The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-01-25

TNAPA TIA again walked over hot
- stones yesterday without cover
ing to his feet a feat which up
to the present has not been ac-
compllshed locally by any other person,
Notwithstanding much talk as to the
possibility of such a thing.
His performance yesterday was di-
versitied by the rivalry of ambi-
tious others and ended in small
sized riot and two arrests Mounted
Patrolman Maitland acted very foolish
ly and proved himself a disgrace to the
police force. Other policemen, and
particularly officers Hart and Trieste,
showed their disregard for the rights
of citizens and with Maitland deserve
to be expelled from the service.
Early yesterday morning the fire was
lighted and fed during the day with ten
cords of wood. The pit which since
the last performance had been mar
rowed four feet, was filed with more
than ten tons of lava rock.
Although seats for the matinee per-
Torrance could be secured for Il dollar,
children half price, the crowd was
small one, numbering about two hun
bred and fifty, of which the greater
part were women.
Half an hour before Papa tia put in
an appearance ripping waves of heat
danced over the pit and carried first
here and then there, as the wind shift
ed brought sense of inconvenience
to the assembled spectators.
Presently half dozen natives APP
peared on the scene armed with long
wooden poles. with which they turned
over the topmost layer of rocks. There
could be no doubt that the heat In the
furnace was intense, for at times the
wooden poles smoked from contact with
the heated boulders.
Three minutes after the rock-turning
had been completed, Papa tia arrived
clad in a red and white petticoat and
wearing around his shoulders q thin
white cloth cape. In his hand he car
ried a bundle Of II leaves with stalks
interwined with the fire walker en-
tered Corporal Murray of the Sixth Ar
tillerv, wearing no shoes and with feet
encased in pair of brown wooden
socks, of the sort known as Govern
mcnt."
The proceedings commenced by one
of the managers mounting n chair aud
announcing that the soldier was desir
''hS Va il'NSblitN 4 ''l''i i''' VIZ us - it''
barefooted, and would be given Il
chance to do so. Then the soldier ad-
dressed the crowd and said that what
he had said was that he would follow
directly after Papa tia II allowed to
wear pair OF Government socks
At this the crowd ieered loudly and
Murrev tried to speak again but was
hustled out of the enclosure by the
,t-hn lrpNN
kick at his retreatinE anatomy. The
soldier resented this and demanded
Manager Lewis arrest at the hands of
officer Maitland, who was standing
near. The request evidently did not
please the patrolman. for he hit Murray
above the short ribs and Murray dis
appeared for while from the public
gaze.
Papa tia is now ready to walk
through the fiery furnace" announced
Manager Lewis, and at this the ancient
Lewa-Lewa man came mp smiling.
His first proceeding was TO pedes-
trlanate n time or so round the pit,
uttering the while strange nominations.
Then he stood still for moment and
looked daggers at the ground at his
.t This evidently did not satisfy the
man, for uplifting his bunch of
s., tation, he dealt Mother Earth a
80 bio of sockdolagers which fairly
ma the dirt fly. After which NJ
STEP lightly on the nearest stone
and uhed across the geological
chunk with grace and expedition.
Thar 1e turned round and making
every stone winning one, finished
strongly
'ThIHe cheers for Papa ltal" yelled
an enthusiastic native admlrer, and he
of the callOused "tootsles" modestly
withdrew 10 the pink lemonade stand
An interval ~ fifteen minutes follow
cd, during which certain adventurous
spirits entertained the crowd by see
inr who could hold his finger the
lone 81 on the stones nearest the edge,
~ ally Papa entered the arena again
and lpllcated his performance, This