MAUNGATUA FASTING GIRL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 53, 27 January 1872, Page 4

MAUNGATUA FASTING GIRL.

A correspondent of the " Otago Witness" gives the following account of a visit to the celebrated Maungatua fasting girl:—On Wednesday I embraced an opportunity long wished for, to pay a visit to this now celebrated person. The drive to the place is associated with the climbing of mountains. This is, however, a mistake : a level and well-made road leads directly to the house. The distance from the West Taieri bridge to Mr Ross's house is about seven miles. The drive, between waving corn fields, green meadows, and neat cottages, and partly through a cluster of bush at the West Taieri, is very enjoyable. The house, which is in close proximity to the Waipori road, is composed of sod, and roofed with rushes, in the true Highland style, with a cluster of blue gums in front. The apartment where the girl lies is well ventilated, and has no manner of ornament beyond a few photographs, and boards with texts of Scripture pasted thereon. On entering, the visitor's first impression is that he sees before him a young woman in the enjoyment of good health, so ruddy is the face in appearance ; but ere long a different impression is received—the weak voice and occasional contortions of the face indicate internal suffering. The left side and hand are completely paralysed, and the heart lias a different beat from that of a person in ordinary health. She has been lying in the same position for two years, being of that time seventy days and nights in a trance, during which, according to the testimony of her parents, she was without any kind of nourishment; and since she has awakened her whole diet consisted of half a cup of tea or coffee, with a very small crust of bread. I delivered Professor Macgregor's message to her parents, to the effect that if she were sent to the Hospital he would give the case his most special attention; but manifestly she would be unable to stand the journey. She herself said she was willing to go if the journey could be performed with safety, but her parents are against it.