Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-02-25
AMONG THE NAK
what y Visitor Saw In Tahiti-A Joyous
Occa,ion-OpeD Air Dancing.

Occasion-Open Air Dancing.
Band night is q 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 i a little plaza carpcted with
turf and borlcred with spreading trees.
On one side are vendors of beer and
liauors-miserahle sutton another
women sell fruit and flowers, and in the
center is the brilliantly lii 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 tly dust fairly chokes the
putting, blowing musicians. If a dancer
falls in the mad whirl 4 scream of excite
ment rises and only dies away when the
PROSTATE one rises and dances on. Be-
tween the selections they refresh hem-
selves with beer or fruit, while the off,
GERS or young mcn Of the Town buy
flowers and wrrathS for The girls, as
happy with th,ir .'leis' as n debutante
with her bouquets. a tall young globe
treitcr 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 rs 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
overcome by such a whirlwind of arms
and legs.
Then the band strikes up and away
they all go again. AT last the bandsmen
sorm 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, t~ownspeople, globe t~rotters. 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 a glance from Il flower
decked maiden comes bearing an Vita
ton TO clasp hands or waists and ''follow
the band" The ''Pied Piper of Hane-
lin" could lead away these people any
time.
The band halts for some reason and we
get ahead Of ii, a line of us across the
street. On my right is a young lady with
a wreath of yellow flowers on her black
t~resses, another around her neck. | don't
believe she can speak a word of English,
and don't try TO make her do so-lhere is
no need. Beyond her there is a 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 90. Suddenly my arm is
grasped bv q strong hand which slips
through; and | have on my left a big
kanaka dressed in waistcloth and coat,
with head thrown back and laughing for
pure joy. Away we 60, running and
dancing against the people ahead of us,
breaking into the lines. first one and then
another. until we bring up against a 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 hack up the whole procession, Dig
ging their heels into the ground and
bracing themselves against the attack
ing lines. There is a wild uprOaT 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 IL the side, and off we
dance up the side Of the street to get
nearer the band, which has been left far
in the rear. We CONF into line with a
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 90
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, a dance back to the
band-and all repeat. A street light has
shown me that my young lady on the
right has n pretty face and is enjoying
herself hugely. She stands the ''crack-
ing the whip and the breaking lines
with perfec. ease. At last the band
turns into the market place and ceases
playing; the wild, fascinating dance is
over. We mop, pant and walk away 10
a friendly home, where we drink tea and
eat bread and jam with Our host and
hostess ill long past midnight. -Papeete
(TahitD Cor. New York Tribune.