Post by NZBC on Aug 10, 2011 20:11:26 GMT 12
A Chinese Funeral.
Yesterday afternoon a large gathering was attracted to the Addington cemetery ! by tbe announcement that a Chinaman, Ah. Him, who died in the Hospital on I Saturday, would be interred. The j deceased, who was fifty-two years of age, had been a market gardener, working at St Albans, and was brought to tbe Hospital on Friday night in a dying slate from consumption. A post-mortem examination had been held on his body, and somewhat distressed many of his comrades, but all being ready for interment they one by one visited him, and placed rice and coinß in his hands according to Mongolian custom. The funeral was conducted by Mr Scrimshaw, the coffin was borne to the cemetery in a handsome hearse, and a mourning coach followed, containing Chinese decorously dressed. Tbe cortege was a long one, comprising seven cabs and about a dozen market carts, all well filled with countrymen of the deceased. At the grave the burial service was r?ad by the Key G. Hounsell, of Addington. Then followed the Mongolian rites, These consisted in preparing a fire alongside the grave as soon as the earth had been filled in, and on this were burned parcels of rice papers.. A number of lighted wax tapers were meanwhile sUick in the loose earth round the head of the grave. Before leaving the ground the Chinese present unpacked a box and from it took a cooked f owl,a piece of cooked pork, some boiled rice, some sugar and some brandy, all of which they set out in order, as if for a feast, at the foot of the grave. They then surrounded the grave and bowed themselves to the ground towards the grave several times, and then left Vie cemetery. All the way from the Hospital to the cemetery they strewed slips of rice paper. It is to be regretted that a number of larrikins were present at tbe ceremony, and thought fit to disturb the proceedings in a very unseemly manner. Star , Issue 7342, 16 August 1892, Page 3
Yesterday afternoon a large gathering was attracted to the Addington cemetery ! by tbe announcement that a Chinaman, Ah. Him, who died in the Hospital on I Saturday, would be interred. The j deceased, who was fifty-two years of age, had been a market gardener, working at St Albans, and was brought to tbe Hospital on Friday night in a dying slate from consumption. A post-mortem examination had been held on his body, and somewhat distressed many of his comrades, but all being ready for interment they one by one visited him, and placed rice and coinß in his hands according to Mongolian custom. The funeral was conducted by Mr Scrimshaw, the coffin was borne to the cemetery in a handsome hearse, and a mourning coach followed, containing Chinese decorously dressed. Tbe cortege was a long one, comprising seven cabs and about a dozen market carts, all well filled with countrymen of the deceased. At the grave the burial service was r?ad by the Key G. Hounsell, of Addington. Then followed the Mongolian rites, These consisted in preparing a fire alongside the grave as soon as the earth had been filled in, and on this were burned parcels of rice papers.. A number of lighted wax tapers were meanwhile sUick in the loose earth round the head of the grave. Before leaving the ground the Chinese present unpacked a box and from it took a cooked f owl,a piece of cooked pork, some boiled rice, some sugar and some brandy, all of which they set out in order, as if for a feast, at the foot of the grave. They then surrounded the grave and bowed themselves to the ground towards the grave several times, and then left Vie cemetery. All the way from the Hospital to the cemetery they strewed slips of rice paper. It is to be regretted that a number of larrikins were present at tbe ceremony, and thought fit to disturb the proceedings in a very unseemly manner. Star , Issue 7342, 16 August 1892, Page 3