The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-27
MASAHIKr souL-SNARERs.
How the South Pacific Islanders Got
Even with Their Enemies.
From tho Pail M1u Gdsdfts.

From tho Pail MGu Gdsdfts.
A little while ago. while turning over some
mementos Of many years spent In the Paclnc
Islands, came across a small circle OF nne
cane about two inches In diameter: from tne
sides toward the centre delicate network
Of the fibres Of some plant was constructed'
leaving a small hole in the centre large
enough for, say, bee to crawl through
The article weighed less than quarter OF
ounce, yet small and and harmless as IL ap-
peared. ii ia not so very many years ago tnat
1t and others like 1t were objects OF oeadly
terror to the natives of many OF the racine
Islands, particularly those OF Manahlki tHun-
phrey island. for the simple-looking thing
was a soul catcher is, destroyer
of human life.
Manahiki is one OF a group Of low-lyinS
atoll Islands to the north northwest OF samoa.
and its people to-day are about the best
educated of all the Malay o-Polyneslan peo-
pie. They elect king and Parliament, have
one OF the most beautifully adorned churches
in the Pacific islands and nearly all the younger
members of the community can now not Only
speak. but read and write English. The
island is-for an atoll-unusuaily fertile,
aud the people fine stalwart handsome
copper-colored race. The main industries
are the making Of "copra" dried coooanutj
and diving for pearl shell.
to 1851 could he and was practised by any
one VINO desired revenSe or The NE OF an
enemy. Indeed, although the people we're
nomiually Christians In 1879 it was still In
vogue Ihe mOdus operdhdi - very sltnple'
Say That two men. Rika and Fetoro. quarrel.
ttka accuses letorO Of going out INTO the
lagoon at night time. lifting his lkika 81
fish traps. and aUstractmg the contents lie
therefore demands compensation: Ietoro
denies the theft The relatives OF both men
take sides. and the quarrel assumes all the
elements Of a fsud. with blOOdshed II may
be that Tetoro is man OF means. or chiefly
rank and influence. and treats his accuser
Very WE'LL" the injured Rika cries. III
cannot get justice from You. I shall snare
your your soul and you will dio OF wasting sick
letoro. even II he is innocent begins to
denying the theft. oilers kika present Of q
TO ed he no at Hy ther elsSs
demands. but for the pig as we'll, Possibly
free aght ensues, and Rka's people get
badly used. and threats OF soul sharing"
Then kika's lie makes the snare for Tetoro's
soul Taxing her mat out Into the village
square. or upon a, well-freauented road or
path, she suspends the snare from the branches
oftrees. or sticks placed in the ground In such
position that she can closely watch the
oorifice in the centre of the square. Rika's
lrends male and female--come with her
They bring food and eat II and throw frag-
menrs Immediately under the snare to attract
the flies with which the island Ia infested.
IL but one fly crawls through the hole Tetoro
Is dead man. unless he suddenly gives in
and allows himself to be bled For not only
do Rtka's people watch the snare. but, his
own rs well. No one OF them would dare
attempt to destroy the snare--the death Of
the irterferer by occult power would certainly
follow.
And 80 for hours and hours-so sometimes
for days-many pairs OF eyes watch the little
circle Of cane. and Tetoro and his friends
are now ready TO yield but feel that still more
eytortionate demands may be made. Then
at last fly IL seen to crawl through. and
shout goes through the village.
"Ua hopo te lago! Ia hopo te laRoi" "A
ny has passed through Tetoro hears the
cries. and Immediately imaRines he feels i'll.
His wife and relatives crowd about him andtr
TO cheer him up, but his face assumes melan-
choly look. and az the time passes on he re-
fuses his food, Perhaps he may confess that
he did steal Rika fsh and trenblingly offer
to make full restitution II Rika will catch
a fly and make 1t go through the circle from
the reverse side through which the first one
entered voluntarily. Usually this Is done.
and what might have become q lasting family
feud had Tetoro died OF funk. through being
bewitched. ends up by the payment OF so
much property to Rlka. and feast for which
both parties provide the viands.