The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-06
Chinese Offerings 10 the Dead.
From the San Francisco Bulletin.1


tain was the theatre yesterday of general
observance of these customs. They are
usually performed twice each year, on the
10Th of February and the 18th of July, ac-
cording to their calendar. In China il is re-
garded as Il sort of festival and the houses
and shops are decorated in all the profuaon
Of Oriental splendor. In this country such
general observance is unknown, and the
people content themselves with the less cost
ly operation of cooking food and carrying it
rs on offering to the tombs.
AT m early hour Sunday q long process
sion Of carriages and express wagons moved
toward the cemetery from the Chinese quar-
ter. Every one was filled with Cinnamon,
some of the wagons being overloaded. In
the latter were the offerings to be made at
the graves. Scores of white people, at
trncted by the novelty of the proceedings,
went to the cemetery TO witness them.
Arrived at the ground, the teams halted
and the sacred burdens were taken out, con-
veyed to the tombs, and deposited on the
ground.
Each party of sacritircrs had a roast hog
laid on shallow wooden trough or tray !;
baked ducks and chickens; pyramids Of
cakes composed of lard, flour, and sugar, and
baked in various coors; pots of tea; bottles
of wine and brandy; chop-stickS, cups.
plates, and sauccrs packages of rice and large
bundles of yellow and crimson paper.
The ceremonies at all the tombs were SINH
lar, SO that description of those at one will
answer for all.
The tray holding the roast pig was placed
ut the foot of a grave or inclosure containing
several, and behind this was placed piece Of
mating, on which WAS spread the smaller
delicaeics of the Celestial lunch. Rice was
scattered OH the ground. tea and wine and
brandy poured into little cups, the chop
sticks placed in position for llse, and the py-
ramidS Of cakes uncovered. Then the men
of the party, singly or in couples, bowed
twice with clasped hands towards the offer
ing and the graves, then kneltand bowed the
head thrice to the ground.
JoSS-StickS and crimson wax tapclS were
lighted and stuck in the sand on the tombs,
the latter for the purpose Of discoura@ing
the presence and officiOus interference OF evil
spirits, or those who had been foes on the
earth of the dead. The peculiar odor of
Chinese incense filled the air, and was at
times so pungent as to almost discourage the
presence of CuucaSans, clothed i'll the strong
arnor of the earth earthly. The Oblations
being all properly arranged, the packages of
paper were unloosed and prepared for the
flames. Some Of the papers bore inscriptions
written by men called wise in matters of re.
ligion. Some were prayers to the gods for
rood harvests, health, peace, and joy TO the
living.
Some were in the nature OF bills of fare, in
forming the departed of all the ingredients of
the offerings, the names of the donors, and II
petition to them to come and partake. Then
there were piles of "money paper" repre-
scnting copper, silver, and gold, according TO
the color of Il little piece of gilt paper stuck
i'm the centre of each sheet. This j. intended
to he drawn on sight by the dead, and used
by them to detray their necessary expenses
in the other world. All these, and such
other communications as may p written,
are supposed to become visible and tangible
to the spirits when reduced to ashes.
The pile is fired, and in few minutes
clouds of smoke and cindcr> till the air, the
immortals are present and renew the ie>liv.
ties OF mortal life. 1t is always supposed
that there are spirits who have no friends to
,alIl them back-charity reaches into the
land of Buddha. The ChimnGin cuts on
small portions of the piE, the lower hill of II
duck. a portion of q chickens breast, takes a
morsel of cIke, Il little wine or tea AMI rice.
and deposits them in side dish lor the gus
tatory enjoyment of the poor spirits.
At the conclusion of the sucrifical cere-
monies all the edibles that have not been cast
upon the ground are gathered up again. re-
placed in the wagons, and returned 10 the
abodes of the living, where the tables receive
them, and they soon disappear down the
throats Of all who have contributed to pro-
cure and cook the Celestial least.