Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-11-21
SAMOANS AT PLAY.
Sports, Games and Other ADJUSTMENTS Of
This Warliks People.
Boxing and Wrestling the Best-Enjoyed
Pastimes Of the Men, bnt They also Enjoy
spear-Throwing, Pigeon-Catching, Spin
ming tho Cocoanut Etc

0pedr-1nrOWiny, EiScVA-Oascnin6i SFAA
ming tho Cocoanut, Etc.
The natives of Sa moa, who are noted
for their very fine physical develop
ment and intelligence. are the most
ardent lovers of all kinds of sports.
Like all tropical races, they are OF an
INDECENT disposition, but when engaged
ia their native games it 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 n consequence a 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 tho introduction OF Christian
ty women frequently entered the ring
and stroye for pugilistic honors, and
it is 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 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 forfeit if he sue
ceeds. If 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 IL whole village, are matched
against those of another. The con-
testants throw small wooden spears,
so that they may first strike the ground
and then spring upward and onward
in the direction OF the target. Those
who came nearest TO the mark are de-
clared the victorS. AS in the ma
jority OF the games INDUCED in by the
Samoans, the forfeit is a grand feast
at the expense OF the vanquished
party.
A more dangerous variation Of this
amusement consists in one Of the
young warriors placing himself at a
certain distance from his companions
and permitting them to cast their
spears at him. He is provided wit
no shield, but is armed with a
club with which he wards off
them exhibit 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
number Of fish winning the stake of an
deliberately cooked meal.
In June the islanders indulge in
| pigeon catching, a 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 Il settlement are often slaugh-
tered to furnish grand feast for the
hunters and their families.
The food is prepared a few days be-
fore the appointed time and then the
entire population Of a village starts off
for 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 II large circle, each
being concealed under low shed, or
brushwoOd covering, and provide with
a net attached to Il long bamboo pole.
In his hand each holds IA stick with a
crook on the end of it, upon which is
perched tame pigeon stoned to the
crook by means OF light but tough
cord secured to one of its legs. is
trained to fly around and around as
directed 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 ruquisition. The hunters emerg-
ing from their concealment quickly
gather in large numbers of the birds,
who thoroughly frightened by their
sudden appearance, fall an easy prey
to them. The chief obtaining the
largest number Of pigeons is accounted
the hero OF the day and is honored by
gifts OF the choicest bits of food from
his companions stores. Those he
usually distributes among those OF his
friends who have proved less fortunate
in their endeavors. Many of the
pigeons thus trapped are kept to &c
trained as decoys, while the remaining
ones are baked and eaten.
Spinning the cocoanutn affords an
inexhaustibIe fund of amusement, and
is thus played: A number OF natives
arrange themselves in a circle. and
one squatting in the center spins co,
co1nut around and around. When il
ceases its gyrations the others imme
diately ascertain toward whom the
three black marks, or eyes, on the emo
OF the nut point, and impose upon him
some trivial task or forfeit, such rs un
husking hundred chestnuts, Oh
carrying load of cocoanut for the
behefit OF his partners in game.
This is also the Samoan method o
casting lots. If any of their number
is unwilling to perform some specified
duty, the question is decided by spin
nipg the cOcoanut to see to whom i
turns its "face"-as they term it
when it rests. At one time it was uset
in a similar manner to detect sus
pected thief, or one who had other
, wise broken the established laws.
Living Beyond the Means.