DREAM CAUSES RIOT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 9

DREAM CAUSES RIOT

FRENZIED NATIVES ATTACK UPON A PRIEST SYDNEY, Feb. 22. The dream of a half-witted native girl of Inawai village, near Fort Moresby, caused mass religious hysteria among the natives, who attacked the near by Roman Catholic mission and nearly killed Father Caltre. Inawai village is in the Mekeo district, 30 miles from Yule Island. The girl announced that she had dreamed that God would send guns, tanks, lorries and aeroplanes to Inawai, and that He was displeased with their past wickedness. Immediately the frightened natives erected altars, decorated with paradise plumes, to appease His wrath. They prayed as they had been taught by the mission, but as their frenzy mounted they turned to their own cods. Wild dancing began and collections for propitiatory offerings were taken up. Disorder grew and they attacked the mission. The mission sisters took refuge in the church with their pupils. The maddened natives seized a conch shell containing holy water and hit Father Coltre on the head. News of the outbreak was sent to Yule Island and the resident magistrate, Mr. W. H. Thompson, arrived by lorry with armed police. The vil-lagei-s thought that the lorry was the answer to their prayers and greeted Mr. Thompson with loud applause. When they realised their mistake they took to the bush. Mr. Thompson demolished the altars and arrested the principal men concerned.