CHAPTER VIII.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS, 448-518

6, Execution of laws, checks upon ambitious officers, 448; Triennial Catalogue and its uses, 449; Character and position of Chinese officials, 451; The _Red Book_, or status of office-holders, 452; Types of Chinese high officers: Duke Ho, 452; Career of Commissioner Sung, 454; Public lives of Commissioners Lin and Kíying, 457; Popularity of upright officers, Governor Chu’s valedictory, 462; Official confessions and petitions for punishment, 464; Imperial responsibility for public disasters, 466; A prayer for rain of the Emperor Taukwang, 467; Imperial edicts, their publication and phraseology, 469; Contrast between the theory and practice of Chinese legislation, 473; Extortions practised by officials of all ranks, 474; Evils of an ill-paid police, 478; Fear and selfishness of the people, 480; Extent of clan systems among them, 482; Village elders and clan rivalries, 483; Dakoits and thieves throughout the country, 486; Popular associations--character of their manifestoes, 488; Secret societies, The Triad, or Water-Lily Sect, 493; A Memorial upon the Evils of Mal-Administration, 494; Efforts of the authorities against brigandage, 497; Difficulties in collecting the taxes, 498; Character of proceedings in the Law Courts, 500; Establishments of high magistrates, 503; Conduct of a criminal trial, 504; Torture employed to elicit confessions, 507; The five kinds of punishments, 508; Modes of executing criminals, 512; Public prisons, their miserable condition, 514; The influence of public opinion in checking oppression, 517.