The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-12-02
GYPSY SIGN WRITING.
An Elaborate Code Of Secret SYMBOL, and
Sounds.

n TOT an uneducatcd, half-wild ar
! justly mistrusted people like the nv
8 sizes, it is almost y necessity of exis
ence that the several tribes shou]
: have some means of communicable
with each other which would attrax
: very little attention on the part of ou
siders-iuformation. warnings, dire,
ton, etc.
Let us give an example. In the b.
ginning OF September, 1890, gyps
family passed through the village O
n. in Germany. Not far from tn
point at which they left the village tn
road divides into three branches, an,
any other gypsy or tribe of gypsies fol
lowing their tracks would look for /,
'sign' here.
There is tree at the fork Of tn,
roads, and the gypsy's eye is quick t.
detect four long. fat stones piled ons
on the other. They are SO covered
with dirt that the ordinary travele,
would hardly disturb them, and IL
would most likely escape his notice
that each stone has horse hair tied
aroundit. Near at hand little branch
with three twigs is stuck into the
ground, and the middle twig points in
the direction of the right-hand road.
A small piece of leather is nailed on
the tree, and IL seen on inspection to
nave several stitches of red wool, q
square hole and two round holes. A
small charred elder stick with straw
and-two red threads looped together is
stuck behind the leather, along with
small birch twig with two loose red
threads.
The gypsy, however, in search of
sign" reads the message without diff
Guilty, and thus interprets it for the
benefit of his comrades:
The chief of the tribe of our pre-
decessors informs us that his wife il
dead, his son arrested, and that we
must all be on our guard, as the au-
thorities charge us with theft. We
have taken the road to the right, and,
passing through the next town to the
second village beyond, we purpose re-
manning there until September l6."
Each tribe has its own distinctive |
mark or totem. which, in the case in |
point, was the horse hair. The four
stones bound with horse hair signified
that the communication was intended
for members of the communicates own
tribe and no other
The direction of the middle twir in
dictated the road taken; the long stones,
TOO, were SO laid as to indicate the
direction of route.
The charred elder twig with straw
'lgniffed death; the red color is the
ign OF the chief, and the two knotted
threads signify the chiefs wife. The
birch branch denotes an arrest. and
he two separate red threads signify ,
hat it is the son of the chief who has ,
'een arrested. Three threads would
ignify grandson.
The employment of skin or leather
ignifies request to meet for commun- ,
cation on important matters. The i
titches give the time. Time is reck- !
ned from the three high feast days :
no from St. Michaels day as follows: 8
he long stitches show the number of I
unday's since the first great feast. e
nd the square stitches the week DAYS. $
ne piece OF leather in this case had h
xteen long stitches and two square q
'ltches. 1t is, therefore, the Tuesday i,
allowing the sixteenth Sunday after X
aster, that was the 10th of September. =
hich was fixed as the limit of stay. -
The square holes in the leather sip- =,
ny towns, the round holes villages.
eyond the next town smaller piece -
leather will be found attached to a h,
ee, but there will be no square hole Il
1t, and the reader knows that the n
cond village on the road will be the III
Getting place Any kind of filth is a
lployed to prevent the signs being eli
olested =,
As charred elder stick signifies al
ath, SO green one signifies sickness, sli
veral notches in the twig, with or
'aw, signifies broken arm; without
aw, broken leg. A fir twig signi-
an engagement; q willow twig with a
ed or white thread the birth of q bow
girl; an oak twig. the return of 4 T..
ssenger to his family. A bunch of -,
y's hair is an intimation to those fol- -,
wing to change their course. Small az
IS fragments announce the death of a..
ne domestic animal Of the tribe; res
ge fragments that domestic ami e
has been stolen, or strayed away. In,
an fragments denote horse, dirty 49,
gments . pig. -
I the charcoal marks made bv rrvn.
on buildings, a cross indicates -
thing to be got there;'' double r.
IS that You may look out for harsh -.
ltment; Cross within . circle inti- ~
'es desire for revenge on the occu- - -,
Is OF the house; a circle alone. . !
presents were received there: n -,
ngle, that money may be had for -
une telling; two serpentine lines, az.
the mistress would like children: -.
langle including serpeptine line. al.
the master of the house is dead. a.. ,r
his manner the Wanderers manages -. 80
ommunicate q great deal Ct infor- s a@p
ion to those who come after, which s.i r
fortune teilers Of the second rroup -" 49,.
utilize to the establishment Of the ~, -
lie, who little suspect that their ~.
q -. sneH mousse horf
the march two whistles and two 80
boots intimate 10 the approaching m 11ss, :
y that he is near q suitable resting ,.e..
;; whistle alternating with 8 -.
90 call is signal Of danger. Rapid 49, 49,
ng of both arms is equally signal 8
niger. Raising the left arm s;rni- -. :
the road is OPEN. raising the ..s.s