156 Timehri. 
quarters and returned with his friends, mostly fighting men, of whom each 
Society had a large number. The fighting men of the other faction were 
probably ready and a fight on a large scale ensued and it did not take long for 
war to be declared. Things then became highly interesting especially if word 
was sent to the outlying districts. Houses were raided and burned and assaults 
committed on every side. Trade was paralysed and for a time pandemonium 
reigned. If matters became really serious the military were called out and 
peace restored so far as appearances went. The wounded were attended to, 
inquests held on the bodies of those killed and 
Tsar WHOLE MacHINERY OF THE Potice Force 
set in motion to find out the why and the wherefore of the disturbance. As is 
well known Chinese have to be dealt with through their headmen and it was the 
headmen whom it was sought to connect with the affair. But—and a large but 
too—what evidence could be obtained ? Not a scrap as a rule for who amongst 
the members of any Society would dare to give away the man or men whose 
vengeance could not be stayed ? 
So far as those who took an active part were coricerned there was not much 
difficulty. The Chinese detectives knew most of the “fighting men ” and as 
the detectives weie always in and about the various quarters, if any “ brave’”’ 
was concerned and escaped arrest on the spot he was soon followed and cap- 
tured. Flogging was inflicted in case of riot and it was noe uncommon thing to 
see a couple of dozen Celestials subjected to corporal punishment ly means of a 
rattan in the police courtyard. The rattan I may remark if wielded by an ex- 
pert, as it generally was wielded, bites rather deeply and the recipients of its 
attentions were very uncomfortable for days after. As, however, the parent 
Society paid them well, it was solace for their hurts. If imprisonment had to 
be undergone the families were supported during the period of incarceration 
and things made easy for the prisoner on his release. Things came to such a 
pitch that measures were instituted before I left for the suppression of secret 
societies. Nuw, such scenes as I have related, are, if not quite impossible, almost 
80. "There are mounted police now as well as Sikhs, in the ranks of the ordinary 
force. These men, whose introduction I advocated, are largely employed in the 
States and form the Straits Guides so well known and so justly eulogised. The 
latter are military pure and simple. 
THEIR EFFEct. 
Strange as it may seem, the doings of the harmful secret societies have re- 
sulted in the position that isnow held by the British Empire in the Malay Pen- 
insula. Larut, a part of Perak, had long been known for its tin mines. The 
Chinese were atiracted to it and the Tunku Muntri or Chief granted concessions 
at a high figure to the leading men of the two most powerful societies. With 
Kastern duplicity the same concessions after a time were granted to each. This 
as may be imagined led to a pretty state of things until at last the Government 
of the Straits had to take a hand, and at first, by diplomacy put a check to the 
warfare that ensued. This, however, could not last and eventually a Resident 
became the order of the day. There were also two rival Sultans of Perak, the 
a 
