground beneath your feet and see the pebbles
and plants pass slowly backwards as your wsg-
on moves sleepily on, or whirl dimly by as the
karoutchor pursues its mad career. In winter
time, an additional dresriness is given to this
desert by the absence of the sun, which is hid
den from view by one vast cloud stretching from
horizon to horizon, low down, SO as almost to
resemble a mist just risen from the earth. Here
and there, few slight elevations, foot or two
high, indicate the presence of an underground
village. At various distances, tall poles rise
into the air, marking the positions of wells,
around which the sky j. speckled by flights Of
crows and vultures Now and then you meet
parties of peasants clothed in sheepskin, and
wearing prodigious moustaches, wandering
ocross the level. At night the only sound is the
wind whistling through the low bushes, occa-
sionally bringing to the ear the reports of a
volley of musketry fred by some party Of
travellers who amuse themselves in this martial
way.
1t is not uncommon in crossing these sad
plains to come upon groups of wild looking indi-
vduals, black as Ethiopians, scantily covered
by old rags, stepping jauntily out waving their
arms, nodding their heads, rafting fragments
of songs and Gathering together as they 60 the
blacksmiths tools which they bear upon their
backs. Further on, perhaps, when night has
fallen, an hour two after these odd looking
people have gone ahead of your wagon (they
take two strides for one of your oxen) the
ground ahead will probably become spangled as
with glow worms; and presently sort of whirl-
wind of strange sounds, half song, half shout,
will be borne by the night breeze, to mingle
with the buzz Of your own caravan, and the
creaking of the wheels. You have come upon n
village, an encampment, a burrow of gypsy tro-
glodytes jewellers in caves,) who are either sit
ting around the remains of the fires they have
lighted to cook their evening meal, or with open
doors or traps, by the light of candle stuck in
the ground, are engaged in smoking red clay or
cherry pipes, and drinking the harsh wine
of the country.
These people are of the most humble and
most unfortunate section of the Wallachian
people, the Zigans, who of old formed -four
ishing little State. paying tribute to the Greek
empire, but who are now reduced to condition
Of abjeet slavery. Their history is most obscure
and it is not with certainty known whence they
came or by what steps they descended to their
present level. 1t seems certain, however, that
they belong to the same family of wanderers
who are known in Egypt as Gaydras, in Hun
gary as Zingari, in Germany as Zigeuner, in
| Spain as Gitanos, in France as Bohemsns, and
in England as Gipsies Their own traditions
| derive them from Syria, whence they were trans
ported in the eighth century, by one of the
Greek emperors, to Thrace. On account o.
some peculiarites in their manners, perhaps o
some strange forms Of doctrine, they seem tC
| have become detested and despised by neigh
boring nations, and especially by the Moham
medans. When the Turks penetrated into theil
territory, instead of merely requiring tribute
from them, they attacked them with fury, dis
persed them, haunted them down like wild
beasts, and condemned those to perpetual servi
tude whose lives they spared. In this persecu
ton they were encouraged by the Christians
who shared, indeed, the greater part of the
newly made serfs among themselves. 1t is esti
mated that at present there are more thar
twenty-three thousand Zigan families in Moldo
Wallachia, comprising about a hundred ant
fifty thousand souls. A certain number of thes
belong to the State, which employs them il
mines and public works; while the others ar
divided among the monasteries and the Boyards
Some of these latter possess as many as five o.
SIX thousand, engaged in part in the most labo
rious works connected with their estates, in par
let out upon hire. They sell or exchange then
at certain fixed periods of the year, bringin,
them like cattle to market; until lately, they
treated them with such severity that they no
unfrequently drove them to suicide. Man,
Boyards of humane character now grant n semi
liberty to their Zigans, allowing them for s.
much year to go about as they please, seeking
for work, and retaining the produce of it, One
every spring, the half enfranchised slave mus
make his appearance and pay his tribute. Some
times, also, he brings an instalment of his owl
price, aud thus manages by degrees to free him
self An industrious man may earn his lbert,
in ten years; but this unfortunate race has beef
so brutalized by long suffering, and is so ad
dicted to every kind of debauchery, that yer,
few succeed in rescuipg themselves from bon
dage. Among the Boyards of the present da
there are good many whose copper complexion
white teeth, and general cast of countenance
evidently prove them to be descended fror
Zigans.
The physical constitution of this unhapp
people is strongly marked The men are gen
orally of lofty stature, robust and sinewy
Their skin is black or copper colored; thei
hair, thick and woolly; their lips are of negr
heaviness, and their teeth as white as pearls
the nose is considerably fiattened, and the Who'll
countenance is illumined, as it were, by lively
rolling eyes. All, without exception, wea
boards Their dress consists commonly of
piece of tattered cloth thrown carelessly aroun
them perhaps an old bed curtain, given b
some master, or n blanket that has gone throug
every degree Of fortune until it has been re
jected by the scullion.
As is the case in many savage tribes, tn
women are either extremely ugly or extreme
handsome. Most Of the Zigans are beautiful u
to the age of twenty; but, after that time, the
suddenly shrink and shrivel, change colol
bend, and lose the lightness of their step, as
an enchanters wand had changed them fro
youth, admired and wooed, to dishonored ol
age. The dress of these women is peculiar, COZ
ssting generally Of nothing but tight tunic {
bodice made of sheep-skin, and scarcely reaci
ing to the knees. 1t leaves their legs, the
arms, and their necks bare Over their heaG
the most coquettish throw % white veil, an
some few indulge in leather sandals As orna
ments they wear earrings of brass flligre'
necklaces of paras strung upon slender thong
and a variety of metal bracelets. The childre
, go naked up to the age of ten or twelve, an
whole swarms of girls and boys may be see
rolling about together in the dust or mud
summer, in the water or snow in winter, like
many black worms As You pass by, dozs
heads of matted hair and dozen pairs of shar
eyes are raised towards you, and you Al
greeted with moeking shout, which alone tel
you that the hideous things are your felloy