Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1855-05-08
Lost repuiahon 5000. 90
A Chinese Funeral.

n ChhmeSe EumCE0as
The Chinese who were killed by the late
|sieamboat explosion in California. were bu, i.
led with their national ceremonies. which
are thus described by Sacramento paper:
During The progress Of The services as
above. The Chinese were engaged in yield.
ing the las, tribute Of respsc, 10 their de.
ceased coun.rymen In another part Of the
ground. & g2
The ceremonies praclced on the decease
Of person in China, vary in different paris
Of the country, though they are no. nects.
sarly elaborate or expensive anywhere, and
all the imporlan, ones can be performed BY
the poorest. The inhabitants Of one part Of
the empire. pu. a piece Of silver 10 the
mouth Of the dying per,on and carefully
cover his nose and ears. Scarcely is he
dead. when they make hole TO facilitate
The exit Of the spirits proceeding from his
body; Of which they imagne each person
has enarimal senses. hich die with him,
and three souls, one Of which enters elysi-
lum and receives judgment; another bides
with the tablet, which is Sc. by he side ol
I.he body by the priest, and tho third dwelIs
with The ,omb- Yesterday while The servi.
ces were going on in English, ,he Chinese
no. far of, were performing The las. sad off.
ces over fifteen cnrpses Of their country,
men. A. every grave incense sticks were
smoking and red candles were burning, while
The (rienes OF the departed csme one BY one
to ,he foo. Of The grave and placing theil
hands together bowed their bodies forwarc
several times. ioti
In certain place among the graves I
large quantity Of edi5les were laid out anG
arranged in order--a whole roas, hog, pile,
Of cake. large platter Of cooked rice, swee,
meats, pickles and wine. In from, Of ,boss
vands stood Chinese a,lired in The habil,
men,s OF native priest, beating lime with
Two Steel plates, and in measured .cne'
Chanting prayers FOR The repose of The dead
just opposite the person thus officiating coul'
be observed q small shou sake, 10 ,he ent
'Iof which was paper sUeamer. on which
was wTirienf in hirroRly phics charm. as
is on their funeral occasions. With prayer
for The deads,he officiating individual ming
led simple qdo'a,ions (Iom Chiuese relig
lions bnoks. Many came 10 the graves ant
ahrew in.oihem oil. paper and cards. A
several places coule be eobseryed piles Of pa
per cut into small squares, with square gil
spo, In the center oI ZACH sheet, Al,hest
were SET on fire. the survivors supposin
thar ,ne smuke transmits them into hades
llha, they there turn into celestial money an
90 into The hands Of The departed, and B,
Them art used TO bear their expenses in III
oIher world. During NIL these funeral ser
vices there was national band Of Chimes
music. which played their national airs &C
coIding 10 their home usages.
/ |, was a rare sight, and a, once fa1erinI
10 The liberaIily Of our institutions. TO se
there assembled on a common ground ,h
Christian and the Pagan, each acknowledg
ing the sacred character Of the departed an
manilesIing. according 10 their peculiar ie
nets, tespec. for their memory and worth
This unusual circumstance, together whl
The large number ofsnsw made graves an,
coffined bodies 6hAahs Jmmense crowd q
persons in attendance, contributed 10 rende
the occasion one Of sad and singular interest