A FIJIAN LOURDES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 11

A FIJIAN LOURDES.

COME AND BE HEALED

WONDEBFUL WOMAN WOBKS

WONDEBS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SUVA, October 23

There have been many claims to healing among the native Fijians. To-day, in every village, there is a woman who can apparently cure many ailments with wonderful native herbs, and this a field ripe for surprises if investigated, but never in history has there been so much excitement among all races in the colony than at present. The cause of all this is a native Fijian woman, who lias been set up as a seer or faith healer. She is regarded with superstitious awe by all who have visited Lokia, the town where she is at present living. Every day hundreds of natives, Indians, and now even Europeans, who have any ill visit Lokia, and the reports of the wonderful cures effected are compelling attention. More than one case of blindness is, reported as cured, while many lame, halt, and people with other complaints assert that she has cured them. Daily people come into town, and seriously state what she has done. Lokia has in a night, so to speak, become a modern "Lourdes," for here can be seen a long procession going in, of sick people, and another procession later coming out, full of joy, and dancing in an ecstasy of feeling at relief achieved. So 'far no definite particulars are available except that she is curing the people, and that the cases are genuine ones of ailments. A European came into town yesterday fully persuaded that after investigation ho "felt that the claim to cure was genuine.