The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-09-25
Sflisttllaylcous,
From tn, Medical and Surgical Journal.
Visit 10 u GipSy Camp.

Passing through one of our streets few
days since in buggy, we noticed upon the
sidewalk man and two women, who diff
fered so essentially in appearance from our
people, that we were at once impressed that
they were members of some trans atlantic
race. On inquiry. we found them to be Clip.
sizes. who had come to the city, as they said,
to tell fortunes and do a little trading.
We we're so struck with their appearance,
that we visited, some four miles from the city,
their camp, to make further observation -
The company, or tribe, numbered about
twenty, of different ages, from baby four
weeks old to an old woman that we suppos-
ed about sixty. There were, indeed, in the
company, old, young, middle aged--a very
fine variety considering the limited number.
They all professed to be ignorant of their
ages.
The camp was indicated in the distance
by the presence, in grove, of four or five
covered wagons, and small drove Of horses
running at large. The wagons were ar
ranred in the form rather of a circle, inside
of which were their tents for sleeping, and q
log fire for cooking. Indiscriminately strewn
around the fire, were cooking utensils, very
few, and of the simplest character; bed
clothes, children, dogs and chickens. AT
one side of the fire, and but few feet from
it, was lot of feathers that had been pick
ed from poultry; these, at every breeze oi
wind, circulated freely through the camp
attaching themselves to what ever happen.
ed in the way. The clothing Of the compa.
ny, Of both young and old, with but very
few exceptions, consisted Of old articles
that had been begged, most likely, from the
inhabitants among whom they had lately
Travelled. Everything about the camp, thai
we observed, had the appearance of filth
carelessness, and an effort to live with the
least possible investment of labor. On in
auiry, it appeared that the company, about
wear since, had immigrated from England.--
We put the question to them to know wha'
ayocation they pursued in this country te
obtain living. A female answered that
her husband followed horse trading, making
baskets and mending tin-ware. The trutf
is, however, that they get their support BY
begging, "telling fortunes" swmdling ant
thieving. Only year since an individua
in an adjoining county was swindled by I
Gipsv woman out of some four thousant
dollars in money. They are very cautious
with property when once obtained. One o
the women remarked: "We have under as
cir, good deal of property, and we have tt
be very careful that it is not stolen from US.
Nomadic in habits, they wander from place
to place, and seem to have no definite tim'
to tarry in neighborhood, but stay, as the.
remarked, Gas long as trade seems good.
The eldest female among them, stated tha
all the members of the company were rela
ted to each other.
The personal appearance of these peopl
contrasted, as before remarked, very strong
w with what we are in the habit of SEEING
They differ but little in height from Ameri
cans, though they seemed to be Of lghte
frame; the majority of them were rathe
symmetrical in their features and genera
form. Their movements were quick, spiri