A Voyage from San Francisco to Tahiti 423 



The Road to Point Venus 



hibition here on Wednesday. I offered 

 to pay for the wood for the fire, if neces- 

 sary. The old man says he could teach 

 the art in about a month. It consists, 

 as I understood, in mystic rites, but 

 there is no physical anointing. The 

 prophet said he was going to pray for the 

 next two or three days, and I sent him 

 to his home in my carriage. 



I went on board the steamer and told 

 the captain, the ship's doctor, and 

 U. S. Consul Doty of the prospective 

 exhibition. Apouhara says that when 

 Papa-Ita was here in 1897, ^^Y ii^ii^- 

 ber of the people (15 or 20) followed 

 the priest through the fire. When all 

 are through some one calls, " All out," 

 and the priest turns around and marches 

 back again. If he turns and looks back 

 before all are out, those still there will 

 be burned ! 



Arranged with a French liver^^-stable 

 keeper for a horse and carriage tomorrow. 



July 14.. — A wretched horse and car- 

 riage came, and I went to the Fatoua 

 Pool and had another delicious bath. 

 Came in and went to the ship, where I 

 saw Mr. K. , and spoke to him about the 

 fire- walk. He attributes the ' ' miracle ' ' 

 to the natives' horny-soled feet, but does 

 not explain how tender feet of Euro- 

 peans are not burned. 



Paid extravagant bill at the wretched 

 "Hotel du Louvre," and arranged to 

 take subsequent meals on ship. Mr. K. 

 promises to get me a two-horse team, 

 and to send ' ' Frank ' ' around today at 

 I o'clock, if he can find him, but he has 

 not come. (Today is the French 4th 

 of July and the occasion of the govern- 

 ment fetes to which the whole island 

 has come.) 



