Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-12-11
TRIP TO THE Orient
Clarence E. EdwOrds Touring the
Eastern Countries.
HE IS OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
INTERESTINGLY WRITTEN IN WEEK
LY LETTERS, WHICH WILL AP.
PEAR IN The RECORDER.

/ PEAh in ltCNOlDGR'
Papara, Tahiti, July 25:-I have
| Just been to visit one of the most
| remarkable men on the island, and
have been quite impressed. For
several days have heard wonder
full stories about a native doctor,
who cured all sorts of maladies
simply by saying they were non-ex-
istent. This sort of Christian Sci
ence among savages is not new to
me. for have seen much of the
same sort of thing among Indians
and other savage races. But in all
my previous experience | found a
great deal of charlatanism done for
effect. On our way to Papara we
passed a grove of cocoanut trees,
surrounded by stone wall, and In
the midst of the grove was a little
bamboo and cocoanut leaf hut. AL
exander pointed it out to me with
great reverence and told me it was
the home of wonderful native doc
tor who performed marvellous cures.
| thought visit to the doctor
would be interesting, and asked II
he would receive visitors. The re-
ply was that he declined to see
white people, but when suggesed
that he might receive me as |, too,
am a physician, | was accorded the
honor of being received. Instead
of a tricky native living off the cred
uality of the people, | was surpris-
ed to find man with all the ap-
pearance of a benevolent student.
He had most kind face, while his
surroundings of the poorest | learn
ed that he never charged for his
work. All he asked was sufficient
food to keep him in existence.
! Our conversation was carried on
through the medium of Alexander's
interpretations, consequently was
not entirely satisfactory. The
i doctor would not talk of his heal
ing power, except to say that it
was a gift that had been transmit
] ted down from generation to gener-
alton in his family. He said he
did not know how he got his power,
all he knew was that when person
started from home to visit him he
! Immediately felt it and knew what
was the matter. He put his mind
, on the person and by the time he
arrived the disease was we'll.
: There was not an air of bragado-
clio in his manner when he told this,
and | was fortunate enough to see
an example of his power. While
we were talking man came to the
ttent. The doctor stood up and
: without the visitor saying a WORD
he was told to go home, and while
! on his way to pick up two round
rocks he would find on the road
and carry them to his house and
put them in his bed In the morn.
: ing he would be well.
/ asked Alexander to find for MT
{ the result of this sort of medication
and he reported to me this morn
ing that the man was well. | an
not prepared to say what [ thinl
of this doctor, just yet, but hav'
learned that he is the brother of
very wealthy man, an attorne..
g living in Papeete, and this wealth,
!. brother is much chagrined to thin
> that the doctor lives as he does
He has offered to build him fin
h house and give him good clothing
It but the doctor refused all and pre-
q fers his hut and his pa reu, sayln
that he has mission to perform
. | find that there are several c
V these native doctors on the island
g but this one is acknowledged to b
e the greatest of them all. One c
! the peculiarities of their practice !
$ that they use certain leaves for spt
o cifc maladies, and they have rea