On the top was a quantity of straw and kindling wood, which was lighted, and soon burst into a roaring blaze.The charcoal became more and more thoroughly ignited until the whole mass glowed in the uncertain gloom, like some gigantic and demoniacal eye of a modern Prometheus.As soon as the mass of charcoal was thoroughly ignited from top to bottom, a small gong in the temple gave notice that the wonderful spectacle of `Hi-Wattarai' was about to begin.
``Soon two of the priests came out, said prayers of almost interminable length at a tiny shrine in the corner of the enclosure, and turned their attention to the fire.Taking long poles and fans from the coolies, they poked and encouraged the blaze till it could plainly be seen that the coal was ignited throughout.
The whole bed was a glowing mass, and the heat which rose from it was so intense that we found it uncomfortable to sit fifteen feet away from it without screening our faces with fans.Then they began to pound it down more solidly along the middle; as far as possible inequalities in its surface were beaten down, and the coals which protruded were brushed aside.''
There follows a long and detailed description of further ceremonies, the receiving of gifts, etc., which need not be repeated here.
Now for the trick itself.
``One of the priests held a pile of white powder on a small wooden stand.This was said to be salt--which in Japan is credited with great cleansing properties--but as far as could be ascertained by superficial examination it was a mixture of alum and salt.He stood at one end of the fire-bed and poised the wooden tray over his head, and then sprinkled a handful of it on the ground before the glowing bed of coals.At the same time another priest who stood by him chanted a weird recitative of invocation and struck sparks from flint and steel which he held in his hands.This same process was repeated by both the priests at the other end, at the two sides, and at the corners.
``Ten minutes, more or less, was spent in various movements and incantations about the bed of coals.At the end of that time two small pieces of wet matting were brought out and placed at either end and a quantity of the white mixture was placed upon them.At a signal from the head priest, who acted as master of ceremonies during the curious succeeding function, the ascetics who were to perform the first exhibition of fire-walking gathered at one end of the bed of coals, which by this time was a fierce and glowing furnace.
``Having raised both his hands and prostrated himself to render thanks to the god who had taken out the `soul' of the fire, the priest about to undergo the ordeal stood upon the wet matting, wiped his feet lightly in the white mixture, and while we held our breaths, and our eyes almost leaped from their sockets in awe-struck astonishment, he walked over the glowing mass as unconcernedly as if treading on a carpet in a drawing-room, his feet coming in contact with the white hot coals at every step.He did not hurry or take long steps, but sauntered along with almost incredible sang-froid, and before he reached the opposite side he turned around and sauntered as carelessly back to the mat from which he had started.''
The story goes on to tell how the performance was repeated by the other priests, and then by many of the native audience; but none of the Europeans tried it, although invited to do so.Mr.Reid's closing statement is that ``no solution of the mystery can be gleaned, even from high scientific authorities who have witnessed and closely studied the physical features of these remarkable Shinto fire-walking rites.'' Many who are confronted with something that they cannot explain take refuge in the claim that it puzzles the scientists too.As a matter of fact, at the time Mr.Reid wrote, such scientists as had given the subject serious study were pretty well posted on the methods involved.
An article under the title The Fiery Ordeal of Fiji, by Maurice Delcasse, appeared in the Wide World Magazine for May, 1898.From Mr.Delcasse's account it appears that the Fijian ordeal is practically the same as that of the Japanese, as described by Mr.Reid, except that there is very little ceremony surrounding it.The people of Fiji until a comparatively recent date were cannibals; but their islands are now British possessions, most of the natives are Christians, and most of their ancient customs have become obsolete, from which I deduce that the fire-walking rites described in this article must have been performed by natives who had retained their old religious beliefs.
The ordeal takes place on the Island of Benga, which is near Suva, the capital of Fiji, and which, Mr.Delcasse says, ``was the supposed residence of some of the old gods of Fiji, and was, therefore, considered a sacred land.''
Instead of walking on the live coals, as the Japanese priests do, the Fijians walk on stones that have been brought to a white heat in a great fire of logs.
The familiar claim is made that the performance puzzles scientists, and that no satisfactory solution has yet been discovered.We are about to see that for two or three hundred years the same claims have been made by a long line of more or less clever public performers in Europe and America.
