The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-19
a Chinese Funeral,

Wce~Ka Young, q New York laun-
dryman Of Chinese antecelents and
faith, was buried recently near Belle
viilc, Il suburb Of Newark, with all the
peculiar ceremonies Of his native and
with the prayers of Christian minis
ter. Tho funeral took place about five
o'clock In the afternoon, the fifteen Cc-
lestials of the laundry, the Rev. Mr.
Strong, Of tho Reformed Church IN
Bellevlllc, tho undertaken, the supcrin-
tendent Of tho laundry, two or three
gentlemen and five ladies being present.
The visitors were ushored into room
off the main entrance of the Chinese
quarters, the walls, of which were
hung with Chinese papers with strange
devices, intcrspcrsed with such mottos
as Good is Love-" sSimply to Thy
Cross l Cling" &c. From the centre
of the room was suspended q Chinese
lantern. The body was not then v.si-
bic, but after waiting about ten minutes
1t was carried into tho hall and placed
about the centre and the company were
invited to walk out. In the hall were
SCFClui CClCSCIhio SIehulIS SilS
coffin, where the body WAS seen clad In
the ordinary habillments worn by his
race. Rev. Mr.. Strong, standing near
the coffin, offered up fervent prayer,
during which q representative of the
Flowcry Kingdom stood near scatter
ing tribute money, pieces of thin
brown paper about four inches long
with fhinnan ph a IN fhpD,
The prayer ended, tho caskct was car
ricd out by four laboring men and
placed IN al open wagon drawn by
ono horse. and covered with blanket.
A tin pan, containing burning incense
was placed in the vehicle in front OF
the coffin. Following the wagon was
man carrying large market basket
containing brown paper packages, and
man carrying strips OF paper, which he
strewed all the way to the grave. Be-
hind him came the rest Of the China
men and then the visitors. Not
word was said during the march to the
grave, which was Mt the top Of tho hill
spoken of above, and on reaching the
place Of interment, where there arc al
ready several of these people buI led,
the four bearers lifted the coffin from
tho wagon and silently lowered it into
the grave. Rev. Mr.. Strong then made
a brief prayer, committing tho body to
its last resting place, "earth to earth,
ashes to ashes, and dust to dust" The
grave was then filled and mounded up,
and when this was done II hole was
made at tho foot md in it was placed
an earthcrn jar, the contents Of which
were carefully concealed from tho
knowledge OF The visitors. The man
with the basket came forward and from
1t were taken packages containing
candy, nut1, &c., which were opened
and the contents poured over the Jar.
This was all covered with earth, when
tin pail containing little earth in
which were stuck white taper,
numbc: OF incense sticks which in
burning gave out u fragrant ouor, and
also some peculiar rcd and white tapers
were planted on top of tho earth. Then
r plate containing meat. small birds
and dressed chicken with the head on
and arranged In Il sitting position was
deposited ut the foot of the grave.
Near this were chop sticks, Il bowl Of
rice and bowl Of tea to sustain the de-
ceased In his journey to the spirit land.
The grave was partially surrounded
with lighted candles and burning In
cense sticks, and the papers in which
the candies were wrapped wero burned
on the gravc-the ilickertng light Of the
tapers, the smoking incense, the pic
turesque costumes Of the Chlnamen and
the daisy-clad field forming strange
and wierd picture not soon to be for
gotten. While these were burning Il
Mongollan advanced to the grave made
number Of prostratlons, his forehead
touching tho earth, and thon pouring
tea from tho bowl upon the ground.
Tea was poured again OH the earth and
all the Celestials then made profound
bow toward tho grave with their hands
outstrctched, and then turned away,
and thus tho fnn0ral services were con-
cluded. The effects Of the deceased, as
Is usual with theso people, were burn
cu after the funeral.