Dr. Milne's Account of a Secret Association in China. 245 



to discover. In ■writing, it is as above analyzed ; or in uttering the sound 

 of the components, they equally understand each other's meaning. 



Certain motions of the fingers constitute a second class of sig7is ; e. g. using 

 three of the fingers in taking up any thing. If a member happens to be in 

 company, and wishes to discover whether there be a brother present, he 

 takes up his tea-cup or its cover (Chinese tea-cups have always a cover), 

 with the thumb, the fore, and middle fingers, or with the fore, middle, and 

 third Ungers, and which, if perceived by an initiated person, is answered by 

 a corresponding sign. It does not, however, follow from this that every 

 Chinese who uses three fingers, in taking up, or holding, his tea-cup, is a 

 member of the san ho hvcuy, for many of them do it from mere habit. 

 But there is a certain ■u:ay of doing it by the initiated, which they themselves 

 only know. In lifting any thing that requires both hands, they use three 

 fingers of each hand. 



They also have recourse to odes and pieces of poetry, as secret marks.— 

 (See below, under Particular 6th, " Explanation of Characters within the 

 first Octangular lines.) 



Sixth, the Seal. 



The seal is a quinquangukir figure : this, as above noticed, is one of the 

 Society's mystical numbers. From the manner in which some characters 

 on the seal were written, it is not improbable that some of them have been 

 erroneously explained. The following is submitted as the best explanation 

 of them which the writer's present circumstances enable him to furnish.* 



Explanation of the Characters at the five corners, in the outer, or 



quinquangular lines. 



1. T6o, the earth planet, i.e. Saturn; which, according to the Chinese, 

 especially regards and influences the centre of the earth ; also one of the 

 five elements. 



2. MtU, the wood planet, i. e. Jupiter, or that planet which reigns in the 

 eastern part of the heavens. 



* For an engraving of the seal, see Plate 11, No. 1. 

 2K2 



