The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-11-17

the fire is to be put after the cere'

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1.-The wooden bucket was provided.
together with iron rakes from the en-.
gineer's room. The firewood was
scarcely sufficient for good heating;
the stones in. the center and beneath
were, however, undoubtedly red hot
The outer Enclosure. surrounded by
canvas walls, was about 120 feet by
60 feet.
Walk on Hot Stones
1.-THE fire there, I am told. invari-
ably burned for four or five days be-
fore, and the stones became coated
with lime. I learn that on one oc-
casion, the French authorities having
forbidden the priest to perform in his
usual place, he made the oven Of
other stones, heating them for SO hours.
On attempting to cross, he walked
only part Of the way and ran the rest.
His two disciples and woman also
ran across, and the woman's feet were
30 badly burned that she was laid up
for q week. The prophet and his
disciples declined to have their feet
examined. and cleared out Of sight.
"When the priest came IN the stones
on the side Of the pile would bear to
be touched by the hand. =
1.-THE aids began to turn the stones
over with long green poles which burn
ed at the ends. The upper stones
were none Of them red hot on top;
the lower ones. two layers deep, how.
ever, could be seen to glow between
the others, but they were only near
red hot in the center.
"The old priest, Papa.lta, beat the
near stones with a large bunch Of II
leaves three times, and then began to
walk through the middle rather hur-
riedly. followed by two acolytes, who
appeared to shun the hot central ridge
and walked along the sides. Then he
walked back, followed by several; then
back once more with an increasing
crowd, most of whom avoided the
center. The horny-footed natives did
the rest. One white boy took of his
shoes, but could not stand the heat
upon his bare feet and stopped.
Exhibition Of Savage Magic.
AT this point li.e., after the second
passage forward and back) had the
hottest stone of the pile in the center.
on which the feet had certainly rested
several times, hauled out and placed
In the water bucket. The stone was
much larger than I had reckoned or
wished. A trifle Of the water was
spilled by the plunge, and the rest
boiled hard and continued to do SO
for about twelve minutes. At the
end of that time the stone was still
too hot to handle, and sent to the
ship for a sack to hold 1t, directing
the remaining water to be measured.
1t was a long stone; the lower part
had been immersed in the central fire,
and it was certainly much hotter than
the average center stones. During
this time other persons walked over
the stones without special preparation,
the disciples still lodging the hot CEN
trail part and following near the cooler,
part. = I asked Papa-Ita If he could
take upon his hand a small hot stone
near the center. He said he would,
but he did not. Next many white
persons walked over, stopping long
enough to lean over and lightly and
quickly touch the hottest stones with
their hands.
"After this the outer crowd was al
lowed to come inside the barrier. It
was a capital exhibition Of savage
magic and we'll worth seeing, but no
miracle"