Next we advanced into a siuntla: but Jmore elaborate section, the "five: dollar" rooms. Here the strips were fa bit more gaudily decorated: the mourners were better dressed but fewer In number; otherwise the a¥~ rangements were essentially the same. (Occasionally a framed pholo of a deceased was hing adjoining a red strip Jan intriguing intrusion of modernity! Livery pocketbook was catered 1, for Jin another section were tiny private alcoves, each with decorated altar, tablet, and offerings, each niche cost ing Sty dollars, In a few of these allover mourners were seated droning prayers. and beating wooden "fish mouths." but most were cmply: apparently, as is sometimes evident in Western religious practice, there is no distinction between merit gained through Mnancial display or personal effort.
We were permitted to view one oF two palatial $500 or $1,000 rooms, rented by wealthy guilds, Government departments, or by a modern depart ment store for the purpose of honour-tug its clerks who had died in st-vice during the year. High oMclals and military men also had their ancestors' ames venerated with gorgeously decorated special rooms, but we saw none of these srentlemen in the build~ sug that event Ata safe distance from the inflammable matshed-buildings was a rude tin structure whither many moyeners wended their way bearing suitcases, packets of money, articles of clothing and equipment, even rickshaws and automobites—ali fashioned charaeteritically out of coloured paper and bamboo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.