Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-09-14
AT A CHINESE FUNERAL.
HOW THE DEAD MONGOLlAN IS
LAID OUT AND INFERRED

Meats, Fruit and Wine Piled Around che
Bier and Upon the Grave Professional
Mourners I'm Accordance with Social
MISUNDERSTANDING to the Spirits.
We are in the Chinese quarter of San Fran
cisco. Here is house where death has oc-
CURED A Chinese friend procures admit
lance for US, so that we may see something Of
Chinese funeral customs As soon as the
breath has left the body professional mourn
ers are called in, who deck 1t with oil the
finery possible. II tits female that has died
her checks are heavily rouged, and if the de-
ceased in life was not the owner Of sufficient
1ewelry to decorate her remains with, friends
and relatives are called upon 70 furnish the
desired amount
II the weather Is favorable the body islaid
out on a table that is placed Ia a street or
alley adjoining the late residence of the de-
ceased, but covered from sight with large
white cloth. Next n tho table holding the
deceased is another table covered with meat,
candies, preserved cocoanut and ginger, to-
gether with a liberal supply Of Chinese wine
and brandy.
Among the funeral meats viii always be
found pig or hog roasted whole. the sise
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 nfe-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 80 that one can
not tell whether the mourners are male or
female.
The first move Is to gather round the bier
and chant a 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 aud
tomtoms, the mouIners 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 musi-
clans make such an uproar that one would
think that pandemonium bad broken loose.
The object Of beating the gongs, etc., Is to
brighten 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, 50 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 50 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 hnery Is placed
In a colin. A piece Of money is placed in
the hands OF the deceased, q written prayer or
charm Is put In the month, and q bottle q
vino or brandy, together With liberal az
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 reached. 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 to
follow behind and scatter JOSS papers
Whcn the grave Is reached the real agony
begins. The mourners redouhle their efforts
and the musicians beat their gongs, ETC.,
with all the power possible. The comm Ia
lowered into the grave, another piece Of
money Is placed upon the top OF the coffin
and the grave filled ~. The money Is for
the purpose of paying the god of waters for
rowing the deceased across the dark waters.
It Is supposed that the god OF waters WIN be
satisfied by merely seeing the money tn the
hands OF the deceased.
The money on top of the coffin is for the
benefit Of the evil spirits After the grave
Is filed, the eatables, sweetneats and liquor
are placed over It, as the mere sight of the
food viii appease the hunger Of the gods
The food does not remain at the grave very
long. The morning after, any one is allowed
to take 1t away, as the spirits are supposed to
have satisfied their hunger during the night,
50 at sunrise the next morning there are gen
orally plenty OF impecunious Chinese who
are glad TO avail themselves OF the food of
the gods, as they call tic. L. Gordon In
Pittsburg Bulletin.