The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-11
GRAv VA DANCE.
cbostly Ceremony Witnessed in a
= Japanese cemetery.
-ron the San Francisco ChToRf-ie.

Japanese cemetery.
From the San Francisco ChroRf-le.
+sT nights ago a number of elderly and
II travelled gentlemen were grouped in
- circle around the big fireplace of a
sorrn-town hotel swapping yarns and telling
-,a-iences. Among them was DR.. G. II.
-, Salter, who for many years was
TGn-',si states consul to Japan and after
- entered the Chinese government serv-
JV5en DR.. Salter's turn came TO dive
l,e to the recesses of his memory and
d ne an original story founded on per
isxDerience, he gazed thoughtfully into
ling embers Of the CRATE aud after q
u :, ,anse told the following tale:
IN many stories published during the
..,,1nrhs about Indian ghost dances and
fsssah craze remind me OF one of the
=, reuarkable incidents haveever wit
I-..sd during my long career in the orient,
IL N sure there are but few Americans
aIi means who have had the opportu-
~ 20 see the sights OF which L am going
10 T STa native religion of the Japanese is. as
E1ouv Buddhism, and there is no creed
,aicb is as full of superstition. Some OF
Nn li.,o;snt beliefs of the Buddhists are cal
l IITatsd TO brighten the faithful and wildly
oo-+-sv the horrible punishment that awaits
r. sinful man after he closes his earthly
". Ter while others, with charming sim
OIicity. show that the greatest aim Of the
Hindu religion is the release from exist
snce. Az, ....-.,...; -
Is and hope for q better fate in a future
~ are the principal foundations upon
HSich buddhism rests NagasRki, where l
,..ided for many years, was famed for the
.oIa1dId festivals In honor Of Buddah, or
a.vtama the founder of the religion.
Zinc 10 the work Of missionaries and the
tonseouent spread of christianity In Japan,
i wsny of the religious fetes are no longer
nnblicly observed, aud the one OF which
~ about to speak had its last grand cele-
S-ation in 1885, Just before left Nagasaki.
II Is called the Matsidri and was held dur
\ inc the last week in August OF the hTst week
in September, continuing four days. These
4 dsys were set aside for the reception Of the
snirfts Of the dead, who, ac ording to
4 legendary belief, return once a year to
n their old homes. For many weeks previous
10 the festival preparations had been in pro-
n eress The houses Of the believers had all
y been carefully swept, cleaned and polished,
and the home affairs. which are Co be found
E N every native house. had been redecorated
and reiurnIshed The interior of all the
y buildings had been profusely adorned with
8 flowers, the streets had been repaired and
q the whole city was clothed 10 holiday
attire
On the morning of the first day the dead
ware recevs with much ceremony in the
graveyard, which Is 10 a beautiful grove
Each mound was profusely decorated with
lighted lanterns and garlands Of many
colored paper globes hung from tree to tree.
u On the top of every grave food OF the dain-
TEST kind was spread in a tempting manner
. a cuff ofapf eo
petites Of an army of the hunGriest kind Of
3 ghosts. On mats spread about the graves
sat all the living descendants of the person
h who bad been buried in that particular spot
N Not single tomb was neglected. Ii in the
course OF years the family of any one Of the
Silent sleepers had completely died out his
grave had been embellished and supplied by
st. Anglers.
The spirits were supposed to arrive and
4 depart by water from the sea and for four
days and nighls the living commune with
& their dead and were with them in spirit
81 Tie souls of the departed were supposed to
#hover around the tombs like substantial
visible beings aud they we're treated with
every attention due to the sacred and dis
8tinguished visitors from the other world.
The night Of the second day was devoted
q 10 grand terpsicorean en- erta!n lent, T
Esprit dance, and the graveyard was trans
#f Jrmed for onca into ball room, where
% ghostly dancers were supposed 10 hold
#revelry. Tie scenes made a strong and
#everl2Sting impression on mo- The night
was perfect the moon was at its full and
the air was fragrant with the perfumes of
thousands of flowers. Myriads Of lights
.Nwere Pickering on the hillsides which sur
round the city, and the colored lanterns
swayed gently to and fro, keeping Etime to
the chimes Of the silvery bells in the temple
tower, which furnished the music for the
Emystic entertainment Around the arti-
N fetal lake in the center Of the graveyard
the people knelt in silent devotion, Worship
ping on the shrine of Buddha, whose
Z emblem, the lotus flower, rose from the
mlddle Of the lake.
Every one Of the four days and nights
brought new surprises and ceremonies.
Xmany Of the latter being. held in the temple,
the doors OF which were closed and guarded
esainst the entrance of infidsls. On To o
last night-or the night of nights, as it was
8calied-a grand procession finished the
festival The people marched in parade to
escort their spirit visitors to the water
&1ront, where they were to depart. Boat
man carried on their shoulders a gigantic
#craft built of wood aud stra y. in which the
#oead were supposed to be seated and which
K was 70 convey them back to spirit land and
H. y, Ohata, the great father beyond the sea.
4nls boat, which is called Fukuy, was a
Minasterplece OF Japanese carpentery. 1t
#waS ninety feet long and had stately mast
win hugo sail which bore in native char
Nereters the inscriptions: "Naidinamwidi, i"
IL word which is symbolic of Gautama's
#greatness.
ms boat, artistically and richly deco
rated, was launched with much ceremony
elter tne last spirit had bsen embraced and,
lgursuvely speaking. had taken his seat on
Do9ru; IL was then pushed out into the sea
uriitlng away. was finally carried out
sight by the tide. And so ended the last
festival of Matsldri ever held publicly in
Esa1gaSakl and the most splendid religious