The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-25
Burying a Uhlnaman.


us, SO that we may see something OF
Chinese funeral customs. AS soon as
the breath has left the body profess
eional mourners are called in, who
deck 1t with all the finery possible.
Ifit is a female that has died her
checks are heavily rouged. and. if
the deceased in life was not the own
er of sufficient iewelry to decorate
her remains with, friends and rela-
tiyes 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 residence of the deceased,
but covered from sight with a large
white cloth. Next to the table bold.
ing the deceased is another table COW
cred with meat. candies, preserved
cocoanut and ginger, together with a
liberal supply of Chinese wine and
brandy.
Among the funeral meats will al.
ways be found a pig or hog roasted
whole, the size of the pOrcine offer
ing being graded according to the
age of the deceased.
AS soon as the body and feast are
laid out in state the serious work of
the professional mourners common
ces. The number of mourners 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 a sort
of hood, SO that one cannot 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 vir-
tues of the departed. During this
time they are constantly moving
around in circle to prevent any evil
spirit from creeping in and so get
ting possession of the body.
As soon as the dirge is over the
musicians commence beating the
gongs cymbals and tomtoms. the
mOurners at the same time giving
vent to groans, speeches and bowls,
varying the proceedings 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
frenzy, and together with the must
clans make such an uproar that one
would think pandemonium 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 thew
would be frightened by the pieces of
paper, as they are supposed to repre-
sent 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 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. a written prayer or
charm is put in the mouth and "A bot
tie of wine or brandy. together with
a liberal allowance of food. is also in
closed in the coffin.
Then an express wagon is obtained
and the food and liquor is placed in
il. and two or more men are constant
~ throwing joss papers in the air
until their burying.grOund is reach
ed. Second in the line of procession
Is wagon filled with the hired
mourners, then the relatives and
friends follow, the deceased bringing
up the rear, with the exception CT
two men who are detailed to follow
behind and scatter joss papers.
When the grave is reached the real
agony begins. The mourners redou-
BILE their efforts and the musicians
beat their gongs, ETC.. with all the
power possible. The coffin is lower
ed into the grave. another piece OF
money is placed upon the top of the
coffin and the grave is filed up. The
money Is for the purpose of paying
the god of waters for rowing the de-
ceased across the dark waters. 1t is
supposed that the god of waters will
be satisfied by merely seeing the
money in the hands of the deceased.
The money on top of the coffin is
for the benefit of the evil spirits. AT.