|
Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2015 21:34:01 GMT 12
The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser Friday 12 December 1890 Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2015 21:37:56 GMT 12
Disinterment.
Bathurst Scene. Bodies for Despatch to China.
Says the Bathurst "Advocate":
"In a desolate portion of the Bathurst cemetery, beneath tall pines, a little band of figures worked on Tues day, uncovering the graves of Chinese who had died many years ago. Nearby was a cluster of strangely assorted articles, a 'few. small wooden boxes lined with lead, a sieve, bottles of brandy, a pair of rubber gloves, and a blow lamp. "The party, consisting of Messrs. P. Owens and T. Carney, and All Ling, , representing the Chinese Society in Sydney, opened three graves with the object of removing the bones which would eventually be re- buried in China. But their efforts were doomed to disappointment. Only one of the graves had any bones in it: in the others the workmen found only badly decayed coffins and no signs of remains. "Thumbing over the pages of his little notebook, in which had been drawn neat Chinese characters. Ah Ling told the 'Advocate' in almost un intelligible phrases that the first grave opened was that of Tun Wun, who had been buried ten years ago. The second was that of Ling Kong, who died in May, 1923, and the third that of Gum Chay, who died in May. 1923. It was in the graves of the last two that 'blanks' were drawn. "When the bones of Tun Wun were uncovered in a still well-preserved coffin. Ah Ling donned the rubber gloves, and with the greatest reverence placed the bones in the sieve. After every bone had been removed, the little dark-eyed Chinese proceeded to wipe them and finally to wash them In brandy. After this lengthy and careful procedure had been gone through, the bones were then placed in a lead casket, which was put into a box some 3fl long. 2ft. wide, and 151n. deep. Later the casket was sealed and made ready for its long trip to China. "Ah Ling was a very disappointed man when he learnt that two of the graves had not yielded any remain-. He now believes that a wrong grave was opened in the case of Gum Chay. "It was originally intended to take away the remains of nine Chinese from Bathurst this year, but this number will probably be reduced somewhat as n result of Tuesday's failures. "Ah Ling has a big task in front of him. It all, he has to secure and pack the remains of about 56 Chinese in Tamworth, Wellington, Bathurst and Wyalong. He did not know when the remains would be shipped to the East but it was probably 'not for long time.' A fee of £5 must be paid by relatives of deceased before the remains are shipped and approximately £100 is spent in transporting the bones of each person from Australia to China- "A certified statement to the effect that no remains had -been found in what was believed to be the grave of Ling Kong was given by Mr. Owens to the Chinese. "Although there are now just over 100 Chinese in Bathurst. none of them put in an appearance at the cemetery, and the little party of workers had no larger audience than a few casual passers-by." The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer Friday 20 November 1936
|
|
|
Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2015 21:41:30 GMT 12
CHINESE CUSTOMS.
THE disinterment of the remains of a Chinaman, after being buried for twenty years, was lately effected at the old cemetery, Ballarat, accompanied by curious Chinese ceremonies. The Courier says :—"In 1865 a Chinaman, named Yen Lem, hung himself in the Chinese camp, owing to heavy gambling losses. Recently a cousin of the deceased, named Wee Too, who is going to China, applied to the Solicitor-General for permission to take the bones of his relative out of the cemetery, in order to take them to China with him, where they will be placed in the family burying ground. Permission was granted, and on Thursday the grave was opened in the presence of the sexton. The bones of the Chinaman were not decayed, and a Chinese cook undertook the task of descending and gathering up the remains. He accidentally fell in, but did not sustain any injury. Addressing the skull in his own language, he informed it that he was going to take it to China, where it would be happier. The bones were then got out, and placed in their proper positions on the ground, there being a fear on the part of the Chinese that if the legs or arms got mixed the journey, could not comfortably be performed. Around each bone was placed a piece of paper denoting its position and name, and the whole of the bones were then put in a bag, together with some coins and cards. A large quantity of gold and silver paper was burned, in order that the late Ten Lem might not run short of money during the voyage. Wee Too, who is to travel to China xfrith the remains, then seized the bag, and for about half an hour wandered about the cemetery breathing words of affection into the bag containing the remains. This was continued from the cemetery to the camp, where the oousin resides." Advocate Saturday 19 December 1885
|
|
|
Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2015 22:13:03 GMT 12
Chinese Disinterments.
Now South Wales Regulations.
Relative to the periodical disinterment of Chinese remains for shipment to China, a correspondent, writes to the Sydney " Evening News" : " A very decided feeling of dis approval of the practice has been manifested in several New Zealand centres, where the disinterments are most numerous. At Greymouth the repulsive fact has been revealed that Chinese remains taken from the grave upwards of twelve months ago and placed in lead coffins, have been kept in the town for that term awaiting shipment. One ineffective protest, to the Government, has already been made relative to the practice, but another has been sent in. It is maintained that, apart from the health aspect of the question, the custom presents an obnoxious and unedifying spec- tacular, with which it is undesirable to familiarise the young people of the colony. and, indeed, I can say from experience that it does in some cases present a revolting sight to a European. The Celestial workmen engaged in the ghastly occupation pursue it in a light-hearted fashion, and to economise time take their meals to the cemetery, and at eating hour suspend their gruesome labours to consume them over the newly -opened grave of a long-buried countryman, whoso de-composed remains they have just handled. 'Presumably the law regulating these dis interments in New South Wales is similar to that in New Zealand, and many a railway traveller to Sydney, whoso Chinese follow- passenger, with a carpet bag, boarded the train at a wayside station, has been unaware that the bag contained the bones of a long- decoased Celestial. A gentleman accustomed to travel to tho city from Rockwood informed me that on one occasion he was sickened by the discovery that a bag in the possession of the Chinaman passenger sitting alongside of him contained human remains. " "As the custom is said to spring from a religious belief that the disembodied spirit of the departed Chinaman cannot rest until the bones are deposited in the sacred soil of China, it does seem that it would be more in harmony with the belief if provision were made for embalming and shipment of the curpse to China immediately after death, than "to inter it here for year, to the unrest of the spirit, and then disinter it to the endangerment of the public health. If this is a religious obligation, which the Chinese Government or the Chinese people deem it imperative to fulfil, it should be executed in the least offensive manner." With reference to this matter, we have made certain inquiries, with the following result : The exhumation of bodies of deceased persons for removal to a different portion of a cemetery, or to a different cemetery, or to another country, is regulated by the Lands Department. Formerly the Minister for Justice dealt with the matter, but it was transferred to the control of tho Minister for Lands some 18 months ago. Chinese and others, wishing to exhume human remainns, must make application (which should come from the nearest surviving relative) to the Under Secretary. The cause of death must he stated, for the exhumation of persons who have died from infectious diseases is prohibited, Other particulars are required as to the place where it is pro posed to reinter the remains ; whether the deceased left a will, and if so, whether there was any request in the will as to where he (or she) should be buried, and so on. The removal of a body from one part of a cemetery to another part is not permitted until one year has elapsed from the date of interment, and application to exhume and remove remains to a place to a distance from that of burial are not granted, accord ing to the regulations, until after the lapse or seven years from the date of death, unless the remains have been encased in lead, in which event the period may be reduced. The dis-interments are supposed to be carried out under the supervision of the cemetery authorities. There are no regulations limiting the time which elapses between the exhumation and the shipment of bones to China, but it is stated that after the expiration of seven years, no danger to health is associated with the remains of a person who has not died from any infectious disease. The bones are usually placed in boxes by the Chinese, and kept until a day or two before the next boat is ready to leave. As for the suggested possibility of Chinese offending fellow passengers iu rail way trains by carrying bags full of bones as personal luggage, the railway officers if appealed to, would, in such a case, doubtless enforce the regulation which says that no passenger must "interfere with the comfort " of another. Where, as is mentioned, the celestial fellow-passengers "have been unaware" that his harmless-looking carpet hag was full of bones, it is difficult to see how they have been inconvenienced by the circumstance. The Telegraph Monday 3 November 1902
|
|
|
Post by NZBC on Jun 13, 2015 22:15:59 GMT 12
The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 28 February 1911 Attachments:
|
|