Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-10
AT A CHINESE FUNERAL
NOW THE DEAD ssoNColiAk 4
LAID OUT AND INFERRED.

nssaA Sssh - wsss bssss Ar~sss -
Bssv spA CDsa - 0sDse-PrsGsa1s~aa
$780, - ArA. ~tsh sr.s.s
We sxs IN the Chfnszs quarter of San rrss
cisco. Hsrn b . hoss.s whess dsash has &C,
~urrsd. A Chine-e friend procsrss admit
tanc, for rz. =, that We may ses somefhinx Of
chtunus funeral cusf1sna A. son a. the
bsv,sb has efr the body professional mourn
sry arc called in. vfw, dsrk il with all the
dnewy possible II tits female that has diss
her cbssks srs heavily rouged, AID 10 tbs do
ceasssf Ia life was not the owner u sufficient
tswsiry D, decorate her rsmasns with. friends
and rslatiyes are caiisi upon ~ fsrnish the
desired amount
n the weather. b favorable tie tody h laid
ont on table that y placed Ia . strest or
sIiey adsoinins the late residence Of the do
csasssi. but covered from sight with large
white cloth. Next 10 tine tails holding the
dszsspsd l. another table covered with meat,
ean.iis~. pesssryei coooanur and ginger, to
esther with a literal snppiy Of Chinese wins
Ard brandy.
Among the funeral ussats will always he
e,uud a u,g or q hog rtsstad whole the Size
Of thu rr,rr-ine Offering tsrsns xrnissi accord
ing b, IN, ass on the dscsased
AROUND rux ELIZA
Ass.n q. the body and feast are lad out
In stnte. this SERIOUS WORK Of the professional
u.ourusrs easnnc,,f,-s. The number Of mourn
ora varies secordips To the social standing a
TN, d.,ceas,,d In iif.-fron six D, ten t.sin1
tho av,rnx. ft,r an adult.
Tts nodtrper. are dressed from head u
fs,a lp white the face and head being hid
from sight i,y a sort Of hood. 10 that ona can
not tell whether the rnournsrs are male OF
female
Thn first move /. q, gather round the bier
and chant a ueurnful drge. not forgetting
IN sxtIl the many yirtuex Of the drparted
Daring mi. tim, thew ars constantly moving
.,,,,ad in . eircl- % ue.ysnt any eyiI .u,rit
from ,.r.,ranp I'm AMI =, vettiuy t.,z,s,snon Of
thu lsdy.
Asson ~ the dirv, Is over the musicians
e..mnsnce tsatlng the gongs. cymt,al. and
s<aotons. the fnournsrs at tho sarns time
giving vent 10 groans sps..chcs and ho~ls,
VARYING the proe.sIings by tscating them
.elys~ and others with clenched fists, pulling
their hair and knocking their beads against
In. adjoining building They keep this up
until they work themselves into a perfect
.tnte Of frsnxy and together with the must
ctans make such an uproar that one would
think that pands.noniuro had broken loose
Tho object Of beating tho gonss, etc, Is To
frighten the devils away. In the meantime.
every two or thres minutes, handouts Of
ANAL piec.s Of puter are thrown In the air,
over tho body Of the dec-assd So that II by
any chance some Of the devils should get by
tho musicians and mouruers they would be
frightened by the pieces Of paper, as they
are supposed TO represent 70 many good
u,irits.
Then issx, sticks punk and incense are kept
burning Tn. mourning and racket last for
at last twenty. four hours
THE LAST RESTING PLACE
The morning OF the funeral the body is
taken from the bier. and after being strilfed
Of the ornn,nepts and other fiuery is placed
in n coffin. piece OF money is plAc.d In
tho hands Of the de,cea,.si. n written PRAYER or
charm IA nut in the mouth. and a bottle of
wine or brandy together with a liberal al
L,xsanco ef food ia ais, inelo,sd IN Tn. coffin
Then an ,xpress wagon "a obtained and the
fos.i and lia,,or mr.. plnc.d in the wagon. and
two ar NOR, man are continually throwing
i,as ,a,.rs in III, air until ,heir h,,rving
-,round ia r.acb,d Ser,.a In ,hs line Of tho
nr,.,,.stop /. a vacon filled with Tn. hired