Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-12-07
Ii YU Doc, {:
Died October 10, 1888, ::
Aged 80 years. ::
We meet on the level, ::
We part on the square. 4:

We meet on the level,
We part on the square.
-
By the side of the casket was a long
stick covered with a yellow cloth bear
ing caballstic characters. This was to
serve as a ladder upon which the dead
General was to mount to the skies. The
lid of the coffin was frequently opened
to permit friends to gaze upon the fea-
lures of the deceased and a peculiar
odor was emitted, rather pleasant than
otherwise.
The face of the dead General was COM
posed, and the body was dressed in the
ordinary garments worn by him in life.
A great number of small oblong pieces
of cardboard, bearing hieroglyphics, were
scattered about the dead mans head and
shoulders. These were playing cards
placed there that the departed might pass
away the time during the long journey
pleasantly. AT distance of about two
feet apart from each other and in front of
the caSket were three pine tables. On
the first were dishes Of candied fruits and
piles of oranges. The second table
groaned under the weight of a big pig,
nicely roasted and intact. On either
side of the porker were pillows
of crysanthemums and peonies,
one of which bore the words: "My
cousin at rest The third table was
near the front of the establishment. On
it were several bowls of rice, in which
were stuck burning joss sticks and sew
eral ordinary wax candles. Chop sticks
and small tea cups were laid ON either
side of the table All that the first and
second tables contained was placed on
the grave of General Doc, that he may
not want food should he awake before
reaching the great unknown. About ten
o'clock number of Cinnamon began rig
ging themselves up in long gowns of
muslin. Four of these men wore blue
with white belts, and the four others
had on surplices with black netting.
These were the relatives of the dead
man, and their strange costumes indi-
Gated their deep sorrow. These chief
mourners ranged themselves along the
side of the room and began hummIng a
queer tune. At intervals of twenty min
utes tall, raw boned Chinaman stood in
front of the third table waving his arms
and chanting in a low tone. Suddenly
the band started the "Dead March from
SAUL" and continued playing it for
ten minutes. Meanwhile additional
joss sticks were placed in the rice
bowls and the Cinnamon bowed low and
chanted a dirge. The band played The
Soldiers Peace twice. and the mourn
ers kept up the chanting, moving about
spasmodically between the tables. The
music attracted great crowds and Mott
street for some distance was lined with
people. Almost every window in the
neighborhOod was open and heads were
thrust from the apertures. When the
music had ceased a Chinese band played
a funeral march and the noise was al
The continual
with frequent Interruptions to allow the
chief mourncrs time to make their devo-
tions until one o'clock, when the parade
started. From the undertaker's the pa
rade passed through Chatham Square to
Oliver street, to Henry street, to Grand
street, thence crossing the ferry and
winding up at Evergreen Cemetery.
An immense crowd was waiting at the
far away corner of the cemetery, where
the Chinese have their burying plot.
At 4 40 the coffin was taken from the
hearse and carried through an avenue of
Cinnamon to the grave. Then the coffin
was lowered. The banner of the Lun
Gee Tong was stuck at the head and two
huge lanterns of the dead planted on
poles next to it. Tom Lee threw the
1irst sod on the resounding rough box
lid. While he was doing that, the other
Cinnamon stripped themselves OF all
their funeral trappings, sashes, blue and
red and black blouses, everything that
they had put on that had anything to do
with the funeral, and piled them all up
on the left of Ii Yu Docs grave.
Then on the pile they put the
mandarin umbrella, the eight en-
blems of Tau, the poles and banners,
and when the pile was big and broad |
and long they lighted it and stood to one !
side to pray in silence. 1t was Ii Yu |
DOCS funeral pyre, and, though there /
have been Chinese funerals in Ever /
greens before, this was the biggest one |
ever burned there. The last thing thrown J
on it was his trunk. 1t was filed with /
his clothing and all his personal prop |
erty This was done so that everything |
he had in this world for daily use might /
60 out to him transformed in smoke for /
use in the next. Another set of China /
men placed two chickens, some bowls of |
rice and cups of tea on the grave. Then !
two bottles of wine were emptied on the /
and all that the living could do /
for the dead was done. 1t was late when /
all was over. and the sun had gone down /