the claim that it puzzles the scientists too. As
a matter of fact, at the time Mr. Reid wrote,
such scientists as had given the subject serious
study were pretty well posted on the methods
involved.

An article under the title The Fiery Ordeal
of Fiji, by Maurice Delcasse, appeared in the
Wide World Magazine for May, 1898. From
Mr. Delcasse's account it appears that the
Fijian ordeal is practically the same as that
of the Japanese, as described by Mr. Reid,
except that there is very little ceremony
surrounding it. The people of Fiji until a
comparatively recent date were cannibals; but
their islands are now British possessions, most
of the natives are Christians, and most of their
ancient customs have become obsolete, from
which I deduce that the fire-walking rites
described in this article must have been
performed by natives who had retained their old
religious beliefs.

The ordeal takes place on the Island of
Benga, which is near Suva, the capital of Fiji,
and which, Mr. Delcasse says, ``was the
supposed residence of some of the old gods of Fiji,
and was, therefore, considered a sacred land.''
Instead of walking on the live coals, as the
Japanese priests do, the Fijians walk on stones