Page:Chinese Life in the Tibetan Foothills.djvu/99

Rh Within the Rectitude Lodge there are cliques whose influence is wholly evil; these are called hui-fei, "Society rascals."

Women play a large part in the Society; leading women being called nü-kuang-kun (女光棍) or "female polished sticks." Youths have a juvenile society organized on the model of the adult Society and known as the pang (棒) pang hui or Cudgel Society. They exchange cards, make vows, conduct fights and organize petty persecutions of those whom they dislike.

Each anchorage has a ying-p‘in-hui (迎賓) with a fund for the entertainment of visitors.

The salutations of the Society are very complex. The general term for them is tiu-ch‘ien-tzŭ (丟簽字), or "casting the tally." Salutations to the chief, second, third, and fifth grades are by placing the hand on the shoulder, elbow, forearm or wrist. Between equals the salutation called "right and left twist (左右歪子), tso-yu-wai-tzŭ, is used. Thus the status of members can be recognized at once without enquiry.

A country robber is known as pang-k‘e, "cudgel guest," and the keeper of a robber's den is called (窩戶) wo-hu. Such a keeper has great influence, and may be the helmsman of an anchorage. He receives a large share of the booty. Stolen goods are hidden for a time, then taken into the capital and pawned for a term of years. Later they are dyed and altered and sold to second-hand dealers. The helmsman is nearly always acquainted with the reasons for murders, arsons and robberies in his locality and with the means used.

I have learned on good authority that many people go from home ostensibly on business, but really for dishonourable purposes, for work they can do at a distance with a good conscience, though they would not degrade themselves by doing it near home. If they should happen to relieve of his goods some notable in the Society, the property will soon be restored if he applies in the proper quarter at once, before it is sold or pawned.

It must not be supposed that only the poor and illiterate compose the Han Liu Sodality: many sons of the country