AFTER THE TOHUNGA.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1008, 29 September 1903, Page 2

AFTER THE TOHUNGA.

THE DEATH OF HETA TE KANI.

Yesterday afternoon Detectivo Nixon proceeded to Te Arai with a warrant for

the arrest of the well-known tohunga, Matenga Kaipau, on a charge of having caused the death of the chieftain Heta te Kani. The latter was in a consumptive condition, and it is alleged that the tohunga, by throwing buckets of cold water over him, caused the patient’s death. One explanation made on behalf of the tohunga is that death bad actually taken place before the cold water treatment was adopted. However, that may be, Matenga evid'ently had no wish to be placed under lock and key, for on the arrival of the police officer,“the tohunga had speedily changed his quarters, and the search party will be out after him to-day. Heta te Kani, who ordinarily was a very intelligent fellow, but weak on the Bufaject of tohungaism had had some experience in that respect. Te Kooti had predicted that he would die if he went up the Coast, and another tohunga advised him in the opposite direction. The later advice was taken, and Heta lived, thereby proclaiming the supposed powers of the modern tohunga. Now that he has died the Natives declare that both Te Kooti and the other tohunga have had their predictions fulfilled. Thus is _ witchcraft further engrafted in the minds of the Natives.

A superstition held by Heta was that if ho made his will he would soon thereafter die, and though often advised to make a will he could not be induced to do so,