A MAORI VISION OF ANOTHER WORLD.

Evening Star, Issue 3047, 23 November 1872, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MAORI VISION OF ANOTHER WORLD.

The present appears to be an era of wonders and portents among our Maori neighbors We al tided, the other day, to the circumstance of a prophet and miracle worker having arisen at Paki Paki; we have heard since of a ease of tnnee, accompanied with visions of other worlds, at Wairoa. A Maori there—wo have not been able to learn his name—lay recently in a state of complete unconsciousness, without motion and apparently without life, for three days. Towards the close of the third day bis neighbors began to think that it was about time to bury him, and proceeded to put him into a coffin preparatory to doing so. On their lifting him, however, to their no small astonishment, he moved, opened his eyes, and at last woke up. After partaking of some r« freffiineut, ho proceeded to inform them what bis wairua (spirit) had beenabou*, all the time that his body lay unconsciom, He had passed across the bridge that con. neetc-d this world with the nether one, and on reaching the other side saw a Jake of fire before him, It was intimated to him that he must plunge in, and he did so, and swam across to the other side, his sensations during the process being of a very excruciating character, On reaching the opposite bank he was led by the angel of death down along a steep, dark pathway till they reached a cave, in all manner of hideous slimy creatures with malevolent eyes and cruel fangs were winding lost hutcan beings in their loathsome folds. His frame thrilled with horror at the fate which appeared to bo awaiting him ; the angel, however, told him he might pass on for this time. They passed on till they cached an enormous staircase ; ascending it they found themseives before the massive golden gates of heaven. These were Hung open aud they entered, and beheld our Lord seated on a great white throne. Our Lord addressed him in gentle and merciful accents, bidding him go back to earth and tcii his fellow-men what they had to expect in the mxt world if they lived a life of sin in tlffi, and, on the other baud, what happiness and glory they might look forward to as the reward of a life of virtue He is now, we hear, preaching repentance to the other Maoris at the Wairoa.