CHINESE VENGEANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1928, Page 9

CHINESE VENGEANCE

TALES OF SECRET SOCIETIES. Talking of “Chinese Secret Societies”to the Rotary Club, Superintendent W. G. Wohlman, of the Auckland Po i: ee Force, told a tale o£ Oriental vcngoanco which had come into his experience. ~ Word .came to him one day, ho said, that a Chinese interpreter had been attacked'and was nearly dead. He was blinded and crippled by the tendons lin his legs being cut. His assailants, Chinese coolies, had made off followed bv the natives of the place, who brought oae of them down with a shower of stones. The coolies were placid and imperturbable when brought to justice, but one of them turned King’s evidence and the story camo out. The interpreter had been an enemy of a secret society known as the Triad, and the leaders of the society had selected the coolies to maim him. The penalty of hanging deterred tho leaders from murdering the man and they took care that he should only be hopelessly maimed. His eyes were dabbed with needles tied to the end of a pencil and purposely made short so that they would not penetrate to the brain.

The superintendent explained that secret societies of China had been formed before the Christian era, one or two having b&en introduced by the Persians. The societies had gone with the Chinese to California and to Australia. They were of two kinds, religious and political. There were many societies, including the “White Lotus,” founded in the fourth century, and revived to depose the Mogul dynasty. The “Elder Brothers” was responsible for the antiforeign outbreak in 1891, and the “Boxers’ ’tried to driye all “foreign devils front China?’ Sb.me of the others were the . of the Sun” ;tnd the “Golden Pill?’ ", • Thu Trjafl ' had for its object the placing of the 'Ming dynasty on the throne, and its origin was held in an historical legend of 10'8 inonks who saved China from rebels and for their pains had their monastery burned. The oath was strict and the punishment included death, the cutting off of ears and 108 blows. Disrespect of parents was punished with 100 blows. At the invitation of members the third finger was pricked with a needle and the blood caught in a wine cup, all present then sipping from tlie glass.