The arrival of ‘real’ English Gypsies was an opportunity for McCormick to test his knowledge of the Romany language.
I naturally enquired whether Mrs C (shown here with the milk can) spoke the Romani language.
“Is it really a language?” I enquired.
“Oh, yes; it is not jargon like what tinklers, potters, and showmen speak. We have names for almost everything, but we don’t like outsiders to get to know our language.”