Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.3 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107696).pdf/413

 must die of hunger. When then shall the light of the gospel cause the thick darkness to disappear from the Chinese empire, as it has dissipated it in the greater part of the other countries of the globe, and above all in Europe, for our fathers were plunged in superstitions as gross as those of the people of Asia, before they were enlightened by the torch of the faith! We ought to give perpetual thanks to God, for having rescued us from ignorance and crime.

On the 21st of the 5th moon, the coffin containing the body of the king, was carried to a house built for the occasion near one of the gates of the city, not far from a stream. Upon the stream were collected all the vessels which were to act as a convoy. The road which the corpse was to pass over in order to arrive at the vessel was covered with mats, carpets and Indian tapestry of silk. The two banks of the river, on which the corpse was to be carried to the tomb, were also adorned with silks. An edict bad commanded the mayors and old men of all the villages of the royal province to erect each an altar along the side of the river, to bring incense, to burn wax tapers, and when the corpse passed before the altar the mayor and old men were to make three great cries.

Each bank of the river was also lined with soldiers. The tomb is distant about a league from the city, but three days were allowed to arrive there, for they went very slowly and they had three stations. At each station there was a very large altar on which were burned wax tapers and perfumes, and the corpse rested there one day in order to receive the sacrifices which were made to it. These sacrifices consisted of buffaloes, swine and other animals, who were first strangled and then offered entire. There were also prepared meats, betel nut, tobacco &c. When the offering was finished the animals were divided and distributed to the mandarins and soldiers who accompanied the funeral. The coffin remained then one day in a house placed near the gate of the city, and this day 35 large animals, oxen, buffaloes, and swine were sacrificed. On the next day they put themselves in motion to go to the boats The coffin was carried by soldiers, at the rear came the new king who conducted the mourning as chief of the family. He walked on foot clothed in mourning robes, that is, he wore a long dress of white cotton with large sleeves, upon his head he had a straw bonnet and carried in bis hand a stick of dry bambu. Then came the other children of the deceased king, and of his parents, wearing white dresses and white turbans, the mourning costume of these countries, and after them the attendants. When they had arrived at the river the corpse was deposited in a magnificent bark