CHINESE VENGEANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1928, Page 10

CHINESE VENGEANCE

TALES OF SECRET SOCIETIES. of “Chinese Secret Societies”' to the Rotary Club, Superintendent W. G. Wchlman, of the Auckland Po’rcc Force, told a tale of Oriental vengoanco which had come into his cx--1 Svoici .came to him one day, he said, that a Chinese interpreter had been attacked and was nearly dead. He was blinded and crippled bi’ the tenuous hi his legs being cut. His assailants, Chhmso coolies, had made off followed by the" natives of the place, who brought one of them down with a -.hc-wcr 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 tbo leaders from murdering the man and they took care that he should only bo hopelessly maimed. His eyes wore dabbed with’needles tied to the end of a, pencil and purposely made short so .hat 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 been 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 “Eider Brothers” was responsible for the antiforeign outbreak in 1891, and the “Boxers’ ’tried to drive all “foreign devils front China.” Soine of the others were the “M’orshippbfs of the Sun” and the “Golden Pill.”

■ Thu Triad had for its object the placing of the Ming dynasty on the throne, ami its origin was held in an historical legend of 108 monks who rt.vttl 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 needie and the bh.-od caught in a wine cup, all present sipping from th'.’ ;das!:.