and I have seen the medal of _Nuestra Senora del Carmel_
sewed on the sleeves of several of their women.

"They seldom venture on any crimes that may endanger their lives; petty
larceny is the utmost extent of their roguishness.

"The men are tall, well built, and swarthy, with a bad scowling eye, and
a kind of favorite lock of hair left to grow down before their ears,
which rather increases the gloominess of their features; their women are
nimble and supple jointed; when young they are generally handsome, with
fine black eyes. Their ears and necks are loaded with trinkets and
baubles, and most of them wear a large patch on each temple."

Of the Italian Gypsies, the same traveller in his journey through
Calabria, p. 304, gives the following account: "The landlord of the inn
at Mirti, earnestly recommended to the servants to leave nothing out of
doors, as there was an encampment of Zingari, or Gypsies, who would lay
their hands upon any part of the baggage, that was not watched with the
strictest attention. His caution led me to an inquiry into the state of
this strange tribe of vagrants, of whom I had seen great numbers in
Spain. The result of this account, combined with those I had received
from others, is as follows:

"The Gypsies of Calabria do not contract alliances with any other class
of inhabitants; but marry among themselves.

"It is not possible to say where they reside, as they have no fixed
habitations; and consequently possess neither house nor land, but pitch
their tents wherever they think proper to make any stay. They support
life by the profits of handicrafts; but more by swapping asses and
horses.

"They generally work in iron, and make trivets, knitting needles,
bodkins, and such trifles. Their dress is extremely shabby; they shave
their chins, but indulge a great length of hair, which they seldom
disturb with either comb or scissars.

"As to their religion, it is a secret which they keep locked up in their
own breasts. They seem to have no great veneration for the Virgin Mary,
but are supposed to believe in Christ. All the proof we have of their
belief, depends upon appearances, and an occasional conforming to the
ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, in marriages, burials, &c.;
but if the priests start any difficulties, they manage the matter without
their interference, and perform the functions according to their own
ceremonies, which in many points resemble those of the heathens.