52 



I have prepared this note and, respectfully , invite you to move your precious feet; 

 I expect and pray that you will instruct me, when I ara sitting on the General's terrace. 

 This night the Hung-gate will be widely opened; 



You, my pledged brethern, come hither and mount the General's terrace. 

 This night I will myself sit down and wait upon you: 

 Por it is right and proper that wè pledge fraternity in the peach-garden. 

 As a token of his commission, a sword, seal and warrant is given to the President of the 

 lodge: the latter being a small triangular flag with the character Ling ( l ) written on it. 



By art. 21 of the regulation the heads are enjoined to act strictly just, and not to take bri- 

 bes. Care also is taken that the counsellors . do not take any weapons along with them, as 

 in the heat of the discussion they might perhaps wound each other. 



The meetings are generally held on the 25th of the month, in cornmenioration of the day of 

 the foundation of the league; besides the common Chinese festivals are celebrated by the bro- 

 therhood, as: 



The Lantern-festival ( 2 ) on the 15th of the first month, when each member contributes 360 

 cash. 



The grave-cleansing festival ( 3 ) and the festival of the Gods of the land ( 4 ), when each mem- 

 ber contributes 108 cash. 



The dragon-boat-festival ( 3 ) in the fifth month, to which each member contributes 36 cash. 

 The birthday of the God Kwan ( 6 ), to which each member contributes 72 cash. 

 On the 15th of the 7th month each member contributes 72 cash. 



On the 25th of the 7th month, the anniversary of the society, each member contributes 36 

 cash. 



On the 15th of the 8th month each member contributes 21 cash for fruits, and sun and 

 moon-cakes ( 7 ) for the autumnal festival. ( 8 ) 



( i ) <& < 2 > m & m ( 3 ) it m 



( 4 ) ±. * * ( 5 ) m 1 1 m ( 6 ) m t -ml 



( 7 ) \ M %$■ formerly a sacrifice in honour of the Sun and Moon. These cakes, of about a foot 

 diameter, are stamped with the symbols of the sun and moon; a hare piling something in a mortar on 

 the moon-cakes, and a golden crow on the sun-cakes. In the year A. D. 1368 the Chinese thought to 

 throw off the dominion of the Mongols. They made a conspiration to kill all the Mongol guards on the 

 15th of the 8 th Month on the Sun-moon-cake-festival. The signal was given by a circular baked in 

 these cakes , which were sent every where to all families on this day. The massacre began, in fact, on the 

 15th of the 8th month of the year 1368, and all the mongol soldiers were exterminated. 



(Huc. Souvenirs d'un voyage dans la Tartarie et Ie Thibet. V. I, p. 84. 3d Edition. Paris, 1857.) 



( 8 ) ;JJ5^ 'fjf The cash is the copper money of China. Generally 900 are counted to a dollar, though 

 the currency varies much. 15 cash are about the worth of a penny. 



