Ghent
29 July 1891
MR. EDUARDO DE LETE
Spain
MY DEAR FRIEND EDUARDO:
I received your letter, informed of its contents, I went to Brussels to gather the information about the matter in the government offices. This is what I was told in the Ministry of Justice:
There are two agricultural colonies in Beligum: one in Hoogstraten for men and another in Burges for women. All vagabonds, beggars, unemployed persons above 18 years are sent there. Those below 18 years are sent not to the agricultural colonies but to agricultural schools in order to inculcate in them habits of work. There they stay until they reach the age of 20. Those in the agricultural colonies are employed in the cultivation of virgin lands under the direction of a chief. They earn at most 25 cents daily. They are also employed by private landowners. Their earnings are accumulated and given to them when they leave the colonies at the end of their terms, which may last from three, six, to nine months, two years being the maximum and depending on whether they are recidivist. Many, upon being released, spend their money in an orgy and afterwards they return to their old vices and are sentenced again. According to what an employee told me, there are vagabonds and beggars who return eight or fifteen times. During their stay at the colony, their maintenance is charged to the town or commune in which they have last resided for five years, which is easily determined here. The town pays 65 cents daily each for those who can work, and 85 cents for the invalids. Those who are sent to these colonies are not criminals but vagabonds, beggars, and those engaged in selling foolish things in the streets. The criminals go to prison where they earn more, because in general, they are persons who know some kind of work. The vagabonds do not learn much in the colonies. Their work is very crude and often they are lazy, idlers, etc. In winter, their number reaches to about 4,000 and in summer, about 3,000, their number of men being ten times that of women. The food given them does not amount to much.
Here are all the data that I have been able to gather from the employee of the ministry. If you can use them, well and good: if not, write me what it is that you wish to know.
My compliments to those who inquire about me.
Yours,
RIZAL
02-635 [Blumentritt V.2]