The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-18
CURIOUS CHINESE CEREMONIES.
The Journey OF the Emperor TO the
graves OF the Mantehu Dynasty
The ORerings for Saerfdce.

Graves OF the m0utenu Dyuasey
The ORerings for Sacrifice.
The Hong Kong correspondent ofthe
Cologne Gazette writes under the date
OF May 9th: The most important event
of the month just gone by was the jour
ney Of the Emperor to the graves OF
the Mautcbu dynasty for the purpose OF
making sacrifices. The Governor-Gen'
eral Of the province Of Cheelee had
come from Tien-tsin to Pekin to ac-
company the Emperor on his journey
through the province. In accordance
with the provisions OF the forty-second
volume of the canons OF the Mantchu
dynasty, the Emperor had to bring
with him the following offerings: One
OK, TWO sheep,or one sheep and one pig,
four pitchers OF wine, eighteen dishes
O! soup, meat and rice, gold paper, sixty
five dishes OF fruit, and smoking mate
rials. A golden teacup, three golden
wine cups and golden knife and gold
en- eating sticks must be placed upon
the altar. The Emperor, the
Princess and the suite, clothed
in deep mourning, brought the
offerings while the master OF ceremonies
read the ritual; and in the intervals,
the temple. which stands in the midst
OF the graves of the departed monarchs,
resounded with cries OF lamentation for
the dead and with mournful ullaution.
On the S.h of April the Emperor re-
turned to Pekin. Infantry soldiers,
with weapons hanging upon their backs
enveloped in yellow cloth, preceded
him then followed officers on horse
back, armed with bows and arrows.
The Emperor was borne by eight men
in litter. His countensnce was clear
ly dis,inguishable through the thin
yellow covering OF silken gauze. Sew
eral Europeans caught a glimpse OF him,
and they cay he has the appearance OF
his dynasty, with long meagre face
and drowsy eyes. Some said he looked
more like q man of forty than like one
OF eighteen years. He slep! all through
the entrance into his capital even the
letting down Of the litter to change
bearers did not arouse him. The Em>
press, in yellow litter, and then her
mother in a green one. were next in the
PROCESSION. Yellow carriages contain.
ing theI imperial coocubines and drawn
by donkeys and workmen, followed.
The young Empress had remained at
home, running tine palace and The em'
pire during the absence of Der lord,
Two days after his departure the court
gazette reported how badly the arraDg.
mcnts made for the journey had turned
out. The horses and mules used were
old and weak. The food had given
out on the road, SO that the animals
died, and men were obliged to draw the
wagons in their stead. The court 60.
zette announced the punishment meted
out to those who were responsible for
the negligence.
After the. .Emperor's return the audi
ence question was taken up. His mln-
listers thought that the foreign embas-
sadors should be obliged to kneel in
the presence OF the Emperor as they
themselves did. This the ambassadors
are extremely reluctant to do. even if
they DO not positively refuse.
The Emperor has directed his minis
ters to submit propositions to him as TO
what ceremonial should be observed
when an audience is granted to foreign
envoys.