nderfully strange. And they will
toss up Balls into the Air one after another to the number of Nine,
and catch them as they fall, and as fast as they do catch them, still
they toss them up again; so that there are always Seven up in the
Air. Also they will take Beads of several Colours, and of one size,
and put them in their mouths, and then take them one by one out of
their mouths again each Colour by themselves. And with this Behaviour,
and the high and honourable Titles which they give, as to Men, Your
Honour, and Your Majesty; and to Women, Queens, Countesses; and to
white Men, White of the Royal Blood, &c. They do beg for their living;
and that with so much importunity, as if they had a Patent for it from
the King, and will not be denied; pretending that it was so ordered and
decreed, that by this very means they should be maintained, and unless
they mean to perish with hunger they cannot accept of a denyal. The
People on the other hand cannot without horrible shame, lift up their
hand against them to strike or thrust them away; so rather than to
be troubled with their importunity, they will relieve them.

[They live well.] And thus they live, building small Hovels in remote
Places, Highways, under Trees. And all the Land being, as it were of
Necessity, Contributers towards their maintenance, these Beggars live
without labour, as well or better, than the other sorts of People;
being free from all sorts of Service and Duties, which all other are
compelled to perform for the King. [Their Contest with the Weavers
about dead Cows.] Of them it is only required to make Ropes of such
Cow-hides, as die of themselves, to catch and tie Elephants with:
By which they have another Privilege, to claim the flesh there of
for themselves, from the Weavers. Who when they meet with any dead
Cows, use to cut them up and eat them. But if any of these Roudeahs,
Beggars, see them, they will run to them and drive them away, offering
to beat them with the Poles, whereon they carry their Baskets, saying
to them, How can we perform the King's Service to make Ropes of the
Hide, if the Weavers hack and spoil it? telling them also, That it
is beneath such honourable People as they, to eat such Unclean and
Polluted flesh. By these words, and the fear the Weavers are in to be
touched by that base People, than which nothing could be more infamous,
they are glad to get them away as fast as they can.

[Incest common among them.] These Men being so