Bulgaria gpsy orphans7/25/2023 ![]() They also refused obedience to any sovereign. These dwelt in their wagon-camps in the open country, and were under a vow never again to sleep beneath a roof. By this event, the Hussites were divided into three bodies, one of which was called the Orphans, or orphan children of Ziska. He carried on hostilities with great success until his death in 1424. Probably he had been busy in that way even earlier and so, from the first, secrecy and deception would have been necessary in the organization of his innumerable small bodies, so suddenly made one great body when he extorted the royal authority. Ziska became prominent as a leader in the year 1418, and in that year was authorized to raise forces. The word gypsy, which is only the English name for this remarkable people, is, no doubt, a consequence of the ancient error that called them Egyptians but it is odd to see English writers using the resemblance between those words as an argument in favor of that origin, and thus endeavoring to perpetuate error by the results of error. Though a clumsy attempt to pronounce Tschischka by a foreign tongue might well result in something farther from it than Gypsy, there is, perhaps, nothing in that resemblance. John Ziska or Tschischka, the greatest of the Hussite leaders, in the brave struggle of that sect against the Roman Church, is the man who may be looked upon as the father of the race. Bohemia is the land of their origin and when we consider that one of the most enlightened nations of Europe has called them Bohemians for four hundred years, it is remarkable that that name has been so little considered in attempts to penetrate this mystery. I assert that they are Europeans, and one of the results of the religious wars of the fifteenth century. Without denying any of these evidences,- assenting, indeed, to every one of them, - I yet assert that the Gypsies are not of Asiatic origin, and not, as the sturdy Dutchmen call them, “ heathens,” - unless we refer to the original use of that word, and call all heathens that dwell on the heath. ![]() In this course of argument, that founded upon the language is of course the really strong one. The evidences adduced are, that the Gypsy tongue is strikingly like some Hindoo dialects and the parent Sanscrit, - that the races are similar in complexion, shape, disposition, and habits, - distinguished by the same vagrant nature, the same love of idleness, music, dancing, and thievery. ![]() Later times have concluded that the Gypsies are Hindoos, and it is generally acknowledged that Grellman and Borrow have proved this. We find, by comparison of accounts, that they appeared within the space of a few years at every point of a circle of which Germany was the centre, and everywhere they were regarded as foreigners,-even in Egypt. Grellman accepted (as it suited his theory) the assertion that they entered Germany from Turkey, though he rejected, without examination, the assertion, made on equally good authority, that they entered it from Spain, from Italy, from Denmark, and from Sweden. It has been argued that they were Grecian heretics that they were persecuted Jews that they were Tartars that they were Moors and that they were Hindoos. Otherwise that they are the descendants of the vagabond votaries of Isis, who were in Rome just what the Gypsies are in modern Europe. It has been maintained that the Gypsies are Egyptians, and even that they are the followers of Pharaoh, perhaps not yet gotten home from that Red Sea journey. Conscious of the diffidence with which any one should approach a matter which so many learned men have labored over, he advances the plea of the proverb, that they who study the stars will stumble at stones, - a plea, that much learning and genius may fail, where less would not be at fault. It appears to the writer that all the well-known views on this subject are far from the truth and he desires to assert for the Gypsies an origin quite different, as he believes, from any ever yet suggested : at least, what he believes to be the real origin of this singular race is not even hinted at in the more celebrated treatises. ![]() Much deep study and learned research have found plentiful employment in the endeavor to point out the land of their origin and the views taken have consequently been many and various. FOR more than four hundred years the Gypsies have been one of the riddles of European history. ![]()
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