Draunikau In
p. 31 · Read in the full issue
Parliament
Magic, black and white, de moniacal possession and all the other manifestations of the netherworld are scoffed at in most countries today, though there’s a resurgence of the practice of the Black Arts in Britain and a few other places by people searching for “ kicks”, but in Fiji belief in the occult, and especially in draunikau, is very real.
There are laws banning all occult practices, real or faked.
When these laws were tightened around the mid-19605, Fiji’s Legislative Council held a full debate on witchcraft. During the debate, one member, Mr R. H.
Yarrow of the Vatukoula gold mines, electrified the House with several illustrations of the work ing of draunikau around north west Viti Levu, where it was, and still is, active. He quoted several instances of the deaths of victims of draunikau, offered evidence and was deadly serious about the whole thing.