DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 11 



bers. As is well known, a third part of 

 the world's population is Chinese. 

 Most of the characteristic peculiarities 

 of this enormous community must be 

 attributed to their death-cultus. 



Every family in China lives in con- 

 tinuous communication with its an- 

 cestors, upon whom are bestowed offer- 

 ings of fruit, grain, rice or vegetables, 

 according to the products of the soil 

 of their home. The soul will lose none 

 of its qualities through the separation 

 from the body. In company with other 

 souls of their kindred it hovers over 

 the family, partakes of their sufferings, 

 rejoices in their happiness. If forgot- 

 ten, it grows melancholy and ill-na- 

 tured, it complains in doleful voice and 

 its moans are ominous. Woe unto him 

 who ignores these obligations. The of- 

 ferings to the souls of his forefathers 

 must not be neglected. Their memory 

 must not be allowed to fade away. But 

 who is going to attend to these sacri- 

 fices and memorial observances if the 

 family dies out? Matrimony, therefore, 



