A CHINESE WAKE.

West Coast Times, Issue 2578, 27 December 1873, Page 2

A CHINESE WAKE.

(fkom the otago daily times.)

After. ." waking " Mow Tai ior four days Sun War On and his fellow countrymen.

came^tb^rte oo^telu^M' $&&' the overdose of opium had done its work effectnattj-.." ''I'HefreiOfiins of M(W* Ta9 wcrewrajipei 4j> in thefi&eSfc lined are^sijk,-ah(f instructions issued to the nriderfttße'V to furnish a hearse wfth iiodding ; "pack, plumes and amonmiai coach lined with d.Tab silk, so that ihe departed' Celestial mrght be conveyed with all due ceremony to his last resfciiig-ptoce iit tb.e Southern esi^^ery; The hearse arKJ- mo^nr^ing 1 cp»cK, accompanied" By a co'up^ o£ cafe apd! an, waggon, drew tifa injfr«»nij<rfS«Bn,W«eOA'-i establishment ity Princfesysfireei anf w4re . soon siicre.^4ied by, a c.r,6 w^, of ci\?io«s pight-set»s«. The b^rtre^vraggrin viis first fiUed wfthjifow Tafß 0, <#^«^» f ! rough, stretcher, and soirie bas^etsi containing i large quantify of papefv eitiwlt^S; '■biscoits. bottles of arrack, an 4 a (Top|f I'Qasfe'd whole. Four Chinese th,ea brought oat jli£. cprpee in n coffin, constructed after Enropenn fashion, and painted b'ltjcit, wßich tvan placel in»he hcvstr; A PJain bit of hoard, nn which was written in Chinese characters the deceased epitaphj wa,s ptaeed a.lon.gfiid'e the coffin in such a position that it might be read (by those who were able to read it) through the glassy sides of the hearse. A.bout a dozen Celestials with white mourning hands around their hats, stepped into the conch and cabs, and the cortege moved at a solemn pace toward the Cemetery. On arriving there, the coffin was deposited in a grave at some distance from from the spot where a number of Chinese are nlroatty buried, and all the deceased" wearing apparel, bedding, &c, with a new pair Wellington boots, were tumbled on top of the coffin, and along with the white bands, were covered up with earth. A niat Avas placed nt the foot of the grave, and the roast duck, arrack, and some confectionery were spread as if for a feast. Mow Tai's fellow-countrymen and mourners then performed some devotional exercises, "oing one by one to the foot of the grave, j clasping their hamls, nnd bowing two or three times. Eauli one sprinkled the grave with arrack. A largo heap of paper and a number of small wax candles were pet on fire, and a business-like Chrhes,e who appeared to act as Master of Ceremonies, scattered a quantity of sweetmat<! broadcast among a cr^wd of squalling larrikins, who paid little respect to the h.nnc of the dead. Thus ended the funeral obsequies ofMowTai.