Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-17

Missionary Cburch,sn auxiliary Of the
Church OF England.
The dance commenced by about
twenty-five MAORI women going
through various exercises, accompany
ing all their quaint gestures with
native aonrs OF greeting. They wore
dark skirts and light waists decorated
with colored ribbons. After going
through this calls.henic drill for some
time, the women retfeated and We be-
held about MY men crouchlug or
lying PROSTATE on the ground. They
were naked with the exception OF
short skirt around the loins. Suddenly
they sprang up with yell which al.
most caused the spectators TO shudder.
This was followed by dancing aud
singing, which was conducted with
great preclslon, aud the contortlons Of
their bodies were truly surprising. IL
wa. weird scene. The waves Of the
ocean dashlng on the beach within =
few rods OF us contributed n nttipg hc-
commandment 10 tue yells aud excited
countenancos OF tho performers. At
times the arms were ouistretched,
defiant attitudes .were assumed, and
their rolling cyesand EXTENDED tongues
almost terrified the lockers on.
The performance lasted about an
hour, after which our company dis.
mounted, unsgddled the horses aud
commenced u tour OF Inspection greet
ing the saints with the usual "hongi"
or nose.rubbing.
Te Rahui Ia a very small village,
contaiDg fow Maori huts, but all the
Saints Of the district had co.operated 10
provide for tho accommodation Of the
hundreds who were expected to con-
ference. The meeting house, or
WHARF, IL built In Maori style, the
front being decorated with carved
figures ant painted In varisus col II.
The floor inside was covered with
whafikls, or ilax mats, which the con.
gsegation ut upon In preference 10
/ chairs or benches. lts seating capacity
Ia said TO be about 800, and II Is fan
tsstically decorated inside with carved
panels and woven reeds. The house Ia
seventy feet long by thirty wide and is
substantially built OF lumber.
A large dining room had been built
for the occasion ab,ut 100 long by 20
foct wide. A table had beon made tx.
tending from ono end OF the building
TO the other and capable Of accommo'
dating 200 persons at sitting. We
were called To supper, and about that
number were soon seated around the
festive board. White table clothes
were spread and mutton, pork, beef,
plum buildings, cake, ETC., were served
In true European style.
The native walters are very prompt
and courteous and, though many Of
the modern appliances were lacking,
we enjoyed our feast as well as though
served In the dining halls Of Salt Lake
hotels. Instead OF electric bells, cords
were strung from the diniug.rsom 10
tue improvised kitchen behind, which
rung bells In the various departments
notifying the cooks when fresh sup.
plies were needed.
IL was estimated that about FIVE hun.
dred persons were fed nj each meal the
flpt day and the readers OF the NEWS
eau readily surmieo that vast amount
Of provlHions were consumed. At the
close OF the conference we learned that
the commissariat department had dis
posed OF 10 beeves, u sheep, 80 hogs,
y tons OF flour, 10 tons Of sweet and
Irish potatoes, dozen Worcester
sauce, l large keg Of butter, o dozen
cases OF jam, ton OF sugar, |! oHsrs
baking powder, besides large quaint.
~ OF ourrants, rsislns, etc.
All corners were made welcome, AMI
II was certainly the largest and most
united reunion your corrcspo ndent has
ever attended.
Such kind. hearted hospitality Is
characteristic feature Of the Maori
people, and they evidently retain some
Of the traita OF character possessed by
ancient Israel In their many pilgrim.
ages.
"PHoEsIx."
PoRlRuA, Wellington, n. r.,
April 20th, 1902.