The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-23

burned them on porcelain plate, and stirred
the ashes into cup Of water. He filed his
mouth with this holy water, took stout
sword in one hand, and in the other held an
engraved bit of wood weighty with virtue for
the overthrow of demons. Then he stamped
up and down the rooms in vigorous manner,
thrusting and brandishing his sword, holding
aloft his magic wand, squirting water from
his mouth in every direction, commanding
the devils in his loudest voice to depart,
yelling and bowling and cursing and fighting,
till the police hustled through the awed and
excited crowd, swooped down on the magi-
clan, decided straightway that the devils were
all in him, and SO carried him, painting and
exhausted, to the watch-house, there to medi-
tate on the ways of the Mclean man, and
renew himself for further fearful encounters
with the evil spirits that vex the good China
mans peace and happiness.
My Oriental friends religion has a con-
siderable element of superstition. His alma
nae is filed with lucky and unlucky days. He
sees signs and omens in everything The
gods give him convenient excuse whenever
he wants to break an engagement or evade q
disagreeable duty. He has ivory pieces and
silver rings and sandal-wood blocks for
charms. He carries coins and bones in his
pockets or tied by string round his neck as
guards against evil influences. He finds
common occurrences of everyday life. He is
frightened at the appearance of certain birds,
aud rejoiced by an easterly wind on one
particular day and a southerly breeze on
another particular day. There is disaster in
clouds of peculiar form and color, and
promise of good in the cracking of fire or
the flaming of lamp. Calamity is hidden
on every hand and the gods or devils must
continually be propitiated.
Events are forecast by lottery, and decided
by divination. In the temple of Kwan Tae,
one afternoon, l was anxious to know my
chance for a safe journey homeward over the
Pacific Railroad. 1 took up the cup of spirit
ual sticks, shook it well, and then drew out
one of them it was numbered, and the attend
ant turned to the corresponding number in his
| big yellow-leaved book of fortune and gave
of upright ways" 1t was impossible to
evade my fate, and came home without
| accident of any kind. Sun King said
| could have my life mapped out for year by
| going to one of the fortune-tellers and pass
ing in the date of my birth and lock of my
hair. There was a cellar down in Jackson
street where fee of five dollars would give
| me an interview with the shade of Miles
| Standish or Cotton Mather; and three doors
nearer to Dupont street was man who could
write me correct history of my doings ten
| years backward or twenty years forward, and,
| in eommiseration of my inferiority of race,
would do it for nothing, too 1 saw an
astrologer of long beard and sinister face,
| for whom it was vouched that he could COM
| pei the stars to tell the date of any coming
| event. and my friend said that before decid-
| ing on the proposal to go into partnership
with me as q dealer in tea and rice, he must
consult the gods on three successive days.
| When Chinaman dies, his body is at
once placed on the ground or floor, so that
his several distinct souls may have an oppor-
| tunity to withdraw and enter upon their new
stage of transmigration. 1t is then covered
with white cloth-white, and not black,
being the Chinese color of mourning-and
| large quantities of provisions are set near for
the refreshment of the dead mans spirit and
other spirits supposed to be waiting to conduct
it away. The undertaken told me that the cries
and howls of the real and hired mourners at
this stage of the burial ceremonies are most
doleful; he had been present on many occa-
sions, but even felt some nervousness when
brought into the mourning-room. One thing a
Chinaman must have if possible-a strong
and elegant coffin. Frequently at the fune-
rails there is great beating of gongs and
shooting of fire. crackers; this is to keep off
bad spirits, and remind the gods that another
soul has departed and will need attention in
the upper world Scraps of paper represent
ing money are scattered about the house and
along the road to the cemetery; these are
propitiatory offerings to the gods of evil dis
position for permission to bury the dead in
peace and safety. Clothing of various kinds
is put into the coffin, as are also at times
cups or small baskets of rice and fruits for
the souls long journey. At the grave there
are further supplies of food and drink and
things which it is supposed the spirit may
want are burned in flames kindled with holy
fire from the temple.
The officers of the Six Companies report
that about eleven thousand of their country
men have died in the United States, and that
over six thousand bodies have already been
sent back to China for final burial, while
many more would be forwarded this winter
and spring, prior to the great feast for the
| dead. Two of us had some talk with an edu-
Gated Chinaman about this custom of sending
home the remains of those who die here. 1t
appears to rest on the belief that spirits con-
stantly need earthly care and attention: and
they love the body and forever remain near
it, and are likely to be forgotten or over
looked if that is left in q strange land among
people not holding the Chinese view of the
relation between the dead and the living.
The Chinaman wishes, therefore, to be buried
among his friends and ancestors, and reli-
gion and sentiment alike lead him to make
provision for his body after death as well as
before death. 1t is not necessary that the
feshy integument shall mingle with the soil
of home, and, as fact, in most cases only
the bones of persons are removed to the an
cestral grounds Many men enter into ar
rangements with their company or associates
N. g.. q