The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-01
LAZY TAHITI,
An Unconventional Eden OF the South
Pacific.

LAZY TAHITI
An Unconventional Eden OF the South
Pacific.
Tahiti Correspondence New York Tribune.
Life runs along very smoothly in this
island paradise. The Tahitian has all his
wants supplied, his physical by nature,
his political by France, and his spiritual
by foreign missions. He now only lacks
perpetual youth. That he enjoys this life
is shown by his happy face, his clear
honest eyes, not yet lit with greed, and
his ever ready hospitality. He is tall,
well made and muscular, and his features
are regular. The women have their share
OF beauty compared with their sisters OF
other races, some OF them being very
lovely. Behold an oval face Lit by soft,
dark, liquid eyes under n broad, low fore
head, the nose slightly aquilinc, with
delicately cut nostrils, a curved, sensitive
mouth and small, well-turned chin, and
this crowned by wavy mass Of long, fine
hair reaching below the waist. Often of
morning see dozen young girls taking
bath in the reef-bound harbor. Dressed
in their red 'holokus," or "Mother Hub
bards," they run like deer across the turf,
leap from the low sea wall, screaming with
excitement, their arms and legs waving
and skirts flying, and strike the water with
mighty splash. On they come, one after
another, till all are In the water, ducking
and splashing each other; then out they
scramble and rush across the turf for an
other run and jump. The people general
ly don't care much for salt water bathing,
though they are good swimmers and great
divers, but they are clearly race and do
much scrubbing in the little brooks.
| All the youth In the island come from
the little plantations or farms into the
town OF Papeete, where theygo into service
with the European and upper class Tahi-
tians; or, finding employment unpleasant
or difficult TO obtain they live with their
friends. "Getting rich" never enters
their heads, but to enjoy themselves and
10 get rid Of any wild oats nature has
thought necessary 10 give them are their
aims. Every night the guitar is heard in
many quarters, and dances and fcasts pass
the night away. Band night" is a Joy
Gus occasion, dear 10 the memory Of all
visitors 10 the island. On Thursday nights
the French garrison band plays before the
Government house Ia little plaza carpet
cd with turf and bordercd with spreading
trees. On one side are vendors OF beer
and liquors miserable sutton another
women sell fruit and flowers, and in the
center is the brilliantly lighted 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 showing,
clasping each other by waist or shoulder
laughing and calling to each other,
while the dust fairly chokes the pun
ing, blowing musicians. II dancer falls
in the mad whirl n scream Of excitement
rises, aud only dies away when the pros
trate one rises and dances on. Between
the selections they refresh themselves with
beer or fruit. while the officers or young
men OF the town buy flowers and wreaths
for the girls, IA happy with their "lcis' as
q debutante with her bouquets. A tall
young globe-trotter advances 10 group OF
dusky beauties, holding high the finest lei
he can purchase. There Is ascream Of de-
light from dozen pretty mouths, q dozen
rounded arms are thr ust NJ the prize rs
the garlanded heads bob up and down,
and then there Is dash and he IL over
whelmed. They climb upon his head and
shoulders and pluck the wreath 10 pieces,
leaving him dishcvclcd and overcome by
such whirlwind OF arms and legs
Then the band strikes up and away they
all go again. At last the bandsmcn form Ia
the street, the torchlight tradesmen disap-
pear with the remnant 81 their wares, and
the crowd gather In line before and behind
the band. The street being darker than
the plaza, even those whose dignity and
} rcspectability kept them from joining the
dancers around the stand are now found
! In the ranks Officers from foreign mcn-of.
war, yachtsmen, townspcoplc, globc-trot-
tcrs, away they all 90. nymphs and satyrs,
In wild Bacchanalian dance down the
dimly lii street under the trccs meeting In
an arch o"erhead, now 10 the right, then
back acr lss the street, each line ut It's own
sweet Will. Dignity falls 10 the ground
when q smile and glance from a flower
decked maiden comes bearing an invita-
ton TO clasp hands or waists aud follow
the band" The "Picd Piper Of llamclin"
could lead away these people any time.
The band halts for some reason, and we
get ahead OF Il, line Of us across the
street. On my right Is young lady with
a wreath OF yellow flowers ON her black
trcsses, another around her neck. don't
believe she can sneak one word Of English
and don't try 10 l.,ake her do so-thcro Is
no need. Beyond her there Is n man and
then another girl-therc arr twelve In the
line. The band strikes up behind IA and
: everybody begins dancing. We can take
any steps We like; We are oil the ground
most OF the time, and down the street We
! 70. Suddenly my arm u graspcd by a
strong hand which slips through, and |
have on my left a big kanaka dressed In
I waist-cloth and coat, with head thrown
back and laughing for pure JOY Away
, We 20, running aud dancing against the
people ahead Of us, breaking into the
lines, flrst one aud then another, until We
! bring up against row oi figures clad in
{ dark blue, a party a sailors. We try %
break this line, too, but the slalwart
fellows stop altogether and back up the
/, whole procession, digging their heels into
: the ground and bracing themselves against
, the attacking lines There IL a wild up.
roar and suddenly they dart forward with
MI the roui In pursuit, -only 10 repeat the
, performance later Meanwhile the right
, wing Of our line pulls out 20 the side, and
off We dance up the side of the street Il
-gct nearer the band which has been lefl
! lar In the rear. We come into line with 4
, swing and play crack the whip" with my
/. Kanaka friend and bang him here and
therc into the midst Of dancing rows.