PE.EFACE. VU 



cannot be induced to take up a manual or book treating of it's rites — the looking on it being 

 deemed already contaminating. 



On this account only a high degree of probability may be attached to the translations we 

 have given, especially of the pieces of poetry. For the same reason we have added the ori- 

 ginal text, wherever we judged it necessary, so that the translation may be later confronted, 

 if necessary. The introdnction of the original text has given us, at the same time, the liberty 

 to give a free translation , as the literal meaning can be restored by every sinologue, according 

 to the original. 



Milne translated the characters No. 28 — 43 in the first octagon of his diploma: 



R %, £ 



^ ft m 



ik m & u 

 M * ft $ 



by: 



The brethern all ia battle join; 



Each ready with a chosen sign. 



An ancient brook with parting streams; 



Still flowing down from long past times. 



Milne knew nothing of the History of the league and did not know of the Kao-khi temple 

 whither the five founders fled. If he had known of it, he would have translated: 



The brethern are all marshalled; 



Each ready with a chosen sign. 



From Kao-khi ( l ) they dispersed themselves; 



And since ages this has been transmitted! 

 By which rendering the obscurity of the quatrain is, at once, cleared up. Later investi- 

 gations may, perhaps, show that we have made similar mistakes in the translation of some 

 of the pieces of poetry abounding in the present work. 



As masonry can only be explained by very learned masons, so the Hung-league can 

 only be explained by a very learned member. In the colonies it is fruitless to search for such 

 a member, for the most learned Chinese we have met with here are, on the average, on a 

 par with the most commonplace schoolmasters in China. In the latter country, it's cradle, 

 however, it would, perhaps, bepossible to lay holdof a distinguished and learned Hung-member, 

 who would be able and willing to give correct information. 



A last, but not the least, difficulty is found in the numerous allusions to the Budhist and 

 Taoist symbolism. Concerning the former, we are pretty well informed, but about the lat- 



( ] ) Kao-khi, literally translated, means a „ high brook" or, as Milne says, an w ancient brook." Here it. 

 means the Xöö-Hi-temple from whence the brethern dispersed themselves all over the Empiiv. (Comp. p. 14.) 



