However much there was in its com: mencement of patriotism, of ignorance, of folly ind of hypnotism, Boxerism speedily developed into a vulgar squeezing machine for the extraction of money. The very completeness of its success sowed the seeds of its destruction. All the lawless, the gamblers, the "have-nots" of the country crowded under its banner. Numbers of men pretended to be Boxers who had never gone through the initial stages. Boxer bands fought with Boxer bands.
A Boxer band extorted from a village all the money obtainable and went its way, giving the village a certificate of immune ty from further molestation by any other Boxers. Another Boxer band appeared and ignoring the certificate, demanded its tribute. The village appealed for protec: tion to the original band. The two bands fought over the matter, the surviving members of the defeated band joining their conquerors Each band was under the special protection of its own adopted Shen or deity. When different. bands met they discussed the merits of their respective deities; and the discussion often Ied to "war? and bloodshed. Almost every village guild had its own Boxer band. These bands were never large in the country, but existed everywhere, and wielded the only authority existing for the time. All over the country the Boxers issued orders—many of tle most superstitious and childish character—but the orders were always obeyed by a terrorised people.
After the Christians had either disap-peated or been robbed of all their possessions, the Boxers with their Tsaili and Ma-home dan associates or imitators, sought out other sources of gain. First' in order came all merchants who had any dealings
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.