It Was Too

Hot For This

Firewalker

There’s a firmly held belief among Fijians that if members of the Sawau tribe of Beqa Island firewalkers invite an outsider to join them on the hot stones, he will not be burnt. The proviso is that he follows certain rules of abstinence for two weeks before the ceremony.

Unfortunately for tall, good-looking Fijian, Taito Rarasea, 28, something went wrong when he tried it at Korolevu in April.

As instructed by the bete (priest) of the firewalkers, Taito did not eat coconut in any form or have sexual intercourse for the preceding fort night.

Suddenly felt heat

Yet when he entered the pit with the others and stood on the white-hot stones, he felt a “slippery” sensation on the heels of his feet.

“Just before completing the first circuit, I suddenly felt the heat,” said Taito, who is a member of the Fiji Visitors Bureau staff at Nadi Airport.

“It came from the edge of the

pit. It wasn’t painful heat, but heat that one would feel if one was not taking part in the firewalking and was standing near the pit.

“I didn’t take part in the second and last circuit because I had felt the heat.

“We left for Beqa on Saturday, when I noticed that I had blisters on the soles and also on the sides of my feet.”

Couldn't walk

Three “seasoned” walkers, Taito said, were also blistered during the performance.

Taito couldn’t walk after the fire walkers removed the skin from some of the blisters and he had to have medical treatment on the island. After four days of celebration, during which the firewalking spirits are sup posed to return to their abode, Taito went to Suva.

He said he was unable to walk until he shaved off the beard he’d begun growing during his preparation for the firewalking ceremony.

“It may be superstition, but if I hadn’t shaved off my beard, I would still be crawling around.”

According to Fijian legend only members of the Sawau tribe—and those they specially invite—are able to walk with impunity on the hot stones.

Taito Rarasea displays his sore feet.

A laughing Taito Rarasea shows off his blisters. A little later he wasn't laughing.