A MODEST TOHUNGA.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 821, 9 February 1903, Page 2

A MODEST TOHUNGA.

AND A TIMES REPORTER

During the past ft tv days the runanga house at Kaiti has been tne centre of attraction to tile Native fraternity, and thereaDouts has gathered the halt, the sick, uiaiued, and tiiose suffering from any sort of aiihction. The reason tor it ull is that to the picturesque Kaiti plain there has come a '* Wise man." a Tohunga, a l'aitn healer who claims to be possessed of tue power ci' healing the sick by the laying on of hands. No drugs or decoctions are used by him ; but in some wonderful way he acts udou the minds of the Natives and brings about what they must iff sire in regaid to health. He dues not profess to cure all diseases, and hesitates nut to tell a patient that a disease is incurubie. That he is possessed of an inexhaustible stock of animal magnetism is clear if only half of what the Natives credit him with is true. They declare that chronic ailments of long standing have been completely cured in many cases, while in others, though actual cures have not bceu made, great benefit has beeu derived from the treatment. An old lady, who for some time past had been a helpless cripple from rheumatism, is stated to have been able after treatment, to rise from her invalid chair and walk, while another remarkable case cited is one in which a former cripple, in order to show the completeness of the cure of his ailment, is said to have ruu several yards. One mau who by tho doctor was given six months only to live, five of which had expired, has received the consoling assurance, which he implicitly believes that while his disease is incurablo, he will have a considerable extension of the term of lite.

A remarkable fact about the Tohunga’s work is that he himself disclaims even the remotest personal power ; he advises his patients to put no trust in him whatever, but to repose their confidence in ft Superior Being. Gold and silver pieces, so much coveted by ordinary humanity, have no fascination lor him ; he renounces worldly pelf, and his ministrations are supposed to be free.

The great test of bis power, the natives state, is coming this week. lieta te Kani, the well-known native chief, who was an adopted child of To Kooti, was informed by Te Kooti on the latter’s death bed that he must not go up the Coast past Whangara, under pain of death. Up to the present Hot-a has not transgressed this injunction, but now under the guidance of the Tohunga, in whom he has much faith, he is about to moke the trip and defy the alleged prophet Te Kooti and all his spirits. If Heta dieth not, it will be claimed as ono more testimonial to the Tohunga’s power. If Heta should happen to die it will still carry great conviction to the native mind by proving that Te Kooti was the greater prophet. Who then can say a prophet hath not honor in his own country ? A Times representative was devising a plan to interview the Tohunga, but being so fortunate as to have no ailments, could not visit him on that score. Luck, however, favored the reporter, for the Tohunga is not above making use of modern timesaving contrivances, and had come into town to utilise the telephone on which to convey instructions to some of his disciples at Tokomaru, whonce he himself doth hail.

It was easy to obtain an introduction to the Tohunga, for the uativeß are very proud of him. His name is Wereta, which may have been taken from the title of the masterful Duke we read of in history, or it may not. He is short of stature, of plump proportions, and of benevolent appearance. He wears no mystic distinguishing garb, and if the reporter had not taken the precaution to enquire beforehand ho would not have discerned any difference between Wereta and the ordinary sporting native who will risk his earnings by backing his fancy on the “ tote ” this week. The Tohunga greeted the reporter most effusively, shaking him warmly by tho hand, as if ho were a distant relative whom ho had just met after a long absence. “ Have you any objection to talking to pakehas?” was the style of question whioh tho Times reporter began to ply through a kindly interpreter. “ Not at all,” cheerfully replied Mr Wereta, steadfastly gazing at the reporter, “ —as long as you don’t swear.” This restriction nearly unnerved the reporter, who being a mild mannered Colonial youth, felt hurt that even a Tohunga should think bo needed such a warning. “ I believe you came here to out© * l no sick ?”

“• Yes, that is my mission,” “ Have you been suoe»;. sful since you have been in Gisbovn^ “ That is no* for mo sayi >> replied Wereta, modestly. Have, you been treating many patients ?” “ Yes, nearly two hundred have passed through my hands, some of some I hope have received benefit.” “ Oh, yes,” interjected the interpreter, “ a great many profess to have been benefited.” “ Are you trying your hands on the white people ?” asked the reporter. “ I have treated one pakeha girl who was very bad.” “ Have you healed her complaint at all 2”

“ I cannot say,” modestly replied Wereta, “ she had been a long time ill.” Here the interpreter again interjected, supplying the information that he had heard from the Natives that the faith healer had done her a lot of good, but that she was not quite cured yet. By this time the reporter was warming up to the subject, feeling that it devolved on him to ask leading questions, tho Tohunga being too modest to disclose information not keenly sought after. Steadily he was brought to the point where it was thought safe to ask questions that might have been thought impertinent at tho outset, and have sealed the lips of Wereta. The crux of the questions was now ventured : “To what do you ascribe your powers ?” Ting-a-ling-ting-ting! went the telephone bell. Determined not to lose the golden opportunity, the reporter pressed the question, but ting-a-ling-ting-ting came the dreadful bell, and Tokomaru was again announced. As the telephone meant a cost of a shilling for every six .minutes’ use, it could not be expected that a man who received no fees himself would care to waste much valuable time. Whether or not it was a scheme of the Tohunga to get rid of a person asking such direct questions cannot be stated, but the reporter, having stayed long enough to hear Wereta launch into a long sermon or exhortation to Tokomaru, collapsed. Then the reporter felt that he understood the warning not to swear. The interview had ended!