386
人逗生入熟,串會外匪,入室搶劫,一經拿獲查出,張排號褂。巡緝匪類,送官究治,決不狗情。嗣後外匪不敢滋擾,內約有釀其祥和。將見俗美,風行處處。同歌舞,日昇平,坐享家家共樂堯天。是爲序。
光緒年月日
約衆公啟
A Mutual Alliance for Capturing Bandits
It has always been the case that to show respect for the upright and to drive out evil, the Imperial Court has made clear the system of rewards and punishments; while to extirpate the malignant and cut off the violent, the rural communities have similarly issued rules and regulations. Under this matchless and magnificent way, marvellous good government, and joyful prosperity with polite consideration for others these have been the lot of the common people. As public morals deteriorated however, by misfortune vicious robbers sprang up, and thieves appeared throughout the rural districts. Banditry becomes more extensive every day, disturbances are everywhere. The eye is pierced and the heart is wounded who can bear to endure it?
Yeuk remember fondly for more
We the people of this our than a hundred years we lived in peace and security, we went about our business in amity, and helped each other in guarding against enemies. We followed the way of the Ancient Kings in undisturbed peace. The track of the robber's way ended at our doors, the people were happy to cherish their neighbours, no huge dogs snarled in the lanes.
How could it have happened! Today virtuous people are forced to sigh, "Alas, today's ways are not virtuous like those of Antiquity! Men's hearts have changed! Thieves and robbers are extremely numerous. During the day it might happen that they go up to the mountains and drag off your cow: during the night it might happen that they cut your beams and break through your walls. In the future it will become an everyday occurrence that there will be open robberies at night, and every sort of dishonesty it will be difficult to overcome it! If when you plant you do not hoe, who knows what disasters will be the result, who knows how far things will sink?''