Post by NZBC on Aug 10, 2011 20:43:38 GMT 12
A CHINESE FUNERAL.
Those, says the Morning Herald of some clays back, who witnessed the scene enacted yesterday, at the interment of a Chinese named Leong Wah, in the Southern Cemetery, must have found ifc difficult to realise the fact thafc they were living in fche midst of a Christian community, and in the latter half ot the vaunted nineteenth century. Shortly before two o'clock, a considerable crowd collected in Maclaggan street, above the Chinese store of Kum Goon Lee, attracted by the unusual appearance of a hearse and a long string of some fifteen cabs stationed before a door around which a large nnmber of Celestials were grouped, the majority of whom wore strips of white calico round their hats, and some belfcs of the same material round their waists. After a little delay, fche coffin was brought out, and together with a large quantity of bedding, wearing apparel, and all the private belongings of the deceased, was placed in the hearse ; baskets of eatables and the usual fire-raising apparatus used by these people on such occasions, were hoisted in the foremost cab, and the remainder being quickly filled with mourners, the procession started on its way, thi*ee Chinamen marching in front and scattering long slips of green paper along the line of route. On turning into Princes street the cortege was joined by another hearse — containing, we presume, the body of some unfortunate from the Hospital, for ifc had no foi' owers — which took up its position in the rear, and in this order the Southern Cemetery was reached. Here a large crowd had collected, who were by no means orderly in their behaviour, and there was a regular crush around the grave to witness the burial ceremonies of the Eire Worshippers. Aftertheearfchhadbeenfilledin, a square of carpet was spread afc the foot of the grave, on which was neatly arranged an uncooked fowl, a piece of pork, two or three vessels containing cooked rice, a plate of oranges, another of apple, and a third of eggs, together with a
quantity of sweetmeats and cakes, a ; bottle of what appeared to be brandy, ', and another of Chinese wine. Some ;' bundles of scented reeds were then | stuck in the grave, set light to, and before these the Chinese bent iu adoration. Spirits were then sprinkled on the ground, a large fire made with some pecular paper brought for the purpose by each individual, and, us ifc blazed up, tho strips of calico used as hat bands were cast into ifc. More genuflections followed, and the ceremony concluded by scattering the ashes to the winds. All the time a party of the Celestials, who evidently had not the fear of the Joss or the police before their eyes, were quietly seated alongside, marking off and selling their lottery tickets — a novel method, certainly, of improving the occasion — and they appeared to be patronised by both Mongolians aud Europeans alike. The price of each ticket was 6d, and the 1 prizes are said to range from Is 6d to | £S0 It is almost needless to say that ' the grave was quickly denuded by the larrikins of the good things which had , been deposited on it Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 3866, Issue XXI, 3 October 1878, Page 2.
Those, says the Morning Herald of some clays back, who witnessed the scene enacted yesterday, at the interment of a Chinese named Leong Wah, in the Southern Cemetery, must have found ifc difficult to realise the fact thafc they were living in fche midst of a Christian community, and in the latter half ot the vaunted nineteenth century. Shortly before two o'clock, a considerable crowd collected in Maclaggan street, above the Chinese store of Kum Goon Lee, attracted by the unusual appearance of a hearse and a long string of some fifteen cabs stationed before a door around which a large nnmber of Celestials were grouped, the majority of whom wore strips of white calico round their hats, and some belfcs of the same material round their waists. After a little delay, fche coffin was brought out, and together with a large quantity of bedding, wearing apparel, and all the private belongings of the deceased, was placed in the hearse ; baskets of eatables and the usual fire-raising apparatus used by these people on such occasions, were hoisted in the foremost cab, and the remainder being quickly filled with mourners, the procession started on its way, thi*ee Chinamen marching in front and scattering long slips of green paper along the line of route. On turning into Princes street the cortege was joined by another hearse — containing, we presume, the body of some unfortunate from the Hospital, for ifc had no foi' owers — which took up its position in the rear, and in this order the Southern Cemetery was reached. Here a large crowd had collected, who were by no means orderly in their behaviour, and there was a regular crush around the grave to witness the burial ceremonies of the Eire Worshippers. Aftertheearfchhadbeenfilledin, a square of carpet was spread afc the foot of the grave, on which was neatly arranged an uncooked fowl, a piece of pork, two or three vessels containing cooked rice, a plate of oranges, another of apple, and a third of eggs, together with a
quantity of sweetmeats and cakes, a ; bottle of what appeared to be brandy, ', and another of Chinese wine. Some ;' bundles of scented reeds were then | stuck in the grave, set light to, and before these the Chinese bent iu adoration. Spirits were then sprinkled on the ground, a large fire made with some pecular paper brought for the purpose by each individual, and, us ifc blazed up, tho strips of calico used as hat bands were cast into ifc. More genuflections followed, and the ceremony concluded by scattering the ashes to the winds. All the time a party of the Celestials, who evidently had not the fear of the Joss or the police before their eyes, were quietly seated alongside, marking off and selling their lottery tickets — a novel method, certainly, of improving the occasion — and they appeared to be patronised by both Mongolians aud Europeans alike. The price of each ticket was 6d, and the 1 prizes are said to range from Is 6d to | £S0 It is almost needless to say that ' the grave was quickly denuded by the larrikins of the good things which had , been deposited on it Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 3866, Issue XXI, 3 October 1878, Page 2.