The hydraulic press., 1860-11-10
T1e Audraulie 9ress.

A CHINESE FUNERAL.-Tong I'll, Chinese
merchant of distinction, died Monday last in
this place, and was buried On Wednesday. The
cause of his death is ascribable to this circum-
stance: Two years ago, while conducting pros
porous business at Bidwel's Bar, his store was
consumed by fire. He narrowly escaped with
his life, and was unfortunate as to inhale the
flames from his burning edifce, which inflicted
permanent injury upon his organs of respiration,
that terminated seriously as above recorded.
Tong Tt was highly esteemed among his coun-
trymen. He was poor, but by general subscrip-
ton they raised fund ample enough to conduct
the funeral ceremonies on a most magnificent
semi-barbarous scale. The day being fair, most
OF the preparations were made on the public
street or alley-way in front of the residence of
deceased. Two tables were set out, containing
between them, two sheep dressed WHOLE two
hogs roasted whole, and choice variety of jellies
and other rare dishes of heathenish compounding.
These tables also contained six chickens fantas-
tically dressed. They were picked, their entrails
removed, and by means of strings and skewers
so propped shaped and enrobed as to symbolise
some purpose entertained by the officiating min
listers. For instance, four Of these chickens
stood upright, with their wings so placed as to
represent arms. Over their bodies was thrown
loose garment, having wide spread, constitut-
ed of the fatty membraneous covering of the in
testines of sheep. Their heads were erect, and
so ingeniously covered with lint, painted in SEM
blance of the human conference.-the whole
surmounted by broad-brimmed hats-that taken
also in connection with the fact that two of these
portly figures were supported by stats, and two
held angling rods and lines, from the hooks of
which dangled a couple of fshes-the idea was
forcibly presented to the mind of board of al
dermen, or a conclave of priests, which latter
dignitaries, according to the Josh religion, they
were probably intended to personate Other
chickens were fantastically arrayed, to represent
other different objects; and several other ami
rals were manufactured in miniature from feshy
substances; the design of which was not under
stood, or if st had been, could hardly add
much to the store of human knowledge.
We have thus feebly described but a small
part of the preparations made to give ecat to
this funeral occasion. The symbols were be-
decked with flowers, there was the usual number
of waxen-tapers, vari-colored papers, and other
unexplainable things for singular and unexplain-
able uses.
The coffin containing Tong Ti's mortal remains
was enclosed in costly green velvet. At eleven
o'clock the cortege started. Bob Howland's truck
was used for the hearse. His black horse
furnitured with strips of white Gotten cloth. A
priest robed in white, walked behind. Three
wagons, at proper intervals, followed with the
mourners. Two contained banners, bordered in
gold, superscribed, in heiroglyphics, with max
inns from Confucius, and the virtues appertaining
to Tong Ii whilst living. The third filed
with women, apparaled in white hoods and long
white capes. These were in tears-the only ones
who expressed or seemed to feel the least sorrow
for their bereavement. Altogether, there were
perhaps two hundred Cinnamon in the process
sion. Those in the rear were amply provided
with fre-crackers, which they kept touching off
along the route, creating terrible din, and i'm
pregnating the air with the fumes of gunpowder.
The prepared animals and viands were all
carried to the graveyard, where, after the body
had been buried, feast ensued. large num-
Der of whites were present, who were invitedto
partake-and here we shall suffer the curtain to
fall upon the most absurd affair.
After witnessing portion of this barbarous
Spectacle, our notions of Chinese intelligence
underwent great change. We had supposed
the example and the influences surrounding
them, in the midst of an enlightened and chris
tianised people, would have taught them the
folly of such proceedings. But no; they enter
into them with as much zeal and seriousness as
if each minute observance was necessary to the
ultimate efficacy of the whole-as if they regard
ed with contempt American customs, and
would suffer no innovations to be made upon
their time-honored and age-consecrated errors.
Their barbarism is confirmed. They idola-
tors of the first water, and ought not be permit
ted to reside among the whites on terms of any
kind of political or social equality. They should
be expelled entirely from the State, or reduced
to the lowest order of menial servitude. These
are our sentiments.