$6 CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 



Straits, several old Tai-ping rebels. The class of Chinese who 

 flock to these Colonies, is certainly not composed of men, who, 

 either by position or education, can be expected to cherish very 

 deeply the higher principles inculcated by the teaching of the 

 Society; and as there are no patriotic aims to be attained under 

 our gentle and liberal Government, the only objects for which 

 they can strive, are those lower interests which are only too dear 

 to the average Celestial mind, such as intrigue, assistance in 

 petty feuds, combination to extort money, and to interfere with 

 the course of justice. 



It must be borne in mind, that amongst the Chinese, as with 

 the Irish in times not very remote, law has been so long asso- 

 ciated in their minds with injustice, that it has almost become a 

 virtue in their eyes to hamper and obstruct the execution of the 

 laws of their country as administered by the Mandarins. The 

 Secret Societies as at present constituted, though declining in 

 power and influence, and occasionally useful, are, take them all 

 in all, a nuisance to both the Chinese and the Government, and 

 .are continually interfering to prevent justice being done, if 

 it tells against any of their members. 



After the above remarks, no person will suspect me of partiality 

 towards Chinese Secret Societies ; it is nevertheless a ques- 

 tion whether the Thien-Ti-Hni might not with some radical re- 

 formations, be made conducive to the order and tranquillity of a 

 country inhabited by a large Chinese population. The various 

 Lodges, instead of being in a constant state of feud and jealousy 

 should be cordially united in one Grand Lodge, and, as while en- 

 joying the protection and fostering care of a civilised Govern- 

 ment, there can be no excuse for perpetuating the political ele- 

 ment of the Society, this should be eliminated, leaving only what 

 is really good and benevolent in the manual of instruction. 

 If, as at present, the branches of the Thien-Ti-Hui, persistent- 

 ly ignore and walk in opposition to their great motto, " Obey 

 Heaven and Work Righteousness," they can neither expect that 

 " Heaven will protect Hung," nor that any firm and strong Go- 

 vernment will endure their intrigues, or allow them to exist to 

 the disgrace and inconvenience of a civilised community. 



The following narrative is a compilation from several manuals 

 of instruction, used by different branches of the Secret Society in 

 Singapore and Malacca. As, for reasons stated at the com- 

 mencement of this introduction, the members of the " Hung" 

 League have never dared to put into print the rules and ceremo- 

 nies of their association, the manuscripts have been subjected to 

 much change and interpolation at the hands of transcribers, and 



