The overwhelming smell of joss sticks. 
They do make a very strong smell, 
not a particularly nice smell, 
but it’s meant to appease the ancestors. 
That was the overwhelming smell 
except for the smell of burning gasoline 
and diesel and the smell of burning flesh, I must say. 
The main sound was the wailing and misery of the monks, 
who had known this guy for many years before and were feeling for him. 
Then there was shouting over loudspeakers 
people, trying to figure out a way to put him out, 
put out the flames around him without actually killing. 
So it was a jumble of confusion.

Malcolm Brown,