New-York tribune., 1901-09-08
@FIRE WALKING" IN TAHITI
PROFESSOR LANGLEY. OF THE SMITH
SONlAN INSTITUTION, SAYS THE
CEREMONY Is NOT MIRACULOUS.


H5 says the very remarkable descriptions Of the
"F5-e Walk" collected by Mr.. Andrew Lang and
others had aroused a curiosity in him TO witness
the original ceremony, and this he was lately
able 10 crafty in visit to Tahiti
Among these notable accounts referred
h Professor Langley is one by Colonel
Gudseon, British Resident At Raratonga de-
sc1ibing the experiment by from Raia-
tea and also a like account Of the Fiji fire cere-
rnnny from Dr. T M Hocken. whose article is
also quoted in Mr.. Lans's paper on the Fire
Walk" in the Proceedings" Of the Society for
Psychica1 Research February, 1900: This ex-
traordinary rite is also described by Mr- Fraser
in The Golden Bough' and by Others.
Professor Langley says:
/ had heard that il was performed in Tahiti IN
1S91. and several persons there assured NE OF
their having seen il, and one OF them of his
having walked through the fire himself under
the guidance of the priest. Papa-Ita, who is said
TO be one of the last remnants Of certain order
of tie priesthood of Raiatea and who had Also
performed the rite the island Of Hawaii some
time in The present year, OF which circumstantial
newspaper accounts were given, agreeing IL all
essential particulars with those in the accounts
already cited According 30 these, pit Was dug
il which large stones were heated red hot by
FIRE which had been burning many hours The
UPPER stones were pushed away just before the
Ca,eTaOny. 10 leave the lower stones to
tread upon. and over these glowing red hot
according 10 the newspaper accounts. Papa
Ita had walked with naked feet, exciting such
enthusiasm that he was treated with great con
slaeratIOn by the whites. and bg the natives
Sc5- / found il commonly believed in Tahiti
that any who chose walk after him.
European CT native could do 50 in safety.
secure in the magic which he exercises. if his
Instructions were exactly followed. Here in
Tahiti. whore h. had walked" four years be-
foe, IL was generally believed among the
natives, and even among the Europe present
who mad seen the ceremony. that i any
turned around TO look back he immediately was
burned, and / was told that all those who fol
lowed him through the FIRE We're expected not
ID turn until they reached the other side in
saiety, when NJ again entered the nre and led
theIn back 10y the path by which he had come
was further told by several ~ no had tried II
that the heat felt upon the .eet and
that when shoes were worn The soles We're not
burned tfor those who follow j th= priests
directions, but il added 10y all that much
heat Tas f-lt about the head.
such absolutely extraordinary accounts of the
perfornlan-e had been given 10 me by respect
confirming those given in Hawaii and in The
main, the cases cited by Mr.. Lang that could
not doubt that If all these We're verified py my
o"n opseFNAloh II would mean nothing less
10 me than departure from the customary
order OF Nature. and something very we'll worth
the seeing. indeed.
! was glad therefore, 10 meet personally the
priest Papa-Ita- He is the finest looking native
mat nave seen; tail, disEifed in bearing with
unusually intelligent features. 7 learned from
him that he would perform the ceremony on
"Wednesday, July l.. the day before the sailing
OF our ship / was ready provide the COST of
the fire. II he could not obtain il otherwise but
This proved TO be unnecessary.
Papa-lta himself spoke no English and 7 CON
Eerseo with him briefly through an inrerpreter
de sad tAat he walked over the not 81 ones
without danger by virtue OF spells which he
was able 10 utter and 10y the aid Of goddess
tor deNll. as my interpreter had III. who was
formerly a native OF the islands. The spells he
sald, We're something which he could teach
aLother- I was told by Others that there was
sun older priest in the Island of Raiatea
whose disciple he was. although he had pur,iIs
OF his own, and that n could send his spirit''
10 Ralatea 70 secure TIE permission of his senior
priest II necessary.
IN answer 10 my inquiry as 10 what pre.ara-
uons ne was going 70 make for the rite in the
Two or three days before il, he said he was
gong 10 pass them IN prayer.
The place selected for the ceremony fortu-
nately was not far from the ship | went there
at noon and found that a Ia rye shallow pit or
trench had been dug, about nine feet by twenty
one feet and about two feet de4D Living nea
Dy was a pile containing some cords of rough
wood. and pile Of rounded vafer-yvorr sroDsc
"eiSillilS should think from forty 10 eighty
POUNDS apiece. They We're perhaps Two hun
uitd IN number. and all of porous basalt
feature the Importance Of which will be seem
!aler- The wood was placed in the trench the
hie was lighted and the stones heaped on in
as ] was told. directly after / left or at about
J. O'Clock. '
At O'Clock Professor Langley went over
again and found the preparations very nearly
complete. The fire had been burning for
nearly four hours The outer stones touched
the ground only at the edges OF the pile
where they did not burn his hand. but as
they approached the centre the stones were
heaped up into a mound three four
LAYERS deem AT which DOinr the lowest Law