84 CHINESE SECEE'l SOCIETIES. 



best thing" we can do, is to transform the body of our deceased 

 General by cremation, and bury the ashes at the foot of this 

 mountain. Let the place of burial be an octagonal plot of 

 ground, facing the Jim and Sin points of the compass." — This 

 was done, and in front of the grave was erected a nine storied 

 Pagoda, behind was a twelve peaked hill. The whole army as- 

 sisted as one man, and in a day the burial was accomplished 

 properly. 



The Sien-Seng, Kin Lam, erected a tomb-stone, and on this 

 tablet were engraved six characters ; to each character was added 

 the character " Sui," or water. 



After the funeral ceremonies were concluded, the Sien-seng 

 Kin-Lam, addressed the army, saying ; "Since Ban Lung's death/ 

 I have consulted the fates, and by divination, I perceive that 

 the destiny of the " Chheng" dynasty is not yet fulfilled ; if we 

 from day to day contend with the Imperialists, we shall only be 

 wasting our strength. The best thing to be done, is that the 

 whole of our brethren disperse, each man to his own dwelling, 

 and bis own province, disguising his name and surname, and 

 enlisting as many brave heroes as possible to join the good cause. 

 We will remain quietly until the intentions of Heaven are 

 changed, and then as easily as putting on a suit of armour, we 

 will restore the " Beng " dynasty, and avenge our long standing 

 grieviances. The whole army agreed to this with acclamation, 

 and all followed Kin-lam's advice ; but before parting, they in 

 public assembly, established the Thien-Te-Hui, and divided the 

 Society into five banners or lodges, inventing verses, characters, 

 and pass words, by which the members could be mutually recog- 

 nised, until the day shall arrive when they will be able to over- 

 turn the Chheng dynasty, and fully restore the Beng to their 

 rightful Empire. 



* Sun Thien, heng To. 



t Bo su, tsai Jin; Seng sii, tsai Tnien. 



