Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-05
SAMOANS AT PLAY.
Sports, Games and Other Amusements Of
This Warlike People.
Boxing and Wrestling the Best-Enjoyed
Pastimss Of the Men, but They also Enjoy
spear-Throwing, Pigson-catOhing, Spin
ming the Coooanut Etc.

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ardent lovers of all kinds OF sports
Like all tropical races, they are OF an
indolent disposition, but when engaged
In their notive games 1t is truly sur
prising to note how quickly their leth-
argy disappears.
Boxing and wrestling are considered
by them, as with more civilized races,
the most engaging OF all athletic
sports. AS "a consequence large ma
Iority OF the men are experts in one or
both OF these exercises. On festival
days, tournaments devoted entirely to
these branches OF athletics are held
under the auspices of the ruling chiefs.
Prior to the introduction of Christian
ity women frequently entered the ring
and strove for pugilistic honors, and
1T Is a matter of record that on many
! occasions they proved their muscular
superiority by defeating stalwart men.
Since that time, however, they have
been taught TO engage in more woman =
ly diversi ons.
The Samoan method of wrestling
differs greatly from that to which we
are accustomed. The usual plan is to
choose sides, say, four against four,
and the party who loses the greater
number OF falls is compelled to fur
nish feast OF roast pig, served up with
taro. or else supply some other variety
of food. as mutually agreed upon prior
TO the commencement OF the contest.
A peculiar style of wrestling called
'clasp and undo" is very popular
among these islanders. One man
clasps another tightly around the
waist and a second does the same
with a third. The three thus linked
together like down upon a mat and
challenge any single man to separate
them, promising a forfeit if he sue
ceeds. II he proves unequal to the
task, the expense OF such forfeit must
be liquidated by the loser.
Another game much relished by the
young men is spear throwing. The
young bucks OF one street in a village,
or OF u whole village, are matched
against those of another. The con-
testants throw small wooden spears,
so that they may first strike foreground
and then spring upward and onward
in the direction of the target. Those
who came nearest TO the mark are de-
clared the victora AS in the mn-
jority OF the games INDUCED in by the
Samoans, the forfeit is a grand feast
at the expense OF the vanquished
party.
more dangerous variation OF this
amusement consists in one OF the
young warriors placing himself at a
certain distance from his companions
aud permitting them to cast their
spears at him. He is provided with
no shield, but is armed with a
club with which he wards of
the blows aimed at him. Some OF
them exhibit a wonderful degree OF |
dexterity in parrying spear after spear
as they are hurled at him with all the |
force OF athletic arms.
Fishing ma tches are also very popu- |
lar the party taking the greatest |
humber OF fish winning the stake OF an
eiaborately cooked meal.
In June the islanders indulge in
pigeon catching, sport in which all
take especial delight but more espe-
cially is this the case with the chiefs.
The most elaborate preparations are
made, and on such occasions all the
pigs in settlement are often slaugh-
tered to furnish grand feast for the
hunters and their families.
The food Is prepared few DAYS be-
fore the appointed time and then the
entire population Of village starts off
Tor the pigeon grounds in the bush.
There they erect huts and very often
remain for several weeks engaged in
this peculiar sport
The ground is first cleared and the
chiefs station themselves at certain
distances around a large circle, each
being concealed under a low shed, or
brushwood covering, and provided with
q net attached to long bamboo pole.
In his hand each holds stick with a
crook on the end OF 1t, upon which is
perched a tame pigeon stoned to the
crook by means OF light but tough
cord secured to one of its legs. IL is
trained to fly around and around as
by its master.
The hunter gives his decoy the
word; it circles about in the air and
soon the wild birds are attracted TO
the spot. The nets are now brought
into roquisition. The hunters emerg- {
Ing from their concealmept quickly ,
gather in large numbers OF the birds,
who thoroughly frightened by their
sudden appearance, fall an easy prey :
10 them. The chief obtaining the .
argest number OF pigeons is accounted
The hero OF the day and is honored by ,
gifts OF the choicest bits OF food from ,
MS companions stores. Those he
usually distributes among those of his
riends who have proved less fortunate !
IN their endeavors. Many of the |.
pigeons thus trapped are kept TO be
riined as decoys, while the remaining /, ,
,Des are baked and eaten.
''Spinning the cocoannt" affords an
nexhaustible fund of amusement and
s thus played: A number OF natives
orange themselves in IA circle, and :
me squatting In the center spins a CO. :
'oanut around and around When it
leases its gyrations the others imme-
lately ascertain toward whom the !,
hree black marks, or eyes, on the end
II the nut point, and impose upon him
ONE trivial task or forfeit such as un- a
Iusking hundred chestnuts, or
arrying load OF cocoanuts for the I
'enefit OF his partners in n game.
This Is also the Samoan method of q
asting lots. II any OF their number
5 unwilling to perform some specified 9
uty, the question Is decided bv spin- "