CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 3 



I. The Lodge and its Furniture. 



The accompanying lithograph, taken from a native sketch, 

 gives a very good idea of a Lodge arranged for a ceremony 

 of initiation. 



Jnst inside the outer door of the Lodge is the famous 

 Ang-Kun, (19) or Eed Baton, (a staff of 36 Chinese inches 

 in length) which is used as an instrument of punishment, 

 and from which one of the office-bearers derives his title. 



So-Ang-Kuang (20) is on guard at the outer door, and any 

 person wishing to enter the Lodge,must take up the Baton 

 with both hands, and repeat the following verse. 



" In my hands I hold the red cane, 



" On my way to the Lodge I've no fear, 



" You ask me brother, whither I go, 



" You come early, but I walked slow." 



Any stranger failing in this test, ought, according to the 

 rules of the Society, to be beheaded at once. 



Having gained entry, we come to the Aug Gate*(21) guard- 

 ed on the right by Ban-To-hong (22) and on the left by 

 Ban-To-liong (23,!. 



Above the Gate, on each side, is a Flag, the two together 

 bearing characters meaning, " The barriers are open, the 

 way is clear" (24), and on the lintels is the couplet; 



" Situate in the Ko range, where the Khe hills have branched forth 

 for ages.* 



" The Gate looks towards the great Ocean, into which the united 

 waters of the" three rivers,f have flowed during myriads of years. 



The nexfa stage, is the " Hall of Sincerity and Justice," 

 (25) guarded by Te n -Ki-iu (26) on the right, and Tan-Teng- 

 Seng (27) on the left. The two flags above, have the inscrip- 

 tion, "Dissipate revenge, and put away all malice" (28). 

 There is also on each side, a horizontal sentence, " Two 

 dragons disputing over a Pearl," (29) and "Overturn the 

 " Chheng restore tJie Beng " on 



On the door-posts is the antithetic couplet : — 



" Though a man be not a relation, if he be just, he is worthy of all 

 honour. 



" A friend, if he be found destitute of honour, ought to be repudia- 

 ted." 



The next step takes us to the "City of Willows," (30) at 



*. Ko-Khe is the name of the Temple where the 5 priests found a refuge. 

 f Sam Ho. 



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21 w pi 24 m n « 27 mmm ^ *%*m 



