475 



pultiire, but m variably superintends the construc- 

 lioD of the coffin destined to receive his remains. 

 This is carefully wrapped up in matting and 

 placed on one side of the entrance door, under 

 the cover of the verandab. 



Wheii the body is placed In the coffin» two or 

 three pearls are put into tbe mouth of the deceas- 

 ed, which are intended as a fee to the angel of 

 the gate of Heaven. Pepper, camphor, the leaves 

 of the tea tree, &c, are deposited in the coffin as 

 antiseptics, and every description of article, which 

 tbe deceased waa accustomed to use during his 

 life time, is stowed in this roomy receptacle. Ac- 

 cordingly, on inspectinj^ the coffin of a Chinese, 

 we find alongside of the body a little rice, a 

 change of linen, a cooking chatty . or pot, firewood, 

 charcoal, a Ian, &c. Two images, somewhat si- 

 milar to those that are to be seen in a grocer s 

 shop at home, are placed on either side of the 

 coffin as servitors to the deceased in the world of 

 spirits. The family then assemble round the 

 coffin, and witt\ loud weeping and wailing enjoin 

 these images to be attentive to the wants of their 

 master, and see that his meak, the water for him 

 to bathe in every morning, &c, be punctually 

 prepared, after which, the images are burned. 

 The lid of the coffin is now naiied down, and 

 every 'seam carefully payed with quick lime 

 and dammar. The body is thus kept for differ- 

 ent periods, varying from three days to twenty 

 years, but in Malacca the authorities generally 

 require that the interment shall not be deferred 

 beyond the seventh day. If a father die in Chi- 

 na, and his eldest son be in a foreign country, the 



