Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-08-09
IN HONOR OF THE GODDESS DooRoA.
Terrible Totures Undergone by Natives of
the Island of Mauritus.

the Island of Mauritus.
Thousands of Indians had assembled
on the grounds when | arrived and
presented a picturesque appearance
with their yellow, pink. or scarlet
robes, wrapped in graceful folds about
them, while the men wore massive gold
or silver ear, toe, and finger rings.
anklets, etc. An old man, who seemed
to be acting as priest. after going
through various incantations, was ap-
| preached by a well-dressed Indian.
The old fellow nuttered sometime
and then they both set up shout.
The priest uncoiled a rope and began
lashing the Indian over tho head and
face, bringing blood ut every blow.
The victim, or "happy man, " as he was
called, never WINGED, but stood motion
less until the fagellation was over. He
was then smeared with ashes and
scarlet paint, and was considered one
of the heroes of the day. NV attention
being attracted by crowd at the en-
trance, | went to see the cause, and
found a young man lying quite nude
upon the ground. On making inquiries
! discovered that he had been very
sick and had made vow that if he re-
covered no would roll around the tenn
pie, and he was about to fulfill his VOW
As he rolled along his wife went before
him to clear away any chips or stones
that might hurt him. He appeared to
be in the last stages of consumption.
and when he had completed half the
distance no tainted. Buckets of water
] trylf- Iaf nd In L
sufficiently TO continue, the crowds en-
oouraging him. He finished the circle
of the temple and then tainted again.
Four men removed him to the shade Of
tamarind tree, where the women
combed the dirt out of his long hair
and washed his body. He was speech
less when | left him, and it did not
seem as if no could long survive his
task The religious rite which is
called running upon fire created good
deal of excitement among the wor-
shippers. Piles of wood were burned
which in about one hour became bed
of 1.-Two embers. These embers were
distributed over a square of about
twenty-six feet. An excavation q foot
deep and six feet square was made
I
water When everything was declared
to be ready by the priest, who was the
master of ceremonies, music was heard
in tho distance and a procession moved
along the grassy plain, preceded by u
man bearing a platform, upon which
was an image dressed in Indian COS
tune, loaded withjewelry. A similar
procession advanced from the opposite
side and faced the first. At q given
signal an old man with only a cloth
about his loins, bearing child in his
arms, stepped into the square and
walked across the bed Of embers with
out hinching. Three young men fol-
! lowed, and thon dozen rushed in and
ran across, stopping for a moment to
cool their feet in the trench filled with
water. The contortions, screeching,
and yelling Of the latter were terrible,
and would make the stoutest heart
/ quail. The Indians who walk over the
| tire have to pay for the privilege Of SO
| doing, and they claim that it is only
when they are sinful that the fire can
| hurt them. Another form Of worship
/ or rather torture, was to run wires
( through tho body and then work them
back and forth. When the blood ran
q certain powder was thrown upon the
body so it would not show plainly. |
saw men aud women with skewers
thrust through their checks, tongues,
and lips, and one poor wretch had a
sharp wire, as thick rs large pin, in
serted in tho forehead and passed
through tho face downward, until it
came out at tho chin. These men paid
& each for the privilege Of having a
wire run through them, besides other
fees to the gods and priests. -Brool9yi'
] Aalld.