The slaughter of the mule was postponed till night, and the rest of the day was spent in the ceremonies of Andrew’s initiation.  They cleared out one of the best huts in the encampment, dressed it with boughs and rushes, and seating Andrew in it on the stump of a cork tree, they put a hammer and tongs in his hands, and made him cut two capers to the sound of two guitars.  They then bared one of his arms, tied round it a new silk ribbon through which they passed a short stick, and gave it two turns gently, after the manner of the garotte with which criminals are strangled.  Preciosa was present at all this, as were many other gitanas, old and young, some of whom gazed at Andrew with admiration, others with love, and such was his good humour, that even the gitanos took most kindly to him.

These ceremonies being ended, an old gipsy took Preciosa by the hand, and setting her opposite Andrew, spoke thus:  “This girl, who is the flower and cream of all beauty among the gitanas of Spain, we give to you either for your wife or your mistress, for in that respect you may do whatever shall be most to your liking, since our free and easy life is not subject to squeamish scruples or to much ceremony.  Look at her well, and see if she suits you, or if there is anything in her you dislike; if there is, choose from among the maidens here present the one you like best, and we will give her to you.  But bear in mind that once your choice is made, you must not quit it for another, nor make or meddle either with the married women or the maids.  We are strict observers of the law of good fellowship; none among us covets the good that belongs to another.  We live free and secure from the bitter plague of jealousy; and though incest is frequent amongst us there is no adultery.  If a wife or a mistress is unfaithful, we do not go ask the courts of justice to punish; but we ourselves are the judges and executioners of our wives and mistresses, and make no more ado about killing and burying them in the mountains and desert places than if they were vermin.  There are no relations to avenge them, no parents to call us to account for their deaths.  By reason of this fear and dread, our women learn to live chaste; and we, as I have said, feel no uneasiness about their virtue.

“We have few things which are not common to us all, except wives and mistresses, each of whom we require to be his alone to whom fortune has allotted her.  Among us divorce takes place, because of old age as well as by death.  Any man may if he likes leave a woman who is too old for him, and choose one more suitable to his years.  By means of these and other laws and statutes we contrive to lead a merry life.  We are lords of the plains, the corn fields, the woods, mountains, springs, and rivers.  The mountains yield us wood for nothing, the orchards fruit, the vineyards grapes, the gardens vegetables, the fountains water, the rivers fish, the parks feathered game; the rocks yield us shade, the glades and valleys