A Fatal Initiation.

A . — " To fight our enemies . " Then he came to the third door and another knife was shown him . The guard said , " Is this stronger than your neck Y "

A . — " No , my neck is strongest . " After going a few yards more he arrived tit the real door of the " hall . " There was a screen inside it so that no one could see what was being done .

Presently he was told to pass in on one side of the screen . A man in fine dress whom be afterwards learned was the " Sin Sang " or Secretary was seated on a table . Beside this was a small tub of water .

When he got close to the tub tlie man standing by it was told to prick the third finger of his left hand . This he did with a needle and a few drops of blood trickled into the tub . Then he was made to pass under it- table which had flags and eatables on it , and another man " -avc him some cash . Then he was

told to step over a charcoal fire , left foot first ; and then directed to walk over three blocks of granite with each foot alternatively . Ho then handed the three cents to a man behind these who had a tray

before him ot sweetmeats , Ac , of winch ho gave some in exchange . He was then told to wait in line with the others , and he had time to east his eyes about him . While all this was taking place the " Sin Sang" gave an explanation of each ceremony .

When all the new candidates had come up , having gone through the same ceremonies , they were all directed to place themselves before the altar table . A small cup was dipped in the tub containing the water and the blood from their fingers and each had to swallow a cupful . They were then told to kneel while the Secretary read aloud from a book in his hand .

Led to a barrier in the eastern side , they were introduced to the " two generals " who keptguard at the entrance of the " Council room , " in this case an imaginary chamber , in which were seated the Grand Master , the Sin Sang , or Master of the Lodge , the Hnna-Kun ( "Red

Baton" ) , or Executioner , and some live or six Councillors . The "Vanguard" on ordinary occasions was seated as an officer of the lodge , but when candidates were being introduced , acted as "Deacon , " and brought them before the Master .

The Vanguard informed the Generals that he wished to see the Master , as he had something to communicate . They entered the " Council room , " and in a minute returned , saying " Your request is grunted . Enter ! " And now ought to have followed the most extraordinary ritual of questions and answers that any society ever

adopted or ( probably ) the heart of man ever conceived . There were three hundred and thirty-three questions to be answered , and one in each four or more consisted of a lengthy quotation or verse . It would be as impossible its uninteresting to attempt even a sketch of the whole of this astounding catechism , but the following will serve

as specimen : Q . — "Who is there before me on the ground Y " A . — "ItisThian jullung . "

Q . — " How can you prove you are Thisin ju Hung Y " A — " I can prove it by a verse . " Q . — " How does the verse run Y " A , — " I iini indeed Thian ju Huns-,

Bringing novices lo the lodge , Coming into the peach gardens lo unite in fraternity , And fervently wishing to adopt the name of 'Hung , '" It need scarcel y be said fhatonly a portion of these 333 questions are generally used in the ritual of the lodges Even in the days of which we write they had been cut down to practicable dimensions .

This was the most tiring part of the whole performance . It lasted for over an hour , and all the while the neophytes were kneeling on the hard ground . After this was over a fowl was produced , and its head was cut

off with a chopper . They were then told that if they broke their oath they would incur exactly the same fate—that hundreds and thousands of brethren would be ready to murder them if they betrayed the secrets of the society ,

They were to come to meeting whenever called upon , and subscribe to whatever amount was decided upon when cause arose . If asked for assistance to evade the law or give shelter to members accused of crime , they were to give it . If called upon lo light , they were to ti ght . It will be seen that Chinese residents in Singapore could not in those days exactl y boast of British " protection . " There was un-

A Fatal Initiation.

doubtedly ii feeling that any open abduction would lead to trouble , but the wily Chinaman knew that it was possible to do a good deal towards throwing dust in official eyes . This , of course , was only rendered possible by the facts to which we have adverted -the influence brought to bear on a man ' s family in China itself , and the concealed

sympathy of a good many of the native police with the objects of the society ., It is scarcely going too far to say that vast as is the difference between the consideration accorded to our power in 1840 and 1893 , this exercise of indirect influence still continues in almost unabated force .

I he ceremonies over , preparations were immediately made for the banquet under the leafy canopy of the forest- trees , illuminated by the fantastic lanterns of the lodge . The neophytes busied themselves in bringing to the hastily improvised tables the rice , fish , sweets and pickles which formed the principal items of the feast , not

forgetting a liberal provision of Shamshew ( lit . Sam chiew , or thrice distilled ) spirit , so largely consumed on festive occasions b y the Chinese . A bowl of rice was placed in front of each guest , while plates of fish and sweet preserves of several sorts garnished the centre of each table .

Ah-Ghec kept his eye upon hum Kwai , who was well aware that he was being watched , and pretended to fumble in such a way with a basin of rice which he placed before Lo Kwan , that his employer felt sure that his treacherous scheme would be carried out . Luni

Kwai , however , contrived to place the fatal powder in Ah-Chec ' s own portion , and with much satisfaction watched him consume it . As already remarked nobody would under ordinary circumstances have noticed the almost invisible black specks in the sort of rice

being consumed . Ah-Chee , however , having his thoughts naturall y on the matter had nearly finished his bowl-full , when ho caught sig ht , of what froze his blood with horror . He himself would die in place of his intended victim !

Not , however , if he could help it , without revenging himself ou the traitor . Springing to bis feet he loudly denounced Li Luni Kwai as his assassin , and demanded that he be there and then executed .

Luni Kwai , however , was not going to be disposed of so easily , and told the story of Ah-Chce ' s proposal to him in a very dramatic way , winding up by producing the money which the latter had paid him to poison Lo Kwan .

lhe olhcers of the lodge were at once called to order . Strict injunctions were given to let no one leave the spot , and Ah-Chee was desired to make his reply to Luni Kwai ' s accusation , which was of course met by a point blank denial . " What proof have you " said the Master addressing Luni Kwai , that the poison was given you by your towkay ( employer ) Y

" None , " Wiis the reply . " Stay , " however , he added , " I have tho paiter in which it was done up . Here it is . " It was ii piece of European paper and had apparently been torn out of a log book . It supported Luni Kwai ' s assertion but of course Ah-Chee might have picked it up in bis employer ' s house or anywhere else for that matter .

"Unit is no proof , observed Lo Kwan . "Can you produce nothing else Y " " I have a letter here I found , " said Luni Kwai , "but I cannot read much , so I don ' t know if it says anything about the matter . " The letter was handed up and Ah-Chee was visibly disconcerted . It was carefully scanned by the Muster and his assistants-.

' Councillor Tai-Chee , " said the Master , "this paper confirms the story told by your servant . In thjs letter to your friend at Canton you allude to my impending death . It bears your stump and is addressed for posting . Brethren , " he added , turning . to the other officers , "What say you ? Kwong Tai Chee . has conspired

against the Master of his lodge . What is the penalty Y " Death ! " was the unanimous answer .

" Le Lum Kwai has poisoned a councillor of the society . It is nothing that he took his life in place of my own . What is the penalty '!'" " Death " ! was again the reply . At a signal from the Master the two wretched Chinese were seized and pinioned .

A coroner ' s inquest on two headless corpses found in the jungle b y the police a , few days afterwards , resulted in a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown . So ended a fatal initiation .