The feelings of the native population towards these foreigners were very diverse. On the one hand that strong sentiment of repulsion and antipathy which the Jews have invariably inspired where sufficiently numerous and organized, by their jealous love of isolation, their revengeful nature, and their exclusive habits, manifested itself with great force.[16.26] When they were free they were in fact a privileged class, for they enjoyed the advantages of society, without sustaining its burdens.[16.27] Charlatans took advantage of the curiosity inspired by their religious rites, and under pretence of exposing their secrets, acted all sorts of impostures.[16.28] Violent and semi-burlesque pamphlets, like that of Apion, nourished the pagan enmity, and were too often the sources whence the profane historians derived their information.[16.29] The Jews seem to have been generally sullen and full of complaints. They were looked upon as a secret society, malevolent towards others, the members of which were pledged to push forward their own interests at any cost, regardless of injury to their fellow-men.[16.30] Their singular customs, their aversion to certain kinds of food, their filth and unpleasant odor,[16.31] their religious scruples, their minute observances on the Sabbath, all appeared absurd and ridiculous.[16.32] Placed under a social ban, it was a natural consequence that they should care nothing about refined appearances. They were met everywhere travelling with garments shiny with dirt, with an awkward air, a weary mien, a cadaverous skin, and large, sunken eyes,[16.33] assuming a hypocritical and obsequious manner, and herding apart with their women and children, and their bundles and hamper, which composed their whole movable possessions.[16.34] In the towns they exercised the meanest trades; they were beggars,[16.35] rag-pickers, match-venders,[16.36] and small peddlers. Their history and their law were alike unjustly reviled. Sometimes they were called cruel and superstitious;[16.37][16.38] sometimes atheists and despisers of the gods.[16.39] Their hatred of images appeared purely impious. Above all, circumcision afforded a theme for endless raillery.[16.40]