Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-12-19

CHINESE FUNERAL IN CALiFoRNlA-cuRlou5
CEREMoNY.-Wo find the borrowing III late
number of the San Francisco Herald:
yesterday was great day in Chinadom -
rich man had died. He had dang life, beea
prominent merchant, ana occupied position
OF influence among his countrYmen. Ills death
was, therefore, considered to be an event The
had been poor man he might have been carried
ont rolled up in winding sheet on the back of
his some faithful friend, and umbed into
"A hastily constructed grave, and with the last
sad laid over him would have persisted all recoi
leetions of his virtues or his faults. With the
rich man it is different His good qualities are
enhanced in the public estimation by knowledge
of his wealth. Virtue, when associated with
large possessions, shines out with "A pure retul
gence while poverty obscures the brightest rays
1t is So in civilized communities. and the Chinese
have not been bad imitntor>. The Chinese mer-
chant nj whose grave most curious ceremony
performed yesterday died about three weeks
ago. He was inferred in the Lone Mountain
Cemetery without any pomp. Yesterday how
ever a large number of his relations and friends
proceeded to his grave for the purpose of ma
king offerings to his names. reverence tor the
dead is one of the most striking characteristics
of the Chinese race. 1t is, in fact, the corner
stone of their religion belief. On arriving at
the grave the whole company aghtcd from the
carriages in which they had boen conveyed. and
commenced the ceremony by spreading mats all
around it. a roast pig was placed at the foot,
something else at the head while all over 1t
were strewed apple dumpngs, fruits, and flow
ers. To an outside barbarian it looked very like
we'll gotten mp pic mic, and,to all apprarance,ali
that the Chine present required IN order To make
IA very good meal. which would certainly he ).
very practicable and sensible way of testifying
their respect for the memory of their deceased
friend, were the chop sticks The dciracies were.
however. all intended for the use of the hungry
soul of the deceased merchant, which had not ta.-
ted food for three weeks, "a privation that would
No doubt have been seriously felt if it had been in
the tesh,) and which it was supposed was hover
ing around, smoking its lips over the dainty food
they had provided furt. As soan as all tue eat
tables were laid ON the grave, the widow of the
deceased hobhled up aud took her stand at the
foot. Around her head several yards of white
cloth were rolled. A priest with very curly pig
tail, very long blue gown reaching to his feet.
and very long face, stood at the head. The
friends and relatives stood around. As soon "a
the woman commenced to wait. all the clothes ut
the deceased were taken out OF trunk and set 81,
fire. Among the clothes were several pieces az
fine silk, which had apparently never been worn
The whole probably was worth over 500 -Four
canary birds were let loose in order to help the
soul of the deceased in its flight to another world
and when the clothes were all consumed, and the
canary bird, had taken shelter in the Neighbour
ing shrubs, the priest with the long face nuttcr.
ed n prayer or incantation. \ general howl fol-
lowed. The ceremony was concluded by the
whole company marching around the grave head
ed 10y the priest, who rang his bell at every step
and looked very Solemn, indeed The pig and
the apple dumpling- and the fruits and the flow
ers. aud the mating, were all carefully packed
up and placed in the carriages, and the whole
party then returned to town, whore. we are IN
formed ths e>tablc, exposed at the grave will be
sold in small pieces at eSorbant prices to those
who are religiousy inclined"