MONTHLY OFFERINGS. 333 On the First of the Month,* in the early morning, meat, fish, cakes, soup, and rice, each in a separate vessel, are placed before the coffin, arranged by the bearer of the Title-banner. Chanting, washing of hands, incense-burning, libations, &a, as before. The handle of the spoon f beside the food points west, and one end of the chopsticks are placed on the edge of the spoon-plate. The double bow and bitter weeping are repeated. If there is any new variety of eatable in the market, whether game, fish, or vegetable, it is to be placed on a large plate and laid before the coffin. Absent Relations. If a son is abroad when he hears of the death, he takes a square piece of ragged cotton, or cotton with a hole in it for a cap ; puts on a white outer robe ; ties on a rope for a sash ; and puts on hempen shoes. His reply to the mesenger who brings him the news of the death of father or mother, is a burst of weeping and wailing, which is repeated when he hears of the manner of the death. As soon as he gets mourning apparel, he is to start for home, walking 100 li a day. But he is not to travel by night, lest he meet with people who might molest or kill him. He travels along bye-ways, avoiding streets and ordinary thoroughfares. He is to weep and wail by the way, but not when people are near him. When he sees the border of his native sub-prefecture he weeps, and again when he sees the border of his district. He weeps again when he sees his native city or village, and when he first sees his home. When he enters, he twice kowtows before the coffin. He then changes his garments to mourning, and again goes to the coffin to mourn. However long the person is dead, the new-comer first assumes the mourning worn immediately on the death of the person. He then changes in accordance with the rules of
- "Month'* and "moon are the same word in the Chinese, and the Coreann
foUow the Chinese in having a lunar month, new moon being always the first of the month. This was naturaUy the first mode of dividing the year. t Corean spoons are of silver or brass or pewter, as in western lands ; " pointing west" means that the spirit-guest is facing south.
