The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-04

Celestial Rites Observed In the BuvfsI ef
Chinese LsondSymsn In Washipgton.
A Chinese funeral IL n rare spectacle I'm
Washington, and Moy Tung Eung was
accompanied to his arave by moro people
ehnn his rank In life warranted. Ho was q
laundryman OF Chicago and died Of con-
sumption. When he was taken III, he
caino To Washington to be treated by DR..
noy Sing, who In q famous phynician
among tho Chinese. The skill OF DIR. Sing
availed him not, and Fung died. ImIne-
stately after death tho little room on Four
nnd-a-hsH street where Fung died was
filled with the odor Of incense, which was
kept burning night and day.
His body wns prepared for burial by
Undertaken Lee, and Chinamen from every
section OF the city gathered ut the rooms of
tho undertaken from which the funeral
party started. Immediately after the fu-
neral procession left Buddhist priest be-
gan to scatter small pieces Of brown paper
along the street. Each piece had nine small
holes pierced In tho center. These frag-
ments Of paper arc to exercise the evil
spirits which are said TO hover about the
dead. This scattering Of Taper was con-
tinucd until tho cemetery was reached.
The funeral party alighted at tho cemc-
tery gate and walked slowly to the grave.
Before tho coffin was removed from tho
hearse all gathered around the open grave,
waving their arms up and down and ut
tcring somo sort OF litany In rapid tone
Of voice. Then the body was removed from
the hearse by eight of the number and laid
by the grave. Little wisps of scented pa
per, on which were inscribed many words
Of Chinese writing, were lighted and
waved over the ooffin and then over the
open grave, while the peculiar monotonous
cry OF the mourners continued without
oeasing. Then an Immense basket con-
tanning provisions of all sorts was taken
out Of the carriage and placed beside the
coffin.
After several minutes Of the odd service,
the coffin was lowered into the grave, and
then the chant grew louder and more rapid.
A few shovCifuls OF earth were thrown
upon the coffln, and the cry Of the mourn.
ens became less violent. A priest stepped
forward and took from the basket Of pro-
visions chicken. some appaes and bowl
Of cooked rioe. The chicken and the ap.
pies were dropped upon the coffin near the
bead. while the bowl Of rice was placed al
the foot. Other provisions and confeotiona
known only 70 Chinamen followed, until
NE comm 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 whileit lies In
this unconsecrated soil.
In the meantime he IL supposed to be
struggling to escape from his grave. He
will need more food, they think, and In 80
days large stock of provisions will be
taken to the cemetery and placed on tn.
grave It will remain there several hours,
and then will he removed and destroyed,
as it's nourishing qualities are supposed to
have been exhausted by the body In the
grave below. This ceremony Of feeding
the corpse will be kept up for perhaps a
year, and II the relatives Of the dead man
do not have the body taken up and carried
to China the placing Of the food on the
grave will be discontinued. Washington
Times.