Wichita eagle., 1889-03-27
SAMOAN BEAUTIES.
The Village Queens, Their Attire an
Their Graceful Dances.

The Village Queens, Their Attire and
Their Graceful Dances.
The women still love to dress a la mother
Eve, IN nothing but the natural products of
the native bush Around their throats,
says the San Francisco Report, they. wind
necklaces formed of dry scarlet berry or
shells seWed upon strip of cloth. Some
times fringe made from the rib bones of a
hsh Is attached to this necklace, and often a
spiral boar's tusk forms a handsome though
barbarlc ornament. Like their civilized
sisters the Samoan bellies will endure any
amount of pain and discomfort in order to
be in the fashion, but unlike them, they en-
JOY leap year privileges all the time and ex-
ercise the right of choice, for time or for
eternity, with perfect freedom from a sus-
picion of Unmaldenlness.
The Samoan women, as a rule, are good
looking, but every village boasts its :. beau
ty." "Tampo'' is the Samoan name given
TO the village queen. Generally she is the
ruling chiefs own daughter, 5r one adopted
by him. She is at all times a girl of high
rank in the place itself, or IN that of her
patronage. From the first day of her in
stallment to the day of her departure, mar
rage, elopement or dethronement for bad
behavior (Which in quite recent times was
effected with a club, she is virtually the
queen Of the place 1t is she who receives
strangers on arrival in her town. makes
kava for them and personally sees to their
comfort and entertainments Never. from
one years end to the other, is she permitted
TO be out of sight of her attendants. When
abroad she is invariably accompanied by as
many of her youthful companions as are
available for the service. They follow her
IN single file wherever she goes. She heads
all professions, and visits and takes the
leading part in all ''swas" or native dances.
Her attire on gala days is of the gayest
description that her town can afford, aud
every thing is ungrudgingly sacrificed that
can add TO the glorification of her personal
appearance. II is she, cpl these occasions,
who has manly to uphold the prestige of
the town. 1t is only when dressing for auy
ceremony that she appears to have no viii
of her own. On such occasions, d long
time before the commencement of the cere-
monial the old women take entire posses
sion Of her. On them devolves the exercise
Of the mysteries of the Samoan boudoir.
Every thing is done for the proud damsel,
who stands patiently suffering any amount
OF coercion, one 1.-THE of which she would
not permit for a second were it not part
OF her duty as the beauty Of the town. She
is first taken in hand by two or three of her
attendants, who briskly shampoo her all
over with sweet-scented oil until her warm
colored skin shines like satin. Another will
energetlcally brush her iet-blacl locks, and
afterward plat or otherwise arrange them
in the manner that the combined wisdom Of
the old people, assisted by the suggestions
Of twenty or thirty Of her youthful COM
psnions may dictate She gri,I then be ready
TO entertain the stg 2 and prepare him
for the kava.
ABOVE ali th' alive women eX-
Gel III the art o. u.ssC.1g and pOsturing The
most popular dance among them is the
''Siva,' which is performed by four or five
maIGens 10 the accompaniment Of tune
less song and drumming on the tom-tom.
1t consists OF postur!ng and movements OF
the body and hands which are made in uni 1
son aud in time with the rtusc. Some OF
the figures are executed while standing
erect upon the feet but IN most of them
the dancers SIT cross-legged upon STRIPS of
mating spread upon the ground The post
lres are many and varied. Sometimes the
right hand rests upon the nelEhbor's left
and left hand upon the dancers
Snee. and sometimes this motion is re-
iersed. One position IS with the rght hand
spread upon the ground in front, and the
ingers of the left hand touching the biceps
# the dancers right arm Another is a
more thoughtful attitude The right hand
supports the lefr elbow, while the left cheek
ests upon the index finger of the left
land OF all the graceful Samoan dancers
lone can compare with the daughter Of
'atua, one of Mataafas most prominent
hleftsins. Her movements are so exquisite
V graceful and full of such dreaualike mo-
ion that Europeans and natives alike have
onbiped in naming her The DEean.a