224 



Amulet of Laotsz. 



This Amulet is under the invocation of the famous Lao-kiun or Lao-tsz, 

 the founder of the doctrine of Tao. 



The Chinese characters underneath the Amulet mean: Pure and spotless 

 I oley the Laws and Behests of the great and suprème Lao-Jchm. 



SECTION X. 



The obiginal bases, (i) 



These verses seem to be used by the brotherhood when they wish to make known to each 

 other to which lodge one of it's members belongs. So if he wants to give sign that he be- 

 longs to the Canton-lodge, he will recite the 12 Bases of Canton. If to the Fuh-kien- 

 lodge, he will pronounce the 1*9 Base. We have seen on page 38 that 4X9 means 

 the 3rd lodge in Yun-nan and Sze-chuen, as does also 4x7. In the Canton Bases we see 

 that the verse is only made in order to conceal the real meaning which is found in the first 

 character of each line. We found the meaning of these Bases often very obscure, and we do 

 not pretend in the least that our translation is the correct one, some lines being in fact quite 

 untranslatable , and not possible to be explained without the help of a thorough initiated member. 



The 1x9 base. ( 2 ) 



— % JS 



The blue lotus heart ( 3 ); The house in peace and bloom ( 4 ); Hung obeys Heaven ( 5 ). 



( 3 ) 



2fc S 



Tea. 



ï. e 



( 2 ) i. e. A single line consisting of nine characters. 

 ( 4 ) i. e. Wine. ( 5 ) i. e. Vinegar. 



