University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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30 SIDE LIGHTS ON THE CHINESE Our presence seem- ed not to deter her in the least, but as she swayed to and fro she softly continued her chanting and weeping. When- ever one piece of the brown, blot- ting- paper-like mo- ney had nearly burned out, the dying embers lighted another. Evidently the pa- per was made to burn easily, for from 'the merest 'suggestion of heat it caught, and flared up like celluloid. One of our party tried to learn more of the young wo- man's grief. For ,e , , he whom do you YVorship for the Dead Weep? H She asked kindly. But this patron of the dead gave no heed to curious foreigners, mere passersby who were altogether too inquisitive. Was your relative buried yesterday, or perhaps today?l' For reply the little black figure mechgmjcgilly lighted her paper, and chanted the low, minor dirge. We began talking among ourselves. We did not mention her igno- rance, but spoke of her sorrow. We forgot her queer custom, and thought of the utter devotion to her inbred rites. We did not scorn nor condemng we could only pity or sympathize.

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.. f ' D IDE LIGHTS if, .fl 4'1,.ff' 'ffffaf v, Ag? fn ,lm Q -L1 I Lv 1 SXJZZIVI 'gl 'ln QQe5gglltg'- CHI ESE wg A 'E J Q M I E I SENDING MONEY T0 THE DEAD BOUT ten 0'elock one evening we were returning to our home outside the city of Chinkiang. Our narrow rocky road lay between low hills covered with graves. The eoflins had been placed on top of the gI'0und, or in a sl1allow trench, and then covered with earth, leaving little mounds, as if the land were infested with gigantic pocket gophers. The sky-line on either side of us was an undulating series of graves where those fallen seemed to crowd each other in death even more than they had in life. We wondered whether we could make our way through the crowd, if all the graves on the hill could suddenly be opened and their occupants resurrected. Perhaps it was because graveyards are supposed to be gruesome that S01nething within us wanted to be afraid g perhaps it was because the little road seemed so uncertain, or because of the cold wind and inlay darkness. Then far up the road we spied a little light, flaring up for a minute and then dying away. We wondered if some beggfll' might be trying to keep Warm over a little blaze of dried weeds, or whether the fire had been Started by Hreverackers exploded at a funeral. App1'0aCl1il1g, we heard a low wailing, as of someone in severe pain. PPGSCIWIY: when tl10 fitful little fire burned more brightly, we saw a crouching form bending over the flame, and partly silhouetted by it. The moans and cries became more distinct, and seemed to take the form of a weird Chant, punctuated by half-choked Sobs. The mourner, who was H .Young Woman Of P0l'h3JpS twenty years, was burning paper money before tllf' SWVG at H10 1'0adSifle. 4 29 9

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1'HE LINGUIST 31. Gravss Again one of our number knelt beside her, and this time, brushing away several persistent tears, she responded. Her father had died, over two years agog he was now in need, and she was sending him money. Of 00urse he would get it, for that was the Chinese custom. Perhaps we did H013 think so, but all good Chinese observed this practice. Yes, it would be all right to visit her at her home over in the valley where the family lived. As we passed on, a gust of wind smothered the tiny flame before l10l', and she was left alone with her grief in the cold blackness, so like the engulling sea of heathenism. THE MEANING OF A SCAR I saw the scar m self or I mi rht have been tempted to doubt, his , B Story. Some years ago the old father of a Chinese man living m Clnnluang bcwme very ill. Both father and son were Buddhistsg so the son went at Once to the temple to secure the services of the Priests. They came into the home and began their A ceremony with its incantations and exorcisms. The Sick man became steadily worse. Finally the priest . 1 informed the sou that only one thing would avail to 16' E, Vllitke the father well-he must in ignorance eat fb Pllrtion of his sou's Ilesh. The young man believed the Pfiest, and with something of the spirit of Isaac who , - - L gladly 0ff0l'Cfl l1iluSelf, he eut a portion of flesh from lliS Own arm. This he had the cook prepare and give to his sic-k father. The sick man ate the morsel, supposing it to be a bit of beef, and for the time being improved. A little later, however, some one il1f0I'mCfl U10 fatillibl' that he