Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-05-16
rsa iyhinose Feast of the Dead i'm 8 an
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.,rha aItiinose Feast, of the Dead i'm San
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From the San Francisco Alta California, ,Ap.4.l
81 The annual feast Of the dead, lasting some
three or toun days, during which time the, be-
levers. in the Buddhist faith---among which
,ni.y be- classed the whole of our Chinese popuI
oIationz-ppay visits TO the graves of their dead
friends. bearing testimonials their affection
ate remembrance, commenced yesterday, and
allday long the road leading tc Lone Mountain
has been thronged with carriages filled with
Celestial visitors and Caucasian novelty seekers
Riding out 20 the Chinese quarter Of the ceme7
terry in the morning, We found the ceremonies
10 honor of the dead in full blast and the place
swarming with CelestiaIs, with Q fair sprinkliIg
of male and female visitors Of our own race
The eeremoIies did not appear TO partake in
suy marked degree of a religious character, but
seemed more like friendly visit, lunch and fa-
nniiliar chit-chat with the dear departed. Sticks
Of pprepared incense, or oss Sticks and red
wax candles with small sticks to hold them up
above the sand, were burning by the head oil
nearly every grave, and in and around the open
brick enclosure or temple, and its wooden coun-E
terpars on the hill above. Nearly every party,
on arriving on the ground, would let off a Jcuj
de ioieef1 fire crackers by way OF announcing to
their friends in the Spirit Land that they were
on hand and prepared forsbusiness. Then the
roasspig, oranges, bananas, pieces otfresh sugar
tor AZ h sosea aio would he unloaded from the
w,saTs md ! nice snread. or Law ont would he
.rrenoed ST eac1 Grave or in The noods Mt en-.
eosny.s which. >ior want Of a better name. we
o.ll TOM Mo, After the snread had been ar- \
ssnasd rows ot tinv norcela;n ems would he
,st down IN the sand and noured full of sam
.hoog or other alcoholic ori'yinous iiouor At
.ar . tow m;nutas fire. would no kindIed onH
tho basle,s fuIl of SQUARE varicoIored paper
won'd ne bnrned the eatables would be hacked
nm again. and nut back in the wagons. the
liruoT would he turned on the fire or on the
arouddz and the Joss sticks and candles lighted
and left tburninv. Then 8 Wonan would take
M ,handful of -pste straw colored squares of
naner each with s. biit OF gold foil fastened on
the centre. and tWiirliffns them zdexterously in
her hand 40 as arrange ii elm in The form of
Catharine Rheek as a FG;aueassiaa sport will
sometimes arrange asdeeksof cards, fling them
into airesr,f3;;nn99 em fI,tterilng aWay on
the the Wind IND snl IN n,snu whole cemetery
oil .ronnai thasf ,hiuase tII;iof these
little sanar.s of eilt naner. and whatever virtue
thew NAV nossess will be LARGELY shared by the
occnnants5 !0f the Potter's Field Of our own
rsee vhoss arayes are strewn with them as the
grounds 4 forest is strewnl Z with autumn
lesasssy The visitors would then walk around
for2 a short time. chat laugh, and exchange
cane1at3J. t;onsewith their iliyingo friends, and
then ride. away ytoi the city, apparently In the
hpstaefi hHbao with themselves and The rest of
msnfinds tie ,Celestials come and 90 il
oarriages, the rich q merchants IN IN the, costiestT
hacLs to Sc hired at the Plaza; and the poorer
cla,,esiu humble style bntalIin vehicles Of some
lind I'm hack. drawn bv5two fine ;gravs. with
silver. M mr. r,oa,ntedI Harness vou Eoud see four
onulent ] merchants in their Sunday s:bestIs
smoking cigars. and eyidentlgIeDioyipg them
selves thhorenyhIy., and next5 30 them would
oome m ernress waoan . loaded with common
lasorers @ dSsbo cInhheS forefher Ana bv riding
!. doSeSs - 1one1 Gconvevance managed TO keen
tbe sInehnsaa III Witt;n their means. while third
only, JAud,theIoffsr they broughtte please
their dead friend OF like diverse charac rae
ter. Denln0 tne carriages OI Tue Elcu Meu