24 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 8o 



further protection against demons. Then the bride enters her new 

 home. 



The bride is led to her place beside the bridegroom. Their first 

 act is often to face the front door and worship heaven and earth.* 

 Then they worship the housegods and pay their respects to the bride- 

 groom's parents and ancestors. Finally, they bow to each other." 



Most of the guests bring presents to the new couple, and the cus- 

 tomary wedding feast is held. 



A widow does not generally remarry. A man may take several 

 wives if he wishes and is able to support them. There is little 

 ceremony when a widow is remarried or when a man, while his wife 

 is still living, takes a second wife or concubine. 



5. DEATH AND THE FUNERAL PROCESSION 



Soon after death cash paper is burnt to provide the spirit with 

 travelling expenses for use on the way to hades. This is bound in 

 small, square bundles. Mortimore has translated the inscription on 

 the last bundles : 



The recently deceased .... (name) .... whose earthly life began in (the 

 reign of) .... such and such a year .... month .... day .... hour, in 

 .... province .... prefecture .... county .... township .... section at 

 the place called .... grew to manhood; enjoyed .... years of life; the 

 great sphere (of earthly existence) closed in (the reign of) ... . such and such 

 a year .... month .... day .... hour .... while living at ... . province 

 .... prefecture .... etc., death took place due to illness. This is personally- 

 prepared cash paper for use en route, packet number .... to defray expenses 

 in the spirit world. 



(To whom it may concern:) At each of the barriers by land and water and 

 at fords, examine and take note and allow to pass without obstruction. 



On the last package must also be written : 



The year that the sky disappears ; 



The month when the fixed time is fulfilled ; 



The day that the end has come ; 



The hour when a standstill is reached. 



Transform (that is, the paper is to be burnt and transmuted into paper 

 currency) .' 



The first two paragraphs correspond very closely to what the Chuan 

 Miao K'a Gi, who opens the way for the spirit of the dead person to 

 hades, says as a part of the Chuan Miao funeral ceremonies. Mr. 

 Mortimore also says that a careful watch is kept so that no one can 



^ Ibid., p. 13- 

 'Ibid., p. 13. 

 'West China Missionary News, April, 1915, p. 26. 



