The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-04

diminished forces that they passed music
ally on up the dark road.
Meanwhile, inside the luminous pictures
frightened and faded. / stood for some
while unobserved in the rear of the speeta-
tors, when could hear just in front of me
pair of lovers following the show with
interest, the male playing the part of in
terpreter, and Qike Adam) mingling car
esses with his lecture. The wild animals,
tiger in particular, and that old schools
treat favorite, the sleeper and the mouse,
were hailed with joy; but the chief marvel
and delight was in the Gospel series.
Maka, in the opinion Of his aggrieved wife,
did not properly rise to the occasion
hat Is the matter with the man?
Why can't he talk?'' she cried.
The matter with the man, I
think, was the greatness OF the
opportunity; he reeled under his good
fortune; and whether he did i'll or well.
the exposure of these pious "phantoms"
did, as matter of fact, silence in all that
part of the island the voice of the scoffer.
'Why, then" the word went round.
"why, then, the Bible is truel" And on
our return afterwards we were told the i'm
preston was yet Lively, and those who had
seen might be heard telling those who had
not: "Oh, yes, it is all true; these things
all happened; we have seen the pictures"
The argument is not so childish as it
seems. for | doubt if these islanders are
acquainted with any other mode of repre-
sentation but photography; so that the
picture of an event Ton the old melodrama
principle that ''the camera cannot lie,
Joseph would appear strong proof of its
occurrence. The fact amused us the more,
because our slides were some of them ludi-
crously silly, and one Christ before Pilate)
was received with shouts of merriment in
which even Maka was constrained to Join.
Sunday, July 28.--Karaltch came to ask
for a repetition of the ''phantoms." This
was the accepted word; and, having re-
ceived promise, turned and left my
humble roof without the shadow of a sali-
tation. / felt it impolitic to have the least
appearance of pocketing a slight; the
times had been too difficult and were still
too doubtful, and Queen Victoria's son
was bound to maintain the honor of his
house. No kanitch was accordingly
summoned that evening TO the Kicks,
where Mrs. Rick fell foul of him in words,
and Queen Victoria's son assailed him
with indignant looks. | was the ass with
the lions skin; | could not roar in the
language of the Gilbert islands, but could
stare. Karaitch declared he meant no Of
fence, apologiZed in round, hearty, gen.
tlemanly manner, and became at once at
his ease. He had a dagger TO ex-
anime, and announced he would come
I'd price IL on the MORROW, LOQdV DekIg
Sunday. This nicely in a heather
with eight wives surprised me. The dagger
was good for killing fish," he said,
roguishly, and was supposed TO have his
eye upon fish upon two legs. It is at least
odd that Eastern Polynesia fish" was the
accepted euphemism for the human sacri-
fee. Asked as to the population of his
who sat waiting MIN outside the door, and
they put it at 40, but (added karaitch
jovialiy) there will soon be plenty more,
for all the women are in the family way.
Long before we separated | had quite for
gotten his offence. He, however, still bore
1t in mind, and, with a very courteous in
SEPARATION, returned early on the next day,
paid US long visit, and punctliiously said
farewell when he departed.
Monday, July 29.-The great day came
round at last. In the first hours the night
was startled by the sound of clapping
hands and the chant of Nei kamaunaue,
its melancholy, slow and somewhat men,
acing measures broken at Intervals by
formidable shout. The little morsel of
hours was observed Mt midday playing on
the green entirely naked, and equally un-
observed and unconcerned.
The summer parlor on its artificial islet,
relieved against the shimmering lagoon
and shimmering itself with sun and timed
iron, was all day crowded about
by eager men and women. Within
it was boxed full of islanders of
any age and size, and in every degree of
nudity and finery. So close we squatted,
that at one time had a mighty handsome
woman on my knees and two little naked
urchins bracing their feet against my back.
Here might be a dame in full attire of
holoku and hat and flowers, and her next
neighDor might the next moment strip
-Arf- 80 ehT hnr faf
shoulders and come out monument of
flesh, pointed rather than covered by the
hair-bredth ridi. Little ladies, who
thought themselves too great 10 appear
undraped upon so high festival, were
seen to pause outside In the broad SUM-
shine, their miniature ridis IN their hands;
a moment more and they were iull dressed
and entered the concert room.
At either end stood up TO sing or sat
down TO rest the 3 ornate companies of
singers; kuma and Little Maxim on the
north, Butaritari and its conJunct hamlets
to the south; both groups conspicuous in
barbaric bravery. In the midst between
these rival camps of troubadors bench
was placed, and here the king and queen
throned it, some two or three feet above
the crowded audience on the floor. Te-
bureimoa, as usual, in his striped paiamas,
with a satehel strapped across one
shoulder, doubtless Tin the island fashion)
70 contain his pistols; the queen in 3 pur-
PIE holoku, her copious HAIR let down,
tan in her hand. The bench was turned
facing TO the strangers, piece of we'll
considered civility; and when il was the
turn of Butaritari TO sing. the pair must
twist round on the bench, lean their elbows
on the rail and turn 10 US the spectacle Of
their broad backs. The royal couple &C.
casionally solaced themselves with a CLAW
pipe, and the pomp OF state was further
heightened by the rihes of picket of the
guard.
With this kingly countenance and our
selves squatted on the ground, We heard
several songs from one side or the other.
Then royalty and its guards withdrew.
and Queen Victoria's son and daughter-iu-
law were summoned by reclamation 10
the vacant throne. Our pride was, per-
haps, little modified when we were
Joined on orr high places hY a certain