CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 9 



priest who ever received an official title, is buried ; this spot 

 belongs to the " Ang " family." 



Before the " Pavilion" doors on each side, are a piece of 

 touchwood, and a " Jewelled Eniperor"-jY90j lamp. In front 

 of these, is the "nine storied precious pagoda (91), 



Two charms are pasted on the front of the "Peck-mea- 

 sure," and the " Tau" is then elevated, and placed on the 

 West side of the Altar, the Sien-Seng repeating the follow- 

 ing stanza. 



"We have newly established the City of Willows. " 



"And the heroes of ' Ang' are assembled to-night." 



u Shields and Spears are piled np high." 



'• Overturn Chheng and then restore the Beng." — (Schlegel.) 



On the Altar, in front, or to the East of the "Tau," are 

 placed 5 cups of Tea, 5 cups of Wine, 5 bowls of Kice, 5 

 pairs of chop-sticks, the 3 sacrificial meats, Pork, fowl, and 

 duck, 1 paper of tobacco, 1 paper of tea, 7 Lamps for the 

 seven Stars, and 1 pair of large red candles. In front of 

 these, is the "precious censer,"(92) in which are five stalks 

 of grass. — and a purifying charm. 



The Altar thus being arranged, the Sien-Seng goes out- 

 side the " Ang Gate," and calling over the names of the 

 candidates, explains to them the origin and objects of the 

 Society, by reciting the history of the subjugation of the 

 Western Eleuths, as described in my last paper. 



On the occasions on which I have been present at the 

 meetings of Lodges, the master has further addressed his 

 hearers, in the following manner : — 



" Many of our oaths and ceremonies are needless, and ob- 

 solete, as under the British Government there is no neces- 

 sitv for some of the rules, and the laws of this country do 

 not allow us to carry out others ; the ritual is however re- 

 tained for old custom's sake. 



" The real benefits you will receive by joining our Society, 

 are, that if outsiders oppress you, or in case you get into 

 trouble, on application to the Headmen, they will in minor 

 cases take you to the Eegistrars of Secret Societies, the Ins- 

 pector General of Police, and the Protector of Chinese, who 

 will certainly assist you to obtain redress ; in serious cases, 

 we will assist you towards procuring Legal advice." 



Although this kind of address was n o doubt intended 



* See "Journal" June 1S7S pp. 82 & 84. 



f f, G-iok-Hong" a deity of the " Sung" dynasty. 



90 II. Ol&JffHf 92&)£ 



