Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-20
THE GIpSIES.
BY W. G.
Written for The Independent

There is perhaps no class of peo-
pie about whose origin and history
there is so much mystery and un-
certainty as the Gipsies. The ques-
ton was once asked me at a time
when company of this peculiar
people was encamped in the vicinity
of the town in which / lived, as to.
who these Gipsies are and whence
they come. This induced me to
search and gather all | could from
all available information, but !
could not find any thing very def
mite and reliable in regard to this
wandering and unsettled people who
appear for q few days, then rove
again in their accustomed, indepen-
dent, and daredevil manner.
The common opinion is that they
originally came from Egypt, and
this opinion has doubtless given
rise to the name Gipsy,by which the
English designate them. The Span
iards call them Gitanos, and also en-
terrain the opinion that they are of
Egyptian origin. When they first
made their appearance in Spain in
the beginning Of the fifteenth cen
tury, the priests and learned men,
being startled at the sudden appear
ance of bands of people foreign in
appearance, language and pursuit,
endeavored to find in. Scriptures
clew to such q phenomenon, looking
upon them as exiles from Egypt, and
applying to them the prophecy of
Ezekial go: IL and so: 26.)
But, upon further investigation, l
am led to regard the theory of their
Egyptian origin as erroneous, and to
incline to the opinion that they orig
inally came from India. Indeed,
their name, their personal appear
ance, their dialect, their habits, and
other peculiarities, all point TO In
dian origin.
The names by which they are
known in different countries, with
few exceptions, have a marked SINH
larity. In Russia and Italy they
are commonly styled Zingani; in
Turkey and Persia. Zingarie, and in
Germany Zigeuner. All these
names are apparently traceable to
the same stymon, which is supposed
to be Zinaali-the black men Of
Zend or India and this is strong
presumptiye evidence of their IT.
dian origin. Besides, through the
Investigations of learned men, by
collecting, analyzing and comparing
their language as spoken in different
countries, it is found to be Sanscrit
or Hindoostan, or notifications of
it. In addition to this, there is still
tribe of people at the mouth of the
Indus called Tshingand and Lieut..
Pattinger, some years ago, met with
them in Beloochistan on the Persian
border, and he maintained their
similarity to the Gipsies in manners
and customs.
The Dutch call them Heathens
the Swedes and Danes Tartars; The
English Gipsies, and the French b.
hemians. In their own language
they call themselves by different
names, but the common name is
Rommany, which Of sauscrit origin,
means, the Husband.
Their first appearance in Europe
was A. D. l4l7, in Hungary, where
some 5000 suddenly burst upon the
unsuspectiDg inhabitants, whilst a
horde Of them entered Spain at the
same time. This was during the
reign of Sigismond, Emperor of
Rome and King Of Hungary. These
settled in Moldoyia, and soon after
a greater number followed, made in
cursions into Wallachia, Transyl-
vania and other places. Since then
they have dispersed in every direc-
ton over the habitable globe. Their
tents are alike pitched on the heaths
of Brazil and the ridges of The
Himalayan hills, and their language
is heard at Moscow and Madrid, in
the streets OF London and StamhouI,
our own cities ard wherever they
roam.
1t is estimated that there are
about q million Gipsies scattered