The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-03-11
A CHINESE FUNERAL.
Imposing Ceremonies Over the Body of
Wong All Sing.
San Francisco Bulletin, 5th.

the remains drew up at the corner of
Dupont and Commercial streets, and
the body, which was inclosed in a
handsome metallic casket, was placed
on a table in the street, over which a
white canopy had been erected. Over
the coffin a scarlet cloth was draped,
and upon this were several ornaments
of gilt paper and peacock feathers, with
which the celestial sojourners in our
midst are wont to decorate their homes
and graves. Outside of the canopy,
and at the foot of the coffin, was placed
a table loaded with delicacies celestially
prepared, upon which the soul of the
departed Wong All Sing is expe cted to
live during his passage to the abodes of
Joss. Among the contents of the table
were roasted and uncooked hogs, oran-
ges, Chinese cakes, nuts, candy, etc.,
while a miniature image Of the Great
Joss spreads his hands benignly over
the feast. Large candles of fanciful
design, and scores of punk.sticks burned
fitfully around the coffin and table, and
added their aroma to the already count
less smells of the vicinity; while small
bonfires of paper, upon which Chinese
characters were written, were kept con-
stantly burning by the attendants,
whose name was legion. Around the
coffin were grouped several Cinnamon
with white cloth bound around their
heads, and at the foot of the coffin were
several professional female mourners,
whose cries and lamentations could be
heard for some distance off. These wo-
men, who were attired in white, with q
cloak of straw cloth over their shoul-
ders, are supposed to remain on their
hands and knees during the entire GER
emony, which sometimes lasts the bet-
ter portion Of the day, and in that po-
sition keep up necessarily their cries
and prayers. About noon a Chinese
band appeared on the scene, and for q
while the ceremonies were carried on
by one man. The male mourners left
the coffin and grouped themselves
around this person, who stood at the
foot of the hill. He was dressed in the
ordinary Chinese costume, with the ex-
ception of his head-dress, which was
composed Of a black cloth turban, fam
cifully decorated with brass ornaments:
In his hands he held a small blue flag
ION which Chinese characters were
transcribed), a pair of cymbals and q
bell. Alternately accompanying him.
self upon the bell and cymbals, he
caanted ina crying tone Of voice the
good deeds of the deceased, Wong All
Sing, and the greatness of the Chinese
Joss, who would undoubtedly bring his
assassin to justice. Finally, having fin
ished, he gave sign to the Chinese
band, which Immediately began play
ing what presumably was q funeral an
them, in which they were joined by the
mourners, the female portion Of which
howled themselves almost into hyster-
les, humping their foreheads on the
cobble-stone pavement, and otherwise
behaving as if they were insane. Upon
the close of the funeral services the
body of the deceased person was placed
in hearse, and taken away to an un-
dertaker's, where they will be boxed
up to await shipment to China, it not
being the intention of his friends to
have him buried in California. The
"funeral baked meats" were then car.
ried off tor the mourners to regale
themselves on, and the funeral services
over Wong All Sing came to an end.
During the ceremonies, which lasted
about three hours, traffic on Dupont
street was considerably interrupted, and
sometimes completely stopped by the
immense concodrse of people, both
Mcngolians and Caucasians witnessing
the proceedings, and the balconies over
head were literally jammed with the
better class of Cinnamon and China
women who had gathered together to
see the performance of the last rites to
the dead.