The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-09
wedding in Samoa.
AN OLD CHIEF's MARRIAGE TO A YOUNG NAH
OF APIA.

AN OLD CBIEF's MARRIAGE TO A YOUNG MAID
OF APIA.
lCorrespondence of the San Francisco Chronicle
APIS, SAMOA, April 30.-We have had a
social sensation recently in the way OF
great Samoan wedding. For months past
a leading chief of Falefa, in the Atua dis
trict, has been counting the village maid OF
Apia, Moe, daughter Of Seumanutaia, High
Chief Of Apia, and the new Governor of
the Tuamasaga district. And as the
chief is an old man, and Moe Is about
nineteen, it has required the most strenu-
Gus efforts OF both families to bring
about the match. The Faefa family have
brought TO Apia over 800 pigs, killed and
cooked, and distributed them among the
young lady's relations. In return for these
the family OF the expected bride must give
tine mats, sapaS, &C.. and they have been
buSily engaged collecting them from all
over the Islands till the Governors house
is half full These mats are The most valu-
able property Of the Samoans, and are given
at WEDDINGS as more substantial presents
are at home. They are the heirlooms OF
families for generations, and are justly
priced, as IL requires years to make one OF
Them. Some OF them are valued as high as
81, 900 apiece. Many of them are fringed
with red feathers, and are almost as soft as
silk.
A vast deal OF ceremony Is connected with
these weddings. Yesterday all the maidens
from FaIefa went in a procession to the
Governors house, each one carrying stick
with bunch of red feathers suspended
from the end These feathers are very rare
nowadays, and are much priced for mat
trimmings, DC. All the town faes native
hOuse.) are filled with visitors. AT the we'd
ding some member OF the Government
reads o chapter from the Bible, and then
reads ceremony. The couple being mar
RED aye sealed all the time, and join hands
towards tue close OF the ceremony, as in
more civilized countries. In this instance
The Young lady is we'll and widely known,
and is a iayOrite with the officers OF the
war-saips OF all nations. She is amiabe
aud interesting. But, as Iule, Sa-
moau girls have very little TO do with
The choice OF a husband. That is gen.
orally arranged by the heads OF the families,
and from interested motives. When the
Governor was asked why he did not marry
Moe TO young chief, he replied that II she
did not like her old husband she could run
away from hin, and il would be no dis
grace, while young husband might take q
| fancy for another wife, and II would he a
shame TO the family TO have him leave her.
A young CHIEF generally has wives or con-
cubines all over the Islands. Through
them he becomes allied TO numerous lead.
ing families, aud acquires extended influ-
ence, and when he falls out with one family
he goes to another and finds a wife await
ing him. Native dances are taking place
nightly ana are paIt Of the wedding ies-
Invites. All the Young handles appear ON
the stage at such time, and display their
fine, manly figures. Also, the leading maid
ens OF different villages assemble on the
scene. Their costume is the primitive garb
OF Eve, and their fgfres such Us might
have been seen In Sparta.