IS FEMALE MAORI TOHUNGA DEAD?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 5

IS FEMALE MAORI TOHUNGA DEAD?

STRANGE CASE OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION. (Special to the “Star.”) WANGANUI, November 23. A strange instance of what might be termed suspended animation is reported from Kaiwhaiki Pa, near Wanganui. An aged Maori woman died there on Monday, or is supposed tp have died. All preparations were made in connection with the tangi. The body, which was quite cold, was laid on a bed and covered with mats, in accordance with the native custom. > During the . course of the tangi, it was noticed that there was very- slight evidence of life in occasional spasms of breathing and, strange to say, while the body is in a complete state of rigor mortis, the face is warm. For thirtysix hours these conditions liave continued. Naturally the residents of the pa are greatly perturbed, more particularly when cognisance is taken that the woman was something in the nature of a tohunga during the course of her life. With occasional pauses, the tangi proceeds, and close by stands the coffin procured for the burial of the woman.