326 COBEAK SOCIAL CUSTOMS. round, underneath the palm, by means of a string attached. The pahn is then turned upside, and the strings tied with a knot above the middle finger. The left hand is similarly covered. And, last of all, the coverlid shuts all out of sight. The piece of wood used to open the jaws (see above, p. 321) i» buried in the little pit, along with the napkin which first covered the eyes. A candle must be burning in the room all night The three-year mourners sleep on the kang quite dose to the body, — ^grandsons sleeping beyond them. Women also sleep in the same order, but in a separate and adjoining room. Beside the body must be placed a chair with a mat seat, and on it some clothing, worn, but not worn out, by deceased. A table is set out with incense burner, a box for incense, spirits in a cup, a comb, a wash-bason, a fringed towel, and a candlestick with a handle. The articles belonging to the Spirit-Flag are, — ^three or four feet of white silk or linen, and a box for holding the paper to be burnt; a high flag-staff, with a red silk flag, on which are inscribed the dead man's titles, and the flag is long in proportion to his rank ; also, white powder, for writing or painting ; a hair pencil; glue made of deer's-hom; and a long pole, high in proportion to rank. On a chair* is placed a mat, and on the mat the clothing of the deceased. Over the clothing is the Spirit-Flag. The censer is placed before the chair, the box holding the incense, and the spirilxnip. The serving-man also places a bason of fresh, clean water, morning and evening, before the chair, with a towel aoid a comb. All eatables are also presented on a table before this chair. The flag-staff (Ming-ging) is set up at the right hand of the chair; and as this staff is red, the name, rank, and birth-place of deceased are painted on it in white. The deceased wife is accorded her husband's rank. In mourning, every man is arranged in his proper place of nearness to, or distance from, the body, according to relationship and age, — ^the Shangjoo, at the head of the men on the east side,
- This chair is supposed to seat the spirit departed.
