The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-05
A Chinese Funeral in California.

Last Thursday Lee Poy Poon, Presl-
dent of the Ming Yung Tong, one Of the
Oldest Of the Chinese Six Companions in
San Jose, died, and we had an oppor-
tunity Of witnessing for the first time a
frst-class Chinese funeral. Poon was one
of the wealthiest Mongolians on this
coast. In addition to his large property
here he owned a plantation in China,
stocked with two thousand slaves, three
wives and seven children" So at least
the daily papers say.
The ceremonies observed in the obse-
quies of this Oriental millionaire are thus
described by local reporter:
sALAAMING AND soBBiNG.
The corpse did not arrive until nearly
il o'clock, the bearers being eight in
number, all clothed in white, with head
dresses of the same color. The mourners
following numbered about score, and
wore over their white robes heavy fes-
toons of sackcloth. On entering the
booth they threw themselves on the floor,
kneeling with their heads toward the
coffin, and remaining motionless through
out the ceremonies, which consisted OF
more mourners in various attires advanc-
ing by squads, salaaming, giving utter
ance to a sort of sob, and then making
way for others. No services or eulogies
whatever were INDUCED in, but the lack
of both was fully atoned for by the sob
bing process, which was kept up until
nearly l o'clock. The first mourners
we're anointed with sort of oil supplied
by the attendant priest, but the last
score or so of squads simply salaamed
sobbed and retreated. Near the head Of
the booth noisy gong clashed, at the
same time star musician pushed brazen
notes out of battered tin trumpet of the
Gabriel pattern, the din being loudest
when the mourners sobbed. At P. M
the coffin was put into the hearse, and
the procession took up its line of march
The advance guard consisted of two In
innate friends of the deceased, mounted
on white horses, both riders being also
clothed in white They were followed
by a brass band playing a mournful
dirge, and accompanied by discordant
gong, which the funeral directors pre-
ferred to cymbals. Two gong-beaters
playing with reckless disregard for the
bands tine, followed the musicians.
GoNGs AND sACKcLoTH.
The next division was made up O.
small boys in blue blouses, each bearing
a lantern or banner, inscribed with the
virtues of the deceased, and surrounding
a riderless white horse, completely
shrouded in black. This was indicative
Of the past rank of the deceased in the
Chinese army. A large number of foot
men in blue silk followed as an advance
guard to three Cinnamon dressed com
pletely in white. The middle one of the
trio was bowed nearly double, with hi
face hidden from sight, and was sup
ported by the other two. The bowed.
down-with-grief appearing mourner was
draped in sackcloth, and was stated to
be relative of Lee Poon's. At his heels
was Poon' wife, muffled and bowed over
in similar manner, and supported by two
old women in black clothes The female
trio was followed by the horn and gong
which performed the dirge at the booth,
and next came the hearse drawn by four
white horses draped with black. A
white robed Chinese occupied the seat
with the driver, and distributed un-
limited quantities of mourning cards,
bearing eulogies of the deceased's virtue.
The top of the vehicle was surmounted
by square frame completely hung with
red, yellow, white, orange, and gold
paper streamers.
The hearse was followed by long line
of carriages filled with Cinnamon. The
only women I saw were the wife and her
two attendants on foot. The procession
was closed by spring-wagon conveying
to the cemetery the roasted pigs and
sheep that Poon might not starve on his
journey to the celestial land The body
was taken to the Chinese quarter Of the
cemetery, where it was to lie in vault
until the next steamer day, when it will
be forwarded to China. But during the
night some tramps went to the cemetery
and ate up the pigs, sheep, and other
provisions. Fearing that the body might
be stolen as A. T. Stewards was, the
friends Of Poon have brought his body
back to the undertakers, and will guard
1t there until steamer day.
Cor. Herald and Pre8bwter.