OK, fair enough... did not know that. I don't think it's common practice with Romany people around here. And from what I gather (not having looked into it in detail yet) it's referring to kidnapping OTHER GYPSIES to avoid paying a bride-price, not raiding the non-gypsy community (Gypsies are hated enough in Europe as it is, do you think widespread kidnapping of non-gypsy women would be tolerated?)So the women being kidnapped would have already been living nomadic lifestyles themselves.
Also things are not always as meets the eye. Have you ever read "Black Elk Speaks", an autobiography of a Lakota man who lived through Crazy Horse's resistance? He talks about a similar practice there but it's not really kidnapping the way he describes it, although it might seem so on the surface to outsiders.
What of the other points I raised?
BTW I hope you checked the link. We need some solidarity in Guyana. We are really suffering hard in Guyana now.
Bless Up... off to work so will check forward over the weekend or next week...