The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-07-30
ON WHlTE-H0T ROCK
A FIJTAN WALKS BAREFOOTED
AND PROCESSES SUPERNAT-
URAL POWERS.

Suva, the capital of the crown colony OF
FIJI. The coronation festivities there
lasted week-the Polynesian counts the
| Importance of celebration by the length
of time it lasts. Mingled with church
services and children's entertainments
boat racing and horse-racing, dinners by
his excellency the administrator, and. a
grand ball at the administrators official
| residence, was grand exhibition of the
ceremony of Vilavillairevo, or the Poly
nesan hre-walking.
This ceremony attracted chiefs ,nd
people from all parts OF Fiji L was
en- prominent place On the programme
OF the celebration. It took place near the
government house and was attended by
His Excellency the administrator, Mr.
Allardyce and nearly all the government
officials of the colouy, and most of the
leading white residents. It was perform
ed by an old native Fijian, known as Ku-
veni, much venerated for his supposed
supernatural powers even among the
proselytes of the Wesleyan church, the
leading religious denomination iE Fiji,
whose membership is numerous enough
to furnish choir of 500 voices in the vo-
cal parts of the coronation celebration.
The ceremony took place on the even
ing OF January rs. Careful preparation
had been made for it. On the grounds
near the government house deep trench.
or hole about 20 feet long, twelve feet
wide and eight feet deep was dug, and
early In the forenoon of the day of the
ceremony this was filled nearly full of
keawi wood, cut in cor!wood lengths.
This is the customary frewooL OF Fiji,
and burns with an intense heat Upon
this keawood We're piled an immense
quantity of lava rocks, varying in size
from that of a good-sized watermelon to
that Of a bushel basket.
The quantity of the rocks or stones was
so adjusted that waen the cord wood had
well burned down the rocks would fill
the pit nearly to the level of the sur
rounding ground. The cordwood was
lighted shortly before noon, so as to thor
oughly heat the stones by o'clock at
night, at which time the 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
thousands. Electrict lights were provid-
ed to make The ceremony clearly visible
to all.
By 9 O'Clock the mass of stones was at
white heat except few of those around
the edges of the pit. Kuveni, the fire.
walker, attended by native chiefs, ap-
the fiery pit clad in sort of
lawi-1awl, or short skirt, of white cotton
cloth. Over this he wore a somewhat |
longer skirt, made of the tt plant, strung
On girdle about his waist and hanging
loosely down. On his head he wore a
sor- of loose chaplet, also made OF ii
caves, the leaves hanging down over his
body and shoulders, covering them p,et-
y we'll. He wore no other garments.
His feet were entirely bare, and, though
he soles OF his feet were thick and hor-
aey, from having gone barefooted all his
ife, he used no preparation of any kind
IN them. In his hands he carried bun
lie OF ii leaves, looslly tied up into sort
If sheaf, the ends Of the leaves falling
reely out from the retaining cords at one
md. AS he approached the fiery pit men
With long pieces of wood stirred. the
tones till their white. almost molten,
were turned uppermost, and
rom the center of the pit glowed white
lot even in the electric light.
First reciting in loud monotone an
lncient Fiiian form of Incarnation, Ku-
,eni first struck the stones at the edge of
he pit with his bundle Of ii leaves, and
hen, advancing slowly, crossed through
he center Of the pit, raising and lower
ng and swinging his bunch OF ii leaves
rom one side OF him to another as he did
Uttering second incantation, he re-
rossed the hot rocks again, going right
trough the center of the pit where the
tones are the hottest. This he repeated
even times crossing and recrossing in
he same deliberate manner, repeating
lis incantations and swinging his bundle
# ii leaves,
When he had concluded his ceremony
he Fijians, in ecstacies OF anazement
md admiration, carried him bodily to
,he government house, showering him
With silver, seizing the ii leaves of his
oarapherna1ia as mementos and erchant-
ed relics, and praying him for blessings
On themselveaand relatives or curses on
his enemies.
An examination of Kuveni's feet at the
instance OF the administrator, according
to passengers from the steamship NIoana
which arrived here yesterday. and who
witnessed it, revealed no sign of burning
or any effect of the fire or hot stones what
ever. Flash1ight pictures taken..of the GER
etnony show the white light of the hot
H.. aI