242 Dn. Milne's Account of a f'jccret Association in Chind. 



the land and at sea. There cannot be a doubt but liis escape was j)aitly 

 owing to the assistance of his fellow-members, as a rigorous search was made 

 for him by the police. In places where most of the members are young, 

 if one takes a dislike to any man who is not a member, the others are sure 

 to mark.tliat man as the butt of tlieir scorn and ridicule. If any one feels 

 injured, the others take part in his quarrels, and assist him in seeking re- 

 venge. Where their party is very strong, persons are glad to give them 

 sums of money annually, that tliey may spare their property, or protect it 

 from other banditti, which they uniformly do when confided in, and 

 will speedily recover stolen goods. In such places as Java, Sincapore, 

 Malacca, and Penang, when a Chinese stranger arrives to reside for any 

 length of time, he is generally glad to give a trifle of money to this brother- 

 hood to be freed from their annoyance. 



• The professed design, however, of the San hu hrcinj is benevolence, as the 

 following motto will shew : 



* Yew fcih tung licang 

 Yew lio tung tang. 



The blessing, reciprocally sliare ; 

 Tlie woe, reciprocally bear. 



They assist each other, in whatever country, whenever they can make 

 themselves known to each other by the signs. 



Thirdly, Government. 



. The government (if it be j)roper to dignify the management of so worth- 

 less a combination by such an epithet) of the San-hu huuij, is vested in three 

 persons, who are all denominated t A'o, " Elder brothers," a name given by 

 way of courtesy to friends; in the same manner as Free- Masons style eacli 

 other brothers and brethren, and as certain religious societies call their 

 members bretiiren, and say " Brother " so and so. Tliey distinguish between 

 the ruling brethren thus : — t Yifi ko ; Urk ho ; San ko .- i. e. " Brother first ; 

 Brother second ; Brother third." There may be others who take part in the 

 management, where the society's members are numerous. The members 

 generally are called § Heiaig te, i. e. " Brethren." 



* See plate. No. 8. f See plate, No. 9. ♦ See plate, No. 10. § See plate, N'o. II . 



