Politically China is governed in a hierarchical order with the central government at the top. Under the old regime the Emperor was the supreme ruler. His will was law. All State officials were responsible to him. There was no restriction whatever upon his power. He was answerable only to heaven. Beneath this central government are the provincial governments. Within the province the Viceroy or the Governor is invested with supreme authority. He has full control over finance, the army, and the administration of justice. The province is divided into circuits, called “Taos,” each administered by a Taotai. Under the Tao are prefectures of various degrees and importance : “Fus,” “Chows,” and “Tings”—each controlled by an official who is a Chi-Fu, or Chi-Chow, or Chi-Ting, as the case may be. Chi-Fu literally means one who knows or manages the “Fu.” The prefectures in turn are 4divided into sub-prefectures, governed by sub-prefects called Chi-yuens. The Chi-yuen is the only official who is in immediate contact with the people. He fulfils many functions, from reporting upon the weather and market prices to gathering taxes and trying civil and criminal cases. ¹ The sub-prefecture is itself divided into districts called Sze, and the Sze into wards called Paos or Tus. This Pao or Tu often coincides with a town or village. In most cases several Paos or Tus make up a large town or city. In the Pao or Tu an Elder or one or more of the local gentry fulfils almost the same functions of an English justice of the peace. He is usually appointed by the people and approved by the local officials, while a Ti-pao discharges the duties of bailiff. He is as much under the control of the Elder as under that of the local officials. He is held responsible for all the less serious crimes committed within the Pao or Tu. He also fulfils the office of notary in witnessing deeds, etc. In a word, he is a man who is supposed to know all about the people and everything of his Pao or Tu. To him the runners apply when sent to make arrests. ² This briefly is the position of the village in the Empire politically. It generally coincides with a Pao or Tu.