Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-16
SAMOAN BEAUTIES.
The Rule of the village Queen, Their Al.
tire, and Their Graceful Dances.

tire, and Their Graceful Dances.
The women still love 10 dress J.
mother Eve, in nothing but the natural
products of the native bush. Around
their throats they wind necklace.
formed of a dry scarlet berry or shaIls
sewed upon a strip of cloth. Some.
times a fringe made from the rib bones
of a fish is attached to a necklace. and
often spiral boal's tusk forms
handsome though barbaric ornament
Like their civilized sisters the Samoan
bellies will endure any amount Of pain
and discomfort in order to be in tho
fashion, but. unlike them. they enjoy
leap year privileges all the time and
exercise the right of choice. for time
or for eternity, with perfect freedom
from suspicion of unmaidenliness.
The Samoan women. as q rule ara
good looking, but every village boasts
its beauty" "Tampo" is the Samoan
name given to the village queen. Gen.
orally she is the ruling chiefs own
daughter. or one adopted by him. She
is at all times a girl of high rank in the
place itself, or in that of herparentage.
From the first day of her instament
to the day of her departure, marriage.
eiopcment, or reinforcement for bad
behavior (Which in quite recent times
was effected with a club she is vjrtu-
ally the queen of the place. 1t is she
who receives strangers on arrival in
her town, makes kay& for them, and
personally sees to their comfort and
entertainment. 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 rs 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.n or native dances.
Her attire on gala days is of the CAV
est description that her town can af-
ford. and everything is ungrudgingIy
sacrificed that can add to the glorifca.
ton of her personal appearance. 1t is
she. ON these occasions, who has main.
w to uphold the prestige of the town.
1t is only when dressing for any cere-
mOnv that she appears to have no will
of her own. On such occasions a
long time before the commencement
of the ceremonial, the old women take
entire possession of her. On them de-
wolves the exercise of the mysteries Of
the Samoan boudoir. Everything 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 her
town. She is first taken in hand by
two or three of her attendants, who
brisklv shampoo her all over with
sweet-Scented oil until her warm coll
ored skin shines like satin. Another
will energetically brush her iet-back
locks, aud afterward plat or oJner-
wise arrange them in the manner that
the combined wisdom of the old peo-
pie, assisted by the suggestions of
twenty or thirty of her youthful COM
panions. may dictate. She will then
be ready to entertain 1.-The stranger
and prepare for him the kava.
Above all things the native women
excel in the art of dancing and postum
ing. The most popular dance among
them is the "Siva, which is performed
by four or five maidens to the accom-
panimeut of a tuneless song and drum
ming on the tom-tom. 1t consists OF
posturing and movements of the body
and hands. which are made ip unison
and in time with the music. Some OF
tine figures are executed while stand
ing erect upon the feet, but in most OF
them the dancers sit cross-legged upon
strips of mating spread upon the
ground. The postures are many and
varied. Sometimes the right hand
rests upon the neighbours left shoulder,
and left hand upon the dancers knee,
and sometimes this motion is reversed
One position is with the RIGHT hand
spread upon the ground in front and
the fingers of the left hand touching
the bieeps of the dancers right arm
Another is a more thoughtful attitude.
The right hand supports the left elbow,
while the left cheek rests upon the in
deX finger of the left hand. OF all
the graceful Samoan dancers none can
compare with the daughter of Patua,
one of Mataafa's most prominent chief
tains. Her movements are so eNqus-
itely graceful and full of such dream
like motion that Europeans and natives
alike have combined in naming her
"Ihe Dream Sacramento ReUOYt