Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-03-10

knocked their heads many times on the ground
At this particular moment, the whole scene wa:
one of the strangest it had ever been my lot t.
| witness, and although knew it was nothing else
than delusion and idolatry, Imust confess it pro.
duced an almost superstitions effect on my fee
lings- And is Buddha now here in the midst
OF US Z" asked the gentlemen at nay elbow
Yes, be is, he said Z" the highpriest sees him,
although he is not visible to any one besides."-
Things remained in this state for minute or two
and then the leader Of the ceremonies commenced
once more to chant in that drawing tone have
already noticed, to make various gyrations with
his hands, placing and replacing the rice grains,
and the Others joined in as before. My old friend
the priest, who had brought me in to see these
-emonies, now presented himself and told me
A"O S' = all that was worth seeing, that services
"ere near aver, and that it was very late and
ii.e " ~ 's On our way to our quarters
ne ih'o''neu INC 'ne neral would take place
early next morning, just G~--e sunrise and that
if wished to attend he would Co. ,,o :. -, t.
per time.
Early in the twilight Of next morning ano
before the suns rays had tinged the peaks Of the
highest mountains, was awakened by the loud
report of fireworks. Dressing hastily, hurried
down the to the house where the scene ofthe pre-
ceding evening had been acted, and found mself
among the last of the sorrowful procession
Looking into the court and hall, I found that the
sacrifices had been entirely removed, the tables
were bare, not a morsel Of any kind remained
and it seemed if the gods bad been satisfied
with their repast. The silver ingots, too, and
the numerous gaudily painted dresses which had
been presented as an Offering, were smouldering
in corner of the court, having been consumed
by holy fire.
As the funeral procession preceded slowly
down, inside the covered pathway adjoining the
temple, the large bell tolled in slow and measur-
ed tones, rockets were fred now and then, and
numerous priests joined in as we went along
Having reached the last temple Of the range. the
body was deposited on two stools in front OF one
Of the huge images, and, China-hke, before pro-
ceeding further, all went homo to breakfast
This important business finished, the assembly
met again in the temple and performed q short
service, while the Coolies were busily employed
in adjusting the ropes by wich they carried the
coffin. All being ready, two men went outside
the temple and fired three rockets, and then the
procession started. First went two boys, car
rying small flags on bamboo poles, then came the
chief mourner, dressed in white, and carrying on
a small table two candles which were burning,
seme incense, and the monumental tablet After
the chief mourner came the coffin, followed by
the young priests ofthe house to which the de-
ceased belonged, also clad in white then the SER
wants and undertaken, and last Of all, q tcng
train of priest.
I Istood on one side of the lake, in front of the
temple, in order to get good view Of the process
sion as it winded round the other. 1t was beau
tiful October morning the sun was now peeping
over the Eastern mountains, behind the monas-
teay, and shedding q flood of light on water,
shrubs and trees, while every leaf spsrkled with
drops Of dew. In such a scene this long and stri-
king procession had a most imposing effect
The boys with therr flags, the chief
mourner moving slowly along with his candles
burning in the clear daylight, the long line Of
priests with their shaven heads and flowing gar
nknts, the lake in front, and the hills, covered
with trees and brushwoed behind, were at once
presented to my view. As we passed bridge,
a little way from the temple, man belonging to
the family of the deceased, and who carried
basket containing oash-s Chinese coin-presen-
ted a number of the followers with q small sum,
which they received with apparent reluctance
Most of the priests followed the bier but short
distance from the temple but the chiefmourner-
the intimate friends, and servants, with a band
Of music, followed the body to its last resting
place The spot selected was q retired and beau
tiful one, on the lower side of richly wooded
hill. Here, without further ceremonies thnn the
firing of some rockets, we left the coffin, the
surface of the ground, to be covered with thatch
or brickwork at a future opportunity