"I do not conceive them to be the proper Oriental Egyptian race, at least they are much intermingled with our own national outlaws and vagabonds. They are said to keep up a communication with each other throughout Scotland, and to have some internal government and regulation as to the districts which each family travels.
"I cannot help again referring to Mr Smith of Kelso, a gentleman who can give the most accurate information respecting the habits of those itinerants, as their winter-quarters of Yetholm are upon an estate of which he has long had the management."
In consequence of this reference, Mr Hoyland applied to Bailie Smith, and was furnished by that gentleman with an interesting report, dated November 1815, from which he has given the following extracts:—
"A considerable time having elapsed since I had an opportunity or occasion to attend to the situation of the colony of gypsies in our neighbourhood, I was obliged to delay my answer to your inquiries, until I could obtain more information respecting their present numbers.
"The great bar to the benevolent intentions of improving their situation will be, the impossibility to convince them that there either is, or can be, a mode of life preferable, or even equal, to their own.
"A strong spirit of independence, or what they would distinguish by the name of liberty, runs through the whole tribe. It is no doubt a very licentious liberty, but entirely to their taste. Some kind of honour, peculiar to themselves, seems to prevail in their community. They reckon it a disgrace to steal near their homes, or even at a distance, if detected. I must always except that petty theft of feeding their shelties and asses on the farmer's grass and corn, which they will do, whether at home or abroad.
"When avowedly trusted, even in money transactions, they never deceived me, nor forfeited their promise. I am sorry to say, however, that when checked in their licentious appropriations, &c. they are much addicted both to threaten and to execute revenge.
"Having so far premised with respect to their general conduct and character, I shall proceed to answer, as far as I am able, the four queries subjoined to the circular which you sent me, and then subjoin, in notes, some instances of their conduct in particular cases, which may perhaps elucidate their general disposition and character."
"Query 1st.What number of gypsies are in the county?
"A.I know of none except the colony of Yetholm, and one family who lately removed from that place to Kelso. Yetholm consists of two towns, or large villages, called Town-Yetholm and Kirk-Yetholm. The first is on the estate of Mr Wauchope of Niddry; the latter on that of the Marquis of Tweeddale. The number of the gypsey colony at present in Kirk-Yetholm amounts to at least 109 men, women, and children; and perhaps two or three may have escaped notice. They marry early in life, in general have many children, and their number seems to be increasing."
"Query 2d.In what do the men and women mostly employ themselves?
"B.I have known the colony between forty and fifty years. At my first remembrance of them, they were called the Tinklers (Tinkers) of Yetholm, from the males being chiefly then employed in mending pots and other culinary utensils, especially in their peregrinations through the hilly and less populous parts of the country.
"Sometimes they were called Horners, from their occupation in making and selling horn spoons, called cutties. Now their common appellation is Muggers, or, what pleases them better, Potters. They purchase, at a cheap rate, the cast or faulty articles at the different manufactories of earthenware, which they carry for sale all over the country; consisting of groups of six, ten, and sometimes twelve or fourteen persons, male and female, young and old, provided with a horse and cart to transport the pottery, besides shelties and asses to carry the youngest of the children, and such baggage as they find necessary.
"In the country, they sleep in barns and byres, or other out-houses; and when they cannot find that accommodation, they take the canvas covering from the pottery cart, and squat below it like a covey of partridges in the snow.
"A few of the colony also employ themselves occasionally in making besoms, foot-basses, &c. from heath,
