The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

declares a firm belief that better times are in st
tongues, both circumstances contributing
to the effect upon the excited bystanders.
HEAT OF THE STONES.
1.-The upper stones, / repeat, even where
the topmost were presently removed did
not show any glow to the eye, but were
unquestionably very hot and certainly
looked unsafe TO naked feet Native feet,
however. are not like European ones. and
Mr.. Richardson, the chief engineer of the
ship, mentioned that he himself had seen
elsewhere natives standing unconcerned
with naked feet on the cover of pipes con-
veying steam at about 800 Fahrenheit,
where no European foot could even lightly
rest for a minute. The stones then were
hot. The crucial question was, how hot
was the upper part of this upper layer on
which the feet were to rest instant in
passing? l could think of no ready Their
Inometric method that could give abso-
lutely trustworthy answer, but could pos
sibly determine on the spot the thermal
equivalent of one of the hottest stones trod-
den on. q was subsequently shown that
the stone might be much cooler at one
part than another) Most obviously this
was not easy thing to do in the circum-
stances, but 1 decided to try to get at least
a trustworthy approximation. By the aid
of Chief Engineer Richardson, who attend
ed with a stoker and one Of the quarter
masters, kindly detailed at my request by
the ships master. Captain Lawless, l pre-
pared for the rough but conclusive expert
ment presently described
1T was now nearly forty minutes after
O'Clock, when six acolytes (natives) wear
| ing crowns of flowers, wreathed with gar
| lands and bearing poles nearly fifteen feet
| long, ostensibly to be used as levers in
| topping over the upper stones, appeared.
| They were supposed to need such long
| poles because of the distance at which they
must stand on account of the heat radiated
| from the pile, but had walked close be-
| side it a moment before. and satisfied my
| self that I could have manipulated the
stones with a lever of one-third the length.
| with some discomfort, but with entire
safety. Some of the uppermost stones only
were turned over, leaving a superior layer,
the long poles being needlessly thrust down
between the stones to the bottom, where
| two of them caught fire at their extremi-
ties, adding very much to the impression
1
hot, when, in fact, they were not, at least
to the eye. These long poles and the way
they were handled were. then. a part OF
the ingenious staging of the whole spec
tacle.
Now the most impressive part Of the
ceremony began. Papa-Ita, tall. dignified
| fiower-crowned and dressed with garlands
| of flowers, appeared with naked feet and
with a huge bush of til leaves in his
hands, and, after going partly around the
fire each way uttering what seemed to be
commands to it, went back. and beating the
stones nearest him three times with the
! I'll leaves advanced steadily, but with
| obviously hurried step, directly over the
central ridge of the pile. Two disciples
| similarly dressed, followed him, but they
had not the courage to do so directly over
the heated center. They followed about
| half way between the center and the edge
| where the stones were manifstly cooler
| since / had satisfied myself that they
could be touched lightly with the hand
| Papa-Ita then turned and led the way
| hack. this time with deliberate confidence
| followed on his return by several new dis
ciples. most of them not keeping exactly
in the steps of the leader. but obviously
| seeking cooler places. A third and fourth
time Papa-Ita crossed with a larger fol
lowing. after which many European:
walked over the stones without reference
| m the priests instructions The native:
were mostly in their bare feet One wore
stockings. No European attempted to wall
in hare feet, except in one case. that of Z
bow. who, was told. found the stones TOT
hot and Immediately stepped back.
..Tbe mise en- scene was certainly note
worthy. The site near the great ocean
braakinr on the barrier reefs. the excited
crowd talking about the 'red-hot' stones
the actual sight of the hierophant and nj
| acolvtes making the passage along th'
ridge where the occasional tongues o.
eame were seen at the center. with all th'
attendant circumstances made up scene
IN NO way lacking IN interest. Still. th'
essential question as TO the actual heat o.
these stones had not yet been answered
| and after the fourth passage 1 secured
Papa-Ita's permission to remove from tn
middle OF the pile one stone, which from
its size and position. every foot had restet
unon I'm crossing, and which was undoubt
ediy at least as hot as any one OF thos'