The Govern or of Chekiang states that in quence of the vigilance displayed by the High Authorities of Kiangsu and Anhui, numbers of Kolao Hui have essay into Chekiang, and the Prefecture of Huchow which borders on Kiangsu has been particularly infested with these lawless characters. Early last June two men named Ya and Huang came and surrendered themselves to the: magistrate of Anchi Hsien. They said that they had been deluded. into joining the Kolao Hui, but.had repented and wished to give up their tickets in order to sever their connection with the society. The local chief of it, one Liu Yi-kuei, hav-
offhand beat them cruelly. The Magistrate.
per of their intention, carried them thereupon sent some troops to arrest Liu Yii-kuei. With the help of his followers he made a vigorous resistance, but, he was surrounded by the soldiers and secured though his mien all managed. to escape. About the same time a man named Pen, was taken with a number of flags an tickets, and another member, Mi, was caught in Wuch'ang Hsien. By the Governor's orders all the prisoners were sent to Huchow Fu for trial.
Liu Yii-kuei stated that he was a Hupeh man and had served in the army. An old acquaintance of his, Hu Ming-yang, had enrolled him as a member of the Kolao Hwvi, the branch which he joined being called that of the Chunghua Mountain, They had secret passwords by which confederates could be recognised. On account of his military experience he was made "Fifth Ensign." He was afterwards promoted to be military commander in a new branch, and was given flags and tickets. These he distributed for money, which he spent for his own use. He anda number of companions had plundered the crops of a man who would not join the society, selling the corn and dividing the proceeds. Tt was true that he had carried off the two men Ya and Huang, who wished to quit the society. He sat in judgment on them and punished them by scourging. He had burnt all compromising articles when he learnt that he was likely to be arrested.
The second prisoner, Peng, had a very similar story to tell. He also was a soldier who bad been dismissed from the servi He was 4 Hunan mau, but he had been enrolled as a Kolao Hui in Nanking, by. the Hu Ming-yang above mentioned." He had been given @ military posts and later when Hu Ming-yang formed a new branch, he was placed ina higher position in it. He was also entrusted with flags and tickets for distribution. He sold them in Nanking and Kuantéchou of Anhui, about a dozen flags for a dollar each, and some sixty tickets for six or seven hundred cash. He spent the money as he got it, for his personal requirements.
The third prisoner, Mi, was a Hunan man, a discharged soldier, Seven years ago a stranger from Szechuan whom he met in
of being a Kolao Hui, and enrolled him. us Wuhu, had spoken to him of the advan a member of the Wenwu Mountain branch. Two years later he took part.in u disturbance in-Ningkuo Fu. Hearing that. lie was likely. to be. arrested he. burnt his ticket and disappeared. He had. since taken part.in a robbery with violence in Ch'ingyang Hsien, and \in conjunction with another. member of the. society had.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.