"Mekeo Madness"

Queer Religious Hysteria in Papua

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Oct. 3.

EVERY new and again an epidemic of “craziness” breaks out among natives in the Gulf Division of Papua. Some months ago, the ravings of a demented native school-girl precipitated a wave of religious hysteria in Mekeo District, which resulted in an attack being made upon Father Goitre, a Roman Catholic Mis sionary, at Inawaia village (see “PIM", March, 1941). Recently, there occured another such outbreak.

The second disturbance started when a young girl named Philo told the Inawaia people of a dream she had. Heaven, Philo declared, was the friend of Inawaia, and presently from Heaven would come a shower of all those things the natives hold dear money, calico, galvanised iron, tinned meats, motor lorries, etc.

The people of Inawaia were told they would have to co-operate, if the “down pour” was to come soon. They must build houses for the Heavenly messengers who were to accompany the gifts from the clouds; they must give up work and pray incessantly; and they must ignore the teachings of the Missions and Govern ment. If the villagers persisted in their old industrious ways, any man or woman who worked in the gardens would turn into a weed; fishermen would become fish; huntsmen would take the form of pigs; and boatmen would change to logs.

In spite of the disapproval of the local “sorcerers”, the people of Inawaia took up Philo’s idea with enthusiasm. “Wire less” masts were erected in the swamps and remote scrub, and young men were detailed to stand by them day and night awaiting fulfilment of the celestial promises.

Soon food became scarce and as hunger grew, the natives’ frenzy increased. The Government, however, had been keeping a watchful eye on events and Mr. W. H.H.

Thompson, ARM. who has had consid erable experience in these matters, promptly arrested Philo for “spreading lying reports”. She was taken to Kairuku, the Government station on Yule Island, tried, and sentenced to three months’ gaol. .

While Philo languished in gaol, the movement continued. One native en thusiast produced a shilling, which, he declared, had come down from Heaven.

This story was exploded by an envious “sorcerer” who. after examining the coin, pointed out that it bore the King’s head, not God’s.

Undeterred, the natives decided to make Philo’s return to Inawaia a triumphal procession. She was to ride a white horse, which would be supplied from the same source as the other expected gifts. By an odd coincidence, a white horse was missed from one of the neighbouring Mission stations and later was found inside the fence of a neglected garden.

The day of Philo’s return arrived; and. escorted bv a squad of the Royal Papuan Constabulary in charge of a patrol officer, the prophetess entered Inawaia.

There was only a mild demonstration. No feast materialised, for the simple reason that all work had been declared “tabu”— and no food had appeared from Heaven.

There the matter rests for the present.

But it is feared that there is a thin time coming for the indolent religious enthu siasts of Inawaia. Sister M. Franklin, well known in Papua, has taken up a position on the staff of the European hospital at Wau.

New Guinea.