FIBDING A THIEF HY WAGIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1921, Page 1

FIBDING A THIEF HY WAGIC.

(By B. L. Tengely). OhG u| tho 41 j I il<*l 111 H*S (if t-H‘ UHllilM* tnuliTs ;ui<l olliciiils in ihoir uit.li tho W'ost Alrir.-m nntivo wits tlu*ir I'tiiluio t«> iipptvriato iliut ho tviis nut m tliii‘l or liar accui llui.dC lu uiir rudo wt murals iho oxport thiol huitiu in 11ativo o\vs a porsmi tu lit* admitvil. In- ; (li'('(l. corlain tiih<»s on tho Krtt (Y>a>t J ha\u iu) word lur *' 1 1 lit h* ’ at all. Whon aiivtliinu; is lust th«*v novor j wasto time in (jinstioninu tin* suspootI od |torson. J Tlu*ro is only urn* tldiiLi tu lx* iluno, and 11 ini i-> tu <un>nlt tho ()hi-ah man !• witch duitui), v. ho in turn will inak«* tui-ai-h inmy;io) which will duturinino tho identity of their thief. And. in- t * credible as ii may seem, ho never lails. t The oxplanatiun ul t-his is paitly to i ho fount! in the awful terror in whirh , tin* Oheah man is h-old h\ tiu* ordinary native. Many a strong man tioiiddos when lie meets on the road the dirty. ■ evil sinellinu; wileh doctor, with matted hair, oariyinu a lunu stall', a hunch of while rock's feathers, a piece of carrion, certain Bfiosß.N. the nasty smelling lit weed (a small herh with leaves .somewhat lik** holly, only pale ”iecli; so tallevl as it is >aid l<> dire epilepsy), some human hones. and olhci tlis ii 11 st i n ohjeet S. Imagine, then, ilils erciiittrc real, i in the middle o! the compound -sinrounded hy a ciowil ol Nruiv.es tenor-sl ricken that their flesh shows Kiev under the Mack skin. Ho lights a lir<* and makes an i.nli ! 1 Inotli with the horrible ingredients ! ' has, hroiiuht. lie then poms some «• ! this filth on the earth and make * » paste of it, sit the same time shnutinn phrases such as, “I” smell thiet-man. j (<ohi i vhe oiid who watches properts and knows all thieves), show me thief.ami many 'horrible threats. He then walks round tin* circle dah * hinu some of the paste oil the |o.,d:: I ..f each man, at* thv same time watc!: 2 inii each fact* with tho jj;a/.e of si l\nx. t A fie 1 11 ii s lu* produces a hot tie ‘ 1 j juju ( inapjii-) water. Poiirinix some o' { it into ;i cup, lie "ill explain thal will not hurt the innocent, hut t* the guilty man will drop dead a t jumliis fvampir<*s> will eat Ins hotly. Soim'lilne- il i.- not even neccss:ll \ foi liini t" get tor ns this singe, tor bis keen eye Inis olieoily J 'teeteil une wrelelied Negio even in terror ( si ricken lliiin t lie rest. j 111 0 i-nse of Ibis sort lie goes up to tli,. sell-eviiliol culprit :ii"l biiislies . him with the w hite cock's lent hers. ] siu ing, "Here lie I lie t.liief-iii:in.” > Win'll this " iloiie the c"Girit nlniosl I invni inhlv lulls oil his lore, ItiKw ling often in u tit. The - mile thing; b.-'P pens will'll the ohenh null! oppiooclies I lie guilt v one w illi bis .-ui., Mneb the some riluol is gone through ( wlii'ii 0 nniriler tins hecii c.,m111i 1 1,• o 11 1 vin this ellse tlic ineiedieiils 01 still mine Jr,colt ul, including the h1",.-l of hollies mill their eyes, which or - "• moved f 1 mil the living child. t