The times., 1897-04-13

was laid at restin Congressional Cemetery
yesterday. The evil spirits that would
otherwise haunt him have been exercised
by cabalistic warnings and sent hurrying
away, frig htened by the clashing Of
cymbals in the hands of the children OF
Buddha.
Moy Tung Fung cannot get hungry, for
in his grave there is a huge basket full
of deIicacies, delightful to the Chinese
palate. IN the dark hours of night when
cnurchyatds yawn and the grave gives
Up its sheeted dead, it is supposed Moy
Tung Fung VIII come forth and partake
of the alment provided for him. People
who don't believe in ghosts may be in-
credulous, but it is a well authenticated
fact, that in san Francisco, where Chinese
funerals are common, the provisions placed
within the grave have been known 10 dis
appear.
The remains of Moy Tung Fung will rest
in Congressional Cemetery until the flesh
has dropped from the bones, when
they will be taken up and returned To China
to become part OIL the dust from whence
they came.
a Chinese funeral is rare spectacle
in Washington, and Moy Tung Fung was
accompanied TO his grave by more people
than his rank in life warranted. He Was
a Iaundryman of Chicago and died of con-
sumption.
When he was takenill he came to Wash
ington TO be treated by DR.. Moy Sing, who
is a famous physician among the Chinese.
The skill OF DR.. Sing availed him not, and
int
realms which are supposed to await all
true disciples of Buddha.
Immediately after death the little room
on Four-and-a-half street where Funs
died was filled with the odor of incense,
which was kept burning night and day.
Fung was u poor man. and that is why
his body viii lie for time in the soil of an
alien land. instead OF being taken iu-
mediately to the consecrated ground of the
FIowery Kingdom. All true sons of China
firmly believe their bodies will not rest in
peace if laid in d grave away from their
native land.
His body was prepared for burial by
Undertaken Lee. aud shortly after noon yes
terday, Cinnamon from every section of the
city gathered at the rooms of the under
taker on Pennsylvania avenue, from which
the funeral party started. Immediately
after the funeral procession left the under
takers establishment, a Buddhist priest
began to sCattersmaH pieces OF brown paper
along the street Each piece had nine
small holes pierced in the center. These
fragments of paper are to exercise the
evil spirits which are said to hover about
the dead. This scattering of paper was
continued until the cemetery was reached.
The funeral party alighted at the cemetery
gate and walked slowly to the grave, which
was in the ex treme southeastern corner of
the graveyard.
Before the coffin was removed from
the hearse, all gathered around the open
grave waving their arms up and down
and utteTing some sort of a iitany 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 paper, on which Were
inscribed many words of Chinese writing,
We're lighted and waved over the coffin
and then over the open grave, while the
peculiar ulunotonous cry of the nouTners
continued without ceaSing. Then an
immense basket containing provjs ions
of all sorts was taken out of a 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
shovelfulls of earth were thrown upon
the coffin, and the cry of the nlourners
became less violent. A priest stepped
forward ard took from the basket of pro-
visions a chicken, some apples, and
bowl of cooked rice,
The chicken and the apples were dropped
upon the coffin near the head, while the
bowl of rice was placed at the foot Other
provisions and confections known only to
Cinnamon followed until the coffin was
literally covered.
This food they believe, will be neces-
sary. for the body of Fung cannot escape
and be translated into the domains of
Buddha while it lies in this unconsccrated
soil In the meantime he is supposed to he
struggling to escape from his grave He
will need more food. they think, and thirty
days from now d large stock of pro-
visions will be taken to the cemetery and
placed on the grave. 1t will remain there
several hours, and then will be removed
and destroyed, as its nourishing qualities
are supposed to have been exhausted ly
the body in the grave below. This cere-
mony of feeding the corpse will be kept
up for perhaps a year, and if 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 tliscon-
tinued.
Two other Cinnamon who have Just died
will be inferred at Congressional Cemetery,
one today and the other tomorrow.
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