HOW IT IS DONE IN CHINA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6467, 22 April 1899, Page 2

HOW IT IS DONE IN CHINA.

I The heathen Chinee is peculiar in his ese cutions, as in other things, llecent Shaag hai papers give a striking account of aa sedition ,at Yaehou, Szechuan. The murderer was fairly well-to-do, but this did not save him : — ! A few days since the "mailed envelope" arrived from the capital, and all the world of Yachou knew that the hour was at hand, but no one could tell the condemned man of his impending doom. The prefect, on receiving the document, kept it hidden Tor two days, according to custom, and no own was supposed to know of its arrival. Bat it was only a' legal fiction. At once the criminal's friends began to prepare for the event, and though no one would tell the man he must die within three days, yet, fol-;. lowing tha recognised order of things, they prepared an elaborate feast, and invited him to eat, thus .conveying by "action the intelligence denied by word. On the morning of the third day the prefect sent the- letter to the magistrate, who • immediately set about the unsavoury task. : " CONGRATULATIONS," INDEED ! The runner opened the prison door, aod said to the man, " Congratulations, your Lour has come," hearing which the custom to be followed is very minute and strict : — The criminal must make his bow to the prison god, and' then be arrayed in the garments prepared^for execution. Escorted by soldiers and two mandarins, the procession filed out of the west gate, and in less than three hours from the receipt of the letter by the magistrate, everything was ready for the- stroke. In this case, as the man. was- a military BJL, and possessed of means, »i red rug had been, spread for him to kneel upon^and his wife -and a- concubine were- there to do him obeisance in view of the " great occasion." Then, in presence of hklf the , male population of the city, Shu expiated, j so far as man can, his crime committed in hot anger that winter morning two years ago. Three strokes were required to finish | the sentence, and then in sight of -everyone the wife and concubine rushed forward, seized the newly-fallen head, and stitched it to the quivering heck. The body was then properly robed, and a gorgeous procession formed, and it was borne 'to the family home in great state. APPEALS TO THE CITY GOD. Immediately after the execution the executioner threw off his robe, specially worn fur the- occasion, and hastened to the temple of the city god, crying, " God of the city. I didn't kill him; 'it was the magistrate • but before this cry had well died away, tha magistrate's chair, swiftly borne, was set down in the temple court, incense was lighted before the city's guardian god, and the magistrate, wthdeop prostrations, called out, "It was not I who killed him, but htavon." ' _^