The sun., 1891-05-10

having been osnnibsl In the past. the spirits
are 30 still. Where tho living ate the dead. hor-
rifed nocturnal Imagination drew the shock
ing inference hat the dead might eat the living.
Doubtless they slay men. doubtless even mutt
late them. In nero malice. Marquesan spirits
sometimes tear out tho eyes OF travellers: but
even that may be more practical than appears,
fot the eye is q oannibal dainty. And certain-
" the root idea Of the dead. at least in the far
eastern islands, Is to prowl for food. 1t was
as dainty morssl for meal that the woman
denounced Donat at tho funeral. Nor Ia II
only the dead who eat the living; there are
spirits besides who prey In particular on the
souls OF the newly dead. The point is clearly
made In Tahitian story. child fell sick.
grew swiftly worse. and at last showed signs
OF death. Tho mother hastened to the house
Of n sorcerer. who lived hard by. lyon are
yet In time" said he: "a spirit has Just run
past my door carrying tho soul OF your child
wrapped in the leaf OF rurao: but have a
spirit stronger and swifter who will run him
down ore he has time to eat It." Wrapped you
see, in q leaf. like other things edible and cor
ruptible.
Or take an experience Of Mr.. Donat's on the
island Of Anan. 1t was night OF high wind.
with violent squalls: his child was very sick,
and the father. though no had gone to bed. lay
wakeiul. hoarkcning to the gale. All at once q
fowl was violently dashed on the house WALL
Supposng he had forgot TO put II In shelter
with the rest. Don8t arose, found the bird Ia
cock) living on the veranda, and put 1t In tho
henhouse. tho door OF which he securely fas-
tened. Fifteen minutes later the business was
repeated. only this time. as it was being dashed
against tho wall. the bird crew. Again Donat
replaced It. examining the henhouse thor
oughly and finding II quite perfect: as he was
90 engaged the wind pufred out his light. and
he must Grope back to tho door good deal
shaken. Yet third time the bird was dashed
upon tho wall: third time Donat set it. now
near dead. beside its mates. and'he was scarce
returned before there came arush. like that
of furious strong man. against the door, and
q whistle as loud as that OF q railway engine
rang about the house. The skeptical
reader may here detect the finger Of the
tempest but the women gave up all
for lost. and clustered on the beds
lsmentinR. Nothing followed and must sup
pose the gale somewhat nbated. for presently
after chief came visiting. He was a bold
man to be abroad 80 late. but doubtless car.
ried bright lantern. And he was certainly
man Of counsel. for as soon as he heard the
details OF these disturbances he was in posi-.
ton to explain their nature Your child"
said he. must certainly die. This is tho evil
spirit OF an island who lies In walt to eat tho
spirits OF tho newly dead" And then he went
on to expatiHte on the strangeness OF the
spirits conduct. He was not usually. he ex.
planned. so open OF assault, but sat silent on
the housetop waiting in the suise Of bird.
Within the people tended the dying and be-
walled the dead. and had no thought OF peril:
but when day came and the doors were opened
and men began to 20 abroad blood stains on
the wall betrayed the tragedy.
This is the quality admire in Paumotuan
legend. I Ihave heard OF Tahitian vesture for
the spirit-eater. with how much more OF pomp.
with how much less Of horror. 1t has been
seen by all sorts and conditions. native and
foreign: only tho last insist that It is meteor.
Ny authority Was not SO sure. He was riding
with his wife about two In the morning.; both
wore near asleep, and the horses wore not
much better. 1t was brilliant and still night.
and the road wound over mountain. near by
deserted marss Told Tahitian templel All at
once tho appearance passed above them:
form OF light-the head round and greenish-
tho body long. red and with focus OF yet
redder briliancy about the midst: . buzzing
hoot accompanied its passage: 1t few direct
out OF one marae. and direct for another down
the mountain side. And this as my informant
argued. is suggestive. For why should q moro
meteor frequent the affairs OF abominable
gods? Tho horses. should say. were equally
dismayed with their riders. Now am not dis
mayed at all. not even agreeably. Give me
rather the bird upon the housetop and tho
warning blood gouts on the wall.