The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-07-11
AMONG RE KANAKAs.

- : - ||A - hNftf7 fttNFH~Se -
what Visitor saw in Tahiti-A Joyous
0ceasion0 Open Air Dancing.
Band nigI' is joyous occasion,
dear to the mesnory of all visitors to the
island. On Thursday nights the French
garrison band plays before the govern
ment house in q little plaza carpeted with
turf and bordered with spreading trees.
On one side are yenders of beer and
liquors miserable stuff on another
women sell frIlit and flowers, and in the
center IS the Brilliantly lit band stand.
As the band strikes up the people grow
wild with Joy. Around the stand skip
men and girls. singiy, In pairs and in
rows, heads up. eyes bright, teeth show
ing. clasping each other by waist OF
shoulder, laughing and calling to each
other, while tlie dust fairly cllokes the
putting, blowiile musicians. If dancer
falls in the NAL whirla scream of excite
ment rises and only dies away when the
PROSTATE one rises and dances on Be
tween the selections they refresh them
selves with beer or fruit, while the Off
GERS or young men of the town buy
flowers and wfpaths for the girls. as
happy with their .-leis'' as debutante
with her boi,q, 4 tall Young globe
trotter advances to a group of dusky
beauties, holding high the finest lei he
can purchase. There is scream of de-
light from a dozen pretty mouths, a
dozen rounded arms are thrust at the
prize as the garlanded heads bob up and
down, and then there is rush and he is
overwhelmed. They climb upon his
head and shoulders and pluck the wreath
to pieces, leaving linn disheveled and
overcome by such a Sghirlwind of arms
and legs.
Then the band strikes up and away
they all go again. AT last the bandsmen
form in the street, the torchlight trades
mon disappear with the remnant of their
wares. and the crowd gatherr in line be-
fore and behind the band. The street
being darker than the plaza, oven those
whose dignity and respectability kept
them from joining the dancers around
the stand, are now found in the ranks.
Officers from foreign men of war, yachts
men, townspeorle, globe trotters, away
they all go. nymphs and satyrs, in wild
Bacchanalian dance down the dimly lit
street, under the trees meeting in an arch
overhead. now to the right, then back
across the street, each line at its own
sweet will. Dignity falls to the ground
When a smile and n glance from q flower
declled maiden comes bearing an invita-
tion to clasp hands or waists and .follow
the band. The "Pied Piper of Hame-
lin could lead away these people any
time.
The band halts for some reason and we
get ahead of it, line of us across the
street On my right is a young lady with
wreath of yellow flowers on her black
tresses, another arcund her neck. / don't
believe she can speak word of English,
and don't try to make her do so-therc is
no need. Beyond her there is man and
then another girl-tlere are twelve in
tie line. The band strikes up behind us
and everybody begins dancing. We can
take any step we like; we are of the
ground most of the time; and down the
street we go. Suddenly my arm is
graspcd by strong hand Which slips
through: and / have on my left big
Kanaka dressed in waistclotll and coat,
with lead thrown back and laughing for
pure Joy. Away we go, running and
dancing against the people ahead of us,
breaking into the lines, FIRST one and then
mother, until we bring up against row
of figures clad in dark blue, party of
sailors. We try to break this line, too,
but the stalwart fellows stop altogether
and back up the whole procession, dig
gins their heels into the ground and
bracing themselves against the attack
ing lines. There is wild uproar and
they dart forward with all the rout in
pursuit, only to repeat the performance
later. Meanwhile the right wing of our
line pulls out to the side, and off we
dance up the side of the street to get
nearer the band. which has been left far
III the rear. We come into line with a
swing, and play '.crack the whip'' with
my Kanalla friend and bang him here
and there into the midst of dancing rows.
No one thinks of getting angry, and
you can do rs you please. SO down we go
through the lines ahead of us till we
strike again that stout row of sailors hav-
ing their watch ashore tonight. Out
again to the side, dance back to the
band--and all repeat. A street light has
shown me that my young Lady on the
right has pretty face and is enjoying
herself hugely. She stands the 'scrack-
ing the whip" and the breaking lines
with perfect ease. AT last the band
turns into tile market place and ceases
playing; the wild, fascinating dance is
over. We mop, pant and walk away to
friendly home. where we drink tea and
cat bread and jam with our host and
hostess till long past midnight. .-Papeete
(TahitT Cor. New York Tribune.