324 GRAVES VISITED BY RELATIVES. [Caar. XVII 
generally, there were several of these half-circles 
with a succession of terraces in front of the grave ; 
and in the burying-places of the more wealthy, the 
semicircles were built of brick or stone, and on a 
more extensive scale. In the centre of the semi- 
circle, and of course near the body, the grave stone 
is placed with its inscription. M. Callery, an excel- 
lent Chinese scholar, informed me that these inscrip- 
tions are always of the most simple kind, merely sta- 
ting the name of the deceased, that he died in such 
a dynasty, in such a year. This is the plain and 
unflattering tale which the Chinese tombstone tells. 
In some instances—I cannot tell if in all— after 
the body has decayed, the bones are dug up, and 
carefully put into earthenware vessels, which are 
then placed on the hill side above ground. These, 
as well as the graves, are visited at stated times by 
the relatives. They go first to the grave of the 
patriarch, or father of the tribe, and then to those 
of the other members of the family in rotation, 
where they perform their devotions, and offer in- 
cense. They afterwards dine together when the 
ceremonies are over. 
I was once or twice in the wild mountain districts 
in the interior, at the time when the natives visited 
the tombs. Even the most retired parts had their 
visitors, and it was both pleasing and affecting to 
see the little groups assembled round the graves, 
paying the tribute of affection to those whose 
memory they revered and loved. ‘The widow was 
