The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-05
ODDITIES OF SALVATION.
An Index of National Character-sons
Amusing Forms Irksome Customs.

An Index of National Character-sorn
Amusing Forms IrIxsome Customs.
brooklyn EaEle.l
Nothing affords more interest and
amusement than an examination of the
various modes of salutation practiced by
the nations of the earth. In some de-
gree these forms may be regarded as an
index of national character, or the cir
cumstances of national life. The He
brew salultation was ''Peace! the
ancient Greek, ''Rejoice! The modern
use the form, What doest thouf'
In Germany, allow do you find your
self2'' and in some parts, OF the
country they invariably kiss the hands
of all the ladies of their acquaintance
whom they meet. In Spain, How goes
itp' and Spanish grandees wear their
hats in the presence of their sovereign,
to show they are not so much subject
to him as to the rest of the nation.
When the royal carriage passes it is the
rule to throw open the cloak to show
that the person is unarmed. In the
West Indies the negroes say: "Have you
had a good sleep" In the sickly dis
tricts of Egypt where fever was COM
mon and dangerous, they salute by say
ing, How goes the persplratln! Do
YOU sweat eopiously2" is it we'll with
of 8 superior's hand as an extra clylllty,
the palm also.
Some nat ons seem to consider that
they eyince the most delicate attention
and respect in their greetings by re-
movaI of some part of their wearing APP
parel, or by temporarily appropriating
some portion of the dress of the ones
greeted. The Ethiopian will take the
robe of another and fold it about his
own waist, leaving his friend but scant-
lily clad, while the Japanese removes
his slipper when he meets superior,
exclaiming, 'sHurt me not, and
sandals in the street and their
stockings In the house. The Philip
pine islanders take possession of the
hand or foot of person they salute and
gently rest it against their own faces;
while this ceremony among the Lap
landers takes the form of applying their
noses with some force against the sa-
Iuted ones and treating him to spe-
cies of battering ram greeting. Ac-
cording to Dampier, the people OF New
Guinea have more polite and pictur-
esoue way of exchanging this kind of
civility, which they do by placing on
their heads the leaves of trees as being,
it may be assumed, Syrnbolical of peace
and good fellowship.
Other salutations are of so complex a
nature that this form of politeness Is
most decidedly irksome and can only be
ACQUIRED after the most assiduous prac-
tice. Speaking of the customs of the
inhabitants of an island in the straits
of the sound, French traveller tells US
that ''they raised his left foot, which
they passed over the right leg and from
thence over his face" He, however.
omits to enlighten us whether he had
received previous instruction and train
ing before taking part in this singular
proceeding; but the effect on middle
aged gentleman of aldermanic proper
tions in performing such an acrobatlC
salutatiOn offhand would not, one
would imagine, be unattended with
awkward result. Although not so diff
cult of accomplishment the inhabitants
of the Philippines are lovers of a some
what complex attitude in their saluta
tons, which consist in bending the body
as close as possible to the earth, placing
the palms of the hands on the cheeks
and then slowly raising one foot IN the
air, with the knees bent.