The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-11
stocks.
FOOD FOR THE DEAD.
= CELESTIAL Rites Observed In the Burial of
Chinese Laundryman In Washington.

y CELESTIAL Rites Observed In the Burial of
- Chinese Laundryman In Washington.
A Chic sse funeral is a rare spectacle in
washington, and Moy Tung Fung was
accompanied TO his grave by more people
-1hon his rank IN life warranted He was a
iaundryman Of Chicago and died of con
sumption When he was taken i'll, he
came 10 Washington to lie treated by DR.
IAGy sing who is a famous physician
among the Chinese The skill of DR. sing
awaited him not. and Fung died. lmme-
u1isfely after death the little room on Four.
and a-half street where Fung died was
tliled with the odor Of incense which was
Kept burning night and day.
Els body was prepared for buria, by
Undertaken Lee, and Cinnamon from every
section of the city gathered at the rooms Of
-ghe undertaken from which the funeral
party started Immediately after the fu.
neral procession left IA Buddhist priest be
gan 20 scgtter small pieces of brown paper
along theStrcct Each piece had nine small
4hnles pierced IN the center These frag
monts of paper are to exercise the evil
spirits which are said TO hover about the
aeah. This scattering of paper was con.
-binuCd until the cemetery was reached
Ihc funeral party alighted at the come
very gate and walked slowly 10 the grave
Before the coffin was removed from the
lhearse all gathered around the open grave,
SwFEing their arms up and down and ut
t6eriz1g some sort of litany in a rapid tone
of pUios Then the body was removed from
the heorse by eight of the number and laid
10y the grave. Little wisps of scented pa
per, on which were inscribed many words
of Chinese writing, were lighted and
81 ho nd fhaV . be
open grave, while the peculiar monotonous
cry of the mourners continued without
qoeasing. Then an immense basket con
tanning provisions of all sorts was taken
ont of the carriage and placed beside the
coffin.
AfUcr several minutes of the odd service
she coffin was lowered into the grave, and
then the chant grew louder and more rapid
a few shovolfuls of earth were thrown
upon the coffin, and the cry of the mourn
ssrs became less violent. A priest stepped
forward and took from the basket of pro
visions a chicken, some apples and a bow
of cooked rice. The chicken and the ap
pies were dropped upon the coffin near the
head, while the bowl of rice was placed al
the foot. Other provisions and CONNECTION.
known only to Cinnamon followed, untt
The coffin was literally covered. This food
they believe, will be necessary, for the body
of Fung cannot escape and be TRANSLATED
into the domains Of Buddha whilcit lies IN
this unconsecrated soil
In the meantime he is supposed to b,
struggling to escape from his grave II,
eEill need more food they think. and i'm s,
odays large stock of provisions will hi
taken TO the cemetery and placed on TN,
grave. il will remain there several hours
and then will be removed and destroyed
as its nourishing qualities are supposed {,
have been exhausted by the body in 'h'
grave below. This ceremony Of feodini
che corpse will be kept up for perhaps
year and IL the relatives OF the dead maj
do not have the body taken up and CARRIE
10 China the placing of the food on tn
grave will be discontinued Washington
Times.