Chapter XV.—The Tenets of the Esseni Continued.
But there is not one city of them, but many of
them settle in every city. And if any of the adherents of
the sect may be present from a strange place, they consider that
all things are in common for him, and those whom they had not
previously known they receive as if they belonged to their own
household and kindred. And they traverse their native land, and
on each occasion that they go on a journey they carry nothing except
arms. And they have also in their cities a president, who expends
the moneys collected for this purpose in procuring
clothing and food for them. And their robe and its shape are
modest. And they do not own two cloaks, or a double set of shoes; and when those that are in present use become antiquated, then they adopt others. And they neither buy nor sell anything at all; but whatever any one has he gives to him that has not, and that which one has not he receives.