Chapter XXIV.
On alighting from the air-boat, a child accosted Aph-Lin in the hallwith a request that he would be present at the funeral obsequies of arelation who had recently departed from that nether world.
Now, I had never seen a burial-place or cemetery amongst this people,and, glad to seize even so melancholy an occasion to defer an encounterwith Zee, I asked Aph-Lin if I might be permitted to witness with himthe interment of his relation; unless, indeed, it were regarded as oneof those sacred ceremonies to which a stranger to their race might notbe admitted.
"The departure of an An to a happier world," answered my host, "when, asin the case of my kinsman, he has lived so long in this as to have lostpleasure in it, is rather a cheerful though quiet festival than a sacredceremony, and you may accompany me if you will."
Preceded by the child-messenger, we walked up the main street to a houseat some little distance, and, entering the hall, were conducted to aroom on the ground floor, where we found several persons assembled rounda couch on which was laid the deceased. It was an old man, who had, as Iwas told, lived beyond his 130th year. To judge by the calm smile on hiscountenance, he had passed away without suffering. One of the sons, whowas now the head of the family, and who seemed in vigorous middle life,though he was considerably more than seventy, stepped forward with acheerful face and told Aph-Lin "that the day before he died his fatherhad seen in a dream his departed Gy, and was eager to be reunited toher, and restored to youth beneath the nearer smile of the All-Good."
While these two were talking, my attention was drawn to a dark metallicsubstance at the farther end of the room. It was about twenty feet inlength, narrow in proportion, and all closed round, save, near the roof,there were small round holes through which might be seen a red light.From the interior emanated a rich and sweet perfume; and while I wasconjecturing what purpose this machine was to serve, all the time-piecesin the town struck the hour with their solemn musical chime; and asthat sound ceased, music of a more joyous character, but still of a joysubdued and tranquil, rang throughout the chamber, and from the wallsbeyond, in a choral peal. Symphonious with the melody, those in the roomlifted their voices in chant. The words of this hymn were simple. Theyexpressed no regret, no farewell, but rather a greeting to the new worldwhither the deceased had preceded the living. Indeed, in their language,the funeral hymn is called the 'Birth Song.' Then the corpse, coveredby a long cerement, was tenderly lifted up by six of the nearest kinfolkand borne towards the dark thing I have described. I pressed forward tosee what happened. A sliding door or panel at one end was lifted up--thebody deposited within, on a shelf--the door reclosed--a spring a theside touched--a sudden 'whishing,' sighing sound heard from within;and lo! at the other end of the machine the lid fell down, and a smallhandful of smouldering dust dropped into a 'patera' placed to receiveit. The son took up the 'patera' and said (in what I understoodafterwards was the usual form of words), "Behold how great is the Maker!To this little dust He gave form and life and soul. It needs not thislittle dust for Him to renew form and life and soul to the beloved onewe shall soon see again."
Each present bowed his head and pressed his hand to his heart. Then ayoung female child opened a small door within the wall, and I perceived,in the recess, shelves on which were placed many 'paterae' like thatwhich the son held, save that they all had covers. With such a covera Gy now approached the son, and placed it over the cup, on which itclosed with a spring. On the lid were engraven the name of the deceased,and these words:--"Lent to us" (here the date of birth). "Recalled fromus" (here the date of death).
The closed door shut with a musical sound, and all was over.