The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-02

Islanders that they commenced going TO
the lake in crowds as early as IL o'clock in
the day. and before 2 the grounds at the
lake terminus were crowded in all direc-
tions.
w. b. Goodrich, secretary of the road,
estimsted last evening that between H.
90 and Il. 900 people were carried. count
ing both ways. during the day and night
The crowd evidently knew that the
queer looking people were great swimmers
and divers, for when II. ]. Moors. who
has control OF the Islanders, came down
to the lake front he found his scantily
clad but athletic proteges diving for coins
that persons threw into the water. Mr..
Moors thought the water too cold for such
sport and stopped the circus for the time
being. much to the disappointment
Of the small boys, who were try
ing to get a few pointers in the
diving art However. the crowd did
not suffer in the way of amusement, for
the Islanders betook themselves to their
water craft and gave much more instruc-
tive series OF exhibitions. The first thing
that attracted attention was the pa pau, or
Samoan canoe. 1t Is sixteen feet long,
and so narrow that IL is supported by an
outrigger. One man only can ride, and TO
propel the uncertain craft he always uses
a paddle. The sa tau Is a canoe similar to
the pa pau, only that il is three feet longer
and made for three persons. The Samo-
ans use this craft great deal IN their
fishing trips.
Floating lazily on the water was a cigar
like structure. decked over at each end and
supported by an outrigger. This is the
Ellice island surf canoe. and was dug out
of very hard wood. 1t was especially
made for running over the surfs of the
South Sea islands and would live in seas
that ordinary boats would never attempt.
The most wonderful OF the craft used by
the strange and curious people Is the Gil
bert island canoe, and in its construction
exemplifes the adage that necessity is
the mother of invention. The ISL
ands inhabited by the Gilbert people
produce no hard woods. or trees large
enough with which to make canoes. The
cocoanut and pandanus, trees of soft,
puppy interior, are all they have, and it
would be impossible to make canoes from
them. The natives were not to be dis
couraged by such difficulties and SO got
pieces OF wood, three or four feet long, one
half inch thick and three wide, mostly
from driftwood and constructed a craft
that is certainly extraordinary. 1t is
thirty feet long. sharp at both ends, and
from the sides runs down TO a
sharp edge at the keel. The beam is only
one and half feet and the depth three
feet These dimensions. taken together
with its structure, would render IL very
cranky craft. but TO guard against this the
natives brought into play the outrigger.
The canoe Is fitted with 3 triangular
shaped mat sail. and, strange as il may
seem, there is no regular mast. and in
lacking what Is called the tack end" OF
the sail is picked up aud carried from bow
TO stern, which in turn becomes the bow.
The outrigger is always to .'the wind
ward" and if the wind comes up strong
the sailor climbs out on the outriggsr. thus
making il impossible to eapsize. Sud-
denly there Vas n movement OF the
canoes toward the shore. and soon
a wicrd, strange sort of noise. such
as one might imagine formed part
of the celebrated sun dance" of
the Indians. was heard. In a few moments
the cause of this Was evident. The
Islanders were marching to the Madison
street pavilion 10 give their entertainment
of war dances, native songs. club drills
and imitation of eating missionary. The
men were armed with clubs. spears. etc.
and as they walked along 20 the beating
OF drums and strange vocal sounds one
felt that il was worth seeing. especially II
there was no danger OF 8 personal en-
counter The women, three Of them
especially, have pleasant oountenanees.
and from the smiles that wreath their
faces seem 90 enjoy the stares and
comments they receive from the people.
Both men and women have erect carriages
and ATE splendid specimens Of what would
now be termed physical culture. IL 10
also evident TO any one who looks at them
closely that they are not ali from the same
tribe. for their features. dress and pecu-
liArities Of marks and treatment of the
body. etc, showed marked differences.
This vas ably explained By ]. w. Apper-
son to the immense crowd thai tiiied the
Madison street pavilion hall "a its utmost
capacity. lie told how the natives THAI
we're about TO appear represented
SIX distinct groups Of islands. the
Samoan, which ara Of especial In
teress 10 the United States. the
Toaga. Fiji. Fortuna. Uvea and Gilbert
or line islands. The natives Of the Sa-
moan islands are large and powerful and
boast Of being the oldest inhabitants Of
the South seas Thsy are tattooed from