MYSTERY OF FIRE-WALKING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 244, 12 September 1935, Page 8

MYSTERY OF FIRE-WALKING.

IMPRESSIONS IN FIJI. Tu the course of an interview on the experiences of the New Zealand Universities’ hockey team which recently visited Fiji, Mr K. N. Struthers, of Palmerston North, said that while the visitors had been at Suva there had passed through a number of doctors on tlieir way to the annual conference of the British Medical Association in Melbourne. A do monstration of fire-walking was arranged by the particular tribe which enjoys immunity from harm when walking on the hot stones, and several of the doctors made observations of those who engaged in the practice. Various tests were applied, said Mr Struthers, to see if the feet of the fire-walkers were normal. One test laid involved the use of a pin, but the reaction to that had been quite definite. Even though the feet of the natives were shod with a hard skin, consequent upon their not wearing boots or shoes, they appeared to be normal in every other way. A lighted cigarette end placed on the natives’ feet had been unnoticed. There had been no question of the stones on which the natives walked not being properly hot, as the fire was kept burning on them from about 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. on the same day as when the exhibition was given. Two doctors had taken off their shoos and socks to test the stones themselves, but found by bitter experiences that they were too hot for ordinary persons to touch. The chief of I, he" tribe had placed his hand on the doctors’ burned feet. One said that it had made no difference, but the other, although he did not want to admit it, said that his feet felt better. Although he had not personally taken the photograph, said Mr Struthers, lie had one showing that incident of the performance.