_On their Sickness_, _Death_, _and Burial_.
WE have before had occasion to mention the constant good health of these
people; and it is fact, that they do enjoy it more uninterruptedly, and
perfectly, than persons of the most regular habits, and who pay the
greatest attention to themselves. They get no cold nor defluxions, from
the inclemency of the air. They are not subject to rashes; even poisons,
or epidemical disorders, have no effect upon them. Any prevailing
sickness penetrates sooner into ten habitations of civilised people, than
it finds its way under a Gipsey’s tent, or into his hut. They are
equally liable to the small-pox and measles with other people, though
with infinitely less danger; and they are subject to a disorder in the
eyes, occasioned by the continual smoke and steam in their huts, during
the winter season: excepting these complaints, the Gipseys, in general,
experience little inconvenience till the time comes that Nature demands
her own back again, and entirely destroys the machine. Though this be
not always at a great age, it is generally at an advanced period; it
being very uncommon for a Gipsey to die early in life, or during his
childhood. Their love of life is excessive; yet they hardly ever take
the advice of a physician, or use medicines, even in the most dangerous
maladies. They generally leave every thing to nature, or good fortune:
if they do _any_ thing, it is, to mix a little saffron in their soup, or
bleed and scarify themselves; having observed that their horses use
bleeding, as a remedy for disorders. When the sickness indicates danger,
and that the universal enemy to life is really in earnest, the Gipsey
breaks out into sighs and lamentations, on account of his departure; till
at last he gives up the ghost, in his usual place of residence—under a
tree, or in his tent.
The preparations for death are usually regulated according to a person’s
religious principles; but the Gipsey, who neither knows nor believes any
thing concerning the immortality of the soul, or of rewards and
punishments beyond this life, for the most part dies like a
beast—ignorant of himself and his Creator, as well as utterly incapable
of forming any opinion respecting a higher destination.
The Gipsey’s decease is instantly succeeded by the most frantic
lamentations: parents, in particular, who have lost their children,
appear inconsolable. Little can be said of their burials; only, that on
those occasions the cries and bewailings are redoubled, and become very
violent. When the leader of a horde dies, things are conducted more
quietly. His own people carry him, with great respect, to the grave,
where each one appears earnest and attentive; although at the same time
employed in a manner to excite laughter.
This is the mode of proceeding when a Gipsey dies a natural death. But
it often happens that he loses his life by violent means—not by his own
hands for self-murder and infanticide are equally unheard of among them.
No Gipsey ever puts a period to his own existence on account of vexation,
anxiety, or despair; as, besides his unbounded love of life, care or
despair is totally unknown to him.
Even in the greatest distress, the Gipsey is never troubled with low
spirits; ever merry and blythe, he dies not till he cannot help it: this
often happens on the gallows, attended with scenes ridiculous as the most
ludicrous imagination could invent. One man requested, as a particular
act of grace, that he might not be hanged with his face towards the high
road; saying, “Many of his acquaintance passed that way, and he should be
very much ashamed to be seen by them hanging on a gallows.” At another
time the relations of a Gipsey who was leading to execution, perceiving,
by the discourse and gestures of the criminal, how unwillingly he
advanced, not having the least inclination to be hanged, addressed
themselves to the magistrates and officers of justice, with the following
wise remonstrance: “Gentlemen, pray do not compel a man to a thing for
which you see he has no desire nor inclination.” Such scenes happen at
almost every Gipsey execution, which are proofs that these people are
quite deficient in thought or consideration.