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oks that the unassisted human faculties are inadequate to read。 The members appear to be designated by a considerable diversity of names； according to their various places of establishment： in England they are generally called the _Drudge_ Sect； also； unphilosophically enough； the _White Negroes_； and； chiefly in scorn by those of other communions； the _Ragged…Beggar_ Sect。 In Scotland； again； I find them entitled _Hallanshakers_； or the _Stook of Duds_ Sect； any individual communicant is named _Stook of Duds_ （that is； Shock of Rags）； in allusion； doubtless； to their professional Costume。 While in Ireland； which； as mentioned； is their grand parent hive； they go by a perplexing multiplicity of designations； such as _Bogtrotters； Redshanks； Ribbonmen； Cottiers； Peep…of…Day Boys； Babes of the Wood； Rockites； Poor…Slaves_： which last； however； seems to be the primary and generic name； whereto； probably enough； the others are only subsidiary species； or slight varieties； or； at most； propagated offsets from the parent stem； whose minute subdivisions； and shades of difference； it were here loss of time to dwell on。 Enough for us to understand； what seems indubitable； that the original Sect is that of the _Poor…Slaves_； whose doctrines； practices； and fundamental characteristics pervade and animate the whole Body； howsoever denominated or outwardly diversified。
〃The precise speculative tenets of this Brotherhood： how the Universe； and Man； and Man's Life； picture themselves to the mind of an Irish Poor…Slave； with what feelings and opinions he looks forward on the Future； round on the Present； back on the Past； it were extremely difficult to specify。 Something Monastic there appears to be in their Constitution： we find them bound by the two Monastic Vows； of Poverty and Obedience； which vows； especially the former； it is said； they observe with great strictness； nay； as I have understood it； they are pledged； and be it by any solemn Nazarene ordination or not； irrevocably consecrated thereto； even _before_ birth。 That the third Monastic Vow； of Chastity； is rigidly enforced among them； I find no ground to conjecture。
〃Furthermore； they appear to imitate the Dandiacal Sect in their grand principle of wearing a peculiar Costume。 Of which Irish Poor…Slave Costume no description will indeed be found in the present Volume； for this reason； that by the imperfect organ of Language it did not seem describable。 Their raiment consists of innumerable skirts； lappets and irregular wings； of all cloths and of all colors； through the labyrinthic intricacies of which their bodies are introduced by some unknown process。 It is fastened together by a multiplex combination of buttons； thrums and skewers； to which frequently is added a girdle of leather； of hempen or even of straw rope； round the loins。 To straw rope； indeed； they seem partial； and often wear it by way of sandals。 In head…dress they affect a certain freedom： hats with partial brim； without crown； or with only a loose； hinged； or valve crown； in the former case； they sometimes invert the hat； and wear it brim uppermost； like a university…cap； with what view is unknown。
〃The name Poor…Slaves seems to indicate a Slavonic； Polish； or Russian origin： not so； however； the interior essence and spirit of their Superstition； which rather displays a Teutonic or Druidical character。 One might fancy them worshippers of Hertha； or the Earth： for they dig and affectionately work continually in her bosom； or else； shut up in private Oratories； meditate and manipulate the substances derived from her； seldom looking up towards the Heavenly Luminaries； and then with comparative indifference。 Like the Druids； on the other hand； they live in dark dwellings； often even breaking their glass windows； where they find such； and stuffing them up with pieces of raiment； or other opaque substances； till the fit obscurity is restored。 Again； like all followers of Nature…Worship； they are liable to out…breakings of an enthusiasm rising to ferocity； and burn men； if not in wicker idols； yet in sod cottages。
〃In respect of diet； they have also their observances。 All Poor…Slaves are Rhizophagous （or Root…eaters）； a few are Ichthyophagous； and use Salted Herrings： other animal food they abstain from； except indeed； with perhaps some strange inverted fragment of a Brahminical feeling； such animals as die a natural death。 Their universal sustenance is the root named Potato； cooked by fire alone； and generally without condiment or relish of any kind； save an unknown condiment named _Point_； into the meaning of which I have vainly inquired； the victual _Potatoes…and…Point_ not appearing； at least not with specific accuracy of description； in any European Cookery…Book whatever。 For drink； they use； with an almost epigrammatic counterpoise of taste； Milk； which is the mildest of liquors； and _Potheen_； which is the fiercest。 This latter I have tasted； as well as the English _Blue…Ruin_； and the Scotch _Whiskey_； analogous fluids used by the Sect in those countries： it evidently contains some form of alcohol； in the highest state of concentration； though disguised with acrid oils； and is； on the whole； the most pungent substance known to me；indeed； a perfect liquid fire。 In all their Religious Solemnities； Potheen is said to be an indispensable requisite； and largely consumed。
〃An Irish Traveller； of perhaps common veracity； who presents himself under the to me unmeaning title of _The late John Bernard_； offers the following sketch of a domestic establishment； the inmates whereof； though such is not stated expressly； appear to have been of that Faith。 Thereby shall my German readers now behold an Irish Poor…Slave； as it were with their own eyes； and even see him at meat。 Moreover； in the so precious waste…paper sheet above mentioned； I have found some corresponding picture of a Dandiacal Household； painted by that same Dandiacal Mystagogue； or Theogonist： this also； by way of counterpart and contrast； the world shall look into。
〃First； therefore； of the Poor…Slave； who appears likewise to have been a species of Innkeeper。 I quote from the original：
POOR…SLAVE HOUSEHOLD。
〃'The furniture of this Caravansera consisted of a large iron Pot； two oaken Tables； two Benches； two Chairs； and a Potheen Noggin。 There was a Loft above （attainable by a ladder）； upon which the inmates slept； and the space below was divided by a hurdle into two Apartments； the one for their cow and pig； the other for themselves and guests。 On entering the house we discovered the family； eleven in number； at dinner： the father sitting at the top； the mother at the bottom； the children on each side； of a large oaken Board； which was scooped out in the middle； like a trough； to receive the contents of their Pot of Potatoes。 Little holes were cut at equal distances to contain Salt； and a bowl of Milk stood on the table： all the luxuries of meat and beer； bread； knives and dishes were dispensed with。' The Poor…Slave himself our Traveller found； as he says； broad…backed； black…browed； of great personal strength； and mouth from ear to ear。 His Wife was a sun…browned but well…featured woman； and his young ones；