Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

forth in anv or every article of apparel
which thev NAV be so fortunate as to pos
sess After church the raimenJ is carefully
laid away Until the following SUNDAY.
let the reader imagine stalwart kanaka,
his hair standing out in all directions fully
foot. barc-footed and bare-legged, niece
Of native cloth tied about his waist, while
the upper part of his body is covered by a
British soldiers scarlet coat, minus the
tails and brass buttons, and, 10 add to the
ludicrouS appearance, the coat put on with
the opening down the back.
Following him came duskv woman with
g. bright green bonnet on her head and no
clothing except waist cloth, and yet she
stepped along with a iaunty air, evidently
as proud Of her one article of millinery as
one of our more fortunate European damsels
would he with Worth'S latest triumph on
her back.
One old chap sported q vest, which he
wore buttoned behind, and, to cap the
climax, I saw one young Kanaka with an
old-iaShioned stovcpipe hat, which was full
oI holes, through many of which his coarse
black hair protruded in little tufts This
was too much for nv decorum, and / fairly
roared with laughter.
When the worshipers were all inside a
native preacher made his appearance,
dressed In 4 well-fttinc suit of black broad
him into the church, and found the congre-
cation seated cross-legged on the ground,
while Z small platform at the further end
was reserved for the preachers exclusive
use. He seemed to speak easily and elo-
Ouentlv, and was listened 10 with great at
teution, but, as he preached in the native
tongue Of course l was unable to follow his
discourse, so / gave MY attention to the
church itself. 1t was truly marvel of
ingenuity.
The building was nearly square, the four
corner posts being lofty palm trees, which
were fully 40 feet apart. The stringers and
ratterS were of the same wood, and the roof
and sides covered with mats of bamboo and
CocOanut fibre. The wonderful thing about
the structure was that not nail or even
wooden pin was used in the work of build
ing the church, everything being secured in
its place with lashings made of the cocoanut
fibre. ] could not help mentally comparing
the rude church, the product of native
hands entirely, with the comfortable Eu-
rOpean-built cottage in which the mission
arv himself usually is to be found, and won-
dc1ed if all the pennies collected by our for
eign missions to build churches for the
heather are used for the purpose for which
they are solicited
When the sermon was ended, the congre-
cation sang several hymns Although the
words were kanaka, what was my surprise
and pleasure to find they had been set to
some Of our good old tunes and as the ma
tives have very correct ear. l enjoyed the
music immensely. / could distinguish sew
eral alto voices, and one deep-chested old
hanaka sustained the bass with voice /
have never heard equaled in volume. /
atterward learned to sing several of their
hymns, but 1 am unable to record the words
here, as l acquired them as a parrot does
English, without knowing the meaning.
Alter the service was over / returned to
nv friends house, where dined on a species
Of fish much like our herring, and an abun-
dance Of fruit. had expressed desire for
q collection of sea shells, and after dinner
Manassa presented Inc with nearly peck
Of the beautiful varieties for which these
islands are famous. also secured beautiful
spray of white coral, which was remarkable
1Or its likeness 20 a reindeer's antlers. The
coral is so brittle that it must be packed in
sand and completely covered, as a sudden
jar will break the delicate sprays which
lorm its chief beauty.
While seated in the hut with my '1em"
and hls numerous family, one of his wives
(for polvgamy is not vet eradicated) arose
and placed a long braid of hair across the
entrance to the dwelling. / was wondering
what this might mean when a native woman
came 10 the door as if about to enter, but,
seeing the braid on the mat at the entrance,
she turned quietly on her heel and de-
parted l found upon inquiry the comb
lngs of hair are saved by every Kanaka
woman and braided together like the one in
question. When an unwelcome visitor is