New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
BURIED ALIVE.
A MATTER OF COURSE IN CHINA
THE MOURNER AT HIS OWN FUNERArI-A sToRY
OF PARIS.


With regard to the controversy now In prog
ress between the Roman Catholic clergy IN
Great Britain and Mr. Rider Haggard over the
description OF the immuring or buryng alive, OF
a nun contained in his recently published novel,
"Montezuma's Daughter" 1t will doubtless sur
prise the dsputants to learn that there is at
any rate one country In the world where people
are to this day buried alive What is more. the
victim Is not only consenting party to the deed
but even takes part in the funeral as his own
chief mourner The country where this practice
remains In existence is China: and the people
who are thus buried alive are usually those whos
either on account Of their incorrigible mscon-
duct or incurabe maadies. have come TO be re-
garded as burde IS to their relatives and as con-
shutting not only nuisance. but also danger
to the community to which they belong. These
interments Of living men and women are gen.
orally the result Of decree OF sort or famiy
council composed OF all the principal relatives
Of the victim. and they are so far regarded AZ
legitimate that the local authorities do not hesi-
tate to attend the Obsequies. Sometimes too,
the decree is pronounced by vigilance commit
tee or "Vehmgericht." an institution that Hour
ishes quite as extensively In China at the pres.
ent day as 1t did IN Germany two and three
centuries ago The French missionaries estab-
ord a case where a man had become such q
slave to the opium habit that he had not only
disposed OF his business and Of his entire prop
erty to procure opium. but had even with .
similar object sold his children into slavery.
His neighbors and relatives endured this. But
when he began to remove the tiles that
rooted the temple erected to the memory OF his
ancestors with the object of converting them into
cash the leading inhabitants OF the place, hor-
rfed by the spectacle of, to Chinese eyes, so hor-
ribe a sacriIege, decided that 1t was necessary
TO nut an end to the scandal, and that the only
means Of doing so would be TO bury him alive
Accordingly a committee Of five was delegated
to call upon him and to Inform him OK the DE-
termination Of his fellow-citizens. Not WORD
OF protest did he utter, not a complaint did
he make, but followed his visitors silently 10
neigh boring valley, where he watched MS grave
being dug Thereupon he, OF his own accord
stretched himself at full length therein. pro1er-
ing only one last request that his face should be
covered with thick layer Of fresh grass ana
herbs before the earth was battened down over
him.
Ordina rily, however, the obseques OF live per-
sons are attended by much more pomp and cere-
mony than this. especially when IL IS not His-
conduct. but merely disease or old age. which
candidate for funeral honors to desire his de-
parttlre for another world. Everything that Is
possible is done to smooth the way and 10 cneer,
II one may be allowed to the expression, MS
last moments Relatives and neighbors combine
TO purchase the most expensive coffin that they
can afford the prices ranging from $40 10 $ooO
and even 81 600 At the funeral repast that pre-
cedes the interment he is the guest OF honor.
and as soon the feastng has been brought 10
a conclusion the procession 10 the grave De-
gins 1t Is led off by the empty coffn which
in form resembles the trunk of tree. the boards
being three or four inches thick and rounded
outside. Immediately following the coffin walks
the "morbund," magnfcently arrayed generally
in the superbly embroidered garments OF man
DARN. and bearing fan In one hand ana q
prayer written on a piece Of paper In the other'
Then follow the members of the family. the VIII
lage or town authorities and the neighbors On
reaching the border of the grave. the principal
actor in this extraordinary performance takes
solemn leave Of all those present. arrangeS MS
garments In the most convenient and comfortable
fashion takes a last big swallow OF opium, ana
thereupon assumes his place In the coffin.
piece Of silver having been placed on his chin.
the lid Is placed on the casket and Is nailed
down by his sons and nearest relatives the cas-
ket then being lowered into the grave. the eartn
is battened down and all Is over
These statements may seem TO be mere traVei.
lers' tales some OF II ose absurd exaggerations-
enbroideries Is perhaps the most appropriate term
to which people who have journeyed far are
popularity supposed to be addicted. But nave.
when in China frequently heard the matter DIS
cussed by people who had actually witnessed
ceremonies OF this kind: and further conhrma-
ton is afforded by duly authenticated instances
described I'm of the recent numbers OF the
Austrian Oriental Review" one of the most
er;ldte and weighty OF all publications dealing
hi, saI fn1a q
auspices Of the wordrenowned Imperial Oriental
Academy Vienna. There can be no doubt as
the absolute authenticity OF the cases de-
scribeI In The Review one OF which In par
ticuar took place only three or four years ago
at a place called Tchlm Kong The object IN
burying people alive in this manner Is 10 get rid
Of them in a manner calculated to free those VINO
have taken part in the affair from all RESPONSE
bty in this world. and at the anne time 10 save
the victim from the odium CT suicide In the next
world: for. theoretically at any rate. the person
Inferred Is consenting party thereto ana his
relatives and neighbors are merely executing MS
las, and therefore sacred wishes IN mailing down
his coffin and burying him. Strictly speaking
Chat is from a Chinese point OF view, there Is
no murder execution and no suicide II Is
merely a sort Of mutual arrangement AFFAIR.
satisfactory alike to all parties. the occupant or
he coffin complying with the desire or MS rea-
tives and neighbors for his departure for q
better world. ana they. on their side. endeavor-
ing by every means in their power TO render
this departure agreeable and easy.
China is believe. the only country where this
ancient custom OF DurylnS people awe sun eN-
lists That II used in olden times to be practised
I'm many of the countries of Europe Is an ac-
knowledged fact, the medieval survivals OF the
custom taking the form OF what may be descibed
as immuration. the building up In a wall OF
the victim. a loaf of bread and jug Of water
generally placed In the niche. and Mr..
Rider Haggard describes several ancient mon
asteries and converts. notably one In Mexico
and one at Waltham in England where skele-
tons and pitchers built into the walls were found
bv the workmen engaged in either tearing down
or repairing the building. And there Is dis
tinguished priest. whose name at the pres.
ent moment l cannot remember. but who
was one of the most famous pulpit orators OF
France who has placed record midnight
visit that he paid some thirty years ago to adj
minister the last sacrament TO man OF evident
education and birth who was being built up into
the wall of the dining-hall OF an old mansion