Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-04-18
A oH,Nese tuNEeAl

Preparations and Ceremonies That Take
Place In Their Native Land.
Tho preparations for a Chinese fu-
neral begin sometimes years before
death In the securing OF respectable
coffin. Wealthy persons not fnfre-
quently purchase their own collins
have them elegantly vanished, and
keep them with great care ut their
homes, ready for use when the time of
need shall come.
A fine coffin and full set of gra.e-
clothes are not an Inappropriate or nm
welcome present for a person seventy
or eighty years Of age. Such presents
are often made by children or grand
children, guests sometimes being i'm
vited TO feast on the occasion. who
all express the wish that their host may
have n long life; and the four boards
composing the coffin are called '1ong-
life boards"
When death occurs, the body, arrayed
In good clothing, isplaced In the coffin,
which is made air-tight by mixture
of varnish and lime. with which all
seams and cracks are filled. In wealthy
families a new coat of varnish is added
every seventh day for seven weeks A
year often passes-sometimes several
years-before the burial takes place.
Among poor people It follows very soon
after death.
The coffin is borne to the grave in a
sort Of covered bier, carried by bearers,
from four 10 thirty-two in number, ac-
cording 10 the means of the family.
The bier is covered with strips of white
cloth.
In the front Of the procession are
two white lanterns and a company Of
musicians; then will come n kind of
open pavilion, in which are the tablet
of the deceased person and his '1on-
gevity picture" and burning incense.
Next man appears with paper imi-
tations of money, which he scatters
freely along the roadway, and which
Is intended TO appease the evil spirits
and ward off all harm from the process
sion.
The relatives and friends Of the dead
man follow. preceding the coffin, which
is followed by the sons and graudsons
on foot, clad in saclscloth and often
mourning audibly. These are followed
by the women of the family In Sedan
chairs Last Of all come the men who
carry the rice and other food TO be
offered at the grave, and the imitation
money, candles and incense to be burnt
there.
At the grave the sons of the deceased
scatter some earth upon the coffin after
IL Is lowered into the ground. When
the grave has been filed up they stick
into the freshly heaped earth the
mourning slaves which they have borne
in the procession. aud leave them
there. Some cooked rice and meats
and a quantity OF rice cakes are then
offered TO the deceased, whose spirit is
supposed to feast upon the essence OF
this food. The cakes are divided among
the family and their relatives and
friends, and are Immediately eaten by
them, while the other food is taken
home TO be eaten there.
The tablet is placed at the head OF
the grave while the offerings are made,
and at the close Of the ceremonies, the
mourners all kneeling, the eldest son
prays that. while the body reposes in
the ground, the spirit may enter the
| tablet This tablet is then carefully
carried home, where 1t must first be
dotted, making a character meaning
lord. 1t is then put in itsniche, where
Il receives the worship of the descend
ants Of the deceased for several genera
tions
The above has reference " Chinese
funerals as conducted In southeastern
China. OF course such ceremonies are
very much modified in San Francisco
Hacks are used to convey the friends
of the deceased, and some of the minol
observances are omitted; but IL Is per
haps well to note the customs con
nected with funeral in China while
considering one in America IS. l.
Baldwin in Harpers Weekly.