Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-06-29
tCohtiureo from fret page !

in the street near by were little fires with
those thin. filmy ash-flakes that remain
from burned paper scattered about them.
feel sure that have guessed the reason,
and that it is a wish to celebrate at their
own homes the Festival of Burning
Clothes. and the Friendless Ghosts Feast.
The Chinese think that persons after
they are dead need the same things as
when they are alive, and that if they are
not supplied with them they can revenge
themselves upon people IN this world.
bringing them ill-health or bad luck in
business. This being the case, OF course
people try to keep the ghosts of their re-
lations in as comfortable and quiet state
as they can.
If father should die, his friends.
while he remained unburied, would every
day put dish of rice and perhaps. n
basin OF water, bv his coffin, so that his
ghost might eat and wash. Afterwards
they would at times carry food and drink
10 his grave, or place 1t before the wood
en- tablet, which, to honor him, would be
set up in his house. To supply him with
clothes and money, or anything else he
might need, like a house. "A boat or a
chair, paper limitations OF these things
would be made and burned, after which
it would be thought the ghost could make
use of them. Fifteen days at this season
of the year are considered the most lucky
time for making these offerings. Large
quantities of clothes and other paper ar
ticles are then sold, and there is a great
burning OF them all over the country.
Besides these well-to-do family ghosts,
there is another class OF whom people
are dreadiuly afraid. These are the
spirits OF very wicked men, and of child
less persons who have left nobody behind
them in this worl to care Tor them.
They are supposed to be wandering
about in most forlorn condition
and TO be able to do great deal of mis-
chief. To put them in good humor. and
to induce them to keep out of the way OF
the living, Feast is made for them every
summer
For several years past, this feast has
been given in an open plot of ground lust
outside our yard and under our sitting.
room windows. so that | have often seen
It, though | am obliged TO say have
never spied any ghosts coming to eat of it.
Every year the ceremonies are the
same. Early in the day four tall poles
are planted IN the ground about dozen
feet apart, and so pl iced as to mark a
square about twenty feet from the ground
wooden floor is built between the p,Iss
A lew men who stand upon this platform
direct everything. Usually, one or two
Oh them seem to be priests once, recoo-
nized the leader as an expert iuggler
whose tricks had witnessed only "A short
Time before. part of the Feast has been
made ready beforehand and is at once ar.
ranged on the platform. At two corn
ers are placed ornamented cones, six or
eight leet high, which, | suppose, it is ex-
pected VIII appear TO the ghosts TO be sol
ID cakes, but which are, IN reality. only
bamboo frames. thinly pastered over with
mixture OF flour and sugar; besides
these are green oranges, other fresh fruits.
ana articles OF different kinds. Soon, Of
ferings of food begin to come in from The
neigborhood, and are drawn up bv ropes
to the platform; these are. mostly. bask-
cts OF boiled rice, and have a bit of wood
holding red paper stuck in the middle
oil the rice. suppose the giver's name is
upon the paper, and after the Feast the
baskets seem to be restored to the persons
who brought them the rice can then be
taken away. and eaten at home.
'N"6ehs tHo pittlOTin Is well laden
with food, which remains exposed in the
sun and wind for several hours, during
when time great noise is kept up with
gongs and other musical instruments, part
~, suppose, like dinner bell to call the
ghosts, and partly to amuse the men and
boys who gather in an Interested crowd
around the platform
Late IN Inc afternoon the head men be-
gln 10 distribute the Feast. The baskets
of food are carefully lowered; the cakes
are broken up. and the pieces. with the
oranges and other fruits are flung hther
and thlther among the crowd, who
scramble merrily alter; them, sometimes
hali dozen rushing after the same lrag-
ment, and now and then a man trying To
Chamber up the poles to secure portion
before 1t falls. When t1e stage is cleared
Inc crowed disperses, and the Ghosts
Feast is ended.
In this region the people are very poor,
but In large and rich community this
iestlvlty would be kept with splendor ev-
en-, and with much cost.
Last year, a pant of the wooden frame
wofk leii' and one man was injured. |
think this may make the old ground seem
uniucky to the Chinese, and lead them to
seek new place for this years Feast.
Let US hope that they will do so, for to
nave set OF the most wicked and unbap-
py ghost asked to dinner under ones win.
uows, Is not, after all. SO amusing as il is
NOISY and sadly ( olish.-MRs. S. c. WIN.
GATE I'm ,Julv Wida yaLo