1924-06-14 — Page 6

SATURDAY JUNE 14, 1.924

DRINKING EACH OTHER'S

BLOOD.

TRIAD SOCIETY SECRETS REVEALED,

Mysterious Ceremonies Explained.

GLIMI'SES INTO THE COLONY'S UNDERWORLD.

(By Gai Ming" for the China"Mail.)

THE CHINA

MAIL.

AMERICAN FLIERS.

STILL AT TOURANE,

PROBABLE THREE DAYS' DELAY.

More recently the societies have are brought out and decapitated devoted their unwelcome atten- the better to impress the new Lions to the uneducated classes, ones that it is their duty to lay Folice vigilance has prevented down their lives for their country. open fights and there has been After a laborious reading from nothing to be gained by one the textbook), no explanations branch storming another's head-being made even to the illiterate, "Time of departure of planes quarters. Consequently these the applicant pricks his thumb from Tourans indefinite. Depends human pests have now diverted with a knife and lets the blood on the replacement of engine to their energies to roping in new trickle into a cup of wine. Others plane No. 2 (Lieut. Smith's-the members. A quarrel will be follow suit as do the officials and leader). Estimate 3 days after the started and, the victim will be told older members present. When arrival of the new engine from that unless he pays a certain sum the fowl has been slaughtered Saigon." Lo the society, for which he will (and probably quietly handed This is the latest cable regard- receive in return the privilege of over to a cook to prepare for the ing the American fiers which membership, his life will be held supper of the seniors) and the was received by the U. S. Consul fortelt. In an endeavour to divert doils have been executed, all pre- General this morning and after- police suspicion, secret societies sent become sworn brothers in wards sent to Mr. Shaw of the have resorted to styling them that they drink from the cup of Standard Oil Company. solves as clubs, messes for-work-unch other's blood. Here is where men, and even labourers' guilly. the lapse from Utopian ideals Mysterious Ceremonies, begins. To ensure the newcomer's Nearly all of the regalia men-silence he is made to

another oath. This he does by. toned-above as being in the Museum was used for initiation burning a piece of red paper which binds him to secrecy and he is

ceremonies is that, if they are

mises. However, earlier in the handled by genuine members the Our informant continued that Societies in Kwangtung and Fukien tallow candle sticks which are evening, he has paid over a sum his father had been a Triad provinces. The monks spread their fighted will not spill oil ever in of money. If he has been strongly Society man in his time. All his doctrines assiduously, but it was the face of a hurricane. Should recommended he can get in for elder, brothers belonged to the not, till the advent of Chan Kunny stranger get in by any chance the "minimum of $2.60, $2 being same organisation and at the agenam, who has been hailed as the those present fully believe the for the society and the balance fourteen he was made a myn-Prime Minister af Trine Serteties, flame from the candle will not be for the expenses of the night. ber. None of them had any desire in their wonderful code and upright. The test is for each one Should he be in trouble and seek to become asangintes of evil really honest doctrines were set there to kneel before the candle the society's protection or should characters but because of their down in writing. He it was who and place is arms around the he be known to have money, the ewning a factory, in which all the devised all the sign language, Stick, Each fine who has beeri, sum can always be magnified to employees were secret society | passes und weird ornament's which properly initiated will pass any extent.

"If every member of the community entered a Triad Society and kept even a fraction of the thirty-six initiation oaths then the community would automatically become Utopian," said a former official of a now defunct branch of that underworld organisation -to-u-China-Mail man" during the course of conversation on the recent abnormal number of police prosecutions of secret societies. Our informant did not make the statement in so many words but that was what he conveyed in Chinese. It was impressed on him that if giving informatiqu meant violating any vows he could remain silent but he only shook his head and replied with a smile that the avowed object of the first Triad Society was the overthrow plished his vows had thereby lapsed."

swear

from. Tourane.

There is some uncertainty as to when the cable was despatched

The 'message is! preceded by the figures 10, 11 which might be the time or date.

Mr. Shaw inclines to the bellef that it is a delayed cable for he doce not think it

was waiting with the engine at Saigon more than 24 hours to reach Tourane. It is his opinion that the American fliers should be able to leave by Monday

of the Manchu (Tsing) Dynasty. That object having been accom-ceremonies. One belief about the free to leave the society's pre- would take the destroyer which

ACTORS

"J

"

LATER

We are informed by the Ameri can Consul General that enhe

I his was despatched from Tuure as opinion the fliers should leave lon 550 pm, on the fith inst Saigon to day or to-morrow

Anxiety Allayed. the. ordeal but the Many will wonder where the The anxiety felt in America as word "Triad" comes in. When a to the whereabouts and safety of person becomes a member, man or the Biers since they left Hong- woman, he or she is given the sur-kong (as evidenced in a cable name of "Hung." This character from New York yesterday) have comprises, three sections of three been allayed by a Reuler cable The name "Three from Hongkong to the effect that strokes each. Union Society," ie., Sam Hup Wui, a message from Haiphong confirms became the most popular definition their safety at the places cabled

carlier. Many and it has remained.

of the signs and movements are based on threes and there are other minor reasons.

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WUCHOW FEARS.

FURTHER FIGHTING

D1474

RUMOURED.

men, they had no option but to have also become corrupted in through join the fraternity, otherwise it course of time. That he was a stranger will cause the oil to run. would have been impossibled for brilliant scholar, there is not a It is claimed that this test has them to run their business peace-doubt as net two per cent. of the been found to be infallible. fully.

average Triad Society members! An initiation ceremony is well In course of time, he had come can comprehend even half his worth seeing if only for the weird a good deal of Triad books. Although the movement effects caused by the subdued Sariety literature and he had also had become scattered when he lights, the grotesque costumes of seen a fair amount of the seamier made his influence felt his writ- the officials and the chanting of side of the life. If anybody in ings, all in. beautiful perse, were the society's history and objects Hongkong wanted to see some soon raroruised throughout the into the small hours of the geusina paraphernalia used by a land,

The chanter gets a Even today when the morning. Frid Society he had only to visit linguage and, dialect difkulty small fee for his services and he

While on the subject it should the City Hall where an almost separates Chinese from different is known as the newcomer's complete set, including the highly-villages, and much more so. from mother in that she teaches him be recorded that the genuine Triad prized" "bowl," was kept. This different provinces, members of a new doctrine as though an Society movement has almost been was secured by the police years Triad Societies suficiently well- fant har been born. Another wiped out in Hongkong.

go in a raid at West Point whereversed in their creed can always official, who might well be styled cases have come to light of secret initiation ceremonies were per-converse by the signs laid down in the Master of Ceremonies, dona asocietins. "but there are no more formed in a certain fa every the code.

red turban and ushers each appli- tin assemblies underworld It is rumoured Sunday night. On that occasion - - - a Quaint Code.

cant in to a shriek of The Gates bullies who have no fixed premises Wong the pro-Sun general in the chief of the branch WIN Briefy, the foregoing is the of Heaven Are Open To You," etc. and act as opportunity occurs. It charge at Wuchow is collecting banished för five years, and he is origin of the movement. For a After flourishing a sword to kill is believed that three sets of forces for an advance up river in the direction of Nanning. This still living in an up-country villige time all those who joined went to all the evil spirits which may beset genuine paraphernalia got into

trade, as merchants are nervous to-day where he is the master of the greatest pains to comply with the junior in his forthcoming Hongkong in the early years. One, ruinour is considerably hampering

their vows.

These included the struggle for patriotism, he hands as already stated, is safe in the and will not ship their cargo sp equivalents of "Do unto others him over to the mother. An all. Museum and the other two lis- river. as ye would that others should do essential fenture is the slaying of appeared from the Colony after its unto you and a doctrine of which a cock which represents the keepers' nuny, vicissitudes. Trind Societies all over China- the most fastidious could be proud, traitor monk. Two dolls, one to those in Britain. America. Aus-Religion was not included.

The represent the Chinese general who tralia, etc., being merely offshoots oath of striving one's utmost in killed, his countrymen to curry of the parent organisations at "first kill the traitor the per-favour with the Manchus, and the home owe their origin to theseenting general) and then to other to represent the Emperor persecution conducted by

a thriving barrel shop and his for

aken all his old associates.

How It Began.

eradicate the Manchus of whom

An

Chinese general a couple of con- | ....(whoever might be Emperor turies ago, during the reign of the at the time) is the self-styled much-advertised Kien Lung. This hand." is, however, pred even persecution was directed against to-day in the thirteenth year of à famous monastery. in Fukien the Republic. Not only were these province. All the monks in this principles professed at one time

monastery, which was known as but they were practised the Siu Lum, were expert armed rabber on visiting a housu gymnasts or boxers. They took the occupant of which could by their turn daily to light an oil means of the podle reveal that he lamp which hung a good distance or she was also one of the alve the high altar. One of their fraternity. would always be i number who was known as Ma immune. A footpad would set up Ling-yee was rated as the seventh five stones on a road after the best man in the monastery. His fashion of the five's in a pack of favourite way of lighting the lamp cards and if a passer-by knew the when his turn came round was to answer to the query, he would go | take a flying leap with storch is free. If he could repent thei his hand and pass the light over verses relating to the formation | the wick at the top of his jump and the solution he would get an The story goes that on a China abject apology. A “brother in New Year's Day his turn came peril could always coUNT- round and he attempted his old material help from "brethren.“. Tent but accidentally kicked the There were no organized terrors | lamp over. Consternation seized as there are to-day-witness the the other monks who said that the Tong wars in cities in the United incident portended dire perils. States-one of the onths being. When the chief monk got to hear always to assist the wronged but of the matter he upbraided the to reprimand those who wrong young disciple for his carelessness even though they be one's father! and ultimately expelled him from or brother: Fraternal generosity the monastery: Not long before was another of the precepts this a certain general had incurred strictly adhered to. the jealousy of other generali through bringing to victory a dis-

So high were the ideals set astrous campaign in which the before members that the revolu verdict was only obtained by the tion against the Manchus could assistance of the monks. To end easily have become an accomplish- his prestige another general haded fact had not the movement planned a scheme to exterminate

degenerated. Petty leaders set

Movement in Hongkong.

o'n

the Inmates of the monastery and themselves up and in course of thereby eradicate his rival's main time they could not resist the support. A labyrinth of walls and a maze of passages, how temptation to put their undoubted ever, barred access to anybody Powers to malevolent uses. It is thought that wher the movement

but

those familiar with the rat obtained a footing in Hong- monastery's interior. Privations affected Ma Ling-yee's mind to kong it had degenerated to an

extent... unrecognisable

monastery.

The

such an extent that he turned societies became weapons for the traitor and for a trifling reward criminal class who preyed upon which he never lived to enjoy, he the fears of their compatriots. led the general's army into the These evildoers kept up their All but five of the monks were stition of the ignorant and by the prestige by playing on the super- butchered, these five escaping, 30 threat of numbers. There came it is claimed, by an act of the gods. a time when rival organisations, They subsequently met on the all professing to be offshoots of banks of a distant river where the parent society, came into they offered sacrifice to heaven being. They competed with one and vowed to devote the remainder another in canvassing for mem- of their lives to a campaign of bers. Each new member meant a educating the Hans (natives of contribution to the society's China Proper) to overthrow their funds besides a little cunishaw for Manchu rulers and take revenge the principal officers. Eventually on the general who had brought the rival organizations broke out about the fate of their brethren. into actuai riot on the slightest

• Brilliant Scholar.

provocation. All the oaths would Tradition has it that they be forgotten when an influential became aworn brothers before member promised a nominal sum; they departed. At any rate, the per head if the members of his ascond brother is said to have particular society carried a fight, ramained in the south and he is usually provoked on a trivial pre- to-day the "patron saint" of Triad text, to a successful conclusion.

True, (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WUCHOW, June 11.

that General

A trace of the movement also exists in villages in neighbouring provinces but joint action against the evildoers has helped to reduce their influence.

.

L1644

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ENGLISH RECORDS

W. H. SQUIRE (Cello) (DANSE ORIENTALE

THE KISS OF EUNICE(Que Vaalin 7)

Wich Piana.

WILLIAM MURDOCH,

Pianoforte.

SONITA IN G MAJOR: (enthäwn-Up.49; No. 2).

Part 1-Allegro fua non troppo; Part 2-Tempe di menuetto.

LEO STROCKOFF (Violin) { INTRODUCTION AND KONDO CAPRICCIOSO,

In Two Parta (Č. Supli-Šaena)

(Violin, "Cello)

THE CHERNIAVSKY TRIO (V and Piano

Our Wuchow correspondent writes that the Missionaries Messrs. Care and Rex Reay, are said to have be quite cheerful and to received the stores sent 'to them | ♦♦♦ from Wuchow..

FIRST RIVER BOAT WITH WIRELESS.

Photo by Mae Fong.

Blocks by Nam Sun. Built for the Tang Qn Steamship Company by the Taikoo Dockyard Co., the s.8. "Tung on" was successfully launched on Wednesday. It is the first river boat to be equipped with wireless.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR INSPECTS POLICE.

Photo by Mee Font

Block by Nam Sum.

Prizes and medals were distributed at the annual inspection of Hongkong Police held at the Central Parade Ground on Wednesday Two of the European sergeants are seen receiving, their awards from HE the Governor.

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