54 



CEREMONIES AT TOMBS. Chap. III. 



of those who had been taken away in early life, 

 and to whom they had looked forward as the stay 

 and prop of their declining years. Or again, a 

 solitary individual might be seen performing the 

 same rites — young, middle-aged, or old, as the 

 case might be — which suggested the idea that he 

 was poor and friendless, the last of his race. It 

 has been asserted that there is little genuine feel- 

 ing in all this, that it is a custom which must be 

 observed, and that it would be just as well if such 

 a custom did not exist. I believe, however, there 

 is as much genuine sorrow amongst the Chinese 

 for the loss of relatives as there is amongst our- 

 selves ; and if we consider the way they dote upon 

 their children, and the reverence and love they 

 have for aged parents, we can come to no other 

 conclusion. That in many instances all is mere 

 show and required by custom, I have no doubt. 

 On one occasion, as I was wandering amongst these 

 hills, a chair passed me containing a very beautiful 

 lady dressed in the gayest satin. I caught a slight 

 glimpse of her countenance as she passed, and was 

 so much struck with her beauty that I instantly 

 stood still and looked after the chair. It imme- 

 diately turned off the little hill-road in the direc- 

 tion of a tomb that had been lately made, where it 

 was set down by the bearers. Following this chair 

 were two female servants and a coolie with a box 

 of clothes, a basket of provisions, and some sycee 

 paper and incense. The lady, on stepping out 

 of the chair, commenced robing herself in deep 



