A CHINESE FUNERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2593, 23 February 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CHINESE FUNERAL.

Ax interesting account is given in New York papers of ;i Chinese funeral which took place lately in Iliac city. The deceased, Li Jα l).)o, 11n<1 been a general in the Taeping insurrection, had attained the 33rd grade in Chinese Freemasonry, and was Grand Master cif tlio Order in America. He had flourishing business establishments at Kosion and Philadelphia, as well as New York, and was much respected by his countrymen, who regarded it as a duty to see that his obsequies were performed with close con-formil-y to the Chinese ritual. Nine days intervened bctwtcu the death aud the funeral. The body was embalmed and laid in a ooifiii in a corner of a large room at an undertaker's. The walls wore hung with black insslin, white streamers beiug scattered over them. On a table at the foot of the coliiti were arranged the articles of food with which the Celestials provide their dead for the long journey— a roa.-ted lamb, heaps of sugar confectionary, and tome porcelain saucers filled with rice. On another table was a roasted sucking-pig, some packets of tea, flasks of wine, and small heaps of lemons, orange;-, and biscuits. There were also chopsticks, teacups, and small baskets of flowers. The corpse wan clad in the robes of a mandarin of the Minir Dynasty, the pigtail wound round the head : on the breast lay paper money. Some gold pieces were in the left hand and some money — guld, silver, and paper—was thrown into the coffin that the deceased might bo able to distribute gifts on his journey, and bribe the evil spirits that might otherwise hinder his passage. On a table, rather far removed from the coHiii, seven candles burned—two large ones of red wax and five i-mall ones of white. Tlio chiefs of the Chinese colony assembled very early iii this improvised clmpeilc ardcnle ; they wore black and white bands on their ami!), wide trousers of white cambric, aud yellow blouses. They saluted the corpse, and, retiring behind the candles, they bowed, one after the other, so profoundly that their foreheads touched the around. A large deputations of Chinese Freemasons came, and all went round the same ceremonial. Nearly every one smoked, and all seemed to engage in siluut prayer. A very large crowd had assembled when the time came for removing the coffin, aud the streets through which the procession passed were lined with spectators, policemen keeping order. A military band inarched in the procession, and also a Chinese band, which made a horrid noise. Mauy houses along the route exhibited emblems of mourning —placards, lanterns and bluo and yellow flags. The hearse was drawn by four horses; behind it sat a person who flung down from time to time paper money to buy off the obstruction of the spirits. Foin , companions of the dead general in his wars m the Flowery Land rode on white horses ; they were followed by men dressed as Chinese soldiers. The interment took place at the Evergroeu cemetery, where an iiumause crowd had assembled. The bunuer of the Order was pUiccd itt the head of the grave, between

two lighted lanterns. When the coffin was lowered into tbc grave ill the eniblum.s of mourning , were thrown in a heap beside it and set firo to ; then a box, bolonginsr tu the deceased, was burnt. Meantime the grave was slowly filled in. On the top roasted fowls and ojoked rico were placed, and two flasks of wine wero poured on it as a librtion. It had now become quite dark, and it was remarked that Li Ju, Doo was committed, to the earth about the same time as the aim was risinur over his native land.