The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-06
a Chinese Funeral.

Ah Sing, Chinese merchant, was buried
recently in Chinatown, San Francisco The
corpse was cncascd in handsome coffin,
libcrallY studded with plated screws and
handles, which was exposed to the public
gaze under white canopy erected in Du-
pont street. The stand itself was literally
adorned with gilt paper and peacock fcnlh-
| ers, while at the foot Of the collin, on Sec
ond table, large quantity of Celestial deli
cacics were spread out, which were to ac-
company the departed soul to the abode of
Joss. a miniature image of the Chinese
deity spread his hand bcnignly over the
| feast, and there was no lack of candles and
punk. A band of professional female
mourners filled the air with cries and lamcn-
! tations. At noon a Chinese band put in an
appearance, but the ceremonies for while
were Carried on by ono man only. This
person, dressed like an ordinary Chnanan,
with the exception Of wearing a black cloth
turban studded with brass ornaments, played
pair OF cymbals and bell, chanting us
an accompaniment the great and good deeds
OF tho departed. The band began playing
! as soon as he had finished, and were ioincd
ny the mo,lrncrs in grand chorus the fc
males humping their forcheads on the cob
bleslOncs. The ceremonies on Dupont
street lastce about three hours. At tho
close OF the services the coffin was placed in
Il hcarsc and convcycdto to the Chinese grave
yard. The icarsc was'prcccdcd by a hack
containing the Chinese band beating bells
and gongs, which were suspended from the
roof OF the carriage by ropes. Next were
several carriages filled with professional
mourncrs, who were arraycd in white
sacks, and with white bands about their
forchcads. There were further number
OF carriages containing the friends mud rcla-
tives OF the deceased, which in turn were
followed by the hcarse. The hearsc and
coffin were as elegant as the most Celestial
taste could wish, and were looked upon by
the icatiich who drove an express wagon
immediately behind it with triumphant sat-
isfuc;ion. This express wagon contained,
frs. OF all, whole roast pig of comfortable
size, number Of chickens, Drowned by the
generous heat on the bake oven, a large
bowl OF rice, a dozen broilcd crabs, num-
Der of bottles, presumably filled with liquor;
also cups, sauccrs, bowls and chop-sticks,
beside the usual lot of joss paper, sticks
and candles. When the procession had
reached the outskirts Of the city it halted,
and tho good things Of this life were ten
derly transferred to one of The carriages,
whose mcagre limba gave promise of an all
earthly jaw-dcfying toughncss, one crab,
and three little bowls Of rice. The big
gong was unstrung from the roof of the
hack, the pillowsips and bandagcs removed
from the n,ourners, and the procession di-
vidcd, the smaller number of vehicles
following the hcarse. Arrived at the grave
yard Of the Fook Wang Tosg company,
the gravc-diggcr was diligently sought for
lie is an lrishmun, and he was found
pleasantly engaged feeding his pigs on
Oh ncse funeral chicken. AS philosophical
as any grlvc-diggcr, he never said word
but, scizing his spade, pitched it into the
ground at place indicated by line, as if
he were plantinga row Of potatoes, and dug
grave just us silently the coffin was
drawn out Of the hearsc and placed into the
grave head first the foot end being pushed
down With the spade. Then he spoke up
for the first time. "Whcrc's your brick p
he said. A brick, one side of which was
inscribed with number of characters, was
produced, and, with the spade, placed on
the head end Of the coffin. Meanwhile two
OF the mourncrs had spread the feast at the
foot of the grave. Tea was poured into the
cups, the chop sticks were placed by the
side of the rice bowls, and the crab glowcd
like the setting sun. Others had been busy
lighting punk-sticks at the head of every
grave within the in; ;losure, and when they
reached the last and their own they lit three
short and thick wax candles. Each mourn
er thereupon made three low salms before
the grave, and then the dishes were over
turned and the food left on the around, a
baskctful of paper, punk and joss-sticls
were burned, and the grave-diggcr fell to
andfillcd the grave. The Chinese with
drew after having drank the contents of a
bottle which had been a part of the de-
ceasod's feast, but which they had taken
care not to leave on the ground. Half an
hour afterward the harcm Of the dead Mon
gol, consisting of three moon eyed beauties,
arrived at the graveyard In Il hack. They
were not admitted to the cemetery, but they
kindlcd bonfire among the sage bushes,
wherein were burned old clothes, books,
punk, red paper, large quantity of what
may have been cheese or turDips, and sun
dry other mysterious things When the
fire was at It's height tho women bowed low
with clasped hands several times, and then
departed without having cast even one look
IN the direction where their former lord and
master will be buried until such time as the
absorption of the ground shall have put Inn
IN fit condition to be rcshippcd to the land
Of his fathers.