The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-11-11
THE FEAST OF THE DEAD.
Heathen Rites at Chinese Cemetery in
San Francisco-Strange and Out
landiSh Ceremonies.

San Francisco Strange and Out
landiSh Ceremonies
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
The Chinese Autumnal festival over the
dead of their race, which commenced on
Sunday week, reached its most interesting
point last Thursday. From daylight until
noon the road to Lone Mountain was
literally alive with pedestrians and express
wagons, packed with the elite and rabble
of Chinatown, roasted hogs and every
description of Chinese provisions. The
old trick of the Hibernian expressman of
occasionally capsizing vehicle and mix
ing pigtails and pork in an uncomfortable
mass, was, in two cases, SUCCESSFULLY tried.
One of the vehicles chartered and loaded
by Madam lie Chong and eight rosy
checked chattels, hilarious with the ex-
pectation of a day of rest, in endeavoring
to weather the corner Of Dupont and
Geary streets, alighted in an unceremoni-
Gus manner, and the madam sustained
some severe bruises, to judge by the play
of her tongue and the shake of her fist at
the horse, cart and driver. They, how
ever, climbed in again, and hanging on
by tooth and toe-nail, went off in a three
minute gate, to the great amusement of
the spectators.
BY | o'clock i'll the morning the wooden
altar, near the centre of the cemetery, was
surrounded by large heathen band, and
liberal store of fish, flesh and fowl, not
to mention stacks of cakes and candies
On one side Of the altar, if so it might be
called, was large stove. over which a
prominent functionary busted himself in
making tea for the entire crowd. JOSS
sticks were burning upon the altar, and on
three sides candles burned, illuminating the
figures of three deities-the one on the
west representing what answers in their
theology to our devil, and whom they evi-
IDENTIFY think 1t necessary to propitiate be-
fore proceeding with their worship over
the individul graves. Towards the east,
or rising sun, another less hideous figure
representing the mighty spirit of God and
on the south an insignificant, good -natured,
porcelain image, representing some local
spiritual functionary. Provisions were
heaped before seven Of these figures,
and an incantation performed before them,
severally, by these four men, after which
to the horrible music of a small celestial
band they repaired to the individual graves,
the relations of the deceased at each tomb
taking principal part.
The oldest female relative (if there were
any females present) danced about the
grave several times, as though stung by
hornet, descanting on the virtues of the
departed. After this she deposited on the
grave narrow strips of yellow paper (yel-
low being the imperial COLOR, and upon
this the provisions brought by the rela-
tives were placed, if relatives were pres
ent. If they were not the spirit of the
person had to be contentcd with slices of
the hogs which had been brought out for
that purpose The male relative then
poured some wine on the grave the priest
stuck up some lighted joss-sticks and
muttered and doubled himself up, and
then the fantastic procession passed to
another grave. A few individuals, who
INDUCED in the meantime in a quiet smoke,
were stationed at different points in the
cemetery to protect the altar and visited
graves and engage the hoodlums, who
seemed imbued with the idea that the
ceremonies were instituted solely for their
amusement Two policemen had been
chartered for the occasion, but not being
omnipresent, the playful denizcns of Tar
Flat had many sly shot at poor John,
and in one instance struck the arch-fend
at the altar with a big rock, upon which
he bit the dust, amid the simple but plain
tive wailings of the heathean and the tri
umphant growing of the hoodlums, who
seemed clated at the thought of cobble-
stoning the devil with success.
After visiting as many graves as practi-
cable, in accordance with the require
ments of Celestial day of labor, the as
sembly met at the altar and enjoyed SIM
pie collation. of gritted cat, chow-chow and
cold tea, during which time the ladies re-
posed under parasols, which protected them
from the suns rays and cobble-stones. At
the end of the frugal and recherche ban
quet they gathered up the provisions that
there might be no free lunch at the expense
of the nation, scrambled into their express
wagons, and returned to their fresides a
little faster than was compatible with the
solemnity of the occasion and the safety of
their persons.