Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-08

bored auYWn6f6 on 1tS uAk6Q sufIaco. III time, however, as rain falls upon its jutting peaks and barren pinnacles, disintegration sets in, or, to speak plainer English, the rock crumbles, and soon streams wash down tiny deposits of sand and mud thus pro- duced into the valleys and hollows of the upheaved area. At the same time lichens begin to string in yellow patches upon the bare face of the rock, and feathery ferns, whose spores have been waited by the wind or carried by the waves for borne on the feet of unconscious birds, sprout nere and there from the clefts and crannies. These, as they die and decay, in turn form thin lay CT of vegetable mould, the irst beginning of local soil, in which the trusty earthworm Gnported in the egg on driftwood or float ing weeds) straight ay sets to work to bur row, and which he rapidly increases by his constant labor. On the soil thus deposited towering plants and trees can soon root themselves as fast as seeds, nuts or fruits are waited to the island by various accidents from surrounding countries. The new land thrown up by the great eruption of Kraka- toa has in this way already clothed itself from head to foot with a Iuxuriant sheet of ferns, mosses and other vegetation.
 SAMOAN BEAUTIES.
 Rule of the Village queens, Their Att tire and Graceful Dances.
 From the Sacramento Reporter.1
 
 Eve, in nothing but the natural products ot the native bush. Around their throats 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 this necklace, and often 8 barbaric ornament. Like their civilized sis ters, the Samoan ibelles 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- erciss the right of choice, for time or for eternity, with perfect freedom from suspi- cion of unmaidenliness.
 looking, but every village boasts it's "beau- ty." "Tampoo" is the Samoan name given to the village queen. Generally 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 her pa rentage. From the first day of her install- ment to the day of her departure, marriage, elopement or dethronement for bad behavior (which in quite recent times was effected with club) she is virtually the queen of the place. It is she who receives strangers on arrival in her town, makes kava for them and personally sees to their comfort ard en- tertainment. Never from one years end to the other is she permitted to be out of sight of her attendants. When abroad she is in- variably accompanied by as many of her youthful companions as are available for the service. They follow her in single file wher- ever she goes. She heads all processions and visits and takes the leading part in all "swas" or native dances.
 Her attire on gala days is of the gayest de- scription that her town can afford; and ev- erythipg is ungrudgingly sacrificed that can aid to the glorifcation of her personal ap- pearance. It is she, on these occasions, who has mainly to uphold the prestige of the town. It is only when dressing for any cer. emony 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 devolves the exercise of the myste ries of the Samoan boudoir. Everything is done for the proud damsel, who stands pa ] tiently suffering any amount of coercion, one tithe of which she would not permit for 6 second were it not part of her duty as the beauty of the town. She is first taken in l 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 energetical \ ly brush ner jet black locks, and afterwarG \ plait or otherwise arrange them in the man \ ner that the combined wisdom of the olt
 people, assisted by the suggestions of twenty
 or thirty of her youthful companions, may dictate. She will then be ready to entertain
 "the stranger and prepare for him the kava I Above all things the native women.sexce in the art of dancing and posturing. Th' \ most popular dance among them is th' ''siva," which is performed by four or fv' ! maidens to the accompaniment of tune { less song and drumming on the tom-tom It consists of posturing and movements of \ the body and hands, which are made ln ! unison and in time with music. Some of the figures are executed while standing erect upon the feet, but in most of them l the dancers sit cross legged upon strips of mating spread upon the ground. The pastures are many and varied. Sometimes the right hand rests upon the neighbours left shoulder, and left hand upon the dancers knees, and sometimes this motion is re- l versed. One position is with the right hand spread upon the ground in front and the in- gers of the left hand touching the biceps o1 the dancers right arm. Another is more ! thoughtful attitude. The right hand sup. ports the left elbow, while the left cheek ! rests upon the index finger of the left hand | Of all the graceful Samoan dancers, nont | can compare with the daughter of Patua, on' of Mataafa's most prominent chieftains | Her movements eXouisitely gracefu and full of such dream-like motion that Flu. ropeans and natives alike have combined 1T naming her "The Dream"