Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
SAMOAN BEAUTIES.
The Rule of the Village Queen, Their At
tire, 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 Threats 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 fish is attached to a necklace, and
often a spiral boar's tusk forms a
handsome though barbaric 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 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 a rule, are
good looking, but every village boasts
its ''beauty." Tampa" 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 girl of high rank in the
place itself, or in that of her parentage.
From the first day of her installment
to the day of her departure, marriage.
elopement, or dethronement for bad
behavior (Which in quite recent times
was effected with club), she is virtu-
ally the queen of the place. 1t is she
who receives strangers on arrival liz
her town, makes kava for them, and
personally sees to their comfort and
entertainment. Never from one wears
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 gay
est description that her town can af-
ford, and everything is ungrudgingly
sacrificed that can add to the glorifica-
ton of her personal appearance. 1t is
she. on these occasions, who has MAIN
ly to uphold the prestige of the town.
1t is only when dressing for any cere-
mony 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 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
briskly shampoo her all over with
sweet-scented oil until her warm col
Ored skin shines like satin. Another
will theoretically brush her iet-black
locks, and afterward plat or other
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 ''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-
paniment of 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 neighbor's 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 biceps 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 exquis-
itely graceful and full of such dream
like motion that Europeans and natives
alike have combined in naming her
The Dream. -Sacrdnaent0 Report