Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/123

 large as a peck measure, and his hair and whiskers were red.—In his hands, Ban-lung carried a pair of dragon maces, and his strength was equal to that of 10,000 ordinary men, he was irresistible. On the day in question, he was sitting at leisure on the mountain, and beholding a body of men and horses passing, he discerned amongst them, the banner of the Buddhist priests; being at a loss to make out the meaning of the procession, he descended to ask the reason of such an assemblage. On approaching the Army, Ban-long became moved by a spirit of justice and righteousness, and was forced to cry out; "Oh Princes, if you do not undertake the fulfilment of Heaven's decrees, and redress all the injustice that has been perpetrated against you, you are no true men. If you will not reject your young brother, I would follow in your train, and with you, rectify all the injustice ander which you have suffered so long; I scarcely dare hope that you will deign to accept my poor assistance." The brethren seeing Ban-lung to be a man of such powers, were rejoiced to enlist him, and at once agreed to appoint him as Generalissimo, and obey him as their "Toa-Ko," or elder brother. Ban-lung accepted the post without hesitation, and conducted the Army to the "Phoenix Mountain," where they pitched their camp. Ban-lung then went forward, and led the brethren against the "Chheng" army; the metallic drums of either army were beaten loudly, and the soldiers closed with each other; great was the slaughter on both sides, and after several engagements, the "Chheng" army was utterly defeated. Having gained the victory, our army returned joyfully to their camp, but the proverb says, "the planning of an affair is with men, but the carrying of it out is with Heaven." The Toa-ko, Ban-lung, again took out the army to battle, and before three encounters were over, his horse stumbling on the rocky ground, he fell, and uttering a single groan, died. The whole army, on seeing that Ban-lung had perished, exerted their utmost strength, and cutting their way through the enemy, carried away his body, and arriving at their camp, buried their general in peace. Truly this was a lamentable affair!

The Grand Master, Kin-lam, alone was aware by his powers of divination, that Ban-lung must perish about the middle of the 8th moon, and that it is impossible for a human being to escape his destiny; so going in front of the army, he exhorted them saying;

"It is impossible to elude the great account, and Ban-lung was fated to perish in this manner; our brethren must not give way to grief; it is next to impossible to restore the dead, the