New-York tribune., 1901-05-10
FIRE WALKING IN JAPAN.
THE SHINTOISTS LOOK UPON IT AS A
MIRACLE FOREIGNERS IN
ABLE TO EXPLAIN.

ABLE III EABLAlN.
At little Shinto shrine in the heart Of Toxic
wonderful rite. looked upon as a miracle by the
Shintosts has been performed every spring and
ran for many years. Until recently the occurrence
was Known only 10 the japanese but in the last
year or two il has reached the ears OF an IN
creasingly large number OF foreigners, who mostly
inoredulous. have obtained permission TO attend
and at the last performance Of the rite on April 9
IS" there were present about fifty OF them, who
departed mystihed.
The ceremony IS called "Ii-Wattarai'-fre walk
ing-and that is what actually takes place For
days perhaps weeks. beforehand the priests con-
nected with the temple devote themselves to fast
ing and prayer. The performance is always ap-
pointed 20 take place between and o'clock in
the afternoon in the small temple court but az 3
o'clock begins the final outburst of prayer before
the unveiled altar in the inner sanctuary of the
little matted temple. From tin o'clock the
prayers continued. led by the chief priest AT
o'clock the priests fled before the altar into
some interior apartments Of the temple where
they were TO change their beautiful robes for the
dress worn during the fire walking
PREPARING THE FIRE
In the mean time coolies had been set 10 work
in the courtyard TO ignite the great bed Of char
coal which had already been laid The dimensions
Of this bed about twelve feet by four and
perhaps foot deep. On the top was a quantity
Of straw and kindling wood which was lighted
and soon burst into a roaring blaze. The charcoal
became more and more thoroughly ignited. The
men not only famed the flames, but turned the
Goals over and over by running long poles under
meath and bringing them 10 the surface. And now
two OF the priests came out. said q prayer or two
at a tiny shrine in a corner Of the inclosure and
turned their attention 10 the preparation OF the
fire Taking long fans and poles from the coolies
they poked and encouraged the blaze TIL Il could
plainly be seen that the coal ignited through
out. The whole bed a glowing mass and the
heat which arose from IL intense that IL
was uncomfortable 10 sit fifteen feet away without
holding fan before ones face. Then they began
10 pound IT down solidy along the middle
using the poles IKE fails AS far possible in
equalities the middle were beaten down and
Goals which protruded were brushed aside.
The other priests who 20 take part ap-
peared. after having prayed once more for a short
time within the temple. One of them held pile
or white powder a small wooden stand This
was said 10 be salt bat. as far as could be ascer-
tained by a superficial examination II was a
mixture OF alum and salt. He stood at one end
/ and poised the wooden tray above his mead then
sprinked a handful OF 1t on the ground before
the bed OF Goals. At the same time another priest
who stood by him struck sparks from flint and
steel which he held in his hands THIS same
process was repeated by both the priests at tho
other end at the two sides and at the corners
PRELIMINARY CEREMONY.
Ten minutes. perhaps. were spent in various
movements and incantations about the bed Of Goals
AT the end OF that time two small pieces OF wet
( mating were brought and placed at either end
and quantity Of the white mixture was placed
upon them one Of the priests stood upon this wiped
sep IL dd not SurTv nor ~ 'S & T0ats ] at every I
again This time he the last two or three feet
OF the way If the Goals hurt him After passing
he rubbed his feet again in the powder which
was at the other end Though this priest walked
show any sign Of undue haste. The leading priest
went next. His movements were even slower and
were clasped in front. and ne seemed lost in con-
walk During the numerous times that he trav-
ersed the bed from one end 10 the other, he acted
with the deliberatiOn and dignity. The
young priest who followed him had been theatrical
rom rom ihe hrst; ne swung his hands back and
lifted each foot high up at every step
the Goals. Those who so engaged kept
up the prayers In the mean time tickets had been
sold to the crowd for three sen apiece "a cent and
halfl which would permit the bearer TO pass over
She afterward crossed again several times. After
and children, walking fearlessly across. one closely
following the other some. like the mother with
her baby. returning 70 across again. and appear
ing TO enjoy There were three who hur-
red the end but this seemed "a her because they
had stepped upon a sharp coal than because they
had received La burn urn While The ] sait and alum at
there were many who walked across Mhen it was
contact with very little Of H. AS each one started
on the fiery pilgrimage the priest with the
head while the other priests did not cease from
their prayers me ~ssng 81 m me he ians n ana Inc
more and more impressive. The Goals glowed out
/ by contrast, and the white robed priests with
their weird incantations. made fitting element
while two priests a side beat drum and
PLAYED on a reed pipe. the strains being In perfect
; keel ing with the rest of the performance. one
man : Coolie. off at one side when ne was half
T over and the crowd hooted. But nearly III OF the
many PEOPLE who passed Overland their number
was large and difficult 10 estimate-seemed abso-
/ utely uninlured. and apparently derived no dis
I comfort from the operation.
I There was 40 doubt in the minds OF any Of the
I foreign sDectators-and there were many skeptics
among the number-that the fire was not only
/ brf int and satisfactory eN-
/ nlanation could be advanced by the most
! learned The use OF the salt and alum on the
I damp mats was the weakest point OF all. but even
| that could have been but very slight and tenn
J pcrary protection