Huchou has the reputation of being one of the richest sick-producing districts in the Empire. This year the yield has been almost nothing. In the immediate vicin between 20 and 30 per cent. of the ful yield is re Some miles east of here as high as 50 per cent is reported in some district. The almost total failure of the silk industry makes the high price of rice note than. doubly, hard 12, bse One mystery which is being of in every tea rhop and in every farm house is that the silkworm eggs, which are depended on to hatch the worms for next season, are prematurely hatching now and thus des-next year, "The people Lom the Lighest troying the possibility of ing the worm Two Secret Societies, Hardly less disquieting than the tro facts just mentioned is the existence and rapid spread of two secret societies in all this section, These societies are known as Hong Pan; OR ana 0 ing Pang J 2 respectively For all practical purposes the two societies seem to bp really ope." Though for convenience, or for reasons known only to themselves, they work under two names. 'These secret fraternities have been agaressively active in this region for less than two months; but their growth has been phenomenal.' There are reported to be several thousand members in this immediate neighbourhood. Where the leaders have come from and just what is their ultimate object it is difficult to say. They are by most people, including the officials, classed asa branch of the Kolau Hui (75% The Hong Pang are said to have fenders from Honan province, while the leaders of the Ching Pang are deputed to be from Ngavking.
heir method of work seems to be as follows: They have recognised leaders who travel from Petping them in' their affairs and enlisting lace to, place encouraging the members, new members. Those who join pay $1.2(and receive a badge of membership and a short knife, about six inches long. Both the badge and the knife must be always carried on the person. On these badges are found several different inscriptions. Among the most sgnifcant is that of the name of a famous robber mountain in the Kiangsu province called the Chiulong (Ju Hilf th) mountain. When asked the uso of the knife they simply reply that they will have use for it in the future. They persuade people to join them by saying that there are troublous times ahead and that all who join them will be not only protected in their person. and property, but that they will be permitted to share in much plunder. While those who having a chance to join them and refuse are threatened with both immediate and future punishment. The country people are frightened into joining them in grest numbers. Gambling is very prevalent, blackmailing is of almost. daily occurrence, and the smaller officials are powerless to make any arrests, The (hree principal officials of the prefecture are now exerting themselves to check the societies. \ithiv ten days some score of arr-sts have been made. Several leaders have been arrested and three heads have been cut off. The first head which fell called forth a threat from the many members who placarded the city, threatening to come with three thousand men on a certain night to kill the magistrate who dared to execute their official. As a result special efforta have been made to protect the city and have been stationed at all the gates, hsien magistrate has been seen to come after night secretly to see if the city gate is securely bolted and if the soldiers are in their place, As there are other leaders of the secret society still in the yamen, who will be beheaded, one is made to Wonler what is to come of it all. If
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.