XXXII INTRODUCTIOX. 



blood, read the treaty aloud. ( l ) This ceremony was called Shah-hiueh. ( 2 ) The drinking of 

 blood was the symbol that they were now of one blood, and would consider each other 

 as brothers bom from one womb. If a victim was slaughtered or the head of an animal 

 cut off, the idea was expressed that the perjurer might be cut off like this victim. It will 

 be remembered that with the Romans the parties swore that even as they killed now the 

 sacrificial sow, even so Jtipiter might strike the perjurer. ( 3 ) 



"With the Dajaks on Borneo the same custom prevails: Rev. J. H. Barnstein, of the Rhe- 

 nish Missionary Society, who died in October 1863 at Bandjermasin , had sworn frater- 

 nity with the KaJiajan-txVoQ, which fraternity was confirmed by the shedding of blood of 

 both parties. So he Avas enabled to wander and live unscathed amongst those wild and 

 barbarian tribes. ( 4 ) 



The society of Ash-drinkers (Téphrapotes) , erected in Italy in 1498, after the execution of 

 Savanarole on the 23d of May by pope Alexander VI, also confirms it's oath by the drink- 

 ing of a mixture of ashes, wine and blood. Three of his disciples had saved his head from 

 the stake and, having mixed the burnt flesh into a cup of wine, one of the three, who had 

 been wounded in the affray, dropped his blood into it, and of this mixture they drank, swear- 

 ing to revenge their beloved master. ( 5 ) 



Before the swearing of the oath, three cups of Avine are pledged to Heaven, Earth and 

 the Altar. ( 6 ) In the oldest English Catechism the novice is requested by the master of the 

 seat to pledge wine to the genius (funde merum genio), by which genius was meant the ge- 

 nius of the Corporation and of the league. Dr. Schauberg thinks that the custom is probably 

 derived from the Roman building corporations. ( 7 ) 



On page 117 & ff. , we see that the new members of the Hung-league are dressed in mourn- 

 ing apparel with straw-sandals at their feet and dishevelled hair. The new member becomes 

 dead for every one except for the members of the league. Not that he is, therefore, allowed 

 to discard his parents or family, — on the contrary, he ought to serve them faithfully and 

 love them even more. But the death is the symbol of regeneration as a new man, who has 

 to fulfill his duties the more strenuous and faithfully; he has only put aside his corruptness 

 and perversity, and considers himself, after having entered the league, as hew-born. ( 8 ) 



In inasonry the same symbolical meaning is attached to the death of the Master. His recep- 

 tion should be a second birth, the birth of a new man. ( 9 ) Likewise the Hung-member 

 calls himself also Sin ting , #a new man." ( 10 ) The Emperor Cldng-tang of the Cte^-dynasty 



( 1 ) Chinese Imperial Dictionary of Khang-hi, under Ming ( jjjfjt 



(2 ) lift jfil (3 ^ Lasaulx . Studiën, 216. 



( 4 ) Chinese Kepository, Vol. V, No. 5, p. 234. Bataviaasch Handelsblad, 18 November, 1863. 



( 5 ) Revue des deux Mondes, T. 46, 1 Aoüt, 1863. ( 6 ) See pag. 126. 

 (7) Symb. d. Freim., I, 601. ( 8 ) [fj {{£ See pp. 56 and 233. 



( 9 ) Symb. d. Freim., I, 633. (™) 0f ~f 



