STRANGE CEMETERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 283, 25 July 1932, Page 6

STRANGE CEMETERY

CHINESE DEAD AWAIT SHIP. A strange Chinese eemetery was erected in Panama a few years ago by the Chinese residents of the isth- • mus. Although modern in construction, it is designed after ancient Chinese arehitecture, pressrving the Oriental lines of decoration^ The building contains 150 separate compartments for coffins. The Chinese who die in Panama are "buried" temporarily in this building. When all of the vaults are occupied a ship is chartered, and the 150 coffins are shipped back to China. According , to the religious belief of the Chinese, I the soul will not gain immortality unless the body is buried in Chinese soil. When a Chinaman who clings to the ancient beliefs of his people feels the approaeh of death he usually tries to get back to his native land before the end. When the eemetery is emptied of its dead there are 150 vaults waiting for more bodies. ling and less selfishness, as the Ngongotaha backs tackled very well indeed. B. James (Ngongotaha) was • always quick to take advantage of I the mistakes of the opposing backs, j and his defensive work was very sound. Ngongotaha kicked off and carried play into Whaka territory, where it . settled for some timel Soon after j the start, the black and white for1 wards diibbled through the defence, but lost an almost certain try by a , knock-on. Jackson (Ngongotaha) ' had two attempts at a field goal, but i just missed each time-. 'The game was very fast, but rather ragged. Whaka attacked in turn, and from a scrum near Ngongotaha's line, ; Thompson worked the blind, ancl Morrison was nearly across, but was forced out at the corner. Ngongotaha cleared, but from the ensuing line-out, R. Waerea received the ball, and broke through to go over wide out. He took the difncult kick but ^ missed. Whaka 3, Ngongotaha nil. I F'ast And Willing. t • From the Rick-off, there was a ! great tussle between the two packs, ■ Ngongotaha pressing, till the red and blacks came through with the ball at toe, clearing to half way. The ' play was stiil very fast and willing, both sides playing an open game. The ! Whaka defence was severely tested i several times by the Ngongotaha vanguard who were playing a great game. , James opened Ngongotaha's account \ with a penalty from a handy posij tion, and half time came with the scores, Whaka 3, Ngongotaha 3. j The second half was remarkable ; for the number of interruptions in ! the play, through men reeeiving inj juries; at least five players were i knocked out at different times. Young j (Ngongotaha) had to go off, bnt i later returned to the field. Whaka attacked from the kick off, a loosescrum being formed just inside Ngongotaha's twenty-five-. The ball was heeled to Thompson, who passed to Keepa, to M. Monison, who made a great dash, beat several opponents by cutting-in cleverly, and touched down near the posts. Hamiora converted. Whaka 8, Ngongotaha 3. Scores Level. The Whaka backs were throwing the ball about to better advantage, and launched repeated attacks, but the Ngongotaha defence was good, and their hard-working pack got them out of several tight corners. j Ngongotaha evened the scores when I James intercepted a pass in Whaka ' territory. He was tackled just short | of the line, but passed to Young j who scored near the corner flag. James converted, his kick hitting the cross-bar and bouncing- over. Whaka 8, Ngongotaha 8. Up and down play followed, and I Whaka soon had the black and whites | on the defensive. The -Whaka backs | had improved and were handling cleanly, but Sullivan was forced out. Shortly afterwards the referee ordered a Whaka player off the field for rough play. Whaka kept attacking, and took the lead, when Morrison burst through with a great turn of speed to score his second try, which Hamiora failed to convert. Whaka 11, Ngongotaha 8. Just hefoi'e time was called, R. Thompson snapped up in the loose and scrambled over. Sullivan's kick was wide, and the game ended with the scores Whaka 14, Ngongotaha 8. Mr. C. Stallard was referee.