BEGGARS. — CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



293 



supplied with this the beggar takes his departure, and repeats the stick striking nuisance next 

 door, and so on until he has completed his daily circuit. 



Cbinese Beggar — Macao. 



It is said that one hundred of these mendicants are assigned by their king to Old China 

 street alone, which is altogether occupied by wealthy shop keeiJers. Some of these commute 

 with the beggars, by paying them a round sum for exemption from the annoyance of these noisy 

 visitors ; others refuse to do this, and hold out as long as their patience will allow, with a view 

 of wasting the time of the suppliant, who, having a right to visit all the shops, desires to make 

 the greatest number of calls possible in the course of the day, and thus be able to pay into the 

 general treasury at night the largest amount of casli. The organized beggars have their own 

 benevolent institutions, where provision is made for the sick and needy and the old and infirm. 

 The number of these well disciplined gentry can hardly be estimated by a stranger, but it is 



