Fire-walking in Fiji.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 227, 10 July 1902, Page 3

Fire-walking in Fiji.

■ o Auckland, July 7. Though the news of the illness of the King led to the abandonment of some of the chief Coronation celebrations in Fiji, the excursionists by the Waikaro, which returned on Saturday, appear to have greatly enjoyed their trip. The fire-walking exhibition, whieh was especially arranged, was particularly interesting. A correspondent of the Herald gives the following account of it: — “ All having landed, a visit was made to the village and sea beach, while the final preparations for the fire-walking were being made. A large pit about twenty feet wide had been dug ont of the ground, and in this logs of wood and large stones were placed. The wood was burning fiercely and the stonet got to a white heat, when the urn burned wood was dragged out and the stones spread over the pit The kinematograph and camera! were given good positions, am before the walking took place Dn Fulton and Smith examined the

feet of the men. On a given signal the fire-walkers emerged from the bush and walked across the stones and then round the pit a couple of times, apparently without any sign of feeling the intense heat (bystanders conld not go within several feet of the pit). Green branches and cocoanut palms were then thrown into the pit, which immediately began to smoke and steam. The fire-walkers crouched down in the middle and more branches were thrown round them, piesonting a very weird appearance. They then got up, and a large number of kits of yams and other eatables were placed- in the pit to be cooked. The two doctors a a ain examined the feet of the natives who had walked oyer the stones, and found them quite cool and in no way burnt. The hairs on their legs and some dry ferns which wero round thoir ankles were not even singed. The pet[jr.uaucj was really wonderful, and still puzzles the minds of all who witnessed it.”