A COMMUNITY OF BEGGARS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1987, 7 May 1906, Page 7

A COMMUNITY OF BEGGARS.

There is an interesting beggar community which has its abode in the pro\ince of Shluauo, in .Japan. It has existed lor forty years, and lias upwards of 800 members, among whom are many women and children. At its head is a “king,” who is more than sixty years old, and who reigns with absolute power, yet does not permit his subjects to contribute to his sustenance, but, like them, goes begging day by day. In warm weather these beggars sleep in the open air of the forests ; but in winter, or when it rains, they erect tents of oil-paper in the miming, under which they shelter themselves. In the morning the camp is broken up, everything is hidden away in chests and ini boxes, and every trace of the night halt is destroyed. Then the beggars scatter themselves among the neighbouring villages to ply their calling, assembling again in the evening to cook their food in common, to eat, chat, sing, drink, etc. They are so skilful in removing all traces of their night’s encampment that, until a few years ago, even inhabitants of the near-by villages had no Idea of the existence of this beggar community.