One of the most imposing of Chinese funeral pageants, to which foreigners were ever admitted—one of the very few occa sions, indeed, when foreigners are permitted to witness or take part in anything aproasting what may be termed' the Taner ife of the Chinese—was that which took place on Monday last, in connection with the obsequies of the fate Taotai of Shanghai, Feng Tstin-kwang. It is seldom among the Chinese themselves, even of those of high rank, that such an imposing display as was then to be witnessed, is made. It is almost impossible to describe in detail the sight that met the gaze on entering the yamen in which the late Taotai drow his latest breath—a large and handsome building, erected, we are informed, at his sole expense, and intended not s0 much as a residence as a College for education, to which purpose it will be devoted on the completion of the obsequies and the withdrawal of the deceased's family to Canton.
Before proceeding to a description of the decorations, it will be better, perhaps, to explain, in' connection with such an tnwronted' ceremony, that the day on which foreigners were invited to pay their respects to the memory of the deceased, was rather one of lying in state than exactly a day of burial—the ceremony of Kow-towing having been performed by the family, relatives, and native friends, on the previous day. We are: informed that it is customary to keep the remains of a deceased parent unburied for the space of forty-nine days, on each seventh day of which offerings are made to his manes, and the most intimate of his friends pay Visits of condolence to the family. he most important day is generally the thirty-fifth, the fifth of the mystic number after death, and this day occurring on Monday, was the time selcusi for the visit of foreign officials, 'The arrivals beat a' sarly aa nine a.m., and on entering tre building, the eye was at once greeted with a sight that created a feeling little shor: of bewilderment, The deceased Taotai was of civil rank, but Possessed military "urisdietion, and there: fore a guard of honour of foreign-drilled Chinese troops was drawn up outside the building, headed by drummers and trump peters, between whose ranks the guests advanced, and were received with presented arms and a flourish of trumpets, the words of command being given in English, and the movements executed with great precision, Amongst those present were most of the Consula and other officials of the various Treaty Powers, officers in full uniform belonging to the ships of war now in port, including English, French, German and American, and numerous personal friends of the deceased from among
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.