Death
Coffin-carrying stretcher
| PLACE | Sheung Shui Bou Sheung Tsuen |
| DATE | 1963-11-21 |
| OBSERVATIONS | At the end of the funeral ceremony, held on an open patch of ground at the front of the village, the coffin is lashed securely to a stretcher which will be carried sometimes at a run sometimes at walking pace up into the hills to the north. I was told that if the deceased’s son were not present it would be impossible to lift the stretcher, no matter how many men were put to the task. All along the route the way was cleared by men throwing firecrackers and paper money to distract the attention of evil spirits. |