Firewalking In
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
W. New Guinea
THE highlight of native ceremonies held in former Netherlands New Guinea in April, 1960, to com memorate the opening of the Netherlands New Guinea Council was a firewalking dance performed for the first time in Hollandia (now Sukarnapura) by natives from Biak.
A great mound of stones, some 15 feet in diameter, were heated all day on a raging log fire tended by natives in a variety of ceremonial head-dresses. Towards evening as the white hot stones shimmered in the black ashes of the fire they were raked flat and the blackened wood embers dragged clear.
Heat from the mound drenched the crowded circle of spectators with perspiration as the first pair of firewalkers casually strolled barefooted across the white hot stones. See my photo at right.
This feat was repeated several times by other pairs of firewalkers the last of whom spread a thin screen of banana leaves as he went.
The ceremony ended with the arrival of more orthodox walkers carrying bags of yams and taro which they heaped on the banana leaves spread on the ready-made oven.
As the vegetables cooked and crackled on the stones, along with pigs that were later added, the firewalkers awaited the feast by strolling around the outskirts of the fire.
Their feet were obviously more fire-resistant than
the material they were about to eat.-