The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07
MAGIC OF MAORI PRIESTS
STRANGE POWERS or WHICH
TOHUNGAS WERE MASTERS.

End Of TohOto, the Last TOhunga.
What in the past has been termed magic
presents itself now to the scientific mind
as an imperfect use of forces the full know
ledge Of which we ave yet to acquire.
The Maori priest Of old, or tohunga as
he was called, was master Of many powers
~hich can now be explained by hypnotism.
although his methods of pretending to
procure messages from the gods were
doubtless due to craft. Ve~ntriloquism
also was practised by the priests, particu-
larly whom communication was desired
with n deceased relative. There remains.
however. a mass Of evidence proving that
these men possessed powers which can
only be explained. says a correspondent
of the Pail Mall Gazette. by processes into
which we are only now beginning to have
any insight.
Many white men are familiar with some
of the outward forms Of the observances
of the Maori priest, but of the inner meaning
and origin of their ritual we know nothing.
In the teaching handed down to those
chosen among their direct descendants
under circumstances Of great secrecy the
pupil was put to several tests in order to
prove his proficiency.
First he had to take in his hand a hard.
smooth and round stone, and repeating
a kdrdkid. or incantation called a hod. to
shstter the stone into fragments, and that
only by the mental operation of willing, with
out any physical effort. To all the priests
operations the kdrdkid was a necessary
adjunct. IL supplied to the Polynesian
mind an outward sign connecting cause
and effect. The old time Maori believed.
indeed, that the kdrdkid. the form of words
used, wrought the desired effect; and the
efficacy of his incarnation depended on
the absolute fidelity with which the formula
was pronounced.
The action Of Christ in destroying the
barren fig tree presents an exact ~illustra-
ton of this destroying by the power of the
will which their word hod covers. The
latest guess of scientists. that every exist
ing object in the universe is composed of
one element and that the unit Of that ele-
ment is the electric con, leads one to the
gate of a field of speculation in which the
mind may wander far.
II the pupil was successful in the stone
test he was next made to try his powers on
some animate object. such as a flying bird.
the process being the same as before. Ac-
WI oihk w hC AhO . Nht II "ab INV
killed IL the pupil was proficient. Or he
might hoa a fleeing enemy and cause him
to be seized with all those agonies of re-
tsrdation which we are all familiar with
when sufl ering from nightmare.
Then came the final test. the pupil being
ordered to exercise the power Of willing to
death some near relative of his own in
order to show that in the exercise of his
--.- l. III - A a.. III
Of natural affection. This was the dread
makuku. and it is well known that if a
Maori believed he was thus bewitched he
was sure to die. Here we see the effect Of
hypnotism and suggestion conveyed by
telepathy. Sometimes a priest who con-
sidered himself deeply aiTronted has been
known to will to death a whole family for
the act of one individual, and all. even the
babe at the breast. nave wilted away.
The tohunga was even credited with the
power of influencing the dead. The present
writer was a witness of the following Incl
dent. A branch Of the Arawas. the tribe
OF the district of Rot6rua. being at war,
had suffered defeat. and one Of their braves
had been brought home dead. The van
pushed sought Mt once TO find out. by some
omen connected with the lead chief,
whether they would be successful in their
next encounter.
The tohunga was requested 10 procure
the desired onen. the people squatting in a
ring about the bier. Advancing n few
PAGES from the dead body, the priest began
to recite a powerful incantation. intent on
making the deceased give some sign, the
eyes of all present being fixed on the slain
warrior. Presently the corpse was OBJ
served to move slightly to one size, onwhich
a great cry Of joy rose from the people.
The movement was interpreted as n sign Of
future victory. This feat was often per-
formed by the tohunga Of olden times
Tohoto was the last OF the old tohungas.
The number of his years could hardly be
guessed at; he was almost a Methuselah Of
the Maori, his race. and, careless as to his
personal appearance, he wore his hair long.
/ visited him several times in the '7Os, but
90 extremely sacred was ms person held
that it was only after repeated delays that
/ was allowed to see him; indeed, he con-
sidered that white people were not fit to
associate with. as they had no system Of
tapu, nor did they regard things which were
tapu TO the Maori with any reverence. |
was deeply Interested in his manifestations,
partly for their ~strangeness and partly.
perhaps, because had myself assimilated
many of the Maori superstitions by the
mere force of pr%opinquity.
From the first he had resisted all effort
Of the missionaries to induce him to abandon
his ancient faith for Christianity. As he
still had "A large following who for his
sake refused to recognize Christianity, his
conversion was greatly desired. New Zea-
lands greatest Bishop laid siege to the old
heather At Makoia, that tree clad isle in
Lake Roturua. TO which the beautiful Hine-
moa swan. For hours the Bishop en-
deavored to win the priest over. But his
powers Of persuG sion great these
were is well known-for once failed utter
ly. Tohoto sat in moody silence. At
length he lifted his head. -Hearken
unto my wordsl" he said. IF you can do
this | will ACCEPT your Cod"
Then picking up The lead leaf of a cab
bage tree which had fluttered to the ground
he held il out loosely between his fingers
at arms length. His withered body was
naked TO the hi 3; the sun was high in the
heavens; no deception was possible. After
repeating an inca NATION he invited his
visitor 10 look. Lo, the leaf had become
green! The strong minded. highly edu-
Gated Englishman had no belief in either
Tohoto or his powers, yet by some mental