The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11

Atathss end stood mp b sing or sat down 10
M The aftssnats companies Of singers: Kuma
md Little Maxim on the north. Butaritari and
II eoniunct hamlets to the south: both groups
conspicuous In barbario bravery. In the midst
between these rival camps Of troubadours o
bench was placed. and here the King and Queen
hroned 1t. some two or three feet above the
crowded audience on the door. Tebureimoa,
Is usual. In his striped pyiamas. with satchel
strapped across one shoulder. doubtless Tin the
island fashion, to contain his pistols: the
Queen in purple holokn. her copious hair let
down. . fan in her hand. The bench was
turned facing to the strangers. q piece Of we'll
considered civility: and when It was the turn
Of Butaritari to sing. the pair must twist round
on the bench. lean their elbows on the rail. and
turn to US the spectacle Of their broad backs.
Tho royal couple occasionally solaced them
selves with clay pipe. and the pomp Of state
was further heightened BY the rifles Of picket
Of the guard.
With this kingly countensncs and ourselves
souatted on the ground. We heard several
songs from ono side or the other. Then royalty
and It's guards withdrew. and Queen Victoris's
son and daughter-in-law were summoned by
reclamation to the vacant throne. Our pride
was. perhaps. q little modified when we were
Joined on our high places by certain thriftless
loafer Of q white; and yet was glad. too. for
the man had a smattering Of native and could
give me some idea Of the subject of the songs.
Ono was patriotic. and dared Tembinok OF
Apemama, the terror Of the group. to IN In
vsslon. Ono mined the planting Of taro and
the harvest home. Some were historical and
oommemorated kings and the illustrious
chances OF their time such as bout OF drink
Ing or war. One. at least, was a drama OF
domestic interest, excellently played by the
troupe from Maxim. It told the story Of man
who has lost his wife. at first bewails her loss.
then seeks another The earlier strains Tor acts)
are played exclusively by men: but toward
the end q woman appears. who has Just lost
her husband: and suppose the pair console
each other. for the finale seemed OF happy
onion. OF some Of the songs my informant
told me briefly they were " like about the Vice.
men,: this could have guessed myself Each
side. should have said. was strengthened by
one or two women. They were all soloists.
did not very often join in the performance. but
stood disengaged at the back part OF the stage.
and looked. In ridi. necklace. and dressed hair.
for all the world like European ballet dancers.
When the song was anyway broad these ladies'
came particularly to the front. and 1t was sin
gulsr to see that, after each entry. the
premiere danseuse pretended to be overcome
BY shame. as though led on beyond
what she had meant. and her male
assistants made feint OF driving her away
IKE one who had disGraced herself. Similar
anectations accompany the truly obscene
dances OF Samoa. where they are very vol
In place. Hero 1t was different. The words
perhaps in this free-spoken world were gross
enough to make carter blush: but the most
suggestive feature was this feint OF shame.
for such parts the women showed some dis
position; they were port, they wero neat.
@ey were acrobatic. they were at times really |
amusing. and some of them were pretty. But |
@'s 10 not.the artists field: there is the whole
Math OF heaven between such capering and |
osiing, and the strange rhythmic gestures and |
suange rapturous frenzied faces with which |
sae best OF the male dancers held us SPELL
oound through Gilbert Island ballad
4, Almost from the frat 1t was apparent that
4epeople OF the city were defeated. might
usve thought them even good. only had the
o'nei troop before my eyes to correct my
,,sandara and remind me continually OF tho !
a'ue more and how much 1t Is" Perceiving
yourselves worsted. the choir OF Dutaritar
slew confused. Numbered and broke down:
.u'o this hubbub Of unfamiliar intervals. I -,
s snoaid not myself have recognized the slip.
''he audiences were quick to catch II, and to
'sf' 10 crown all. the Maxim company began
sance OF truly superlative merit. know not
sas' was about, / was too much absorbed to
IN one act part Of the chorus. squeal-
some strange falsetto. produced very ]