THE VAMPIRE IN WESTERN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3594, 15 February 1882, Page 3

THE VAMPIRE IN WESTERN CHINA.

Mr W, E. A. AXON, of Barton-on-Irwell, communicates the following interesting piece of folk-yore, extracted from Dr. Anderson's work, " Mandalay toMomien," in Notes and Queries: "Of the Kakhyens of Western China we read that funeral rites are also denied to those who die_ of small-pox, and to women dying in childbirth. In the latter case, the mother and her unborn child are believed to be a fearful compound vampire. All the young_ peoplo fly in terror from the house, and divination is resorted to to discover what animal the evil spirit will devour and another with which it will transmigrate. The first is sacrificed, and some of tho flesh placed before the corpse ; the second is hanged, and a grave dug in the direction to which tlie animal's head pointed when dead. Here the corpse is buried with all the clothes and ornaments worn in lifo, and a wisp of straw is burned on its face before tho loaves and earth are filled in. All property of the deceased is buried on the grave, and a hut erected over it. The death dance takes place, to drive away the spirit from the house in all cases. The former custom appears to have been to burn the body itself, with the house and all the clothes and ornaments used by the deceased. This also took place if the mother died during the month succeeding childbirth, and according to one native statement, the infant also was thrown into the fire, with the address, ' Take away your child;' but if y anyono claimed the child saying, your child,' it was spared and bethe adopting parent, the real unable at any thus to reclaim