431. THE STATE OF BEGGARS IN THE OTHER LIFE

The state of those who have been beggars for a long time, and at length have taken pleasure therein, and thus from a lazy life [have acquired] an aversion to a life of labor whereby they might obtain for themselves food and the like necessities, is that they appear naked, with most loathsome fragments of garments. They seem to themselves about to be gathered together into a globe, so that they cannot be separated; thus they cling together. They have one of their numbers with a small vessel, and they beg alms; wherever they meet others, they beg in this way. I heard from them that what is said about beggars is true: that they desire nothing but money, and have a contempt for garments and food; that among themselves they live wickedly, in bickerings and the like; that they abhor work, and sometimes live luxuriously in every kind of luxury, despising money, inquiring sharply what each has obtained; that they have instituted a kind of government amongst themselves, and desire that this be kept secret. 1747, Dec. 30. Obs. The beggars here described are those who have been such during their life. Their life is like that because they have had no other cupidity.