of C HI N A.
or Mother, are obliged to avoid fyidg oo any Bed, but muffi re-
pofe themfelveson the Earth, and daily celebrate their remembrance
in Tears; befides all which they are obliged for three Years to avoid:
all Matrimonial Converfation with their Wives $ and if any of them
fhculd happen to be pregnant in that time, they are liable to be pti-
niftied; They fequefter themfelves from all Treats, Nuptials^ and
other Entertainmentsj they confine themfelves to their Houfes, with-
out ever dining abroad, and lay down their Offices or Charges
for above a Year, and fome for three Years. Whenever they are ab-
folutely obliged to go to any place, they caufe themfelves to be
carried in Coaches or Chariots covered all over with clofe Mourn-
ing, to the intended place.
Their Obfequies are not much different from their Conversation/
with refped to Ceremonies : What firft appears in the Funeral Pa-
rade, is the Reprefentation or Figures of Men^ Women, Lyons,
and other Animals painted on Paper, which are carried in State;
thefe Bearers are followed by feveral Incenfe-Carriers, next which
comes the Bier and Coffin born by feveral Men, and is followed
by the Sons, and all other Relations and invited Guefts: The Sons
are drefl: all in white, and carry a Wand in their Hands; next which
come the Women in Cover'd Chariots or Chairs, hung with Mourn-
ing fo clofe, that no Perfon can fee them. The Graves or Tombs
are all without the City, fotne of them are rtisgnificently adorned
with Marble, like a Palace, enctofedf on the outflde, and planted with
feveral Trees in the way to the particular Burying-place : Td Which*
being come, the Corps enclofed in a Coffin of coftly Wood, after
the Paper Figures and Images are burned, is kid in the Tomb, and
upon it are placed fome Stone Figures, and an Infeription in praife
of the DeceafecL Andat cert&itf^itimes of the Year the Chinefe
vifitthefarTombs, offering up ihc## Mfeat afnd Drink, Tears atid
tamentatidris, in remembrance of l&4 Dead*.      *    •* •
1% There &re> fay the Jefuitfe, three Seafons When the Dead are honoured In di£*
fereot manqen ip >Gh\n£ s ^irftjbisfoi^rtti^JnfefiB^i^ when rfigHferps are expofed
tqrviqw, Qr laid ^41 Stfte^ ^Qifther, mitfy ^^oa^n Image with rj}£fName ofi the D<^
ceajfed, which Is* plictd upon*a ^liable, wifhbtirmng Candles and PeffubesaBbutlt":
They falute and honour the Corps by Kneeling and Proftrations, according to the
Cuftom of the CoultTy. * The fecond Seafon is obTerved from fix to fix Months, in'
a particular Chamber of the Houfe called their Anceftors Apartment, in which every
Spring and Autumn alt the richeft Declicacies that could be prepared for a Prince, are
fefei lij^in rem^itibri^e'of the Dead.- ^The third Solemn Time happens but once
each Year, and is obfertred at "the Tottibs 5 all of i^htch being without the City, they
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