The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7655 Message #815761
Posted By: Gurney
01-Nov-02 - 05:02 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: the travelling people by MacColl
Subject: RE: the travelling people bij McColl
Another bit of unasked-for, semi-informed information....I heard that the Gypsies originally came from the west Pakistan/Afganistan area. The difference between them and the Travellers in England is racial.
I've been inside the caravans/trailers of both a couple of times, and they were immaculate and full of glass and china treasures. The old system used to be that gypsies were seasonal farm labour mostly, travellers were dealers in scrap, both dealt in horses. As in all life, a few spoiled it for everyone, and rubbish left behind where they'd stopped made them often unwelcome.