The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-09
MYSTICISM and CRUELTY
THE BANDITS OF MONGOLIA WAX
VERY BOLD.
Result of incompetent Chinese Rule
and Present Troubles Increase the
Robber Glass of Northern Dominion.

The khunhuz society has its share of
mysticism like all Well-organized bo-
dies. 1t calls itself in poetica langu-
age The Brethren of the White Moon"
1t meets on Chinese New Years day.
the white moons month, in certain Sc
cret places, where idol-worship is in
dulged in. Then is the time Tor inlJla-
ton. Talk about secret Oaths. The
aSplrant TO khunhuz honors must
swear TO destroy, pillage and burn
all villages of the deteSted Russians,
to rob, torture and kill all foreigners.
Christians and the rich and happy
classes of Chinese" To tell the truth
the novice is nothing loath to swear to
obey this obligation, as he has gener-
ally distinguished himself i'm that line
already and left his country for his
cOuntry's good.
The society is wealthy and its mem
| bers are always well armed and have
plenty of ammunition. They are brave
and fear not death. All money and
property belongs to the association in
common and is managed by the chief
| 'starChinas.
The society first appeared in 1873. 1t
had then 1000 members. 900 of whom
We're mounted. They infested the Hell
Chau mountains These forces gradu-
ally increased. They encountered and
defeated various bodies of Chinese
Ilppl'Ss ne ~ llltSt government WAS
powerless to dispense them. In 1884
they attacked the south Ussuri terri
tory, intending to hold it for them
selves, but We're repulSed with great
loss by the Cossacks.
In 1878 they pillaged and burned the
Russian settlement at Nikolskoye,
fighting with success against the train
ed Russian troops. In the same year
they attacked the famous Kogotun gold
mine. hlIt the miners and
pulsed them with desperate valor and
| they retired to their mountain fast
nesses.
At this time they We're commanded
by the notorious Ming Flu Ching, one
fthe most blOOdthirsty villains that
ever existed outside of fiction. He or
dered an attack on the rich Russian
settlement of Sedemi island in the
Amur gulf, The battle lasted three
days, but the heroic Inhabitants, fight
ing as men must do who know that de-
feat means inconCeiVable torture for
| themselves and som athing worse than
torture for their women, succeeded in
beating them off
Four hundred of the robbers were
killed and 26O taken prisoners and sent
to the shades with the accompaniment
of similar tOrtures to those they con-
templated inticting on the settlers. This
kept the gang quiet for time, but hav-
ing recruited its numbers it retired to
( the Sunzari district where it robs, tor
lures and Stays at ease. Its speciality
at present is to get hold of the Zeltu-
hinski mine, whence it could get all
the gold it desires without difficulty.
Meanwhile the band keeps its hand in
by attacking and robbing the rich ca
raVans from New Chwang.
Its numbers have been gradually au-
gumented by renegade Chinese soldiers
and during the late trouble in China
the robbers have WaXed bold. The
poorer tribes among the Monaghan
Chinese are also joining them and UNI
less Russia takes a hand in the game
and sends an expedition against the
robbers they win sIOn OVerrun the ter
ritory they We're formerly compelled to
relinquish. Even the most despotic
rule would be welcome in place of the
reign of terror inaugurated by these
foes of civilization, culture and Christ
i3nity.