A Funeral in China.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6204, 26 February 1904, Page 4

A Funeral in China.

EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE,

The obsequies attending the lasfc scenes in the career of a Chinese dignitary, Sheng Shuren, are said to have resulted in the longest cortege, and certainly not the least extroardinary, ever seen in Shanghai; "To give a detailed account of the proceasioD, which was composed of over 2000 persons, would be tedious and almost impossible," remarks the "North China Herald." which adds : " There seemed to be very little organisation ; silk banners and umbrellas were carried at intervals in the long line, and the soldiery seemed not to have the least idea of keeping iv aa orderly formation. The cavalcade started at ten X.m. from the Bubbling Well Eoad, and was headed by four mounted Sikhs,followed by two large dummy figures, driwu on ricW,y truok?, which 8»«ry moifpnt looked as though they would colhpse. Tae pair were intended to represe> t the ad^nce couriers of the de< eased.

* Next to the band a:iae> a crowd of grotesii c figures on horseback, and then follow ed a group of soldiers 'carrying murcieroi s looking halberds and tridents. A Jong profession of coolies, carrying banners and i mbrel'as, some ri which were most beautifui y ornamented, carve n^xt. The rest of the p'-f cession wes formed Jof soldiery (who smoked and ate on tie irarch), prieits, and flag li9arei s.

" The coffin it3elf was a m^st gorgeous affair, an<l was carried by no less than 64 coolu s. It was smothered in flowers, and the main pole on which it Tested was shaped to represent a most ferocious dragon. In tho middle of the coffin was a silver stork, symbolical of longevity. After the coffin came a number of friends of the deceased in sedan chaios. The deceased's carriage was also in the procession, and it was covered with flowers inside and out. The carcases of a pis: and a goat were also carried along the streets, together with other eatables. The route traversed was an exceedingly circuitous one, and theu went to the Sooihcw Creek, where the coffin was put. on a boat for shipmt?nt to Soochow. The cortege afterwards proceeded to Changchou tho native city of the Shengs, for inter incut." The funeral ia estimated to have cost some T15.30,000 (about .£5000.)