spend at their festivals; for like many tribes of uncivilized Indians,
they mostly make their women support their families, who generally do it
by swindling and fortune-telling. Their baskets introduce them to the
servants of families, of whom they beg victuals, to whom they sell
trifling wares, and tell their fortunes, which indeed is their principal
aim, as it is their greatest source of gain. They have been awkwardly
fixed, both servants and the Gipsy fortune-teller, when the lady of the
house has unexpectedly gone into the kitchen and surprised them while
thus employed; and sometimes, to avoid detection, the obnoxious party has
been hurried into a closet, or butler's pantry, where there has been much
plate. Few are aware of the losses that have attended the conduct of
unprincipled servants in this, as in other respects. It may be hoped
that few families would knowingly look over conduct so improper, so
dangerous.

Many of these idle soothsayers endeavour to persuade the people whom they
delude, that the power to foretell future events, is granted to them from
heaven, to enable them to get bread for their families. It would be well
were the prognostications of these women encouraged only among servants;
but this is not the case. They are often invited into gay and
fashionable circles, whom they amuse, if, by the information possessed by
the parties, they are not cunning enough to deceive. They are well paid,
and are thus encouraged in their iniquity by those who ought to know, and
_teach them_ better. But it is astonishing how many _respectable_ people
are led away with the artful flattery of such visitors. They forget that
the Gipsy fortune-teller has often made herself acquainted with their
connexions, business, and future prospects, and consider not that God
commits not his secrets to the wicked and profane. They use not the
reason heaven has given them, and are therefore more easily led astray by
these crafty deceivers.

They generally prophesy good. Knowing the readiest way to deceive, to a
young lady they describe a handsome gentleman, as one she may be assured
will be her "husband." To a youth they promise a pretty lady, with a
large fortune. And thus suiting their deluding speeches to the age,
circumstances, anticipations and prospects of those who employ them, they
seldom fail to please their vanity, and often gain a rich reward for
their fraud.

They suit their incantations, or their pretende