rong tree), told of
him (_lit_. across, against him), where he was hiding, so they have to
remain dead through the winter. And so we Gipsies always burn an ash-
fire every Great Day. For the Saviour was born in the open field like a
Gipsy, and rode on an ass like one, and went round the land a begging his
bread like a Rom. And he was always a poor wretched man like us, till he
was destroyed by the Gentiles.

"And He rode on an ass? Yes. Once he asked the mule if he might ride
her, but she told him no. So because the mule would not carry him, she
was cursed never to be a mother or have children. So she never had any,
nor any cross either.

"Then he asked the ass to carry him, and she said 'Yes;' so he put a
cross upon her back. And to this day the ass has a cross and bears
young, but the mule has none. So the asses belong to (are peculiar to)
the Gipsies."

There was a pause, when I remarked--

"That is a _fino gudlo_--a fine story; and all of it about an ash tree.
Can you tell me anything about the _surrelo rukk_--the strong tree--the
oak?"

"Only what I've often heard our people say about its life."

"And what is that?"

"Dui hundred besh a hatchin, dui hundred besh nasherin his chuckko, dui
hundred besh 'pre he mullers, and then he nashers sar his ratt and he's
kekoomi kushto." {30}

"That is good, too. There are a great many men who would like to live as
long."

"_Tacho_, true. But an old coat can hold out better than a man. If a
man gets a hole in him he dies, but his _chukko_ (coat) can be _toofered_
and _sivved apre_ (mended and sewed up) for ever. So, unless a man could
get a new life every year, as they say the _hepputs_, the little lizards
do, he needn't hope to live like an oak."

"Do the lizards get a new life every year?"

"_Avali_. A _hepput_ only lives one year, and then he begins life over
again."

"Do snails live as long as lizards?"

"Not when I find 'em rya--if I am hungry. Snails are good eating. {32}
You can find plenty on the hedges. When they're going about in the
fields or (are found) under wood, they are not good eating. The best are
those which are kept, or live through (literally _sleep_) the winter.
Take 'em and wash 'em and throw 'em into the kettle, with water and a
little salt. The broth's good for the yellow jaundice."

"So you call a snail"--

"A bawris," said the old fortune-teller.

"Bawris! The Hungarian Gipsies call it a _bouro_. But in German