The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-30

"u0'N '0FPet WI P-~-0''
white teeth and general cast of countc-
nance evidently prove th"m to be de-
scended from Zigans.
The physical constitution of this unhap-
py people is strongly marked. The men
are generally of lofty statue, robust and
sinewy Their skin is black or copper
colored; their hair thick and woody; their
lips are of negro heaviness, and their
teeth as white as pearls; the nose is con-
siderably fattened, and the whole eyes.
All, without exception, wear beards.--
Their dress consists commonly of
piece of tattered cloth thrown careless
ly around them: perhaps an old bed cur
tain given by some master, or blanket
that has gone through every degree of
fortune, until it has been rejected by the
scullion.
AS it is the case in many savage tribes,
&c - women are either extremely ugly or
handsome. Most Of the nn;;5.ans are beau
tiful up to the age Of twenty; but after
that time, suddenly shrink and shriyol,
change color, bend, and lose the lightness
of their step, as if an enchanter's wand
had changed them from youth, admired
and woed, to diShonored cid age. The
dress of these women is peculiar, consist
ing generally of nothing but tight tunic
or bodice, made of sheep-shin, and
scarcely reaching to the knees. Itlcaves
their legs, their arms, and their nccks
bare. Over their heads the most coquet-
tish throw white veil, and some few in
dulge in leather sandals. As ornaments
they wear earrings Of brass gligree, neck
laces of paras strung upon slender
thong, and a variety Of metal bracelets
The children 60 naked up to the age Of
ten or twelve, and whole swarms Of girls
and boys may sometimes be seen rolling
about together in the dust or mud in the
sumer, in the water or snow in the winter
like so many black worms. As you pass
by, dozen heads of matted hair and a
dozen pairs of sharp eyes are raised to-
wards you, and you arc greeted with a
mocking shout, which alone tells you that
the hideous things are your fellow-creat-
ures.
In fine weather the Zigan is a very in
dependant being. He sleeps in the open
air, in the forests, in the fields, in the
streets of the town-anywhere, in fact,
where he can find a place to lay his head.
However, it is their custom, for the sum
mer season. to erect little sheds of can
vass. of straw, Of branches. or Of mud;
whilst in winter they scratch deep holes
into the earth, which they roof with reeds
and turf. Their furniture is surprisingly
simple, consisting of an old kettle; few
two pronged forks, and perhaps pair Of
scissors, a poignard, and gourd to hold
brandy, or arakec-to the use of which
this race is peculiarly addicted. When
they have slowed these articles in their
hole, under a shed, they call the place
their home, and 90 back to it every night.
They squat upon heaps of filth and COM
mence smoking their pipes, while the wo-
men set before them their supper which
has been cooked in the aforementioned
old kettle, swung upon three sticks over
fire of wood brought in by the children
mixed with kind Of peat. Sometimes a
piece Of turned meat, which all Christian
cooks have rejected in the butchers shop,
or a portion Of some animal that has come
by an untimely death and has been dis
tributod by some generous Boyard, is ad-
ded to the porridge Of beans, or maize
on which the Zigans generally support
their strength. They use no plates or
spoons, but dip their hardened fingers in
to the steaming kettle, and bring up a
ball of porridgc or fragment of meat,
which they cool by throwing from one
hand to the other until they can venture
to cast it down their throats The women
and children eat after the men, who, as
as soon as they have wiped their hands
in their hair, take again to their pipes, and
If they can afford it to drinking They
make themselves merry for an hour or
two, until fatigue comes over them and
then 90 pellmell to their huts, or stretch
out by the embers Of the fires. Nothing
can be more abominably fifty than the
habits Of this degraded tribe. They are
often obliged to abandon their villages on
account of the dreadful state to which
they have been brought by their careless
ness. This abandonment costs them moth
ing in feeding or in money! they are essen-
TALLY wanderers. When the air is too pes
tiferous to breathe, they shoulder their
working utensils and their furniture, and
remove mile or two away. If it be sum
mcr they set up their sheds again in a
few hours; if it be winter, and the frost
has rot yet come on, they form subtera-
mean dwellings in the course of half a
night.
As we have said, a good many Of the
Mgans are employed in the rough labors
of agriculture. The greatest number,
however, are artisans, and are celebrated
for their ingenuity. Their favorite trade
is that of. the blacksmith, but they can
turn their hands to anything; and the ba-
zaars of Bucharest are filed with vast
variety of toys and fancy work, which
would do credit to our cleyerest workman
But the vagabond tendencies of the Zigan
-nerhans. also. the contempt with which