A regular system of espionage was kept up in all the more important towns and villages in the neighbourhood of the bandits' operations, auf the men employed in this, sometimes the company leaders themselves, were constantly disappearing on, and returning from. mysterious errands. On these, and on special scouting expeditions, at night, those employed received special remuneration. which was always paid immediately on their return, in silver. Sometimes these messengers did nov return, notably those sent to Talifu on the Occasion of my capture, and later others sent on wy behalf for supplies to Wei-siting, and on these occasions ugly looks and threatening gestures were made in my direction, On two occasions I witnessed a curious ceremony of swearing in young recruits who, though already armed and actually employed in fighting, were apparently only novitiates. A blanket, bloodstained in the centre, was spread on the ground and three rifles were stacked on it. On one side sat the leader of the band, and the recruit, each in his turn, presented himself, kowtowed to the leader, repeated some jargon—apparently an oath—prostrated himself on his face three times before the rifles. made another oath, another bow to the leader' and fe-tired, evidently a full fledged bandit.
Torture of the chief men of villages or of captured spies was among the most revolting sights of my captivity. Once, when ftfully sleeping, fever ridden. in a temple overlooking a village market place, I was wakened! about midnight by the screams and groans of three poor wretches who, with arms pinioned behind, had been dragged all day along a rough track. These victims were hanging from beams, suspended by their elbows from behind, their toes just off the ground, Questioned of intervals, and the answers evidently being unsatisfactory, further physical punishment was administered in some manner the details of which fortunately I could not clearly see, but which elicited the most sickening groans and shrieks from the pendant figures. This was carried on at intervals during the whole night, the victims eventually succumbing to their torture. In the morning in "the particular instance only one was left hanging in the bright sunlight, evidently having expired from the vile attentions of his callous torturers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.