the quarrel, and every man of the one clan is ready to fight any man of
the other clan, and injure him as far as lies in his power.

In China, as in Scotland, families or clans consist of every living member
or connection of the family.

In China the affairs of every member of the family are managed by a
council. This council consists of the elders (men over sixty years of
age), and the scholars. We told you in No. 1 of THE GREAT ROUND
WORLD what severe trials a man has to go through in China before he
can be called a scholar.

It is the duty of this council to collect and save all moneys due to any
member of the family, to direct the business of their households, and to
manage the family and its affairs so completely that the members of the
family are like children under the guidance of a very careful parent; and
when they come to this country, and are obliged to think and act for
themselves, they are no more capable of doing so than they would be if
they were really children.

To meet this difficulty, and help the Chinamen, an organization called the
First Company was formed in San Francisco, which undertook the duties of
the elders of the families, and was a great comfort to the Chinamen in
America.

By and by, as more Chinamen came into the country, the First Company got
too large, and others were formed on the same principle, until finally
there were six companies altogether. Then other societies were formed by
the Chinamen, and among them the Sam Yup and the See Yup.