The sea coast echo., 1902-11-15
WALKS HOT ROCK BAREFOOT
FEAT OF FlJlAN WHO PROCESSES
SUPERNATURAL POWERS.

In connection with the coronation of
Edward VII. probably. than in Suva,
the capital Of the crown colony of
Fill. The coronation festivities there
lasted week-the Polynesian counts
the Importance of a celebration by
the length Of time 1t lasts. Mingled
with church services and children's g
entertainments. boat racing and horse
racing, dinners by His Excellency
the Administrator. and grand ball
at the Administrators official resi-
dence, was grand exhibition of the
ceremony OF Vilavlllairevo, or the
Pblyneslan flre-walking.
This ceremony attracted chiefs and
people from all parts OF Fill. It was
given prominent place on the pro-
gram OF the celebration. It took
place near the Government JIouse and
was attended by His Excellency the
Administrator. Mr.. Allardyce and
nearly all the Government officials OF
the colony and most OF the leading
white residents. II was performed
by an old native Fijlan. known as
kuyeni, much venerated for his sup
posed supernatural powers even
among the proselytes of the Wesleyan
Church, the leading religious denomi.
nation in Fiji, whose membership is
numerous enough to furnish O choir
OF 800 voices in the vocal parts OF
the coronation celebration.
The ceremony took place on the
evening Of June rs. Careful prepara-
tion had been made for II. On the
grounds near the Government House
deep trench or hole about twenty
feet long, twelve feet wide and eight
feet deep was dug. and early in the
forenoon OF the day OF the ceremony
this was filed nearly full of keawl
wood, cut In cordwood lengths. This
Is the customary firowood of Fiji, and
burns with an intense heat. Upon
this keawl wood were piled an i'm.
mense quantity of lava rocks, vary
ing in size from that OF good.slzed
watermelon to that of bushel bas-
ket.
The quantity of the rocks or stones
was SO adjusted that when the cord.
wood had well burned down the rocks
would fill the pit nearly to the level
OF the surrounding ground. The
cordwood was lighted shortly before
noon, SO as to thoroughly heat the
stones by o'clock at night, at which
time tho ceremony was to take place.
Around this pit on all four sides
at distance from its edge of about
twelve feet were arranged seats for
the spectators, of whom there were
several thousand. Electric lights
were provided to make the ceremony
clearly visible to all.
BY 0 o'clock the mass of stones
was at a white heat, except few of
those around the edges of the pit.
Kuveni, the flrewalker, attended by
native chiefs, approached the fiery
pit clad in sort of lawi-lawi, or short
skirt of white cotton cloth. Over
this he wore a somewhat longer skirt,
made of the Il plant, strung on CIR
die about his waist and hanging loose
ly down. On his head he wore a
sort of loose chaplet, also made OF d
leaves. the leaves hanging down over
his body and shoulders, covering them
pretty well. He wore no other gar
ments. His feet were entirely bare.
and. though the soles of his feet were
thick and horny, from having gone
barefooted all his life, he used no
preparation OF any kind on them. In
his hands he carried bundle of Il
leaves loosely tied up into O sort Of
sheaf, the ends of the leaves falling
freely out from the retaining cords at
one end. AS he approached the fiery
pit men with long pieces of wood
stirred the stones till their white. al
most molten, undersides were turn
ed uppormost, and from the center
of the pit glowed white hot even In
the electric light.
First reciting In a loud monotone
an ancient Fijian form of incarnation,
Kuveni first struck the stones at the
edge of the pit with his bundle OF u
leaves, and then, advancing slowly,
crossed through the centre of the pit,
raising and lowering and swinging his
bunch of ii leaves from one side OF
him TO another as he did so.
Uttering a second incarnation, he
recrossed the hot rocks again, going
right through the centre of the pit
where the stones were the hottest.
This he repeated seven times cross
ing and reerossing In the same delib-
crate manner. repeating his incanta-
tions and swinging his bundle OF u
leaves.
When he had concluded his cere.
mony the Fiiians. in estasies of
amazement and admiration, carried
him bodily to the Government House,
showering him with silver, selling
the ii leaves of his paraphernalia as
mementos and enchanted relics. and
praying him for blessing on them
selves and relatives or curses on his
enemies.
An examination of Kuveni's feet at
the instance of the Administrator.
according to passengers from the
steamship Moana, which arrived here
yesterday, and who witnessed 1t, re-
vealed no sign of burning or any ef-
feet OF the fire or hot stones what
ever. Flashllght pictures taken OF
the ceremony show the white light OF
the hot stones where his feet touched
them In crossing the fiery pit.
The effect produced on the natives
is described as something almost be-
yond exaggeration. and even on the
whites who witnessed It deep i'm
preston of its marvellousness was
made.