ciiink.se cu'iis. 



■2\7 



cither lie little or no excise revenue, or the greatest 

 share of (hut would l:<> to the c hit f <>!* the whole ; 

 who would no doubt become the farmer. As it is, 

 tiit- member^ o»"any one eongsi will never inform, or 

 give true evidence, against each othrr. 



The Chinese at liattu Kawan Mlga? -plantation* 

 m Province Wellesley, nearly all belong to one 

 congsi. Tie) were very turbulent before 1829, 

 having turned out on several occasions to the sound 

 ef the buffalo horn, against the civil power. They 

 were then armed with I* mi;* wooden spears, 1he ends 

 of Mhieh were hardened in the fire and also w ith 

 iron missiles, resemblinga trident, the inner prong being 

 longer than ihe other two. They have long sinee 

 diseovered that fighting would he a loosing game, 

 and have subsided into comparatively quiet p!anler>; 

 yet it is well known that their chief derives a large 

 mini -.early from keeping a gaming house. 



But the Chinese have also congsis of a more harm- 

 t« £fe nature and of a truer masonic character. I he 

 initiatory rites are involved in as impenetrable obs- 

 curity as those of their western brethren. The mem- 

 bers receive, when duly qualified, a diploma, which 

 consists of certain secret or cabalistic characters writ- 

 ten on red cloth. The members have likewise a pe- 

 culiar phraseology, and certain signs, by which tltey 

 can make themselves known. The gait, the mode 

 of depositing the umbrella on entering a house, are 

 two of these signs.* 



The members of such a congsi are pledged to af- 

 ford aid to each othrr on all occasions and in distant 

 lands. It is lietieved that were a Chinese here to be- 

 tray ihe secrets of his eou*gi, he would certainly bc 

 nturdered. It is said, that amongst the ceremonies 

 attending the initiatory oath for the more equivocal 

 congsis, blood is let from the arm of the new brother. 



