476 



body is invariably kept until his return to enable 

 him to lake the leading part in the obsequies. 



The customary plea, on whidi, for a tropical 

 climate, this ceremony is so long delayed, is the 

 necessity of :?elecling a good site tor the tomb; 

 beeani^e, ah ho ugh this is olteD chosen, as 1 have 

 staled, by the deceased during his life lime, the 

 difficulties, which repeatedly arise in the selecti- 

 on, are the means of this point remaining unad- 

 justed until after death. It is indispensable, for 

 instance that no corpse should be buried neaner 

 either the summit or ihe base of the hill in which 

 other members of his family have been interred, 

 aud, when an unoccupied spot of the requisite 

 level is iound, it may happen that the soil, in- 

 stead of being red and consequeully fortunate, 

 is white and typical of misery. No individual can 

 be inhumed in the same grave with a relative 

 unless in the instance of a wile , who has follow- 

 ed her husband to the tomb, whose bones are 

 permitted to repose alongside those of her part- 

 ner. It is supposed by the Chinese, that, should 

 the iiurviving relatives select an unlucky spot for 

 the remains of the deceased, his spirit will haunt 

 tiiem in revenge, and they are therefore particu- 

 larly careful to leave no cause for so unwelcome 

 a visitation. A Sing-sch, or learned man, is 

 summoned to select a proper spot for the inter- 

 ment, and receives from one to ten dollars per 

 hour, besides his food, wiiilst engaged in this 

 quest, and as soon as he has fixed upon the site 

 the relatives are summoned to inspect it. 



It is equally indispensable for the repose of the 

 spirit of the deceased that none of the following 



