The Osceola times., 1888-02-11
SINGULAR FUNERALS.
Burial Rites Observed In Different Parts Of
the Globe.

Burial Rites Observed In Different Parts Of
the Globe.
1t makes all the difference in the
world whether dead Chinaman is
member of the order of Freemasons or
not, and whether or not he is rich. IL
he is Mason his funeral is the occa-
sion of great spread and display in
Chinatown. A brass band is hired to
play in front of the dead man $ resi-
dence, and also accompanies the body
to the grave. 1t would seem that
noise, and not the appropriateness Of
the tlne, is the object in view, for the
friends Of the dead man are perfectly
satisfied, no matter whether the tune
be some German waltz or the "Boulan-
ger March, On the way to the grave
"a prominent Chinaman sits on the
hearse and scatters pieces of colored
paper along the route, the object OF
this being to occupy the attention of
the evil spirits which are supposed to
follow the departed Chinaman until
the grave closes over him. In the
coffin with the body is placed pack of
Chinese playing cards, in order that
the spirit Of the dead man may have an
opportunity of making little change
during his long and dark journey. Az
the grave food is placed around the
coffin, but after the ceremony is con-
cluded this is taken to the lodge-rooms
and the friends eat for themselves and
the dead also. No Chinaman is ever
buried in this country whose body is
not some time, usually after the lapse
of two or three years, taken up and
carried home to China by his friends.
This is sacred custom among all
Chinese, and the body of II Chinaman
WHO has been dead three or four years
is no uncommon freight on the
steamers plying between San Francisco
and China.
The natives of Peru place their dead
in sitting posture, with the head be-
tween their knees and their arms
crossed on the breast Ropes of bark
were tightly bound around the body,
which was then wrapped in cloth and
then bound until it resembled mass
of cordage rather than any thing else.
Bodies thus preserved. and from which
the air was entirely excluded, are con-
stantly being found among the ruins OF
the old cities devastated by the
Spaniards The ancient Mexicans OBJ
served much the custom, adding to il
the sacriiic of hundreds of human be-
ings, in many cases the victims freely
giving their consent to die, believing
that by this means they the more surely
reached the abode of their gods and en-
JOY everlasting peace.
The ancient Egyptians celebrated
funeral by feasting and drinking while
the work of embalming, which took
seventy days, was going on; but
throughout all they remembered that
no one is exempt from death, and to re-
mind them of the fact a skeleton was
placed in the banqueting hall, where it
remained during the feast. Sacrifices
were offered to the gods and the flesh
used for food among the priests and
guests. In the case of a great lord or
rich person costly monument was
erected. but the poorer classes were
laid in the ground, sometimes with no
embalming and at times even without
a coffin.
There are in Africa almost as many
burial customs as there are tribes OF
negroes, each having its own peculiar
ideas and manners. The majority OF
tribes, however, bury the dead and de-
stroy all property belonging to the de-
ceased, even taking down the house.
If it be a chief of high rank the more
barbarous tribes kill numbers of slaves
to serve him in the next world and
bury his favorte wife alive in the same
grave with her deceased lord.
The Hindoos burned their dead and
sometimes sacrificed human beings at
the funeral of any parsonage OF note
The suttee, or widow burning, among
great personages was n very repu'slve
feature of the ceremony The ceremo-
nies were conducted amid feasting,
singing by dervishes. and dancing by
girls. Sometimes the mourners laShed
themselves with knotted cords ana
sticks until they fell exhausted from
exertion and loss of blood.-Chtcago
NeUs.