American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-19
CHINESE FUNERAL in CALIFORNIA.
CURIOUS CEREMONY.

| SSRioSo SbhEhON1.
We find tho following in late mum
5er of the San francisco Herald:
Yesterday was grea, day in China
dom. A rich man had died. He had,
during life, been prominent merchant
and occupied position Of influence a
mong his countrymen. His death was
therefore considered an event. Ii 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 n has,.
ly constructed grave, and with the last
sod laid over him would havo perished
all recollections ofhis virtues or his faults.
With the rich man it is different. His
good qualities were enhanced in the
public estimation by knowledge of his
wealth. Virtue, when associated with
large possessions, shines out with a pure
refulgence, while poverty obscures the
brightest rays. 1t is so in civilized COM
muni,ies and the Chinese have OF been
bad imitators. .m.... .i ..
The Chinese merchant at whose grave
most curious ceremony was performed
yesterday, died about three weeks ago.
Cemetry, without any pomp. Yester-
day, however, large number Of his
relation and friends proceeded to his
grave for tho purpose of making offer
ings TO his names. A reverence for tho
dead is one of the most striking charac-
teristics OF the Chinese race. il is, in
fact, the cornerstone of their religious
belief On arriving at tho grave th o
whole company alighted from tho car
| riage in which they had been conveyed
and commenced the ceremony by spread
ing mats all around il. a roast pig was
! placed at the foot, something else at the
head, while all over ii were strewcd ap-
pie dumplings, fruits and flowers. To
an outside barbarian it looked very like
-gotlen.up- picnic, aud to all APP
pearance all that the Chinese present
required in order to make very good
meal, which would certainly be very
practicable and sensible way of testify
ing their respect for the memory of their
deceased friend, was the chop.sicks.
The delicacies were, however, all in.
tended for the use Of the hungry soul
Of the deceased merchant, which had
not tasted food for three weeks, (a pri-
vaiion that would no doubt have been
seriously felt lift had been in the hosh,)
and which it was supposed was lowering
around, smacking his lips over the dain-
ty food they had provided for it. As
soon as the eatables were laid on The
grave, the widow of the deceased hob.
bled up and took her stand atthe foot
Around her head several yards of white
cloth were rolled. A priest with We
ry curly pigtail, and a very long blue
gown reached to his feet and very
long face, stood at tho head. The
friends and relatives stood around. AS
soon as the woman commenced TO wall
all of the clothes of the deceased were
taken out Of a trunk and set on fire.
Among tho clothes were several iiue
pieces OF silk which bad apparently new
er been worn. The whole probably
was worth over $500.
-Four canary birds wero let loose in
order to he'll tho soul of the deceased in
its flight To another world, and when
the clothes were all consumed, and the
canary birds had taken shelter in the
neighboring shrubs, the piiest wit h
long face rang u bell which no had in
his hand, at the same time muttoriDg a
prayer of incantalion. A general howl
followed. The ceremony was conclu-
ded by the whole company marching a
round the grave, headed by the priest
who rang his bell at every step, and
looked very solemn indeed. The pig
and the applc-dumplings, aud the fruits
and the flowers, and tho mating, were
all carefully packed up and placed in
the carriages. and the whole party then
returned TO town, where, we are inform.
cd, the eatables exposed on ,he grave
will be sold in small pieces to those
who are religiously inclined.