MISERABLE COMFORTERS
The case of Everlasting Pearl's husband was a hopeless one, and despair
took possession of both mother and wife as time went on. They
exhausted all the means in their power, but very soon realized that
vain was the help of man, for the doctors could do nothing for him.
They then turned to the spirits and implored their help. In these
surely they would not be disappointed.
First of all they sent to a medium to ask what was the matter. She
told them that the sick man had lost a soul, and they would have to go
out and find it. A party of them, therefore, quickly set out, carrying
a measure of rice, which they strewed by the way to show the spirit the
direction home. At every step Everlasting Pearl frantically called
out, "My husband, come home, come home." Each time, when her cry
arose, the rest of the party answered with assurance, "He has come
home, he has come home." But when they returned, after their weary
tramp, the lost soul had not found its way home, and there was no
improvement in the condition of the patient.
A few days later, the mother decided that they would have to call in a
Taoist priest for a ceremony called _kan tong_, or "influence." In the
middle of the afternoon, when the spirits were supposed to have come
out of their hiding-places, the priest started his work. Three men
were beating the gong and drum most vigorously, while he himself took
three sticks of incense and worshipped the idol hanging before him.
Then he drew a tiger on two pieces of paper, put them down on the
ground, and called for the chosen medium. A relative of young Hsü,
with a red turban round his head, stepped forward, and took his stand
somewhat reluctantly on the tigers. He had seen other mediums return
with their bodily and mental health impaired, and he had no desire to
risk his own; but his duty and brotherly love bade him perform this
service for his young kinsman.
The priest now began chanting his formulas to the beating of the gong,
keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the medium, watching for the
latter to show signs of being mesmerized. After a time, when the
pupils of the eyes began to dilate, and when the man started jumping,
as the tigers were unable to keep his feet quiet any longer, the priest
asked, "Have you seen light?" The medium answered in the affirmative,
and off he dashed, whilst a number prepared to follow him. They were
horribly painted and armed with pitchforks. On and on they rushed,
calling for the soul. Anything more devilish can hardly be imagined.
Suddenly the medium stopped in one of the fields, and declared that
that was the place where the soul had been lost. Lighting their
incense, they called loudly for the soul, till the medium rushed off
home again, telling them the soul would return with them, and the sick
man would recover. But again the gods had played them false, for the
sick man got worse instead of better.
What was to be done next? An astrologer's advice was sought, and
readily given. He informed them that they had made a mistake the first
time, when they called in the Taoist priest, and that the wrong
ceremony had been performed. They must call in four Taoist priests to
perform for a day and a night, so as to drive away the evil spirits
which had taken possession of the sick man. The house was accordingly
decorated with idols on all sides, and the four priests began their
work. The noise in the house was almost unbearable, and thus it
continued for twenty-four hours, after which time the priests announced
young Hsü to be out of danger, as the evil spirits had taken their
departure. In reality there was only one thing that had taken its
departure, and that was the money possessed by the Hsü family, which
had now found its way into the roomy pockets of the priests.
The young wife was almost in despair. But it never occurred to her, or
to any one else in the family, to blame the idols or the priests. Very
likely they had not done enough for the sick man. They would call the
Taoist priests again, and let them go on for three days and three
nights. But where was the money to come from? A consultation was
held, and it was decided to mortgage the fields in order to get the
money needed. Of course it would mean poverty afterwards, but that
point could not be considered just now; all that mattered was to get
the young man well again. So the fields were mortgaged, and the
priests were more than pleased to come again. Needless to say they
succeeded no better than before, but that did not trouble them.
At last the whole family gave up in despair. It was true there was
still the rite called "The turning of tables," but that was too
expensive, and there was no money left for it. Nothing more could be
done. Young Hsü would have to be left to his fate, and they had to
resign themselves and make the best of their difficulties.