FIJIAN FIRE-WALKERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4675, 17 March 1924, Page 4

FIJIAN FIRE-WALKERS.

DANCE ON WHITE-HOT STONES. The famous fire-walkers of the island of Benga gave an example of their wonderful power recently. The occasion was a fair organised by the natives of Benga to raise funds to build a school on the island.

' The scene of the fire-walking was in a sort of amphitheatre up a hill. Here the visitors found, in a hollow tree, a great number of large stones. On top of these was heaped a huge pile of wood, which was set ou fire ; and, after the fire bad burned out, the ashes were carefully raked off with big wooden rakes. When all was ready the natives (who had been waiting in the bush) burst out of their hiding place, and in single file slowly paced round the ring, where they walked as if on ordinary soil.

Then thej' walked more ; and, having walked all over the still white-hot stones, they went off, and seizing many bushes they threw heaps of them on to the hot stones ; then they danced on to the bushes in the midst of a stifling smoke, where, after a minute or two, they squatted and chanted, and then they retired amid the loud cheers of the crowd.

Just as they went on to the stones someone held a cloth some 3ft. above the stones, when it was immediacy burnt to a cinder. There is only one family, or small sect, which possesses this uucanny power of resistance. No other Fijian can do this fire-walking.