Body of Woman Who Died 200
Years Ago still Fresh Condiderable prominence was given im the vernacular papers yesterday to the discovery of a tomb in Pootung, said to be about 200 years old, end the amazing statement is made that in it was found the body of a Chinese woman, still in a very well-preserved state.
'According to the "Sinwanpao," a merchant named Ting lived in' Vu. /Ka-miao, Pootung, during, the reign' Jof Emperor Chien Lung. Before: his death, Ting ordered some very fine hardwood for a casket for himself and his wife. A fortune teller was invited to choose suitable place for the construction, fof the family tomb and a place was, selected near by. On this piece of land, there was built a stately tomb, without equal in Pootung. After the death of Ting and his wife, their descendants, in accordance with the terms of his will, placed the bodies in the' caskets already: made and later in a specially constructed tomb, arduud which were planted pines and cedars.
During the Taiping rebel Ting's family were robbed of th properties and subsequently became very poor. At the present time, the seventh generation has been reached: and there remain only two brothers. to uphold the name. These two had become so poor that they were compelled to sell the land on which the tomb was built, for $270, Before handing over possession of the land, the brothers engaged coo remove the tomb, but this was) so strongly built that it took five days to tear away the walls. How-jover, they were pulled down after much hard labour and, underneath, wore found ten coffins, some of which had decayed, Two however, were so well preserved that they: looked like new.
A couple of days ago, it was decided to open them. This was done and in one were found the remains of Ting and in the other: those of his wife. The former had decayed, but the latter was in a good state of preservation as though the body had been placed there only about a week before. Ting's wife was fully clad and her [clothes appeared to be quite new.
From a tablet in front of the coffin, it was learned that the woman had died in the 7th year of the reign of Emperor Chia Ching, ich is about 200 years ago. News of the discovery soon spread id_people rushed from far and near to see the corpse and to tear off bits of the dress, as there is a superstition that, with pieces of such clothing, they will be able to drive away evil spirits. Some unsjerupulous persons even stole the lid of the coffin, The bodies have been re-buried. and the two coffins sold to other villagers at $300 apiece. Rumour has it that the brothers found several "silver shoes" in the caskets, but this has not been confirmed, says the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.