The state herald., 1889-11-22
SAMOANs AT PLAY. i:
Sports, Games and Other Amusements Of
This wsrliks People.
Ssziag and vrssslins the Bsst-Enjoysd
rastinss Il he Hen, but Thsy also Enjoy
spsar-1Arowiny, Catching, SPIN
ming the coooanut xts.

The natives OF Sa moa, who arc noted
for their very fine physical develop.
msnt and Intelligence. are the mos,
ardent lovers Of all kinds of sports.
Like all tropical races, they IRE OF an
indolcnt disposition, but when engaged
Ia their uattve games 1t is truly sur.
pristng TO note how quickly their leth-
argy disappears.
Boxing and wrestling are considered
by them, as with more civilized races,
tho most engaging OF all athletic
sports As consequence large ma
jority of the mon are experts in one or
both OF those exercises. On festival
day, tournaments devoted entirely to
th4e branches OF athletics are hold
under the auspices OF the ruling chiefs.
Prior to tho introduction of Christian
ity women frequently entered tho ring
and strovo for pugilistic honors, and
1t Is matter Of record that on many
occasions they proved their muscular
eupcriority by defeating stalwGrt men.
6tnce that timo, however, they have
boon taught to engage in more woman :
" diversions
Tho Samoan method OF wrestling
differs greatly from that TO which we
are accustomed. Tho usual plan is to
choose sides, say, four against four,
and tho purity who loses the greater
number OF falls Is compelled to fur
nish feast OF roast pig, served up with
tano, or else supply some other variety
OF food. rs mutually agreed upon prior
TO the commencement OF the contest
A peculiar style OF wrestling calc !
"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 throo thus linked
together like down upon mat and
challenge any single man to separate
them, promising forfeit il he sue
Goods. IL he proves unequal TO the
task, the expense OF such forfeit mus t
be liquidated by the loser.
Another game much relishcd by the
young men is spear throwing. The
young bucks ofone street in village,
or OF whole village, are matched
against those of another. The con-
testants throw small wooden spears,
so that they may first strike the'ground
nnd then spring upward and onward
In the direction OF tho target Those
who came nearest to the mark are de-
clared the victors. As in the ma
jority OF the games indulged in by the
Samoans. the forfeit is grand feast
ut tho expense OF the vanquishcd
party.
A moro dangerous variation of this
amusement consists in one OF the
young warriors placing himself at II
certain distance from his companions
and permitting them to east their
spears at him. He is provided with
no shield. but is armed with n
club with which he wards off
the blows aimed at him. Some of
thom exhibit wonderful degree of
dexterity in parrying spear after spear
us they arc hurled at him with all the
force OF athletic arms
Fishing ma atches are also very popu-
lar. the party taking the greatest
number OF fish winning the stake Of an
claborately cooked meal.
In June the islanders indulge in
pigeon catching, sport In which all
take especial delight but more cspc-
cinlly Is this the case with tho chiefs.
Tho most elaborate preparations are
made, and OIL such occasions nil. tho
pigs In u settlement nrc often slaugh-
tered TO furnish n grand feast for the
-hanters nnti rtiS!r families.
The food Is prepared u few days be-
forc the appointed time and then tho
cnttre population OF u village starts OF
for the pigeon grounds In tho bush.
There they erect huts md very often
remain for several weeks engaged In
-sthis peculiar sport.
Tho ground Is first cleared and the
chiefs station themselves ut certain
distances around largo circle. each
being concealed under low she'd. or
brushwood covering, and provided with
a net attached TO long bamboo pole.
In his hand each holds u stick with a
crook on the end OF IT, upon which Is
pcrched tame pigeon stcned to the
crook by means OF light but tough
cord secured TO one OF It's legs. IL Is
trained to fly around and around us
directed by Its master.
Tho hunter gives his dccoy the
word; 1t circles about In the air and
soon tho wild birds ure attracted TO
the spot Tho nets nro now brought
Into ruquisition. The hunters emcrg-
Ing from their conccalment quickly
gather In large numbers OF tho birds.
who thoroughly frightened by their
sudden appearance, fall an easy prey
10 them. Tho chief obtaining the
largest number OF pigeons Is accounted
the hero OF tho day and is honorcd by
gifts OF tho choicest. bits Of food from
his companions stores. Those ho
usually distributes among those OF his
friends who havo proved less fortunate
In thcir endenvors. Many OF the
pigeons thus trapped arc kept TO be
trained rs decoys. while the remaining
ones are baked and eaton.
spinning tho coconnu" affords nm
inoxhnustiblc fund Of amusement, and
IL thus played: A number OF nntiyca
arrange themselves In n circle. and
ono squattlng In the center spins n CO.
coinut around md around. When II
ccases its gyrntions the others immc-
diatcly ascertain toward whom tho
thrcc black marks, or eyes. on the end
0f tho nut point, and impose upon him
some trivial task or forfeit. such ny un-
husking hundred chestnuts, or
carrying load OF cocoanuts for tho
benefit Of his partners In game.
This Is also tho Samoan method OF
casting lots. II my OF their number
Ia unwilling TO perform somo specified
duty. tho question Is decided by spin
ming tho cocoanut TO 500 to whom IL
turns It's "facc'-ns they term IT.
when II rests. AZ ono time II was used
In similar manner TO detect n sus-
pcctcd thief, or ono who Ind othcr-
wIso broken the established laws.