The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-28

nounced. the hair black, soft, and sometimes
fine and wavy-never crisp and curly IL
either sex.
The Princess, who is shown in one Of our
pictures with her hair rolled back from her
face in the style known to our ladies as Ia
pompddour, is said by those who have visited
Samoa TO be an
ACKNOWLEDGED BELLE AND BEAUTY
in its chief city, Apia. The tall ornament
which fastens the white flower on top of her
head denotes her rank, which, like that, Is
"very high"
Among the men boards are not so general
as among the whites yet many have IuAurl-
ant boards. The eye is black, soft and pleas
ing The skin is dark olive, resembling
polished copper. The prominent chiefs and
better families are much lighter in color
and have smoother skins, and are also taller
and more symmetrical than the common
people When Mamea, who came here rs an
ambassador on the part of Samoa TO make a
treaty with the United States, was in Wash
ington for that purpose, he was considered re-
markabIy fine locking.
He attended reception on New Year
given by Secretary Evarts, and was the tall
est man III the room. He was over SIN feet
high.
THE male Samoan" says Maj. Stein
berger's report. " is tall,
ERECT, AND PRoUDeIN BEARING,
with smooth, straight, well-rounded limbs.
The females are generally s!ieht-especialIy
the young girls, erect and symmetrical, easy
and graceful in their movements, the charm
of flight-heartedneSs seeming TO follow every
action. Beauty of feature is not the rule,
though many of the village maids are eX-
ceedingly beautiful. In 1888 Commodore
Wilkes mentioned a very beautiful young
girl named Emma, and one who saw her IN
1873, when she was 80 years old, says she
was even then 4 beautiful woman"
Those who have studied from personal
observation the customs of Samoa, say that
its women are eXcelled in the purity of their
morals by those of no country i'll the world,
and that a very severe punishment is meted
ont by the natives to any woman who trans
crosses their laws of morality. Virtue is
creed in Samoa more powerful than caste,
and was Teligiously observed before the in
PRODUCTION of Christianity. In the higher
castles ii is held more sacredly than among
the lower. 4 chiefs daughter is often the
maid of a village, and is reverenced more as
a virgin than as chiefs daughter. She is
reTerenced by her people, though not gov
erning them. In time Of war women aFe
emissaries, going from fort to fort unmO-
Tested. Her parson is always sacred, as also
are children.
Women are the equals of men, except in
government. The father carries the child
as much as the mother, and joins in the
preparation of food and cooking Labor is
generally divided between them, excepting
outdoor work A woman carries burden
ny. .laRfll,Ac n ho-+ only frnOn choice a;,d hnr
hardest labor is the manufacture OF native
cloth.
POLYGAMY Is COMMON
on the part of men, never on the part of
women; and two wiyes seldom live in the
same house, a husband usually sending
wife to her people when he takes to himself
new one.
The primitive dress Of the people consists
of a girdle of ti-leayes, now replaced by
cotton cloth and native SiapO, though upon
festive occasions church meetings and school
exhibitions women dress III long trains of
siGpO, with bodices of " Gne matsp; the hair
Is oiled, and abounds in wTeathS and flowers.
The disposition to assume the dress Of the
whites is growing, and in their efforts to don
the new Costume many lUdicr0us scenes are
presented. White gloves, silk dresses, enor-
nous crinoIine, panniers and 0ld-style bon
nets are brought into requisition for a May
meeting" The men wear foreign clothing
only on special occasions, and this consists of
army and navy uniforms, which certain
chiefs have acquired from foreign vessels,
ard which they are fond of displaying.
The treaty above mentioned made by
Mamea and Secretary Evarts between the |
United States and Samoa was ratified in
February, 1873.