74 CHINESE SEGEET SOCIETIES. 



cally Officials who had not returned with rest to their Yamen, 

 had introduced themselves amongst the company, and heard every- 

 thing*. The names of these Officers were Tiu n -Kien-Chhiu, 

 and Tan-Hiong, both were of the highest rank of Prefect, 

 and were on very bad terms with Kun-Tat, whom they had for 

 a longtime wished to ruin. Te n -Kun-Tat, was however a most 

 honourable and much respected man, and as yet they had not 

 been able to bring- any charge against, him. The two Officials 

 had now seen him pledge himself to the priests by a solemn oath 

 •of brotherhood, so full of the affair, they returned to their 

 Yamens, and concerted a most treacherous scheme. 



The next morning they obtained an Audience of the Em- 

 peror, and petitioned His Majesty as follows. 



" In your servant's opinion, the priests of the Siau-Lim mo- 

 nastery, by thus subduing the Eleuths, as easily as one could put 

 on a suit of armour, have covered themselves with glory, and 

 deserve to be handed down as heroes to thousands of generations. 

 Truly these men are as fierce as wolves, and courageous as tigers; 

 if their hearts only remain unchanged, then the Government will 

 be safe and we may rest in peace ; but on the contrary, if their 

 minds should change, then indeed the State will be endanger ed." 



" Besides this, Te 11 -Kun-Tat a man full of craft and intrigue, 

 has cherished schemes of ambition and rebellion, but not having 

 resources or power, and being' also without confederates, he has 

 not as vet dared to shew openly disaffection." 



" Now, however, he has obtained an oath of life and death, from 

 the priests, and your Majesty has given him command over, and 

 the power of 10,000 soldiers; truly he is now as a tiger with 

 the additional strength of wings, and as a fierce fire increased 

 by oil; — he will immediately carry into practice his ambitious 

 schemes, and the priests will respond to his call without fail. 

 With all these auxiliaries, who will be able to oppose a man of 

 such wolf-and-tiger-like disposition ?" 



"Your ministers having pondered over this matter, are most 

 anxious, and at the risk of their lives, must represent the state 

 of things to your Majesty; they beg that you will carefully en- 

 quire into the case, and avoid the necessity of repenting when 

 it shall be too late." 



The Emperor being deceived by the specious words of these two 

 men, praised their zeal and fidelity in representing the affair, and 

 immediately demanded- of the nobles if they had any good scheme 



