141 



fought, you shall on 110 account inform the authorities of the case, whether it be serious or trif- 



ling; but a council will be held, which will judge and decide equitably, and give verdict 



according to the more or less importance of the case. It shall not be allowed to you to act 



yourself, and to inform the authorities of it. 



He who does not keep this command, but disobeys the law, most surely shall perish under 



countless swords, according to the laws of the five founders, and his head and trunk will be 



severed! for the functionaries of the Tsing-dynasty and of the Hung-league are each their own 



master. 



Art. 23. 



After having entered the Hung-league, you may not remember or cherish old grudges or 

 new enmities. 



He who does not keep this command — may he perish at the wayside, and may nobody bury 

 him! According to the law, he will be punished, besides, with 72 blows. 



Art. 24. 

 After having entered the Hung-league, if your own brother or a relation of yours, or a 

 friend, and a brother of the Hung-league, quarrel, brawl, or fïght together, you may give a 

 signal (to call the other brethern together), in order to exhort them to leave off. But if you 

 separate them forcibly, and help them (the strangers), it is a crime of conspiring with the 

 police — may you then perish in a wretched country! 



Art. 25. 



After having entered the Hung-league, if one of the brethern has a difference with stran- 

 gers, and he is perhaps accused before a tribun al, you shall, on no account, give evidence 

 for these strangers in such a case, no matter if you know them or not. 



For those who do this are guilty of the crime of conspiring with the police — may they 

 perish on the roads and wayfares! 



Art. 26. 



After having entered the Hung-league, if you see that a brother possesses lands, you shall 

 not conspire with strangers to rob him; for if you conspire with strangers, it is manifest 

 that you injure him wilfully, and you offend the statutes of the Hung-league. 



He who does not keep this command — may he die unburied! If it is discovered, he shall 

 be punished, besides, according to law, with 108 heavy blows. 



Art. 27. 



After having entered the Hung-league, if the master has appointed a meeting, you shall 

 most surely not conceal policemen within the precincts, in order to show them secretly 

 the secrets. To conceal them is to mix serpents amongst dragons. ( l ) 



(i) |[|| jjj^ y& ^ft , Manchoos amongst Chinese. 



