The Nevada journal., 1855-07-27
From fhe San Francisco Oriental.
Tie Chinese bend.

names or characters of those there inter-
red. Yet each little mound is carefully
marked with little temporary white slab
Upon each is painted in black several per-
pendicular series of hieroglyphics. These
Chinese inscriptions are generally after
some such style as this, if rendered into
English:
| DISTRICT OF NAMHoI; VILLAGE OF sHATAU
TSING DYNASTY: THE HONORA-
BILE AND EXCELLENT MR.. HO
YAT-SAN'S TOMB.
Erected in the seth year of Tau kscanq,
8M moon 9th dag
| In some cases the middle column con-
tains large number of elegiac adjectives,
and in others it has affixed the suggestive
words "tomb of the spirit"
Upon mound of sand overlooking these
graves is platform which has been erect
ed as an arena or chancel for the annual
"worship of the tombs" 1t is inscribed
with the words
MAN LING TUNG YAM.
that is, Reverence to all the spirits -
The shape of this is square, measuring
half-a-dozen PAGES in length and breadth.
A few wooden steps bring the visitor to
its edge. He perhaps sees it strewn with
broken liquor bottles, pieces of sweet
cakes aud fruit, stumps of candles and of
sticks of incense made of sandalwood, torn
slips of paper printed or written over, and
fragments Of fire crackers. These are the
remains of the offerings to the spirits
Lsaning against the low fence which sur
rounds the platform are a number of short
boards inscribed with the names of per-
sons deceased. Two of larger size at
the back, are marked as follows
KU CHUNG :KUNG TsAI cH'u,
that is, ''Tombs of the lonely: place of
joint sacrifces;" and
LoI LUNG HAU TO CHI SHAN,
Which is rather obscure phrase, but may
be literally translated 1.-The coming drag
on god of the earth in the rear.n 1t means
that the tombs are protected by dragon,
which is tavorite animal in Chinese my
thology.
Such is the spot where these strangers
maintain the great national religion Of
their country. They count it calamity
tC die and be buried far from their ances-
tors and kindred, and do not forget the
rites due. to their unfortunate BRETHREN
Each spring the Chinese population, as far
as possible, 60 out to the ''tombs of the
lonely" or, as the words mean, the cor
phan sPiiitsj" and spread food and liquor
before all the graves, and fire off crackers
and pistols to irighten away the demons
that may molcst them. 1t is commonly
supposed that each living man is possess
ed Of three spirits, one Of which when he
dies, remains about the grave with the
body This spirit requires occasional sup
plies of nourlshment, and drinks with de-
hight the subtle odors that are given forth
by articles of aiiment which incarnate
mortals enjoy III grosser form.
The believers OF this Buddhist supersti-
ton can conceive Of no greater calamity
than to die childless or friendless, so that
no offerings should be made for the benefit
OF ones ghost Considerable sums of mo-
ney are subscribed in China by the be-
nevolent to present annual sacrifices for
such ''orphan spirits" In addition to do
nations OF food, large amounts of clothing
suitable for spiritual vesture are transmit
ted them, by manufacturing them of pa
per and burning them. Every Chinese
family regularly sends up, on wheels of
smoke, quantities of etherialized raiment
and furniture and money, to their kinsfolk
in the galleries Of the air. Nor do such
gifts, to speak the truth, end in smoke
tor the effect of this remembrance of the
departed is to sober and soften the heart.
And he that will consider it may easily be
brought to see how such belief will wind
itself through all the better feelings of hu-
man nature, and be the most difficult to
eradicate in those who come to be enlight-
ened by the truth of the gospel. Roman
ism was forced to adopt it; and only the
Holy Spirit can transplant it by striking
into its soil deeper roots of true love for
God.
A remarkable result of the Chinese SEN
timents with regard to spirits is, that
since they have been made to feel SO keen
ly and deeply that they can have no home
in this land, they wish as soon as possible
to carry away their dead They have not
resented the ten thousand brutalities and
insults, which they cannot, as proud ma
ton, though among the poorest ofits peo-
pie, continue to endure. But like a So
ber, thinking, feeling, peaceful people
as they are-they give expression to the
sense of what they have suffered by simply
taking away their dead. To any man
whose mind has not been heated and foul
ed by the phrenzy which makes so many
people very different here from what they
were in other homes, and who will reflect
upon this act, it will be the most cutting
reproof that heathencould give self
styled civilized and Christian people
Their removal says, eye have not dealt
kindly with the dead and with u.s." I'm
ike Naomi, they seem to declare eve can
tolerate you in life, and whilst there is
hope of making some little support for
our parents and heritage for our children;
but where you die, we would not die, nor