rsons capable to
repose trust in. And when they do buy or otherways get a new Slave,
they presently provide him a Wife, and so put him forward to keep
House, and settle, that he may not think of running away. Slaves that
are born of Hondrew Parents, retain the Honour of their degree.

[Beggars.] There is one sort of People more, and they are the Beggars:
who for their Transgression, as hereafter shall be shewn, have by
former Kings been made so low and base, that they can be no lower
or baser. And they must and do give such titles and respects to all
other People, as are due from other People to Kings and Princes.

[The Reason they became so base and mean a People.] The Predecessors
of these People, from whom they sprang, were Dodda Vaddahs, which
signifies Hunters: to whom it did belong to catch and bring Venison
for the King's Table. But instead of Venison they brought Man's flesh,
unknown; which the King liking so well, commanded to bring him more of
the same sort of Venison. The king's Barbar chanced to know what flesh
it was, and discovered it to him. At which the King was so inraged,
that he accounted death too good for them; and to punish only those
Persons that had so offended, not a sufficient recompence for so
great an Affront and Injury as he had sustained by them. Forthwith
therefore he established a Decree, that all both great and small,
that were of that Rank or Tribe, should be expelled from dwelling
among the Inhabitants of the Land, and not be admitted to use or
enjoy the benefit of any means, or ways, or callings whatsoever,
to provide themselves sustinence; but that they should beg from
Generation to Generation, from Door to Door, thro the Kingdom; and to
be looked upon and esteemed by all People to be so base and odious,
as not possibly to be more.

And they are to this day so detestable to the People, that they are
not permitted to fetch water out of their Wells; but do take their
water out of Holes or Rivers. Neither will any touch them, lest they
should be defiled.

And thus they go a begging in whole Troops, both Men, Women,
and Children, carrying both Pots and Pans, Hens and Chickens, and
whatsoever they have, in Baskets hanging on a Pole, at each end one,
upon their Shoulders. The Women never carry any thing, but when they
come to any House to beg, they Dance and shew Tricks, while the Men
beat Drums. They will turn Brass Basons on one of their fingers,
twirling it round very swift, and wo