THE PEKING LEGATIONS more or less conceived on foreign lines and the result of a study of foreign conditions,but,apart from what it comprised of the patriotio and the justifiable,it aimed at change as little as possible. It grafted a carefully assimilated foreign idea- volunteering-on as carefully prepared a Chinese trunk,and its growth convinced the Govern- ment that it could be relied on to relieve the country from foreign dictation if not to drive the foreigner entirely out of it.That it was patriotio in its origin and justifiable in muoh that it aimed at cannot be questioned, and cannot be too much insisted on,but,like other popular risings,its popular organization and formidable development and widespread. growth made it more likely to lead than to. follow,while the claims of the initiated to. something like supernatural powers in the. matters of movement and invulnerability,ex- hibited first before Prince Tuan and then before the Emperor and Empress Dowager,won for it a standing and respect which placed it on a plane of its own and went far towards giving it a free hand for its operations.Something akin to hypnotism or mesmerism seems connected with Boxer initiation and action:the members bow to the south-east,reoite certain mystical sentences,and then,with closed eyes,fall on their baoks;after this they arise,eyes glazed and staring,possessed of the strength and agilityTHE PEKING LEGATIONS 7 more or less oonoeived on foreign lines and the result of a study of foreign oonditions, but, apart from what it oomprised of the patriotio and the justifiable, it aimed at ohange as little as possible. It grafted a oarefully assimiIated foreign idea￾volunteering-on as oarefully prepared a Chinese trunk, and its growth oonvinoed the Govern￾ment that it oould be relied on to relieve the oountry from foreign dictation if not to drive the foreigner entirely out of it. That it was patriotio in its origin and justifiable in much that it aimed ~t oannot be questionedt and oannot be too muoh insisted on, but, lik& other popular risings, its popular organizatioDi. and formidable development and widespread. growth made it more likely to lead than to￾follow, while the claims of the initiated to· something like supernatural powers in tho. matters of movement and invulnerability, ex￾hibited first before Prinoe Tuan and then befol'& the Emperor and Empress Dowager, won for it a. standing and respeot which plaoed it on a plane of its own and went far towards giving it a free hand for its operations. Something aJdn to hypnotism or mesmerism seems conneoted with Boxer initiation and action: the members bow to the south-east, recite oertain mystioal sentences, and then, with olosed eyes, fall on their backs; after this they arise, eyes glazed and staring, possessed of the strength and agility