“Vailala Madness”

Wave of Religious Fanaticism That Swept Papua in 1919

By Mollie Lett

REFERENCE in the October number of the Pacific Islands Monthly to an out break of religious fanaticism in New Guinea among the natives of Buka and Bougainville, recalls the extraordinary wave of fanaticism which swept through the Gulf of Papua in 1919, causing intense excitement among the natives of the dis trict and alarm to some Europeans.

At the time it was generally known as “Vailala Madness” or “Orokolo Kava Kava (madness)” and the symptoms were described in pidgin English as “head ’e go round” on account of the dizziness experi enced by the natives while in the trance, which was a feature of the excitement.

In some respects it will be seen that the two disturbances are similar as they pre sent features in common.

Towards the end of 1919 the idea spread, from some unknown source, among the natives of Arihavu, near Orokolo, in the Papuan Gulf, that their ancestors’ spirits were to return shortly as white men in a large vessel containing quantities of food.

On their arrival, it was believed, they would sweep the settlers into the bush and leave the natives undisturbed to enjoy not only the good things to come, but the fruits of the white men’s labour.

The idea was entertaining and it spread.

Great preparations were made for the visi tors’ reception—painted flagpoles and buildings of improved design and construc tion were erected in the village compounds.

Large tables, surrounded with seats, were set up and decorated with flowers in glass bottles.

The natives’ enthusiasm grew with their efforts and a constant “lookout” was kept for the expected vessel, all the chief men of the village wearing their best clothes in anticipation. The excitement spread like wildfire along the coast to the east and to the inland villages behind, and reached such proportions that it well earned its name of “madness.” As the fantastic ideas spread they were merged into half digested beliefs from the Bible. Some natives from the large village of Vailala, destroyed their ancestral charms, and induced others to do likewise. Carrying Bibles in their hands they asserted that Christ had come down and spoken to them, which had made their heads dizzy.

As weeks passed without any appearance of the vessel they became impatient and erected wireless masts, to get into com munication with God to find the cause of the delay, and daily they sent messages that all was in readiness. So fully con vinced were they in their beliefs that they were deaf to both ridicule and reason. It became an obsession; village routine was disturbed and all regular work ceased.

Trading remained at a standstill, all the village coconuts being stacked in high piles in the compounds.

But this bonfire of frenzy could not last long; it needed more fuel than the natives’ excited imagination could supply. After four or five months it had practically died down, though occasional sporadic outbursts occurred in isolated villages.

During the wave of excitement, the Magistrate of the division visited villages most seriously affected, and the worst cases were taken to the station at Kerema.

There they were put to work and fed until they returned to a normal state of mind.

In this manner some check was kept on the hysteria.

For a short period after the disturbance the “ancestors’ house,” with its tables and chairs, stood neglected in the village com pounds and caused a little embarrassment.

Any amused criticism as to their use was met with looks of cold disapproval. But the memory was short lived and soon the buildings and tables merged into the life of the village and became useful as dwell ings and firewood.

Twelve months later nothing remained to remind one of the fantastic affair.