Year: 1859

SuporattdtomH OF tno hhoWnlAnuns


The Honolulu Commercial Advertiser
furnishes the following account Of certain
supers.itions prevalent on the Sandwich
Islands, which in some respects, resemble
the belief Of the spiritualists Of this country.


It is perhaps not generally known among
foreigners that there has long existed be-
lief among the Hawaiian race, very similar
in its purport to that Of the spiritualists'
doctrine among the whites; and many sto-
ries are told of the curious freaks and start
ling manifestations of the invisible deni-
zens of another world. Indeed, it would
seem that the more ignorant people are, the
more susceptible they are TO these spiritual
ist or ghost delusious. The most recent
case which has come to our notice is that
Of haunted house, in Waimea, Hawaii, in
which il is said nobody could remain any
considerable length of time without becom-
ing crazy. The people who formerly lived
in the house became insane, their successors
followed their example, aud great num-
Der of natives who visited them were seized
with the same complaint. All lost their
right senses-some for brief period only,
some for n longer time, and several, perhaps
for life. During the crazy gatherings there,
sticks and stoncs and articles of clothing,
would be tossed, so goes the story, all about
the room, by unseen hands; and in some
cases with sufficient violence to bruise and
injure those present. The house finally be-
came the terror Of the neighborhood, and
no one dared approach it after dark. At
length two courageous men, who had ridi-
culed the idea of a supernatural agency, re-
solved to pass night in it., and prove the
fallacy of the popular belief Before mid
night, both were ravng maniacs; and one
of them ran away into the woods, where
he was found naked and almost dead from
hunger and exposure, a day or two after
wards. Since that time up to within three
months since, the house had not been used,
and no person could be persuaded to sleep
in it. These circumstances were related to
us as facts by a credible authority Wal
mea gentleman, who believed them to be
true, though he did not presume to ox-
plain them. He was quite confident, how
ever, that akokOlehao nor potato beer had
any connection with the phenomena.


Another story is told about a native on
one of the windward islands, who in Wis
ion saw an army of dead men marching
past him with war clubs and drums, and
with kahilfs waving triumpbantly over their
heads One of the men upon seeing the
native, stepped forth from the ranks and
struck him on the forehead with his war
club, telling him to the earth. When he
recovered, the army had passed away and
there only remained dull pain in his head
as n nemento of what had occurred, and as
an indication of his approaching DEATH
The poor man really began to pine away,
and doubtless would have survived but
few weeks, had not his hopes been raised
by the counsel of native doctor or priest.
'You must 60" said the priest "to Honlulu.
/ Upon your arrival hasten at once to GER
tain place near the big stone church and
seek the man who struck you. When you
have found him you must get his permis-
sion for YOU to return the blow. If he is
willing, there will be no further difficulty.
You will recover at once. If be is not viii
! ling you will die" The poor man went to
Honolulu found the man whose ghost he
had seen in his dream, gave him a gentle
retaliatory tap between his eyes, and re-
turned home, happy in the belief that he
had conquered fate.


Phenomena somewhat similar to table
moving and spirit rapping, are said to occur
occasionally among the natives. Mdiums
exist as they are said to exist among the
spiritual communities of Europe and Amer
ica And here in Hawaii they play the
same silly tricks, and make fools of people,
Just as much, perhaps a little more than they
do in other lands.