CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 7->- 



12th day of the 7th nioon of the 13th year of the Emperor 

 Kang-hi. 



Having divined by lot for a propitious day, the arm}- celebrat- 

 ed the victory, and marched back to the Capital, On the day 

 of their return, the Civil and Military Officials went outside the- 

 city to receive and welcome the conquerors, and as the brethren 

 passed the gate of the fifth Court, a man came forward, and in a 

 loud voice addressed the 128 priests : 



u Behold the invincible heroes of the highest rank. 

 11 Their courage and valour have never been equalled. 



At the proper time, the priests were presented at Court, and 

 passed in review before their Sovereign Lord. The whole army 

 received rewards, but the Emperor specially called before him 

 the brethren, and wished to invest them with titles of nobility;. 

 but on hearing of this intentiou, all the priests excused them- 

 selves, and the Abbot on behalf of the brethren humbly addres- 

 sed His Majesty as follows. 



" Your servants having left their families, and retired from the 

 world, do not desire an illustrious worldly reputation; they only 

 pray that they may be allowed to return to their monastery, and 

 pass their lives in the cultivation of virtue by the performance 

 of good works; this being granted, they can never be sufficiently 

 grateful for your Majesty's kindness and condescension.''' 



The Emperor hearing this, could not but accede to their re- 

 quest, but at the same time he presented them with 10,000 taels 

 of gold, and having entertained them at a feast, gave permission 

 for the priests to return to their monasteiy. Kang-Hi ap- 

 pointed the Miuister, Te n Kun Tat, (who as before narrated ac- 

 companied the army as Commissioner), to the Military Command 

 of the O-Kong Province, and ordered him to proceed to his 

 new post on the same day as the priests were leaving the Capital. 



Having thanked the Emperor, the priests withdrew from the 

 Palace, and the Civil and Military Officials returned to their 

 respective Yamens. Te n -Kun-Tat entertained the priests, his late 

 comrades, at a farewell feast, where they talked over the dangers 

 lately undergone while subduing the Eleuths, and congratulated 

 each other on the splendid results of their labours. In view of 

 separation, they could scarcely find words to express their 

 thoughts, so after taking a solemn oath of mutual brotherhood, 

 they bade farewell, and each party went its way. 



Who would have imagined, that during the feast, two old ras- 



