nding peasantry, were in others quite as much in the dark; they
believed in witchcraft and in the efficacy of particular charms. The
night was very stormy, and about nine we heard a galloping towards the
door, and then a loud knocking; it was opened, and in rushed a
wild-looking man mounted upon a donkey. He wore a jerkin of sheepskin,
called in Spanish _zamarras_, with breeches of the same as far down as
his knee; his legs were bare. Around his _sombrero_, or shadowy hat, was
tied a large quantity of the herb called in English rosemary, in Spanish
_romero_, and in the rustic language of Portugal _ellecrin_, which last
is a word of Scandinavian origin, and properly signifies the elfin plant.
[It was probably] carried into the south by the Vandals or the Alani.
The [man seemed] frantic with terror, and said that the witches had been
pursuing him, and hovering over his head, for the last two leagues. He
came from the Spanish frontier with meal and other articles; he informed
us that his wife was following him and would soon arrive, and within a
quarter of an hour she made her appearance, dripping with rain, and also
mounted upon a donkey. I asked my friends the _contrabandistas_ why he
wore the rosemary in his hat, and they told me that it was good against
witches and the mischances of the road. I had no time to argue against
this superstition, for as the chaise was to be ready at five o'clock next
morning I wished to make the most of the few hours which I could devote
to rest.

To the Rev. A. Brandram

(_Endorsed_: recd. Feb. 15, 1836)

The following Translations into the Romanee, or language of the Spanish
Tchai, Tchabos, Gitanos, Callos, or Gypsies, were made by me at Badajoz
during the first two weeks of January 1836.

THE 15TH CHAP. OF THE BLESSED GOSPEL OF SAINT LUKE.

[Here follow thirty-two verses of the translation, followed by a version
of the Lord's Prayer.]

SPECIMENS OF THE HORRID CURSES IN USE AMONGST THE SPANISH GYPSIES.

[Here follow sixteen of these 'curses,' to each of which is added a
rendering in English.]

To the Rev. A. Brandram

(_Endorsed_: recd. Feb. 29th, 1836)
MADRID, CALLE DE LA ZARZA,
_Feby._ 13_th_, 1836.

The game is now in our own hands, and it is our fault if we do