Melanesian Mission.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 10

Melanesian Mission.

MOTAIvAVA. (By Bishop Wilson.) A queer case of dealing with spirits catne to light whilst we were m Motalava. A " koli " feast had been arranged, and as I had not yet asked the people m the different villages to make an end of such things, 1 was obliged to allow them to attend it. Simon, the chief of Pun, was giving the, feast, and Iviicy, his wife, was a " nembit," a person, that is, who mysteriously receives money from spirits. The natives say that many years ago a spirit came here from Mac wo, and was taken m jby a man on the weather side of the island, by whom she had many spirit children. The woman a»d her children now lived near Pun, and befriended Simon and Lucy, from time to time entering the latter and speaking with four or five different voices out of her. In (return for gifts of their favourite food, red yams (which Ivucy ate), she received shell money for. them, her teeth gritted on money as she ate, the cocoanuts she drank were found to be full of money, if she nibbed her hands or combed her hair it fell from them m all directions. Four years ago I saw I^ucy:

produce money m this way, and at the time thought it very clever conjuring. The people held that it came irom the spirits, bimon certainly thought the same, and irom the day I witnessed the money come he refrained Irom all dealings with the spirits, who he believed had given it. But now the " koli " ieast had to be made, and on a very large scale. Native money to a ruinous amount had to be disr tributed to the singers, dancers, and people who attended. As the day of the feast approached, the voices from lyiicy became more and more insistent, begging for red food. " Why will you not feed us ? We are kind to you. We give you money for your Church offerings, and we want to be baptised." At last Simon gave way, and fed them. The next morning a pile of money was found outside Simon's back door, and at the feast it was distributed, and Iyucy danced like one beside herself. How it was done I cannot say. But the people, without exception, believed that it was the spirits who gave it, as a return for the sacrifice. Simon himself was frightened, and very penitent, vowing that lie would have nothing more to do with them?, and expecting a death like that of Anania* and Saphira if he did. The Bishop of Melanesia has appointed Archdeacon Neild to be General Secretary of the Mission for New Zealand/ The Archdeacon will open an office m Auckland on July Ist, and all communications should be sent to him there.