Part 6 (1/2)

”Query 4th. _Are any of their children taught to read_, _and what proportion of them_? _With any anecdotes respecting their customs and conduct_.

”D. Education being obtained at a cheaper rate, the Gypsies in general, give their male children as good a one, as is bestowed on those of the labouring people and farm servants in the neighbourhood; such as reading, writing, and the first principles of arithmetic. They all apply to the clergyman of the parish for baptism to their children, and a strong superst.i.tious notion universally prevails with them, that it is unlucky to have an unchristened child long in the house. Only a very few ever attend divine service, and those as seldom as they can, just to prevent being refused as sponsors at their children's baptism.

”They are in general, active and lively, particularly when engaged in field sports; or in such temporary pursuits as are agreeable to their habits and dispositions; but are dest.i.tute of the perseverance necessary for a settled occupation, or even for finis.h.i.+ng what a moderate degree of continued labour, would enable them to accomplish in a few weeks.”

NOTES

_By_ WM. SMITH, _intended to elucidate his answers to the Queries_ A _and_ B, _on their licentious liberty_.

”I remember that about 45 years ago, being then apprentice to a writer, who was in use to receive the rents as well as the small duties of Kirk Yetholm, he sent me there with a list of names, and a statement of what was due; recommending me to apply to the landlord of the public-house, in the village, for any information or a.s.sistance which I might need.

”After waiting a long time, and receiving payment from most of the feuers, or rentallers, I observed to him that none of the persons of the names of Faa, Young, Blythe, Fleckie, &c. who, stood at the bottom of the list for small sums, had come to meet me, according to the notice given by the Baron Officer; and proposed sending to inform them that they were detaining me, and to request their immediate attendance.

”The landlord, with a grave face, inquired whether my master had desired me to ask money from those men. I said, not particularly; but they stood on the list. ”So, I see,” said the landlord, ”but had your master been here himself, he did _not dare to ask money from them_, _either as rent_, _or feu duty_.-_He knows that it is as good as if it were in his pocket_.

_They will pay when their own time comes_, _but do not like to pay at a set time with the rest of the Barony_; _and still less to be craved_.”

”I accordingly returned without their money, and reported progress. I found that the landlord was right; my master said with a smile, that it was unnecessary to send to them, after the previous notice from the Baron Officer; it was enough if I had received the money, if offered.-Their rent and feu duty was brought to the office in a few weeks. I need scarcely add, those persons all belonged to the tribe.

”Another instance of their licentious, independent spirit, occurs to me.

The family of Niddry always gave a decent, annual remuneration to a Baron Baillie, for the purpose of keeping good order within their Barony of Town Yetholm. The person whom I remember first in possession of that office, was an old man called Doctor Walker, from his being also the village surgeon; and from him I had the following anecdote:-

”Between Yetholm and the border farms in Northumberland, there were formerly, as in most border situations, some uncultivated lands called the _Plea lands_, or _Debateable lands_, the pasturage of which was generally eaten up by the Sorners and vagabonds on both sides of the marches.

”Many years ago, Lord Tankerville and some other of the English borderers, made their request to Sir David Bennet, and the late Mr.

Wauchope of Niddry, that they would accompany them at a _riding_ of the Plea lands, who readily complied with their request. They were induced to this, as they understood that the Gypsies had taken offence, on the supposition that they might be circ.u.mscribed in the pasture for their shelties and a.s.ses, which they had held a long time, partly by stealth, and partly by violence.

”Both threats and entreaties were employed to keep them away; and, at last, Sir David obtained a promise from some of the heads of the gang, that none of them should show their faces on the occasion.

”They, however, got upon the hills at a little distance, whence they could see every thing that pa.s.sed. At first they were very quiet. But when they saw the English Court Book Spread out on a cus.h.i.+on before the clerk, and apparently taken in a line of direction, interfering with what they considered to be their privileged ground, it was with great difficulty that the most moderate of them, could restrain the rest from running down, and taking vengeance, even in sight of their own Lord of the Manor.

”They only abstained for a short time, and no sooner had Sir David, and the other gentleman taken leave of each other in the most polite and friendly manner, as border chiefs are wont to do, since border feuds ceased, and had departed to a sufficient distance, than the clan, armed with bludgeons, pitch-forks, and such other hostile weapons as they could find, rushed down in a body; and before the chiefs on either side had reached their home, there was neither English tenant, horse, cow, nor sheep left upon the premises.

”Notes on Answers C and D.

”_Peculiar cast of_ GYPSEY FEATURES, _every where distinguishable_, &c.

”When first I knew any thing about the colony, old Will Faa was king, or leader, and had held the sovereignty for many years.

”Meeting at Kelso with Mr. Walter Scott, whose discriminating habits and just observations I had occasion to know from his youth, and at the same time seeing one of my Yetholm friends in the horse market, I merely said to Mr. Scott, ”Try to get before that man with the long drab coat, look at him on your return, and tell me whether you ever saw him, and what you think of him.” He was so good as to indulge me; and rejoining me said without hesitation, ”I never saw the man that I know of; but he is one of the Gypsies of Yetholm, that you told me of several years ago.” I need scarcely say that he was perfectly correct.

”The descendants of Faa, now take the name of _Fall_, from the Messrs.

Falls, of Dunbar, who, they pride themselves in saying, are of the same stock and lineage. When old Will Faa was upwards of eighty years of age, he called on me at Kelso, in his way to Edinburgh, telling that he was going to see the Laird, the late Mr. Nesbit, of Dirleton, as he understood that he was very unwell, and himself being now old, and not so stout as he had been, he wished to see him once more before he died.