Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-19
THE SINGULAR sAMOANs.
A PEOPLE WHO HAVE AROUSED
PUBLIC INTEREST IN AMERICA.
Handsome Men with Primitive
Ideas as to Clotbfng-Both Sexes
TattoOcd-Tho Native Towns.

Handsome Men with Primitive
Ideas as to Clothfns-Both Sexes
Tattoood-Tho Native Towns.
"Thc Samoan men, says writer in
tho Cosmopolitan, ''aro very fine spcci-
mems OF the genus homo tall, broad,
well developed, and with prepossessing,
fine, agreeable features They have the
custom of applying lime to tho hair,
which makes them ali red-headed. There
| are various shades, from auburn to q
darker shade. which resembles sealskin.
The hair is trimmed close on the crown
of the head, leaving front, sides and
back long, which, surmounting really
fine bronzcd face, produces handsome
effect. In the matter Of clothing they
are quite primitive, rs, for tho most
part, they wear nothing but Il strip of
cloth wound about the waist, falling
half way to the knee. The original
material used was tapa, and many use
that now; but the majority have substi
tuted calico, and, as would be expected,
choose large figures and brilliant colors.
All the men arc tattooed from waist to
the knees, the pattern being identical
and very elaborate. a few wear gar
lands of flowers across tho shoulders,
and some head dresses Of leaves standing
up like feathers. These, VIC understand,
arc chiefs.
"The great majority of women wear
nothing above the waist and nothing
below the knees. A few, perhaps from
Difference TO foreigners prejudice, per-
haps through vanity, attempt waists,
but it is such IL recent innovation that
no wcll-dcfncd fashion hns been cstab-
lished, caCh ospirant to better things in
the way of clothing following her own
fancy or that of her particular set. The
most pleasing, perhaps because the most
simple, garment for upper wear is q
straight stripped thin material with
hole cut in the center for the head, tho
ends hanging down over the bosom and
back.
''Tho women are tattooed, also, but in
more mcrciful manner than the men;
Tint is, there is not so much of it, only
small figures some distance apnrt. Many,
both men and women, have their names
tottoocd on the forearm, the letters being
the same MS ours.
Tho custom of putting lime on the
hair ia not so common among the wcmcn,
but many do it. We learn that the
change in color is only incidental, the
object being cleanliness. Cucoanut oil
la freely used, both upon the hair and
body, and tho odor Of It pervades the
mir. The people bathe great deal and
seem generally to be clearly"
Hero is neat description of an inter
view with Tamascse, the so called
usurper, whom the Germans are sup
porting:
''While wo were visiting one OF the
fonts Tamascse approached. The family
saluted him by crossing their arms upon
their breasts, remaining in that attitude
until he had passed. He greeted us
with 'Kalofai,' which greeting wo
returned. He is very large man, but
has less intelligent faco than many of
tho others. In his hand he carried
handkerchief with which he kept off
tho flies these insects aro very nu-
mcrous, small and pestiferous. His only
companion was his wife, who walked q
the prevailing style"
full of interest:
'As We passed the houses the inmates
invited us to enter and We visited n
number OF families. These, houses, or
huts, built of bamboo, aro very well con-
structed, the frame work Is tied firmly
together, and tho mats and matching
which form the roofs are really artist,
cally woven. There arc no walls. but
when it becomes necessary to shut out
wind rain or sun mats made OF cocoanut
leaves arc let down. The floors are
made of pebbles gathered from the | ed s
of fresh water streams which come down
from the mountains. There appears 10
be number of PEOPLE to each hut, and
when necdful to form rooms tapa sclccns
arc hung up. They have no beds, but
sleep on mats spread upon The iloor. One
would suppose these would mako any
thing but downy couches, but the natives
evidently find them comfortable, for at
any hour OF the day some members OF
tho family nrc sure to be found asleep.
their pillows-which consist OF length
of bamboo supported at either end on
legs-form a part of the very mcager
furniture, the other part consisting OF n
strong box in which arc kept tho fincry
and valuablcs. In the Tamascso villages
We noticed that every hut lad its rife or
rifles, go that the men ARC ready ut any
moment for call to arms. The Kings
palace differs from the huts only In size,
and tho possession of several European
trunks"
The following MS to the betrothal of
''thc belle of the islands," should inter.
est the ladies:
"a few days since very novel aud
| interesting entcrtainment-wh we
were fortunate enough to witness took
place on board the American man. of-war
in the harbor. Asi, native chief. visited
the ship with his household, and gave n
native dance and some plays on tho
quarterback. Asi is man of herculean
build and fine bearing; he has q strong
face, rules his people perfectly, and is
an ideal savage chief Faapia, his daugh-
ter, 10 rather petite, has bright and
laughing lace, and is full of life and
grace She is said to be the belle of the
island, and has had many chiefs as suit
ors, but until now no one has pleased
her father, whose will is the only one TO
be consulted in the matter. At last,
however, favored sutton has appeared
who is soon to bring his presents to the
chief. II thoy arc acceptcd-for the
gifts constitute the proposal--thc suit is
encouraged. Giving daughter in mar
riage here is somewhat in the nature of