The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-16
A
.cket@, Food and Directions for the
Journey Punk to Scare Devils
Away.

Moy Dan, the Chinese laundryman,
WHO died al the Emergency hospital
yesterday morning in accordance with
the ceremonies if mis- countrymen- He
will be cheered in his journey TO the
hereafter Dy an abundance OF good food,
and no devils viii block his pathway
or toTment him on the way. He has
the ~wherewithal 20 pay his passage
across the i've Styx, and fula direc-
lions as to tine route were placed in his
hand before the coffin was closed.
The funeral took place from the es-
Establishment of Undertaken j.. WAliam
Lee. Friends of the dead Celestial had
bought a fine casket and eight Of them
went in two carriages TO the cemetery
behind the hearse. They placed a num-
Der OF tickets in the hands of the de-
ceased that he might be able TO pay
his fare across the river that CORE
spends in Monaghan mythology To the
Styx. AT the same time they provided
him with written instructions a. to his
itinerary. in ordsr That he might
able to make good speed and not be
captured by the devils, who would fol-
low fast behind him. When this had
OSS4l Jill Xix ~. "0o RASA@S1 ~ -
hearse and the journey to. the bur
place begun.
RACED WITH THE DEMONS.
A friend mounted TO the seat OF each
carriage beside the driver and scattered
bits of red, white, and green papers
cut in vaious shapes and inscribed with
charms hat would frighten away the
enemies of the air that are forever seek
ing to carry off h soul of the de
parted and place them in perpetual
torment. The cortege drove rapidly
along in order to distance the pursuers,
and when the grave was reached the
body was quickly lowered.
Punk sticks were then lighted at the
four points of the and their
fragrant incense formed a charmed
circle around the grave within which
the evil spirits could not enter. Devils
dc not like the smell of punk, for it is
the perfume of JOSS, and it reminds
them OF the delights of Paradise and
causes them UGH agony that they flee
in terror at the first Whit of it. While
the punk sticks We're burning, n OF
the friends took tWenty-one grains OF
rice and threw them one by one into
the open grave las each one fell he
uttered the Chinese word good luck
corresponding to the Christian fare
Well"
LUNCH FOR HIS JOURNEY.
A few words were addressed to the
good spirits lowering about the dead,
e~ntreating them to take under tbs.
especial charge the sol of Moy Da.,
and fight off the big and little devils
that would bother him until he reached
the first phase of celestial life beyond
the tomb. The grave was then filled
up, and the traveller vas supplied with
refreshments for the journey. Two
roasted chickens were placed in the
newly-made mound, together with a
package of tea, three pots of preserves,
and several pounds OF rice. A small
pot of tea was then poured on h grave
in order that the deceased might have
immediate r~efreshment- A few tiny
cups and the teapot We're then placed
beside the food, and Moy Dam was
supplied for the journey to the LAND
from whose bourne no traveller returns.
When he at asst meets his ancestors
after the trip is over he can greet them
with the assurance that no part of his
solemn rites mad been omitted.
From time to time, until the SEIZED
ule allotted for the journey to heaven
has been filled, Moy Dan friends will
visit his grave and put fresh articles
of food thereon, that his spirit may
not grow weary from lack of susie
nance. Thus, though poverty stricken in
a strange and, Moy Dam left this world
like a good Chinaman, and his friends
saw to it that nothing was left undOne
to speed his soul to happiness.-Wash-
ingtOn Post.