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together for the avowed purpose of dethroning the Manchu-Tartar dynasty, which has now reigned over China for above two hundred years, and of restoring a native Chinese dynasty. Of course, like other Secret Societies elsewhere, the Triad society has hosts of adherents whose main object is general rapine, like that of the Taiping rebels, who desolated whole provinces after the second Chinese War, until they were put down by Li Hung Chang, with the aid of Colonel (commonly known as "Chinese") Gordon. As I have remarked on previous occasions, one of the main reasons which causes the Chinese Government to avoid war, if possible, with a European Power, is the fear that advantage may again be taken by the Secret Societies and by the disorderly classes, of foreign war to raise internal rebellion.
To return to Hongkong.
6.
It is a remarkable fact that a deputation of the principal Chinese merchants