Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-27
Chinese Funeral In CaIifornts-Curious
Ceremony.

We find the following in late number OF
the San Francisco Herald:
Yesterday was q great day in Chinadom. A
rich man had died. He had, during life been
a prominent merchant and occupied a position
ofinhuence among his countrymen. His death
was, heretofore, considered to be an event. If
he had been poor man he might have been
carried out, rolled up in winding-sheet on
the back Of his son or some faithful friend,
and tumbled into a hastily constructed grave,
and with the last sod laid over him would have
persisted all recollections of his virtues or his
faults. With the rich man it is different. his
good qualities are enhanced in the public esti-
nation by knowledge of his wealth. Virtue,
when associated with large possessions, SHINES
out with a pure refulgence, while poverty Oh,
scnres the brightest rays. 1t is so IN civilized
Communities. and the Chinese have not been
bad imitators.
The Chinese merchant, at whose grave a
most curious ceremony was performed yester-
day. died about three weeks ago. he was IN
tered in the Lone Mountain Cemetery, with
out any pomp. Yesterday, however, large
number Of his relations and friends proceeded
to his grave for the purpose Of making offer
ings to his names. A reverence tor the dead
is one Of the most striking characteristics OF
the Chinese race. 1t is, in fact, the corner
stone of their religious belief On arriving at
the grave the whole company alighted from the
carriages in which they had been conveyed,
and commenced the ceremony by spreading
mats all around it. A roast pig was placed at
the foot, something else at the head, wniie
all over it were strewed apple dumPhngs, rui,s
and flowers. To an outside barbarian 1t look.
Ill
annearance all that the Chinese present re-
ouired in order to make very good meal,
which would certainly be a very practicable
and sensible way of testifying their respect tor
the memory of their deceased fr'end' was Inc
chop-sticks.
The deicacies were, however, all intended
for the use of the hungry soul of the deceased
merchant, which had not tasted food for three
weeks. IA privation that would no doubt have
been seriously felt if it had been in the fesh,)
and which it was supposed was hovering
around. smacking its lips over the dainty food
thew had provided for it. As soon as all the
eatables we're laid on the grave, the widow OF
the deceased hobbled up and took her stand at
the foot Around her head several yards OF
white cloth were rolled. A priest with a very
curly pigtail, a very long blue gown reaching
to his feet and very long face, stood at the
head. The friends and relatives stood around.
AS soon as the woman commenced to wall, all
the clothes of the deceased were taken out OF q
trunk and set on fire. Among the clothes we're
several pieces of fine silk. which had apP,a-
renty 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 birds had taken shell
ter in the neighboring shrubs, the priest with
the long face rang bell which he had in his
hand, at the same time muttering prayer or
incarnation. A general howl followed. The
ceremony was concluded by the whole com
pany marching around the grave, headed by
the priest, who rang his bell at every step, and
looked very solemn, indeed. The pig and the
apple-dump pings, and the fruits and the flowers
and the mating, were all carefully packed up
and placed in the carriages, and the whole
party then returned 10 town, where, we are IN,
formed, the eatables exposed in the grave Will
be sold in small pieces at exorbitant prices to
those who are religiously inclined.