What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.

HIARBOR AND CITY OF CALLAO. country, informing me that in this manner the night would be spent, and also that they believed that their chances of eternal happiness would be increased by this presence of an angel in the little corpse they were thus singularly honoring. The next night we witnessed the funeral of the deceased. This consisted of a procession of the friends walking in doublefile after the pall-bearers, each person carrying a lantern; in this latter particular the ceremony resembling the ancient rope torchlight procession which gave origin to the term funeral. ilurried movement and boisterous conversation detracted from the otherwise impressive effect of the illuminated scene and solemn occasion. On arriving at the cemetery situated at Bella Vista, a long iron rod like a provision merchant's trier, was thrust into the gravel and sand to a depth of two or three feet, to ascertain if any previous interment had taken place at that spot, no stone or headboard being there to designate the restingplace of the dead. After trials in several places success finally crowned the efforts of the inspector, and no impediment being encountered, one of the pall-bearers dug a hole, in which the an7yelit%( was deposited and hastily covered. A last drink of the funereal pisco was taken over the grave in memory of the departed and to refresh the weary watchers, who then in procession returned home in gleesome mood; believing no doubt that they had performed the rites of sepuLlture in a becoming manner. Among the common people this is the usual mode of interment of a child, after a suitable celebration of its death by song and sentiment, pirouette and pisco. And fond as they are of children, and convinced of their purity and happy destiny, rather than omit honoring the event of their translation, and, appropriating to themselves the highest influence of their goodness, they will even borrow an angelita from an unfortunate neighbor too poor to defray the expense of a celebration, and, removing it to their own house, distinguiish the occasion by a considerable outlay of money and a general "good time." It is said that these celebrations are always characterized by mingled sadness, cheerfulness, personal respect, and good will; never by the wrangling, violence, and brutality which so frequently attend the Irish wake. 82

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Title
What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.
Author
Baxley, Henry Willis, 1803-1876.
Canvas
Page 82
Publication
New York,: D. Appleton & company,
1865.
Subject terms
South America -- Description and travel
California -- Description and travel
Hawaii -- Description and travel

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"What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/abf7940.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.
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