Dr. Milne's Account of a Secret Association in China. 243 



Of the laws, discipline, and interior management of the San-hb-Jvwuy, 

 the writer of this has not been able to obtain any information. There is 

 said to be a MS. book, containing the society's regulations, written on 

 chlh, for the sake of preserving the writing long in a legible state. Should 

 a detection be made, the cloth MS. may, for the time, be thrown into a 

 well or pond, from which it can afterwards at convenience be taken out ; 

 and in case of the person, in whose care it is, being pursued by the police, 

 and obliged to swim across a river, &c. he carries the MS. with him ; and as 

 the ink appears to possess a peculiar quality, the impression in either case is 

 quite legible. As they cannot print their regulations, this seems well calcu- 

 lated to preserve them from oblivion. 



The heads of this fraternity, as in all other similar associations, have a 

 larger share of all the booty that is procured, than the other members. 



Fourthly, Initiatory Ceremonies. 



Of these but a very imperfect idea can be obtained. The initiation takes 

 place commonly at night, in a very retired or secret chamber. There is 

 an idol there, to which offerings are presented, and before which the oath 

 of secresy is taken. The Chinese say there are * San shih luh s'he, i. e. 

 " thirty-six oaths" taken on the occasion ; but it is probable that, instead 

 of being distinct oaths, these are different particulars of one oath, very 

 likely the imprecations contained in it, against persons who shall disclose 

 the nature and objects of the society. 



A small sum of money is given by the initiated to support the general 

 expense. There is likewise a ceremony which they call t Kvco Keaou, i. e. 

 " crossing the bridge." This bridge is formed of swords, either laid be- 

 tween two tables (an end resting on each), or else set up on the hilts, and 

 meeting at the point ; or held up in the hands of two ranks of members, 

 with the points meeting, in form of an arch. The persons who receive the 

 oath, take it under this bridge, which is called — " passing, or crossing the 

 bridge." The yih ho, or chief ruling brother, sits at the head of this steel 

 bridge (or each with a drawn sword), reads the articles of the oath, to every 

 one of which an affirmative response is given by the new member, after 



• See Plate I, No. 12. f See P'ate I, No. 13. 



Vol. I. 2 K 



