ROASTING AN EVIL SPIRIT.
Maori fanaticism takes absurd forms, the more dangerous because quasi-religious. A curious case of one Maori roasting another came before the Magistrate’s Court at Napier, a few days since. Ilerika, a follower of Te Whiti and a sort of minor prophet and missionary combined, was charged with assaulting Heriona, an old, blind, and weakminded Maori.“ The evidence showed that the old man was ill, and prisoner, who was consulted as a kind of medical man, declared that be was possessed of the devil. To cure him, he had a Maori copper made and heated and lined with green leaves in the most approved fashion, and then laid Heriona in the copper. The old gentleman tried to wriggle away, and then Ilerika, tied his hands and feet, and as this was not satisfactory he sat nn the poor man to keep him well clown ou the stones. Natural lj r the old fellow cried out, when Herika, declared that it was the devil crying to get out of his body. At last the bystanders interfered and rescued Heriona, but not before he had been dreadfully burned, in fact a certain part of his body was described as thoroughly cooked. The case was remanded to allow the old man to bo examined by a doctor.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PATM18800601.2.20
Bibliographic details
Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 527, 1 June 1880, Page 3
Word Count
217ROASTING AN EVIL SPIRIT. Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 527, 1 June 1880, Page 3
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in