To invalidate, if possible, the charge of cannibalism—apparently so well founded—brought against the Gipsey tribe, it is thought proper in this place to mention circumstances, relative to the proceedings in Hungary, which at least render the justice of the sentence pronounced against these devoted people doubtful.

In the year 1534, as recorded in the Hungarian history, the Gipseys were suspected of traitorously assisting John Zapolya; in consequence of which the governor of Leutschau, Tsernabo, sent some horsemen to arrest a company of them, near Iglo: the greatest part escaped by flight; only a few old men and boys were taken, who were brought into Leutschau. These confessed circumstantially (which certainly appears improbable, that men should lye to effect their own ruin), as well before, as upon the rack, the following falsities—That a hundred of them had been sent by Zapolya since the middle of Lent, and had agreed for a sum of money to set fire to the five chief cities, Kaschau, Leutschau, Bartfeld, Eperies, and Zeben: that the preceding Saturday several of them had privately entered Leutschau, disguised like Wallachians and shepherds, under the pretence of selling skins: that they laid fire in various places; and moreover, that they had murdered several people: and finally, that they had letters from Zapolya to thirteen different cities, with orders to afford them shelter and protection within their districts, as long as they chose to remain. In consequence of this confession they were impaled, “but whether justly or not,” adds the Chronicle, “that, let him answer for who condemned them:” for on being conducted about the town, to shew in what places they had laid the fire, they could not specify them; besides, they denied every thing when they came to execution.

Except the circumstance of retracting, of which nothing is mentioned in the sentence of death, the above case seems to be exactly similar to that of the men-eaters executed in Hungary in 1782. These were taken upon suspicion of theft; in the course of their examination something escaped them which gave occasion to think they had committed murder, and the criminals being interrogated on this point, perhaps on account of the severity used, or probably from an idea of heroism (a very common trait in their character), they confessed the fact, and chattered away till they had filled the paper, without considering consequences. When desired to state where they had deposited the bodies, they promised to shew, but on being brought to the spot nothing was found, and they endeavoured to run off. Nevertheless, having once confessed, they were put on the rack. As the persons said to have been murdered could not be found, the judge imagined they must have eaten them, which, though denied by the poor miserable wretches, decided their fate.

(A)

How much the Gipsey language has altered by time, may be seen, in a striking manner, from the following translations of the Lord’s Prayer, obtained from Hungarian Gipseys at different periods.

1. Lord’s Prayer, according to the old translation.

Dade! gula dela dicha mengi, Czaoreng hogodoleden tavel, ogoledÊl hogoladhem, te a felpesz, trogolo anao Czarchode, ta vela mengi sztre kedapu, maro mandro kata agjesz igiertiszara a more beszecha, male dsame, andro vo lyata, enkala megula, dela enchala zimata. Seszkesz kisztrio oothem banisztri, putyere feriszamarme, À kana andre vecsi, ale Va kosz. Piho.

2. The same, according to a more modern translation.

Muro Dad, kolim andro therosz; Ta weltro szentanao; Ta weltro t’him; Ta weltri olya, szarthin andro therosz kethjn t’he pre p’hu: sze kogyesz damande mandro agyesz a mingi; Ertitza amare bezecha, szar, t’hamin te ertingiszama rebezecha; Mali zsa men andre bezna, nicka men le dsungalin mansÁÁr, Ke tirino t’hin, tiro hino baribo szekovari. Amen.

3. Another, with the Latin.

FINIS.

Ballintine, Typ. Duke-st. Adelphi.