The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-08
THE SINGULAR SAM0ANS.
a TEOPLE WHO HAVE AROUSED
FUBIIC INTEREST IN AMERICA.
Handsome Men with Primitive
Ideas as to C!othing-Both Sexes
Tattooed-TiIc Native Towns.

fine, agreeable features. They have the
custom OF applying lime to the hair,
which makes them all red-headed. There
are various shades, from auburn to u
darker shade, which resembles sealskin.
The hair is trimmed close on the crown
of the head, leaving front, sides and
back long, which, surmountlng really
fine bronzed face, produces handsome
effect. In the matter of clothing they
are quite primitive, as, for the most
part, they wear nothing but strip OF
cloth wound about the waist, falling
half way to the knee. The original
material used was tapa, and many use
that now; but the majority have substl-
tuted calico, and, as would be expected,
choose large figures and brilliant colors.
All the men are tattoocd from waist TO
the knees, the pattern being Identical
and very elaborate. A few wear gar
lands of flowers across the shoulders,
and some head dresses of leaves standing
up like feathers. These, we understand,
are chiefs.
1.-The great majority of women wear
nothing above the waist, and nothing
below the knees. A few, perhaps from
Difference to foreigners prejudice, per-
haps through vanity, attempt waists,
but it is such a recent innovation that
no well-dcfned fashion has been estab-
lished, each aspirant to better things IN
the way of clothing following her own
fancy or that of her particular set. The
most pleasing, perhaps because the most
simple, garment for upper wear Is a
straight striped thin material with a
hole cut in the center for the head, the
ends hanging down over the bosom and
back.
"rhe women are tattooed, also, but in
q more merciful manner than the men
that is, there is not so much Of 1t, only
small figures some distance apart. Many,
!,..sh men and women, have their names
tastoocd on the forearm, the letters being
the same as ours.
1.-The custom of putting lime on the
rHir is not so common among the women,
bat many Go it. We learn that the
change in color is only Incidental, the
Oh ,eCt being cleanliness. Cocoan"t oil
is freely used, both upon the hair and
body, and the odor of it pervades the
ar. uc DcOl)lC 4Ssio NS'AA o'-N
seem generally to be cleanly."
Here is neat description OF an inter
view with Tamasese, the so-cslied
usurper, whom the Germans are sup
porting:
"While we we're visiting one Of the
tents Tamasese approached. The family
salutcd him by crossing their arms upon
their breasts, remaining in that attitude
until he had passed. He greeted US
with 'Kalofai,' which greeting we
returned. lie is very large man, but
has less intelligent face than many OF
the others. In his hand he carried a
handkerchief with which he kept off
the flies these insects are very nu-
merous, small and pestiferous. His only
companion was his wife, who walked a
few steps behind. She was dressed in
the prevailing style"
The description of the native towns is
full Of interest:
"As we passed the houses the inmates
invited US to enter, and we visited a
number OF families. These houses, or
huts, built of bamboo, ore very well con-
structed, the framework is tied firmly
together, and the mats and thatching
which form the roofs are really art;sti-
cally woven. There are no walls, but
when it becomes necessary to shut out
wind, rain or sun mats made Of cocoanut
leaves are let down. The floors are
made of pebbles gathered from the Eeds
of fresh water streams which come down
from the mountains. There appears to
be number of people to each hut, and
when needful to form rooms tapa scleens
are hung up. They have no beds, but
sleep on mats spread upon the floor. One
would suppose these would make any
thing but downy couches, but the natives
evidently tlnd them comfortable, for at
any hour of the day some members Of
the ;amily are sure to be found asleep.
Their pillows which consist of length
of bamboo supported at either end on
legs-forn o part of the very meagcr
furniture, the other part consisting of q
strong box in which are kept the tipery
and valuablcs. In the Tamasese villages
we noticed that every hut had its rifle or
rifles, so that the men arc ready at any
moment for call to arms. The Kings
palace differs from the hut5 only in size,
and the possession OF several European
trunks"
The following as to the betrothal Of
''thc belle of The islands," should inter-
est the ladies:
"a few days since a very novel and
interesting eatertainmcnt-which we
were fortunate enough 10 witness
place or beard the American man-of-war
in the harbur. AS, native chief, visited
the ship with his household, and gave a
native dance and some plays on the
quarter.dc k. rs: is 4 man ofhcrculean
build and iine bearing; he has strong
face, rnies his peOn,c perfectly, and is
an ideal savage chief. Faapla, his daugh-
ter, is rather petite, has bright and
laughing lace, and is full of life and
grace She is said TO be tie belle of the
! island, and has had many chiefs as suit
ors, but until now 70 one has pleased
her father, whose will is the only one TO
! be consulted in the matter. it last,
however, a favored suitor has appeared
who is soon to bring his presents to the
chief. If they are acccptcd-for the
! gifts constitute the proposal--thc suit is
encouraged. Giving daughter i'll mar
riagc here is somewhat in the nature Of
n l.rt,, o,I fbn lar nd ,ol,,r pf