The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-24

VILLAGE MAID N HER ATTENDANTS.
could not look. And now" he said, II
must do it myself. l must, though I hate
it., and my heart turns sick at the thought"
The news Of the battle fought at Vaitele
has little interest for you, away Off there
in the world, where you nave SO much to
sec and near and think OF. But with us
the scenes are close at hand. Along the
quiet, palm shaded street Of Apia strange
professions have passed. Wounded bodies
in mats and plated leaves tied to poles and
borne by strong men were carried to the
mission house in the care Of good Miss
Large. Heads were paraded, some held by
the hair and some by the CORY necks, with
dwarfed testers screaming and dancing in
front. There was another solemn sight to
European eyes In q band of men carrying
the headless body of Mataafa's son, wrapped
in mats, through which a stiff and bloody
hand protruded. In front a man walked
with the young chiefs head wrapped in a
fine mat.
Fatuleau, wife of the high chief of Apia,
Seumanu-tafa. which means bird catcher,
on going out to look at the heads found
those of her three brothers, and her grief
has been healtrending. She, the wife of
Laupepa's greatest chief, had relatives on
tuc Juliet Blue, f1liu SlC Alo sOAC III " DOdU
to Savaii with the heads of her brothers to
mourn with the women, for there are no
men left of her clan. Even the taupo-sa
Village maid) killed was this poor wom-
ans niece.
One warrior, bringing home a head that
he had taken with his own hand, washed
off the warpaint before he Carried it to the
king and discovered in the dead face the
features of his brother. 1t was a CHASTITY
sight to see this man kissing the head and
crying aloud and praying.
Out on Mulinuu the king sat on the We
randa of the presidents house, and, &C.
cording to the old Samoan custom, the
heads were placed before him. From the
words of royal commentator, Mali Toa,"
employed IN such occasions, comes the
royal name. It is said that the king was
Mortified at finding girls heads and or
dered them at once to be returned to the
enemy. But it is always customary to
send back the enemies heads after they
have been laid ut tue feet of the victorious
chief. .e.-.
The women Of Samoa will avenge their
murdered sisters. These women have great
influence and biting tongues, and their
weapon is ridicule. l think I see now the
pretty girls pretending TO hold their heads
on as they pass any relative, however dis
tant, Of these men. There will be ~jeerine
names for them that will 90 down in their
families and shame their descendants.
There are nl;x,y stories of the women in
this battle of Vaitele. One pulled her hus.
band from IA hole where he was hiding and
slammed him to fight. One rushed in when
she saw her father fall, and snatching his
gun fought over his body to save his head
and succeeded III dragging him away.
The most distinguished taupo or village
maid on Laupepa's side was Suega (pro
nounced Suanza), a tall, fine girl, who &C
companied Seumanu, the high chief O.
Apia, into battle, carrying his gun and ~
She was a great favorite with the Ameri
can naval officers who were in exile her
for SO many weary months after the terri
BILE hurricane that wrecked the Trenton
and Vandalia four years ago, and Seu
manu, her uncle, VAS the gallant old mai
who headed the rescuing chain of native
when they risk ed their ives again an,
again by daring ventures into the angr,
seas in the hope of rescuing so1ne poo
sailor who might be washed from tn
wrecks with a breath of life in him. Hi
heroism on that memorable occasion wa
rewarded by the United States govern
ment with a present Of a handsome whale
boat, and Suega was loaded with trinket
from the sailors in appreciation Of he
many acts of kindness. IS
What makes the crime still more revolt
ing is that one of these women was "a taupe
sa-a name respected by all islanders. Ey
cry village has one, elected by the wome
for the old fashioned qualities of beaut
and virtue. She is surrounded by duennas
has a dwarf to dance before her in her stat
professions and is waited upon by the pref
test maids of the village. Her duties az
to entertain the head chiefs guests, len
the silva dances, make the ava-a nativ
beverage made and drank with considerabl
ce~remony-and conduct herself blameless
ly. She is not only looked after by the du
cnnas, but by the jealous eyes of the riva
beauty, who will step into her place SHOULD
anything Do proved against her.
They dress in fine mats, with necklace
of scarlet berries, sharks teeth and shells
and wear ii gorgeous %headdress of human
hair aud SHELLS that look very fantasti
and barbarously regal.
Ihope it is not true that one girl was be
headed when alive. The story is that sh
WAS wounded and fell, clinging to II small
tree or sapldng. and that she begged for he
life, cryinn, II am a woman" But sh
was not spared, and her head was carries
into Mulinpu. 'E F