Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 239

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having consideration for human life. Now, thanks to the Gemmeous Ruler, who revoked two of his decrees, has limited the time for destruction to half a year.

In every city or town, should there have been the number of five thousand families who had repented and showed true evidence of reformation, the Inspectors of Human Merits and Demerits on duty were to be directed to memorialize (in favour of them) to the Heavenly Throne. Whereupon the Heavenly Throne ordered me, Kwan, to superintend matters connected with the Board of Pestilential Visitations, and to immediately despatch one hundred Inspectors of Merits and Demerits to each province, and one thousand spirits of the defunct virtuous and upright Government Officials and demons of the night, whose duty it should be to go amongst the human race to examine their deeds. So now we have devils and men in company with each other. Is it possible for you men of flesh to be aware of this? But demons of pestilence do not enter the doors of those who are filial to their parents and true to their friends, and you need not be alarmed if yon are (such).

I hope you unworthy creatures will remember the report made by me, Kwan, interceding on your behalf and my deepest sympathy for you. You should also remember my ardent desire in making these revelations by Planchette. Do not say that the calamity is now all over and that there is no danger. Of course, I have no right to reveal the secrets of Heaven without any reason; but I have been compelled to reveal them. Hence I have done so. I am apprehensive that one manuscript of any revelatious would not induce people to carry out my intentions, thus frustrating the object of my urgent petition. Should any one be found presuming to blaspheme concerning these instructions of mine, then small offenders of this kind shall be consumed by the fire of pestilence; and as for the great offenders I shall order my orderly Chow Chong to put them to death with the halberd, which they are not to resent. Now as 1, Kwan, am the Assistant Su- perintendent of the Board of Pestilence people cannot escape from this calamity without my assistance. I, Kwan, am an upright and just god and am not such a god as those who covet animals offered in sacrifice and worship. This being so, are my instructions to be trifled with? If you really crave my protection, let the rich subscribe their names to benevolent institutions. When I find there is any evidence of this being done, I shall be satisfied that they are sincere and true. Let those who are poor, recite my liturgy. If I find that their hearts are in accord with my liturgy, I shall be satisfied that they are sincere and true.

Should women be unable to read my liturgy, let them each morning and night burn some sticks of incense, and pray aloud, which will move me; but nonc except those who are loyal and filial, honest and virtuous, should read my liturgy. This is important. But as to those who were formerly wicked and cruel but now have become filial and faithful to friends, those who used false weights and measures and who have become honest and upright and in general have changed from all their former evil deeds, it is not too late for these classes to repent. If you are really sincere and will not deceive me, Kwan, you should swear before me and sketch out my precious halberd after the pattern given here, inserting in it the thirty-six circles which will serve as evidence of your sincerity.

Below it write the characters, "Assistant Superintendent of the Department governing Pestilences, the seal of Kwan So-and-So. These ten characters, together with the picture of the halberd, posted before the door of the house will prevent the demons of plague from disturbing you; but, on the other hand, if you, having not sworn before me and promised repentance, should have posted up my name without my authority, you shall not be treated with leniency, should this, your conduct, be reported to me by the Inspectors of Merits and Demerits. After your repentance you should immediately take the medicines I shall herein pre- scribe. In addition to so doing, burn some water purifying charins in your family wells and also throw into them some garlic and some kuin chung (medicine). This is a precaution against plague because the water (in the family wells) is becoming colder and poisonous in the plague season, to which has been added the filthy fluid from the bodies of the dead rats which has percolated into them from the drains.

Without taking the above precautions nothing will be of avail in warding off the plague. Should there be any buboes on bodies of the sick, get some sharp pointed itching taro and rub it well on the chest and back and the joints of the bones. But as there are so many forms of diseases it is not easy for common

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