PAPUAN SUPERSTITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 8, 6 January 1913, Page 6

PAPUAN SUPERSTITION.

“BAIGONA.” Cult of a Mystic Snake. - The Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, in a report to the Commonwealth External Affairs Department, says that during his recent visit to tho nortnern divisions of the- territory he encountered some illustrations of “the ingrained supers!tion of the Papuan mind.” Near Cape Nelson, in the north-eastern division, stands a burning mountain called Mount ictory. On the top of the mountain dwells a snake with tho name of Baigona, Recently Baigona appeared to a native living in one of tho coastal villages, and accused him of killing snakes and alligators. Tho man admitted that tiie charge was true, and Baigona then informed him that ho must for ever desist.

“If you will promise,” continued the snake, “never to kill a snake or an alligator again, I will show you a herb that will cure all kinds of sickness. If you will not promise you must take tho consequences.” ,The man agreed, and the snako showed him the herb. He then pro-ceeded-up the coast, calling on all the natives to obey tho behests of Baigona. At tho Government station the Buna Bay police were sceptical. Three of them went even so far as to five at an alligator. That night the guilty three were on the beach, when an alligator rose from tho water. “You had a shot at me this afternoon,” said the alligator. “Never dare to do such a thing again in future. You must never harm either alligators or snakes.”

A talking alligator was not too much for the police. They believed, and when they told their tale the rest of the detachment were converted. Now snakes and alligators are unmolested on that coast. Initiation and Baptism. On his recent visit to the Mam bare division the Lieutenant-Governor ascertained that the native movement in. connection \yith a being known as Baigona had developed into a regular cult, with a system of initiation. A form of baptism is practised, but not as part of the initiation. The custom is for an initiate to baptise all his family and friends, but not to be baptised himself. '*"■ - power of those initiates, which is commonly greater than that of the ordinary sorcerer, resides in their limepots. These usually contain the ashes of certain leaves that have been burnt as well as sometimes human hones which have been burnt and powdered. Cures are effected by these initiates by moans of herbs, and a process resembling massage. The object is to draw the evil influence of the patient. Snakes and alligators are not killed by these people. Propitiatory Offerings. ~An iptwestuig .it-- .is told V Rev. Copland King of a snake, which was killed and sent out to sea in a canoe, loaded with all kinds of native wealth as a propitiatory offering, to avert the coming vengeance from the villages, where the snake was killed. The first Baigona apparently found that he could increase his influence and wealth by selling his secrets to others, and so the cult spread northwards. Mr King adds: “The first Baigona in my district was an old man named Eroro, of Ombeia. He is a very attentive listener at my Sunday preachings, and a very courtly old gentleman of his kind, I had heard of his curing people, but did not know the particulars. One day I found that ho was on the premises doctoring one of our South Sea Islanders, who was dying from consumption. He gave the patient various kinds of herbs to take in different ways. One thing was eaten. Franc, the South Sea Islander, said to mo, ‘That was very cold.’ Another thing (herb) was soaked in water, and the water drunk. Of another was made a lotion, In which he washed. Then Eroro chewed the betel nut (with possibly other ingredients), and the red matter was plastered all over the sick man’s body. Then, while an assistant stood behind him chewing ginger and spluttering it all over the place, and yelling out in sympathy, Eroro knelt in front and snatched at the man’s body with finger and thumb, pulling the red mass off, and calling, ‘Baigona, come out! Baigona, come out!’ at the top of his voice. This naturally exhausted the patient. Some leaves were given him to stuif up his nose, and the treatment ended.

“I have seen Baigonas use massage on a patient,” continues Mr King. “They massaged the arms, for instance, down to the fingers, and then, as they said, pulled Baigona out from the finger tips. The young men of the village sing a song standing round the patient. It seemed to be the usual string of unmeaning words.”