Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-04-18
SAMOAN BEAUTIES,
,,,e Of the Village Queens, Their At
tire and Graceful Dances.
..,t Is Royalty Whether Civilized
or Savage.

4 nh vomep still love to dress ia
l.ba, Eve, in nothing but the natural
u mats of the native BUSH, says q writer
,bs Sacrame INTO Reporter. Around
a - throat they wind necklaces formed
u 5rv scarlet berry or shells sewed
a strip of cloth. Sometimes a
I - made from the rib bones of fish
Il lttscbsd 20 this necklace, and often q
Z .ol hears tusk forms handsome
Il a,,b bsrbaric ornament. Like their
$3.50 sisters the Samoan bellies will
4 57re any amount Of pain and discom
- in order 70 be in the fashion, but,
IL them, they enjoy leap year privi'
-ss all the time and exercise the right
q choice. for time or for eternity, with
-fect freedom from a suspicion of IN
i sidenliness.
a The Samoan women, as q rale, are good
I, okinF. but every village boasts its
4 aonty." "Tampoo" is the Samoan
enc given to the railing village queen.
Eenerslly she is the ruling chiefs own
S.nghter. or one adopted by him. She
4 ae all times Il girl of high rank in the
! ace itself, or in that of her parentage.
II am the first day of her installment to
~ dsy of her departure, marriage, elope
q srt mr. reinforcement for bad behavior
3. bieh in quite recent times was effected
Y IN club) she is virtually the queen of
u s. pace. II Is she who receives strang-
- on arriya! in her town, makes keva
~ them and personally sees to their
npmfort aud entertainment. Never from
a. YEARS. end to the other is she permit
Il to be out Of sight of her attendants.
Il hen abroad she ia invariably accom-
saried by as many of her youthful com
rapious as are available for the service.
abey follow her in single file wherever
h. goes. She heads all professions, and
! sits and takes the leading part in all
u vas or native dances.
Her attire on gala days is of the gay
i description that her town can afford:
hi everything is ungrudgingly sacrificed
M can aid to the glori6cation OF her
psrsonal appearance. 1t is she, on these
occasions, who has mainly upheld the
srestige OF the town. 1t is only when
dressing for any ceremony that she ap-
resrs to have no will of her own. On
soch occasions a long lime before the
Commencement of the cerem oniRl, the old
xoman takes entire possession of her. On
hem dsvolves the exercise of the myster
II, of the Samoan boudoir. Everything
Il done for the proud dansel, who stands
pstienty suffering any amount of CO.
ercon, one 1.-THE of which she would
not peru IL for second were IL not part
ii her duty as the beauty of the town.
b. is first taken in hand by two or three
b her attendants, who briskIy shamboo
IT, all over with sweet scented oil until
IT, warm colored skin shines like satin.
in0tbers will energetjcally brush her jet
ack locks, and afterwsrd plat or other
yse arrange them in the manner that
e combined wisdom of the old people,
b sisted by the suggestions of twenty or
Dirty Of her youthful ompanions, may
Dictate. She will then be ready to enter
BIZ she stranger" and prepare for aim
D. kaya.
Above all things the native women e1-
h in the art OF eaucing and FOSTERING.
IT, most popular dance among them is
B. silva, which is performed by fo1r
d i've maidens to the accompaniment of |
tuueless song and drumming on The
&miom, 1t consists of posturing and !
H0yements Of the body and hands, which |
n made in unison and IN time with |
|AUsic Some of the figures arc executed |
Hhae stnnding erect upon the feet, but
n most Of them the dancers sit cross
*ggsd upon strips of mating spread
Apon ths ground, The postures are macy |
p varied. Sometimes the right hand |
Nsts upon the neighbours left shoulder,
p left hand upon the dancers knee,
p sometimes this motion is reversed.
r. position is with the right hand |
read upon the ground in front and the
elssrs of the left hand touching the bi- |
W OF TIE dancers right arm. Another |
more th0ughtful attitude. The right |
Nud supports the left elbow, while the
y cheek rests upon the index finger of
4 left hand. OF all the graceful Sa
osn dancers none can compare with the
Slghter of Patua, one of Maiaafa's most /
u eminent chieftains. Her movements |
4 so ezquisitely graceful and full of
r. drtamhk5 motion that Europeans |
natives alike have compined in nam
ttr ST he Dram