Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
A Chinese Funeral


All Sing, Chinese merchant, was buried
recently in Chinatown, San Francisco The
corpse was encased in handsome coffin,
literally studded with plated screws and
handles, which was exposed to the public
gaze under u white canopy erected in Du-
pont street The stand itself was literally
adorned with gilt paper and peacock feath
ers, while at the foot of the coffin, on a sec
ond table, large quantity of Celestial deli
cacies were spread out, which were 10 ac-
company the departed soul to the abode of
Joss. A miniature image of the Chinese
deity spread his hand bengnly over the
feast, and there was no lack of candles and
punk. A band of professional female
mourners filled the air with cries and lamen-
tations. AT noon Chinese band put in an
appearance, but the ceremonies for while
were carried on by one man only. This
person, dressed like an ordinary Chinaman,
with the exception of wearing black-cloth
turban studded with brass ornaments, played
a pair of cymbals and bell, chanting as
an accompaniment the great and good deeds
of the departed. The band began playing
as soon as he had finished, and were Joined
by the mourners in grand chorus, the fe-
males humping their foreheads on the cob
blestones. The ceremonies on Dupont
street lasted about three hours. At the
close of the services the coffin was placed in
hearse and conveyed to the Chinese grave
yard The hearse was preceded by hack
containing the Chinese band, beating bells
and gongs, which were suspended from the
roof of the carriage by ropes. Next were
several carriages filed with professional
mourners, who were arrayed in white
sacks, and with white bands about their
foreheads. There were further a number
of carriages containing the friends and rela-
tives of the deceased, which in turn were
followed by the hearse. The hearse and
coffin were as elegant rs the most Celestial
taste could wish, and were looked upon by
the heather who drove an express wagon
Immediately behind il with triumphant sat
isfaction. This express wagon contained,
frs. OF all, whole roast pig of comfortable
size, a number of chickens Drowned by the
generous heat on the baKe-oven, a large
bowl of rice, Il dozen broiled crabs, "a num-
Der of bottles, presumably filled with liquor;
also cups, saucers, 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 the good things of this life were ten
derly transferred to one of the carriages,
with the exception of one poor old hen,
whose meagre limba gave promise of an all
earthly jaw-defying toughness, one crab,
and three little bowls of rice. The big
gong was unstrung from the roof of the
hack, the pillowsips and bandages removed
from the mourners, and the procession di-
vided, the smaller number of vehicles
following the hearse. Arrived at the grave
yard of the Fook Wang Tong company,
the grave-digger was diligently sought for.
He is an Irishman, aud he was found
pleasantly engaged feeding his pigs on
Ch nese funeral chicken. AS philosophical
as any grave-digger, he never said a word,
but, seizing his spade, pitched it into the
ground at a place indicated by line, rs il
he were planting row ofpotatoes, and dug
a grave. Just as silently the coffin was
drawn out of the hearse and placed into the
grave head first the foot end being pushed
down with the spade. Then he spoke up
for the first time. "Where's your brick ?"
he said. 4 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 mourners 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 glowed
like the setting sun. Others had been busy
lighting punk-stcks at the head of every
tl,ai ipal,c nd
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 ground, a
basketful of paper, punk and joss-sticks
were burned, and the grave-digger fell to
andfilled the grave. The Chinese with
drew after having drank the contents of a
bottle which had been part of the de-
ceased's feast, but which they had taken
care not to leave on the ground. Half an
hour afterward the harem of the dead Mon
gol, consisting of three moOn-eyed beauties,
arrived at the graveyard in hack. They
were not admitted to the cemetery, but they
kindled bonfire among the sage bushes,
wherein were burned old clothes, books,
punk, red paper, large quantity of what
may have been cheese or turnips, and sun
dry other mysterious things. When the
fire was at its height the 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 hm
in fit condition to be reshipped to the land