“I shall now subjoin a short parallel between the Gypsies of Europe, and the people I have described. Both the _Gypsies_ and the _Nuts_ are generally a wandering race of beings, seldom having a fixed habitation. They have each a language peculiar to themselves. That of the Gypsies is undoubtedly a species of Hindostanie; as well as that of the Nuts. In Europe, it answers all the purposes of concealment.
“The Gypsies have their King, the Nuts their _Nardar Boutoh_; they are equally formed into companies, and their peculiar employments are exactly similar; dancing, singing, music, palmistry, &c. They are both considered as thieves; at least that division of the Nuts, whose manners come nearest the Gypsies.—In matters of religion they appear equally indifferent, and as to food, we have seen that neither the Gypsies nor the Budee’a Nuts are very choice.
“Though, in the Encyclopædia Britannica, Grellmann’s Theory is thought slightly of, the similarity of language being deemed but inconclusive evidence; yet in this instance, and even in opposition to such authority, I will venture to consider it, as forming a basis of the most substantial kind. It is not the accidental coincidence of a few words, but the whole vocabulary he produces, differs not so much from the common Hindostanie, as provincial dialects of the same country do from each other.
“Grellmann, from a want of knowledge in the Hindostanie; as to its provincial dialects, lost many opportunities of producing the proper word in comparison with the Gypsey one.
“The following list of words was taken from the Annual Register of 1784, or 1785, with a few I have now subjoined from Grellmann.—In some of the instances where he has failed of producing the corresponding Hindostanie word, the supply of them will, I hope, prove the language of the Gypsies, and that of Hindostan to be the same, or very intimately connected with each other.
Bebee Beebe Aunt, _a respectful feminine termination from baba_, _Father_.
Captain Richardson continues the list through four pages.
It has been already stated, in the Introduction to this work, that the author visited an encampment of Gypsies. It consisted of five tents, situated near Rushden, within two miles of the pleasant town of Higham Ferrers. He did not reconnoitre the camp till about mid-day, having been informed that by this time, it was probable, the able-bodied persons of both sexes would be drawn off to a feast and a fair, in different situations, not very distant. It proved so; there were only two women, three children, and an infant remaining in the tents; which were the residence of several branches of the numerous families of Smith, and Loversedge, names well known in the county of Northampton.