The size of the robber gangs has been steadily on the increase, due dovtless to several causes (1) The steadily growing number of men who see in it a profitable undertaking, (2) The increasing number of villages that have organized for self-defence.
(3) The prestige and power of numbers.
The writer modestly but emphatically takes issue with those who regard the men as driven into such a life by famines, the high cost of living or any other economic cause. It is worth repeating here that a bandit is defined as a man with a gun and as guns are very expensive it stands to reason that only a man of some little means can get in with the gang. Every old China hand knows that in Manchu days the possession of firearms was 1n itself a capital offence. While to-day if any man is found with a gun he must show his permit from the magistrate or find a responsible man who guarantees his character—failing in which he will face a firing squad before sunset. And it might be added that women are executed as readily as men.
Gangs are rarely mobilised for any considerable length of time at a stretch. They make a raid, collect a few victims for ransom and quietly disperse to their homes where they are easily summoned again.
Great care is exercised in the selection not only of the family bnt the individual member to be carried off. A foreign-minded bandit would doubtless choose a girl or young bride, relying on the chivalrous nature of the westerner to do his utmost to effect an carly release. But if a girl were stolen the family would exhibit small concern for they would reason very practically that she would soon be married off anyhow so why worry, They are sometimes taken it is true but the rule is to take a son or a middle-aged man. They also take care that some one is left in the family capable of quick action. Cases are known where several in one family have een carried away and the most capable released in order that he might hurry up the negotiations for the release of the others.
Every official will declare that the bandits always come from a distance but that is now rarely
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.