Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-11-06
BURYING A CHINAMAN.
How the Dead MongoIians are Dis
posed of.

posed of.
We are in the Chinese quarter of |
San Francisco. Here is house where
procures admittance for US, so that we |
may see something of Chinese funeral |
customs. As soon as breath has left |
the body professional mourners are |
called in, who deck it with all the |
finery possible. If it is female that |
has died her cheeks are heavily rouged,
and, If the deceased in life was not tie
owner of sufficient Jewelry 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 a
street or alley adjoining the late resi-
dence of the deceased, but covered
from sight with large white CLOTH
Next to the table holding the deceased
Is another table covered with meat,
Candies, preserved cocanut and gingers,
together with a liberal supply of
Chinese wine and brandy.
Among the funeral meats will always
be found pig or hog roasted whole,
the size of the porclne Offering being
graded according to the age of the de-
ceased.
As soon as the body and feast are
laid out in state the serious work of the
professional mOurnerS commences.
The number Of mourners according to
the social standing of TIE 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 be-
ing hid from sight by sort of a hood,
so that one cannot tell whether the
mourners are male or female.
The first move is to gather around the
bier and chant a mornful dirge, not
for getting 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 mu-
sicians commence beating the gongs,
cymbals and tomtoms, the mourners at
the same time giving vent to groans,
| speeches and howls, varying the pro-
ceedings by beating themselves 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 a
perfect state of frenzy and together
with the musicians make such an up
roar that one would think that pande-
monium had broken loose.
The object of beating the gongs, etc. g,
is 10 frighten the devils away. In the
meantime, every two or ths,e minutes,
handfuls of small pieces of paper are
thrown in the air. over the body of the
deceased, so that if by any chance any
of the devils should get by the mu-
sicians 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-fOuI
hours.
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 III the hands of the de-
ceased, a written prayer or charm il
! put il the mouth and a bottle of wine
or brandy, together with liberal al
lowance of food, is inclosed III the cof'
fin.
Then an express wagon Is obtained
and the food and liquor are placed IL
I
continually throwing joss papers in the
air until their burying ground i:
reached. Second in the line of the pro
cession is a wagon filled with the hired
, mourners, then the relatives and friend:
follow, the deceased bringing up thu
rear, with the exception OF two mel
/; who are detailed 10 follow behind anC
! scatter joss papers.
When the grave is reached the real
agony begins. The mourners redoublt
: their efforts and the musicians bea
their gOngs, ETC., with all the powe
possible. The collin IS lowered into th'
grave, another piece of money is place.
upon the top OF the coffin and the grave
filed up. The money is for the pur
= pose of paying the god of waters fol
rowing the deceased across the darl
! waters. 1t i. supposed that the god o.
waters will be satisfied by merely seein;
+, the money in the hands of the deceased
The money on top of the coffin is 70
the benefit of the evil spirits. Afte
the grave is filed the eatables, sweet
I meats and liquor are placed over 1t, a
the mere sight of the food will appeas
= the hunger of the gods.
y The food does not remain at tn
grave very long. The morning afte
any one is allowed to take it away, a
the spirits are supposed to have salts
y fed their hunger during the night, so a
c sunrise the next morning they are gel
/ orally plenty of impecunlous Chimes
p who are glad to avail themselves of th
:. food of the gods, as they call it.