Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-02
THE BURIAL OF A 0HINAMAN.
HOW The DEVIL WAS KEPTA AT A DISTANCE
WHILE THE sOULS DINNER OF
BROILED CHICKEN AND RICE
WAS EATEN.
New York SUM-


Yesterday morning, while the gate
keeper at the railroad crossing near the
entrance to the Evergreens Cemetery.
Brooklyn, was quietly reading the days
news, a funeral procession dashed past
at rate that made him spring to his
feet, drop his paper, and open his eyes
to their widest. The string of carriages
were following handsome hearse,
through the glass sides Of which costly
casket was seen. The coffin held the
body Of the late Lee Wan, a Mott street
grocer, who died on the 3lst ult
On the hearse, beside the driver, sat
pale, gaunt chipaman in a gown Of
white silk, with strip Of white linen
tied about bis arm and white porcelain
bracelet OIL his wrist, who at intervals
of every two or three hundred tret scat
tered half dozen slips Of blank paper
in the road, in order. it was afterward
explained, that the devil, who is believed
to follow the dead, nigh: lie detained by
his curiosity 10 examine the papers, III
til the deceased man could IL put under
the ground out Of his reach. The dozen
carriages following the hcarse we're oc-
cupied by Cinnamon some in their ma
tive costume and others in the attire
usually worn here some with their
quepces and others with cropped hair
most of them with smooth faces, but
three or four with bristling whiskers
and moustaches; and more than hall OF
them smoking. In one of the carriages
was white woman aud with her lit
tie girl
The grave was in all exposed spot,
with lutte grass aud no shrubbery hear
lt-a place where the bodies of the poor
liz so thickly that there is hardly a foot
space between the mounds. The c"tfin
having been removed, not by friends OF
the dece ased man, but by two or three
drivers, it was lowered by couple Of
grave diggers. The Cinnamon to the
number Of about fifty, drew near and
threw earth upon the coffin. Then they
gathered in groups to talk IN their pc
culiar sing-song fashion. while hall
dozen of their number unloadcd from a
basket the dead mans clothing, several
red candles, q large bunch of slow
matches, and box containing victuals
The clothing was rolled into bundle
and burned. The candles and slow
matches were set firmly in the earth al
the foot Of th>' grave and lighted. The
box was then opened, aud three bowls
of rice, broi!ed chicken aud plate Of
lean meat produced therefrom, were
placed besides the freshly heaped
mound; that the dlsembodied sou
might feed upon them preparatory tt
taking its flight. The chop sticks wer'
not seen to move nor was there any per
ceptible diminution in the quantity q
the viands yet the Cinnamon seemed
to firmly believe that the spirit of Lee
Wan passed the way and partook of tn
banquet. The tramps in the neighbor
hood, who had been attracted by tn
, oddly of the procession and ceremony
eyed the dishes in way that caused al
) aged opium-smoking Chinamau to rous
, himself from bis dreamy condition, and
!, ere the procession went back at tn
t same swift pace at which it had come
Ito thrust the souls dinner int" the to
Y box and make off with it.
After mat had been spread besid
;. the grave the mourpers went up in two
and threes. and, standing or kneelin
= on the mat, salnted Lee Wan for tn
: last time. The salute consisted of rail-
!. ing and dropping the clasped band
6 three times, accompanying each motto
: with nod of the head, then droppln
9 on all tours aud ducking the head tire
times more, the face almost toucbin
the earth. Each person. after finlshin
his salute, empt,ed upon the ground
T. tiny cup of weak tea that had bee
u poured from blue.and-white pot, of
l. design calculated to craze bric-a bra
= hunter.
: An intelligent.lo looking Chinaman,wit
y the face of Tartar, but the clothes I
= an American citizen, said that the Cal
dies and matches were burned for tt
~ same reason that Christians sprink
|" holy water on the graves-"to keep IL
devil off," Where priests were availab
. it was customary to employ them to r
cite prayers over the graves; bnt the
are no priests in New York, he said, an
70 therefore the burial devolved entire
=, upon the friends of the dead ma
. There was rumor," he said, "that v
:, had church and Joss house in New Yol