Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-03-10
ARIEONA WEEKLY ENTERPRISE.
FLORENCE, MARCH 10, 1888
AMONG THE KANAKAS.
What Visitor Saw in Tahiti-A Joyous
 Occasion-Open Air Dancing.


 Occasion-Open Air Dancing.
 "Band night'' is a joyous occasion, dear to the memory of all visitors to the island. On Thursday nights the French garrison band plays before the govern ment house in a little plaza carpeted with turf and bordered with spreading trees. On one side are vendors of beer and liquors-miserable stuff-on another women sell fruit 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, singly, in pairs and in rows, heads up, eyes bright, teeth show ing, clasping each other by waist or shoulder, laughing and calling to each other, while the dust fairly chokes the puffing, blowing musicians. If dancer falls in the mad whirl a scream of excite ment rises and only dies away when the prostrate one rises and dances on. Be tween the selections they refresh them selves with beer or fruit, while the off, cers or young men of the town buy flowers and wreaths for the girls, as happy with their ''leis'' as a debutante with her bouquets. A tall young globe trotter advances to a group of dusky beauties, holding high the finest lei he can. purchase. There is a 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 a rush and he is overwhelmed. They climb upon his head and shoulders and pluck the wreath to pieces, leaving him disheveled and Ky ,.I, of and legs.
 Then the band strikes up and away they all go again. At last the bandsmen form in the street, the torchlight trades men disappear with the remnant of their wares, and the crowd gathers in line be- fore and behind the band. The street being darker than the plaza, even those whose dignity and responsibility kept them from joining the dancers around the stand, are now found in the ranks. Officers from foreign men of war, yachts men, townspeople, globe trotters, away they all go, nynlphs 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 glance from flower decked 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 young lady with a wreath of yellow flowers on her black tresses, another around her neck. I don't believe she can speak word of English, and don't try to make her do so-there is no need. Beyond her there is man and then another girl-there are twelve in the line. The band strikes up behind us and everybody begins dancing. We can take any step we like; we are off the ground most of the time; and down the street we go. Suddenly my arm is grasped by @ strong hand which slips through; and l have on my left big Kanaka dressed in waistcloth and coat, with head 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 another, until we bring up against row of figures clad in dark blue, a party of sailors. We try to break this line too, but the stalwart fellows stop altogether and back up the whole procession, dig ging their heels into the ground and bracing themselves against the attack ing lines. There is a 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 fa1 in the rear. We come into line with 8 swing, and play ''crack the whip with my Kanaka friend and bang him here and there into the midst of dancing rows
 No one thinks of getting angry, and you can do as you please, so down we gC through the lines ahead of us till VIC strike again that stout row of sailors hay ing their watch ashore tonight. Out again to the side, dance back to the band-and all repeat. A street light hal shown me that my young lady on tht right has a pretty face and is enjoying herself hugely. She stands the ''crack ing the whip and the breaking line with perfect ease. At last the banC turns into the market place and cease playing; the wild, fascinating dance i over. We mop, pant and walk away t a friendly home, where we drink tea an( eat bread and jam with our host anC hostess till long past midnight. ht.--Papeet
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