The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-07
THE CELEsTIALs in CALIFORNIA.

THE CELEsTIALs in CALIFORNIA.
The San Francisco correspondent Of the
New York Journal Of Commerce gives lively
account of the proceedings of the zlong-failet
disciples Of Confucius, in the land of gold. =
On Saturday, the Sd day Of April, the number
| desiring to go up the river to the mines was 90
great, that the steamers were unable to accom-.
| modate them all. The fare was only three
| dollars head. It seems that they imbibe q
| love for the fashions of the "Barbarians" ii
soon as they land, for carriage was lately
seen in the streets, in which were two Chinese
ladies', dressed in the national costume, and
| enjoying the excitement ofthe motto and the
curiosity which they attracted, with all the
zest OF Broadway beauty just from the board.
ing school, with her head full of triumphs Ell
to come.
But the most interesting portion ofthis cor
respondents letter relates to the inauguration
ofthe grand Chinese ceremony of chin chin.
ming Josh. Josh is their Idol, we believe, and
the chin Ginning part of the business, is but
the method by which they pay him their adora-
tons. The affair commenced on Friday night,
the I'd Of April, by vigorous assault made by
| a whole regiment of celestial musicians, upon
the catgut of certain queer looking fddles,
much TO the edifcation of the initiated, and the
honor ofthe Barbarians. Forty thousand cats,
all tied tail to tail could not have made more
execrable noise. To add to the uproar, about
dozen drums, and any number of gongs,
were brought into requisi,ion. The American
population became nearly frantic. Some OF
them laughed, some of them cried, some faint
ed, some stopped their ears, and others ran en-.
tirely off. The long tailed tribe, in the mean
time, went through the ceremony, which
seemed in fair way to make desert of that
fourishing city with a gravity which would
have done no discredit to Confucius himself.
The next day at eleven, procession COM
menced but the musicians, we presume, were
tired out, for they condescended no more TO
vex the ears lof the "foreign devils" with their
abominable harmony. The occasion was the
burial of departed friend. They observed no
order in marching, and save that their heads
had been freshly shaved, had taken little pains
to render themselves ''ft to see company
The Sacrifices, consisting Of the car:asses Of
sheep and hogs, dressed with flowers, and
variety of sweetmeats, followed next, while
number of carriages, in which rode certain fat
old fellows, whom the correspondent took TO
be priests, closed up the rear. That writer
gives the following curious account of the
., x,,h;oh tb,nrS oonduotei in rho
'FIowery Kingdom :"
There were no Haunting banners nor bar
barrie music, and in fact nothing at all impo.
sing in their appearance. 1t is likely that here
in the country of the fan-qui foreign devils)
regard to the disposition of the remains of de-
parted friends. At home these are preserved
with scrupulous care. The corpses are first
placed in large collins of camphor wood, which |
rest on tressels above ground, where they re-
main until completely decomposed. When |!
reduced to dust and free from any putrid odor,
the relics are collected and carefully potted in
earthen jars, which are then placed thin |
ombs erected for that purpose. These are
regarded as holy flowers are planted about /
hem, and at Irregular periods the surviving rel
atlves and friends repair to the spot with offer
ngs OF such garments and food as were neces-
AIRY to the departed when alive. Whether
hey actually regard the names of the dead as
objects of worship may be somewhat problem
tical, but it is certain that the efigies of men
# note are often placed among the idols in their |
emples and receive the same amount of rev.
renee with any other Of the grotesque little
IMAGES. They certainly believe in an after ex-
stence, which they prove by one fashion which |
S rather absurd, ii being the etiquette, when
me learns of The death of friend, TO call at
lis house prior to his funeral, and leave card
or him.