Page:Thian ti hwui. The Hung-league, or Heaven-earth-league, a secret society with the Chinese in China and India (IA thiantihwuihungl00schl).pdf/11

 PREFACE.

It is a known fact that secret societies not only exist in China itself, but also with the Chinese in the Colonies, where they lead very often to a tacit resistance against the laws of the land, or even to revolt. In the spring of the year 1863, a lot of books were, very accidentally, found by the police in the house of a Chinamau suspected of theft at Padang (Sumatra), which proved the existence of a secret society at that place, numbering about 200 members. These hooks, containing the laws, statutes, oath, mysteries of initiation, catechism, description of flags, symbols and secret signs etc., etc., were placed officially into my hands for translation. Most of these books were, at the time, quite unintelligible to me and, as the case pressed, I had no leisure to study them more thoroughly. I requested, however, the Government to return these books to me after the decision of the case, and to place all Chi- nese and foreign documents relating to Chinese secret societies in the N. I. Archipelago at my disposal, as I hoped to be enabled, in that way, to find out the secrets of those so- cieties. Government acceded liberally to this request, and ordered all such books, if found, to be delivered to me. In this way we got, besides the books found in Padang, a Chi- nese book full of drawings, found in 1851 at Japara (Java), with the statutes of the Shan- tung-branch; a memorial concerning seven friendly societies found in Palembang (Sumatra) and a copy of Dr. Milne's account of the Triad-society.

The most valuable contributions, however, were two Chinese manuscripts presented to the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences by Mr. Teysman, of Buitenzorg, containing the whole Catechism, History, description of the rites, lodges, flags, secret signs and implements, enriched with a series of drawings; both which books were kindly placed at my disposal by the above named society.

I am indebted also to my colleague, M. von Faber, Esq., for the loan of a print on linen of the diploma of the brotherhood, obtained from Montrado, and to the Resident of Rhio, E. Netscher, Esq., for the loan of half a dozen similar diplomas. Provided with these valuable