BEGGAR CHIEFS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 30, Issue 9182, 15 September 1899, Page 6

BEGGAR CHIEFS.

One of the most peculiar and interesting figures in Chinese social life is the beggar chief.; and no less peculiar and interesting, both as to methods and personal appearance, are the-members of the motley organisation of mendicants over whom he reigns absolutely. The idea of organising the tramps of English districts into an orderly body, obedient to the commands of one man, and making tbein, to some, extent, useful members of the community, has probably never been seriously entertained iu this country. The beggar chief is an autocrat in his ' sphere. He may be said to combine in himself the two functions of protector-general of the public from the too persistent demands of the mendicant, and controller and almoner of the sorry specimens of humanity over whom he wields an effective and unquestionable sway. . . ■ . , He is required to pay a sum equivalent to about £25 to. every newly-appointed Tung Hwan Prefect, as a humble testimonial of his allegiance to the high authority from whom his badge of office emanates; and when this requirement has been duly fulfilled he is allowed to exercise the prerogatives of his position without fear of interference on the • part of the Government officials in the dis-trict'a-ssigned to him-. His.authority over 1 the beggars is absolutely unlimited, and they" obey his orders without hesitation or sign of . protest. , TO GET BID OF ■ THE BBGG'AHS.' ' *' The office-is hereditary, so long as the .tribute is paid ; but the immediate progeny of the incumbent are debarred from the'erijoy- . ment of any literary degree-.". Why this con- ' dition is exacted is not quite clear, but it is certain that no descendant of a beggar chief . has e"ver held <i literary degree. However, tha.other privileges enjoyed by him are so v.attractive and the income in so substantial that he probably does not worry much over ■ this one privation. How does he secure his.income ? From the merchants and tradespeople, who know that, unless they procure from the beggar chief, • on or before .New Year's Day, a " holo twa," or " paesport of safety " their Bhops or ■ ♦' hongs " will-be infested almost constantly by a horde of boisterous, impudent, importunate s-agabonds, ho will.-drive away -customers and damage the stock of goads without hindrance from the..regular authorities of the district. ? But, with the ••" holo twa," which is surrounded by the halo of -unquestionable authority which the official of the Tung , Hwan perfecture and those' of his six satel- ,, lites impart to it, posted in front of his door, heis comparatively safe from annoyance. Still he is not entirely so, for occasionally abeggar will call upon him fyr.a. small contribution, which he usually gives. But he is not liable to have a crowd of from 25 to 100 beggars invade his shop at one time.and take complete possession of it. There is no regu • lar price for this precious document; the beggar chief exacts a fsiim which, in his . opinion, the merchant ought to pay. It he ' does not pay it freely and willingly, but hesitates and haggles over it, it is increased slightly as a reminder that he is expected to follow business principles. If he is wise and experienced, he will pay it promptly aud • without any manifestations of protest. ' If, • - before the expiration of the year, the holder . of the " holo twa " removes his place of business to the district of another beggar chief he must pay another fee and without ' rebate.

When a marriage occurs in a wealthy family, followed by the imposing bridal procession or public Btrcet theatrical performance, a fee must be paid to the beggar chief to secure • immunity from the intrusion of beggars. If this fee is not paid an army of verihiuridden pestiferous vagrants assemble in front of the house or join the bridal procession, and, being naturally endued with a strong proclivity to mischief, indulge in all sorts of riotous and offensive conduct. Before permission is granted for the carrying of a coffin through the streets, with all the grotesque paraphernalia of a Chinese funeral procession, so fashionable among the classes, the beggar chief must be propitiated by the payment of such a sum of money as he may demand. A tax is also imposed on all coffins arriving from a foreign country, the consignees of these objectionable shipments having to pay the chief before the coffin is allowed to land. THE BEGGABS' GUILD. Once a month, on a day suited to the convenience of the chief, he assembles all the beggars of his district at the " Khfchia .Tan," or rendezvous, and distributes alms amon" them; ;each receiving a sum commensurate with his personal merits and obedience to orders. The Beggars' Guild is divided into two classes, called " Cono " and "Divan." Under the former head are included orphans, the decrepit, and those unforiunato creatures .„ who, through senile debility or physical deformity, the result of accident or a freak of. nature, aro incapacitated from earning a ■ living. These beggars receive a card from the Tung Hwan prefecture, with the name and age of the holder fully inscribed on it, togel her with a description of his affliction and the manner in which it was brought about. Divans aro exiles from other provinces; cast adrift 'from the secure anchorage of settled life by a general calamity, such aB famine, inundation, tho prevalence of a dangerous epidemic, or tho ;ommisßion of a crime which mado it unwise for them to remain in their nativo place. Among tho Conos are the self-torturers, hale, hearty creatures who inflict wounds upon their own persons for the purpose of exciting sympathy of passers-by. There are also in this class the "Too-fin" or "crookednosed," whose methods aro sometimes very ludicrous. By persistent practice the Too-fin deforma hia noi<o so that ho is able to hold on it, an an wieldly piece of furniture, such a's'a'i heavy chair, stool or table. Whenever he enters a shop and fails to wheedle from the merchant c, tow "cash" he lays hold ' ofa valuablo-'article, balances it on his nose and whirls it rapidly. The merchant lookson aghast, exacting every minute that it. will fir off the centre and hurl itself among his fitock. Fearful of such a result, he pleadsfor a cessation of the perforniance' and pays over n small sum of money, which the begg»r accepts with thanks and.a.Bigrjiijcant E 1 "' 0 - ', .'-..- But tho beggars-' guild is of ton 1 of ' great norvico to certain local officials whenmen-are' nteded to make an imposing shpw. Ojn the occjwrion of a review held by the Viceroy' on nccesnarT to demonstrate, that'tho responflibla < Picers aro maintaining'an adequate foic» to protect tho district, tho beggar chief* aro called upon to furnish the required number of men to fill the uniforms kept'on liAtid and .to march in the review... Thus tetcral hundred . sturdy incudieants bqcqme,. for ihe time; gallant' defenders'*6f the cm-, p'.re. But when tho reviewing officer'loavesthe district they, return to ,their former haunts," and the uniforms are packed away for uso'at a future review. . ' ' ' ; ' 1 " : . ■