Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-26
AT A CHINESE FUNERAL.
HOW THE DEAD MONGOtlAN is
LAID OUT AND INFERRED.
Meats, Fruit and Vino Piled Around the
Bier and Upon the Grave-Professfonal
Mourners i'm Accordance with Social
Standing-Offerings to the Spirits.

Mourners in Accordance with Social
Standing-Oferings to the Spirits.
We are in the Chinese quarter Of San Fran
cisco. Here is a house where death has oc-
Cured 4 Chinese friend procures admit
lance for u.s. so that we may see something OF
Chinese funeral customs. As soon as the
breath has left the body professional mourn
ers are called III, who deck it with ali the
finery possible If it is female that has died
her cheeks are heavily rouged, and if the de-
ceased in life was not the owner of sufficient
iewelry to decorate her remains with, friends
and relatives are called upon to furnish the
desired amount.
If the weather is favorable the body is laid
out on table that is placed in street or
alley adjoining the late residence of the de-
ceased, but covered from sight with large
white cloth Next to the table holding the
deceased is another table covered with meat,
candies, preserved cocoanut and ginger, to-
gether with liberal supply of Chinese wine
and brandy.
Among the funeral meats will always be
found pig or hog roasted whole. the size
of the porcine offering being graded accord
ing to the age of the deceased.
AROUND THE BIER
As soon as the body and feast are laid out
in state. the serious work of the professional
mourners commences. The number of mourn
ers varies according to the social standing of
the deceased in life-from six TO ten being
the average for an adult.
The mourners are dressed from head to
foot in white, the face and head being hid
from sight by sort of hood so that one can
not tell whether the mourners are male or
female.
The first move is TO gather round the bier
and chant mournful dirge, not forgetting
to extol the many virtues of the departed
During this time they are constantly moving
around in a circle TO prevent any evil spirit
from creeping in and SO getting possession of
the body.
AS soon as the dirge is over the musicians
commence beating the gongs, cymbals and
tontons. the mourners at the same time
giving vent to groans, speeches and howls,
varying the proceedings by beating them
selves and others with clenched fists, pulling
their hair and knocking their heads against
the adjoining building. They keep this up
until they work themselves into perfect
state of frenzy and together with the must
clans make such an uproar that one would
think that pandemouium had broken loose.
The object of beating the gongs, etc, is to
frighten the devils away. In the meantime,
every two or three minutes, handfuls OF
small pieces OF paper are thrown in the air,
over the BODY of the deceased, so that If by
any chance some Of the devils should get by
the musicians and mourners they would be
frightened by the pieces of paper, as they
are supposed to represent SO many good
spirits.
Then joss sticks, punk and incense are kept
burning. The mourning and racket last for
at least twenty-four hours.
THE LAST RESTING PLACE
The morning of the funeral the body is
taken from the bier, and after being stripped
of the ornaments and other finery is placed
in coffin. A piece of money is placed IN
the hands of the deceased, written prayer or
charm is put in the mouth, and bottle OF
| wine or brandy, together with liberal al
lowance of food, is also inclosed in the coffin.
Then an express wagon IS obtained and the
food and liquor are placed in the wagon, and
two or more men are continually throwing
! JOSS papers in the air until their burying
ground is resched. Second in the line of the
! procession is wagon filed with the hired
mourners, then the relatives and friends fol
| low, the deceased bringing UP the rear, with
! the exception Of two men who are detailed tc
| follow behind and scatter joss papers.
When the grave is reached the real agony
| begins The mourners redouble their efforts
aud the musicians beat their gougS, etc.
with all the power possible. The coffin il
| lowered into the grave, another piece Of
money is placed upon the top Of the coffr
and the grave filled up. The money is FOL
the purpose Of paying the sod Of waters FOL
rowing the deceased across the dark waters
! 1t is supposed that the god of waters VIII b
satisfied by merely seeing the money IN tbs
hands OF the deceased.
The money ON top Of the coffin is for tht
benefit Of the evil spirits After the grave
is filed. the eatabieS. sweetmeats ana liquol
are placed over it, as the mere sight Of tbs
food will appeaSe the hunger Of the gods
The food does not remain ST the grave very
long The morning after. any one is allowed
TO take il away, as the spirits are supposed 4
nave satisfied their hunger during the night
so st sunrise the next morning there are gen
orally plenty OF unpecurious Chinese VIII,
are glad to avail themselves of the food o
the gods. as .hey call tic L. Gordon il
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