CHINESE RESURRECTIONISTS AT WAIKUMETE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 231, 29 September 1902, Page 5

CHINESE RESURRECTIONISTS AT WAIKUMETE.

DISINTOKRMENT OF CORPSES.

A GRUESOME SPECTACLE.

Time, 5.30 a.m., on a bitterly cold morning, in Waikumete Cemetery. Half-frozen, a pressman and a photographer attached to the staff of the "Graphic" make their way from the sexton's house to the furthermost corner of the cemetery, where is situated the section for Chinese and Atheists and aliens unprovided for elsewhere. A noise of hammering comes fromi the section, which is a good half - mil© from the Aj__glicain and Presbyterian allotments, and on -arrival work found to fee in full operation. The reception of our "reporter and his photographic confrere is the reverse of friendly, and an immediate wrangle ensues amongst the gravediggers, evidently on the subject of the cam-, era fiend's presence. A Chinese halfcaste European insists on their instant ejectment. The sexton, however, who has-been handed proper credentials, proves a firm friend, and insists that he, and not any; Chinaman, or half-caste Chinaman, is in change of the cemetery, and that he has his instructions. Things then calm down a trifle, but the work is resumed amidst much grumbling, and many vindictive and malignant glances are cast at the camera, and muttered curses uttered at the photographer as he dodges round looking for a chance shot. Once, indeed, when the shutter clicks, a furious celestial raises his pick in menace, and mutters a threat to do for the intruders, 'but he thinks better of it, and1 at the intervention of the European coffinmaker a truce is declared until arrival of "the boss." That individual presently arrives. He scans the permit; gloomily enough, and 'bids that the photos be taken forthwith, and the photographer and pressman depart. It toeing pointed out that there is no picture yet to take, and seeing that bluff has no effect, all active opposition as at once and' finally dropped, and no difficulty put in the way of obtaining pictures or witnessing the proceedings save in giving mendacious information, lighting ' fires to obscure' the graves with smoke, and endeavouring to tire oat the patience of the reporters, etc. By ten o'clock four'graves, are opened, but owing to the non-arrival of some solder and zinc from' Auckland it, is decided' to open only two coffins on this occasion. The first of these contained the corpse of on© Kong Shang, who died in 1891, a young' Celestial of 36. It was thomght that there would be nothing but dry bones there, but the stiff white clay is evidently a preservative, for when the coffin, which is full of water, is .opened, it is seen that the bones have a decided! covering of what had once been flesh/ and1 though -drenched in carbolic acid a sickening odour makes itself feAt at intervals. Directly an attempt is made to stir the body it all falls to pieces, the decomposed flesh falling off in <a_lm.ost imperceptible flakes, which had doubtless been • dust had the grave been dry. Very carefully the impassive Chinaman in the grave rinses and unconcernedly places on a sieve a thigh bone, then some ribs, and1 a skull, foillowed by the. rest of the 'bones, minute search, indescribable in print, being made for the smaller bones and joints. It is an intensely gruesome spectacle, and the horror is added to by the indifference to sight and smell or sentiment evinced by the Celestial workmen. The venerafble clerk, a fine old fellow, with the face of an ascetic and a student, earefulljr tallies the bones .which, having 'been rescoured in a large white tub, are finally dried and wrapped up, each duly docketed by the methodical old gentleman, who is evidently a most conscientious and probably deeply religious man. He, too, is fastidiously clean, and does not, one notes, eat as the others do in ithe midst of their noisome labours. The next body is that of a man who must have been of exceptional stature and weight for a Chinaman, and who has been dead but two years and a-half. There is much difficulty in getting this coffin to the surface, and the opening thereof, and tlie awful stench which completely dominated all disinfectants when the body was removed to the zinc one prepared toy -the European -tinsinit.h beggars description, and may be left to 'the imagination. None of those whose duty called them- to be present are likely to forget the experience, or to desire a renewal of the same. The soldering having been completed, it must be admitted no effluvia was discernable. The zinc coffin was then put in a rode case and packed in sawdust .ready for shipment. There is no reason to think the zinc coffins will not prove effective and; inoffensive Hinder ordinary ciroumstances, and careful usage, but a fall or any accident in loading would, one imagines, have very disastrous effects. The work ceased1 at noon to-day. Mr WmStanley, Government Sanitary In-speo tor, is present., and looks after his work in so thorough a manner that no fears need ibe entertained by settlers or the general public. The pictures secured 'by the "Graphic" protographer are of a unique nature and the most gruesome details having .been omitted, are quite without offence. They will be published on Wednesday. The custom of the Chinese at home is -to .(disinter bodies/ after seven years, and place the main bones in a large jar alongside the grave. It is in order to forward the bones to China for relatives to do this that the present exporting of remains is undertaken.