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Borrow, George Henry, 1803-1881

"The Romany Rye"


Hills, higher than anything near Spalding! Trees--you never saw
such trees! Fruits--you never saw such fruits!"
"And the people--what kind of folk are they?"
"Pah! Kauloes--blacks--a set of rascals not worth regarding."
"Kauloes!" said I; "blacks!"
"Yes," said the recruiting sergeant; "and they call us lolloes,
which, in their beastly gibberish, means red."
"Lolloes!" said I; "reds!"
"Yes," said the recruiting sergeant, "kauloes and lolloes; and all
the lolloes have to do is to kick and cut down the kauloes, and
take from them their rupees, which mean silver money. Why do you
stare so?"
"Why," said I, "this is the very language of Mr. Petulengro."
"Mr. Pet-?"
"Yes," said I, "and Tawno Chikno."
"Tawno Chik-? I say, young fellow, I don't like your way of
speaking; no, nor your way of looking. You are mad, sir; you are
mad; and what's this? Why, your hair is grey! You won't do for
the Honourable Company--they like red. I'm glad I didn't give you
the shilling. Good day to you."
"I shouldn't wonder," said I, as I proceeded rapidly along a broad
causeway, in the direction of the east, "if Mr. Petulengro and
Tawno Chikno came originally from India. I think I'll go there."


APPENDIX


CHAPTER I

A Word for Lavengro.


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