The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-10-28
JOINING TIE CANNIBALS.
HOW AN AMERICAN BECAME A SOUTH sEl
ISLANDER CURIOUS CEREMONIES.

IsLANDER-soME CURIOUS CEREMONIES.
An American traveller, who has spent ten
wears of his life in the South Sea Islands, re-
Iates some curious experiences, among the
rest how he became an apnstate and Joined a
band of savages. He had just partakeH Of
a banquet given by the king. when he and
his party were asked as to their designs
He told them in reply they wanted to stay if
they were allowed, and the narrator then
goes on to say:
This somewhat surprised them, and after
a brief interval, the priest gave US To under
stand that we could not remain there unless
as citizens, but i'm order to our becoming
such we must fist embrace their religion ;
this done, it would be his majesty's gracious
pleasure to receive us as his children.
This was "sticker" Embrace their re-
igion, indeed That was putting it rather
strong.
''What do you think of that, Tom -
81 don't see anything very rough about it.
We might do worse
"Worse than become a pagan ?"
"It's only matter of form, anyway"
"What do YOU think, Jack?''
well. I'm of the same opinion as Tom,
If we wish to take it easy and comfortable
here we might as well he one of them"
Besides" said Tom, "our conforming to
their ceremonies does not prove our SINGER
ity. What is to hinder us from making be-
Iieve -
well. if it's only to he a make believe CON
versation," said I, that slightly alters the
case"
"Then it's to be merely a make believe ?"
Certainly; make believe. Nothing more" q"
While we held our conference the others
listened and looked on with much interest,
narrowly scanning the faces of each speak
er l was delegated 70 inform the priest
that we had made our decision, and would
do as the king and laws required.
At this there was a great Frightening up OF
countenances. y signal was given, and the
king and courtiers left the hall, while we
were told to remain there for the present, in
company with the priest, who now evinced
more friendship, and few others. After
waiting about half an hour. we heard the
noise Of an approaching multitude, accom-
panied with heating of rude drums (sound
ing like empty nail kegs), hIowing Of coTch
shells, and female Y, ices shouting barhaT-
Gus chant As the head of the musical col
umn halted at the entrance Of the stockade,
the priest motioned to us that all was ready,
when we Immediately stepped forth. \
sight met our gaze as we made our exit that
/ almost took away our breath.
lane of human beings were formed lead
ing fIom the council -house, down the valley,
till it was lost under the overarchiug trees
+ Of the road. beyond which we could not see.
This lane was composed of two lines on
either side, facing inward. or towards Us
the two inner or nearest lines were the wn
men Of the nation decked in gala attire. I G
wreaths OF flowers on their heads their long
black shining hair hanging below thei
waists. garlands of flowers around then
neckS. while their tdppa wajSfcloth was sim
iIarlv decorated These females did th'
singing. Behind these stood the male per
formers, who, as we appeared, blew thei
she'll horns and beat their drums with in
creased energy. About a dozen PAGES il
front of US, standiag backward to us, wa
an escort of twenty maidens-the ,,or.- d.
'''F ''''''' ..,ef similar to their sis
rers. in line, and further provided with
At a signal from the priest these maiden
advanced in the direction toward which the,
were facing, breaking into a chant, whicl
was taken up by the two lines of wo men
with Instrumental accompaniment. W,
moved onward in rear, the whole con
course moving inward from the gate and fol
lowing US in regular order. Thus we pro
ceeded until we passed under the umhra gp
Gus arch, and after which we turned to tn,
left and beheld a large incloSure on the hill
. in the centre of which we deserted Suuarl
stone building OF mound. something like
mausoleum, OF, If il had been larger, reSer
vOir.
As we drew near we observed near the en-
trance the king, while behind him, in semi
circle, were his ministers and chief men
Close to the gate. in two lines on both sides
We're the priests, designated as such by Ion.
cloaks of toppd cloth almost touching th,
ground. We halted as we entered the oppI
space in front Of the king. where the maid
ems Immediately placed their Superflunu
wreaths on our heads and garlands aroun,
our necks. This done, an AGED priest ad
vanced 10 the gate, and in loud voice mad,
a sort of proclamation, apparently address
ing the inmate, or supposed inmate, of thu
mausoieum, concluding his remarks with tn,
exclamation "Pi piP'
This was taken hy the whole nation in re
sponse, who Also shouted ''Pi phi p Thpl
our attendant priest intimated to us what {,
do. when one hy one we advanced rn the gat
and shouted as loud as We could. "Pi pi p
This was taken up again in response by TIN
entire people, and then the ceremony ciused
The procession then reformed, and wit
the king and entire executive department a
its head proceeded, amid the acclamations q
the multitude, back to the stockaded palace
On arrival the people dispersed to the sever
al abodeS, leaving Us there with the kim
and the three chiefs or dignitaries, including
our old friend the priest Il was now sun
set. and Just as darkness came on, lamps a
palm oil suspended in shells. hanging iTOu
joists above, were lighted, shedding not
very brilliant light but still sufficient for a
purposes. This done, another 5uuutenu
meal was spread in like manner as the pre-
viou> one, OF which the king and all presen
partook.
WANTED QUIET.-A nervous looking ma
went into a store the other day and sat dow
for half an nour rr So, when clerk aske
him if there was anything he eoId do for hin
He said no. he didn't want anything. Th
clerk went away, and he sat th'-rp half a
hour longer, when the proprietor went