Of all the Chinese customs brought to the Western hemisphere, none seems to have confused the locals more than funerals. Newspapers in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston all commented on the early burials, some of them held "like any American funeral" [Dallas Morning News, August 15, 1896, reporting the funeral of Gaw Choyi]. The newspaper noted that the first known Chinese burial, in 1894 in a kind of "potters’ field" south of Greenwood Cemetery, was different:

"All the heathenish rites were observed on this first occasion. Rice was put into the dead man’s mouth, and two roast chickens, a box of cigars, and two or three packages of cigarettes were scattered over the top of the grave. Strange to say, no one touched the smoker’s articles, although the usual number of small boys witnessed the internment. The tobacco remained until it rotted, but a hungry dog made away with the two chickens at the first opportunity that presented itself."

Later newspaper articles reported other details, including the placing of food in the grave and the burning of personal property but apparently did not interview the Chinese themselves. One reporter did return to the office having been told that the food was not intended to be eaten by the spirit of the deceased.

[Chinese Library Research Files,
Social Life and Customs folder,
Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio]

Return to text