Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09
MAGIC OF THE MAORI.
Unaccountable Power of Wonder
Workers on New Zealanders.
MAGICIAKS DECEIVE THEMSELVES.
Natives Urged to Unnatural Grimes by
Their Strange Beliefs.
A GIRL BEwITCHED THROUGH A GIFT
WRITTEN FOR rHK D1sPArcH.l

existed from earliest time. In the Old
Testament they appear as being accepted by
the people as horrible and detestable reali.
ties; and when our pious 1orefathers in
Britain and America burned or drowned
old women for witches they did so not be-
cause they thought they were impostors, but
because they believed them to be actually in
league with the devil. At the present day
this kind of superstition is probably as
prevalent as ever, not only among the ig-
norant, uneducated people, but among
thousands who ought to know better. In
this city, in New York, in San Francisco,
and in every large city in this Countryside
least superstitious in the world, as is sup
posed-there are scores of "magicians" and
witches" who make great deal more by
| pretending to practice supernatural arts
than they can possibly make by any honest
occupation. It is perfectly useless to argue
with the victims OF this delusion. 1t seems
/ to be rooted in some obscure part of human
nature which is altogether beyond the
reach of reason.
The Asiatic nations universally believe
| in magic, if not in witchcraft-though both
are dead against their religious creeds-and
anyone who should express doubt as to the
| power of magic in Turkey or Arabia would
be looked upon as demented. Even En-
| glishmen who have spent any length of time
in those countries come more or less under
| the influence of credulity, and if questioned
about the magic art acknowledge that they
| think there is something in it." Lady
Hesther Stanhope, the celebrated Oriental
traveller, not only became an unhesitating
believer in magic, but herself practised it
with great success after taking up her abode
in Syria, and was profoundly respected and
feared on that account by all the people in
her neighborhood That cynical philosopher
and most charming writer, Lawrence Oil
phant, seems to have got into very nearly
the same state of mind before he died, only
the other day.
HOME OF THE SUPERNATURAL.
To see magic and witchcraft in full work
ing order at the present time, however, it is
necessary to go to the islands of the Pacific,
especially to those where the inhabitants
are civilized and Christianized. New
Zealand is the most striking example of this;
firstly. because Christianity and civilization
have made the greatest strides there, and
secondly, because the natives are of the
highest order, mentally and physically, of
any peoples recently emerged from bar
barism. For two generations the Maoris
have been in close contact with an educated
and religious people, to whom they have
assimilated themselves in a wonderful
degree. Yet neither Christianity nor
civilization has had the slightest effect
on their belief in magic and witchcraft.
The most advanced among them, indeed, are
the most subject to that weird influence.
The nagicians themselves are often men of
high rank and excellent intelligence, who
undoubtedly believe themselves to be the
medium of supernatural powers. Those of
them who live in towns and mingle with
Europeans dissemble their belief; but they
believe all the same; while in the native
settlements they do not disguise their belief
at all, but thousands of them often assem-
BILE at the summons of "prophet" to wit
ness miracle" or come long distances, of
their own accord, to consult the oracle.
know one of these magicians well. His
name is TIE White, and he lives at a lovely
spot on the west coast of the North Island,
called Parihaka, which is as we'll known
throughout New Zealand as Delphi was
throughout Greece, and for the same reason.
1t is, in the Mauris' belief, the abiding
place of the most powerful and most awful
oracle on earth. TIE Whites mana or pres
tige has somewhat declined of late years, in
consequence of the government having
twice sent him to prison as an accessory to
crimes which were committed solely in
obedience to bis oracular utterances; but he
still exercises far more influence than any
other human being over the mind and the
actions of the Maori people.
A DINNER WITH MAGICIANs.
have studied TIE White closely, and
have found him an insoluble psychological |
problem. 1 am convinced that he is a per-
fectly sincere man, and saner man, as to |
the ordinary affairs of lie, never met. He |
is dignifCd and impressive looking man of |
about so, with benignant and most inrelli- |
gent countenance. His manners are exceed |
ingly courteous and gentle. with much of |
that we'll bred repose and selfpossession |
which distinguishes natures nobility
among all peoples. His conversation, |
though sparing, is always worth hearing, in
dicating mind of much power and penetra-
tion, and just and generous disposition. 1
had the pleasure of dining with TIE White
on the first occasion when he ever sat down
to table with Europeans. He was accom-
panied with Tohu, his chief disciple, or sun
derstudy," as they say in America, who is
also credited with large share of supernat-
ural power, though only as TIE Whites IA
miliar.
The rest of the company were Europeans
and included two young English ladies, the
first that the Maori chiefs had ever seen.
~ hdo u AuOsb pACdSdub L06 pIOpQebS |
never committing q single faux pas, but
shaping their behavior by an intuitive good
sense and good taste and a marvelously
quick imitation of the other guests They
ate and drank heartily, but not in excess,
and Joined freely in the conversation,
applying themselves to enter
tanning the ladies, for whom they expressed
an unbounded but respectful admiration.
There we're two or three very clever men at
he table, but Te White and Tohu were
quite able to hold their own with them in
discussion. They also displayed a remark
lble sense of humor and very happy faculty
If repartee.
PERFECT LUTATIC ON MAGIC.
Yet. at that very moment, these men were
the Government having been
to arrest them and remove them
rom Parihaka on account Of the terror and
'uln they were causing throughout the
leighboring settlements BY their oracular
ltterances and the frenzy of their devotees.
)ne of the guests who sat at table with
is was a magistrate in whose lawful custody
hey were, an official of the greatest ability
md one of the best Polynesian linguists
living. He assured me that TIE White was
man of high mental capacity ana thor
ughly conscientious and truthful; but that.
IN the subject of mis- supernatural attributes,
le was neither more nor less than a mad
nan.
1t the Maori magicians are madmen.
however, there is great deal of method in |
heir madness. The highest of them, such
s TIE White, though they hold themselves
aloof from Europeans are init
nateiy acquainted both with the Scriptures
nd the laws. Their oracles are most Ingen-
Ously cast in a scriptural mold, and still