260 WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. XV. 
Sometimes the conical mound of earth — when the grave 
is of this kind — is crowned with a large plant of fine, 
tall, waving grass. At Ning-po wild roses are planted, 
which soon spread themselves over the grave, and, when 
their flowers expand in spring, cover it with a sheet of 
pure white. At Shanghae a pretty bulbous plant, a 
species of Lycoris, covers the graves in autumn with 
masses of brilliant purple. When I first discovered the 
ATiemone Japonica, it was in full flower amongst the 
graves of the natives, which are round the ramparts of 
Shanghae ; it blooms in November, when other flowers 
have gone by, and is a most appropriate ornament to 
jthe last resting-places of the dead. 
The poor, as well as the rich, often keep their dead in 
their dwelling-houses for a long time : I should imagine, 
from the numerous coffins which I met with in such 
circumstances, that many are thus kept for years. The 
coffins are remarkably thick and strong, and the joints 
so carefully cemented that no unpleasant smell is emitted 
during the decay of the body. 
Much of the respect which is paid by the Chinese to 
the memory of their deceased relatives may doubtless be 
a mere matter of form, sanctioned and rendered neces- 
sary by the custom of ages, but I am inclined to think 
that a considerable portion springs from a higher and 
purer source, and I have no doubt that, when the 
Chinese periodically visit the tombs of their fathers to 
worship and pay respect to their memory, they indulge 
in the pleasing reflection that, when they themselves are 
no more, their graves will not be neglected or forgotten, 
