The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-04-09
A 6R3 VEYARD DANCE.
shoSTtT CEREMONY WITNESSED IN
A JAPANESE CEMETERY.

Snd afrerw&rd entered the Chinese gov
TTDe7s seygice, gazed thoughtfully into
he glowing embers in the CRATE and
Sfter short pause told the following
sale:
The many stories published about
Indisu ghost dances and the Messiah
craze remind me of one Of the most re-
JnaTkab's incidents have ever witnessed
during my long career in the Orient,
sG1d am sure there are but few Amer
cans or Europeans who have had the
opportunity to see the sights of which I
am going to tell.
Ahe native religion of the Japanese is,
sc you know, Buddhism, and there is no
CT9od which is as full of superstition.
some Of tho ancient beliefs of the Bud
dhista are calculated to brighten the faith
ful and viyidly portray the horrible pun
isnmeus lat awaits the sinful man after
he n'cas his earthly career, while others,
Wiz charming simplicity, show that the
greatest am of the Hindoo religion is
tbe release from existence.
The dont:ine of the transmigration of
souia and hope for a better fate in
tnture life are the principal foundations
upon which Buddhism rests. Nagasah,
where / resided for many years, was
lane3 for the splendid festivals in honor
az Hlddah. or Gautama, the founder of
She religion. Owing to the work of
missionaries and the consequent spread
Of Christianity in Japan, many of the
religious lstes are no longer publicly OBJ
served, and the one of which l am about
10 speak Lad its last grand celebration in
1885, iuat lefore left Nagasaki
DECoRATED GRAvEYARDs.
II ia called the Matsidri and was held
during fhe last week in August or the
1rst wee N September, continuing four
days taase days were set aside for the
receps 10 Vt the spirits of the dead, who,
ACCORDING to legendary belief, return
once year to their old homes. For
many raeiks previous to the festival
preparations had been in progress. The
houses OF he believers had all been care
Euuy swept, cleaned and polished, and
tha homo affairs, which are to be found
IN every native house, had been redeco-
rE5ed apd refurnished. The interior of
al the Guildings had been profusely
acorue3 With flowers, the streets had
been repared and the whole city was
clothed il holiday attire.
On the morning of the first day the
deld were received with much ceremony
~ the . aveyard, which is in beautiful
.;roye Bach mound was profusely dec
orated with lighted lanterns and gar
bnds Of many colored paper globes hung
from Tree 70 tree. On the top of every
grave food of the daintiest kind was
spread il > tempting manner and in guam
titles sUl5 lent to appease the appetites
Of an army of the hungriest kind of
ghosts On mats spread about the
graves sal all the living descendants of
the person who had been buried in that
particuln: spot. Not single tomb was
0eglec5e. If in the course of years the
Family Of my one of the silent sleepers
had completely died out his grave had
been enbellished and supplied by stran-
gers.
The spin IS were supposed to arrive and
depart by yater from the sea, and for
four days md nights the living commune
With their lead and were with them in
spirit Tho souls of the departed were
sapP0sej 10 hover around the tombs like
INSTANT visible beings, and they were
ilea5ed W every attention due to sacred
aud d's,,p uished visitors from the other
world.
The night of the second day was de-
voted " a ,Tand terpsichorean entertain
ment or spirit dance, and the graveyard
was trausformed for once into a ball
room, whore ghostly dancers were sup
posed TO hold revelry.
A SPLENDID SIGHT.
The acenes made strong and ever
lasting Impression on me. The night
was per- ecG, the moon was at its full and |
The cir wa fragrant with the perfumes
o. Thousands of flowers, Myriads Of |
lights were Pickering on the hillsides !
which surround the city, and the colored
lanterns wayed gently to and fro, keep |
ing time 70 the chimes Of the silyery !
bells IL the temple tower, which fur |
nishsd the music for the mystic enter
GainmepG Around an artificial lake in |
the center Of the graveyard the people |
kpsit in silent devotion, worshiping on
the Shrine of Buddha, whose emblem,
tA9 lotus flower, rose from the middle of |
The lake,
Every one of the four days and nights
brought new surprises and ceremonies,
many of che latter being held in the
4emple, tho doors of which were closed
md gaarded against the entrance Of
infde's. On the last Inght-or the night
Of nights, as it was called-a grand pro-
eession finished the festival. The people
marched il parade to escort their spirit
visitors 80 the water front, where they
were 70 depart.
Eoat!uea carried on their shoulders
gigantic craft built Of wood and straw,
n which the dead were supposed to be
seated, and which was to convey them
back 70 spirit land and to Ohata, the
great father beyond the sea. This boat,
,,l4,l, - BALLAD Enluv waa n Inastar-