SOME CHINESE MORTUARY CUSTOMS. 593 



all the sons, and wristlets of blue for all the grandsons. These 

 are to be worn on the seventh day, and thereafter until they drop 

 off through decay. The women must also make new red shoes 

 for themselves, and cover them with sackcloth, and must make 

 new mourning garments, or else sew shreds of white cotton along 

 the seams and edges of their old tunics, to make them look like 

 unfinished dresses that have been put on under the stress of sad 

 circumstances. 



On the seventh day after the demise, the deceased is supposed 

 to become aware that he has departed this life, and on that day 

 is performed the ceremony of accompanying him to the land of 

 shades. Priests, Buddhist and. Tauist, have been engaged for a 

 fixed sum of money, with their entertainment, tobacco to smoke, 

 tea to sip, and at least three substantial meals. Early in the 

 morning the sons and daughters-in-law put on tunics of coarse 

 sackcloth. The sons wear shoes patched with linen, a small or a 

 large patch on the toe indicating whether one or both parents are 

 dead. They put on a tall cap of sackcloth having a wad of spirit- 

 money suspended on either side to dangle over the ears and shut 

 out the criticisms of relatives who may be dissatisfied with their 

 management of the funeral rites or with the quality of the repasts 

 provided for the assisting mourners. 



The Buddhist priests arrive and hang upon the white screen 

 three pictures of Buddha, which are worshiped by the members 

 of the bereaved family, especially by its women. Water is heated 

 for the deceased to bathe in, and is put into a tub beside the coSin, 

 and inclosed by a new mat. A paper towel and a complete suit 

 of paper clothing are burned beside the coffin to furnish the spirit 

 with suitable attire for the day's exercises. The Buddhist priests 

 meanwhile chant an invitation to make use of the things pro- 

 vided. They continue to chant at intervals during the day, acting 

 in concert with the Tauist priest, who takes the lead in conduct- 

 ing the spirit to hades. For one or three days and nights, accord- 

 ing to the wealth and faith of the family, the priests continue 

 their incantations, ringing bells, sprinkling the altar with holy 

 water from a pomegranate-branch, and burning incense whose 

 smoke fills the court. A plank is supported at its ends by two 

 stools, and represents bridges. The Tauist priest, followed by the 

 eldest son carrying an armful of copper coins, and by all the rest of 

 the family in file carrying lighted incense-sticks, goes on a circuit 

 through the house, court, or street, repeatedly crossing the mimic 

 bridge. This is the exponent of the long journey made by the 

 deceased across marshes, meadows, streams, and mountains toward 

 the bourn from which no traveler returns. After many weari- 

 some circuits, the priest stops and calls for the opening of the 

 gate into hades. An assistant responds that the gate-keeper's fee 



VOL. XXXIII. — 38 



