Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-07-26

OuN oN NuN NNuHt interesting tIfuUUN uI
Islands In the Paclnc.
There are, perhaps, among the many
groups of islands that stud the expanse
of the broad Pacific like glorious emer-
aids, clusters some that are more beau.
tiful than the Marquesas, but Il is safe
to say there are none that are more in
teresting. While engaged in whaling,
as a young man, visited the Mar
/ quesas islands a number of times, and
always with increasing interest. This
I group was discovered about two hum
I drcd years ago by Spanish navigator
named Mandana, and the islands are
sometimes named after him.
The Marquesas group, being of vol
canic origin, are distinguished by lofty
mountain peaks that look from dis
tance like the remains of titanic ruins.
Being situated near the equator the
climate Is warm and the vegetation is
peculiarly luxuriant. The natives of
these islands are splendid specimens of
humanity, the men being remarkable
for their fine forms, great stature and
marvellous strength. I remember see
ing a chief measured who stood six feet
eight inches in height, and he was
straight as q lance and as perfectly
proportioned as a Greek statue, and
when we wondered at his size he
laughed and told us that he had a
brother who was much taller than him
self
Owing to the climate, the only dress
of the Marquesans is strip of bark
cloth about the waist, but they make
up Cor the want Of raiment by the
most elaborate system of tattooing
have ever seen. They tattoo every
part Of the body, even to the palms Of
their hands, the toes of the feet and
the shaven parts of their heads This
tattooing is Of the most elaborate
design. The intricate patterns, how
ever, are seen only on mon. the women
confning themselves to bracelet, tat
tooed on the arm, or few blue rings
on the fingers. The men who do the
tattooing are artists in their way, and
are supported in royal style at the ex-
pense Of the people into whose skins
they prick their curious patterns
While the men are so tall and hand
some. curiously enough the women are
comparatively short of stature. being
stumpy and awkward in their figures,
and not particularly good looking.
Like all savage children, those Of the
Marquesas islands are slender, graceful
and remarkably pretty. From child
hood up to cid age they delight in ar
ranging their hair in the most fantas-
tic fashion. Sometimes the whole crown
is shaven except two tufts, one on each
side of the head, which resembles horns.
Again, the hair is dressed in little
lunches the spaces between them being
shaven, each bunch being crowned by
bright sea she'll or a flower.
i ut IL is not only in their dress and
appearance that the Marquesans are
peculiar. Their houses are entirely
different from those OF the other is.
landers. They are usually built of
stone, and some Of them are two stories
in height. access TO the upper floors be-
ing had by means of ladders, which are
used from the outside. ent rance being
made through the openings made for
windows. As in all warm countries.
fires for cooking are built away from
the houses, usually under tree and
without any protecting roof. Like the
Samoans and Fiiians. these people
sleep on mats, in the manufacture Of
which they show great skill.
The Marquesans are very fond of
children, and every time a child Is
born 10 one of their chiefs they build
for il n pretty little house and adorn
IL with toys suitable 70 the sex.
The people live in villages, for they
fu1 nd Ia 1.a II
every cluster of houses there is al
ways TO be found a %oofed-in ampi-
theater in which they hold their dances
at the full Of every neon. These
dances are largely social. but they
still have a religions significance.
though the people claim TO be Chris
tians
The Marquesans are very slSillful in
building canoes and making war weap-
ons, and before the coming of white
missionaries about forty years ago, the
tribes on the different islands We're per-
petually at war with each other. One
curious method they had OF declaring
war was 20 send into the country Of
their enemies secret spy, whose duty
il was 10 kin or injure all the bread
fruit trees he could. As breadfruit is
one Of the principal articles of food
with these peonle, this cruel act might
be called cutting of supplies Prison
ers who were taken in battle were in
variably offered up as sacrifices 70 their
gods, but unlike the New Zealanders
and the Fiiians the Marquesans were
not cannibals.
The Marquesans manage their canoes
with great skill and. Of course, are ex-
eellent swimmers. The shores Of their
islands are resorted 10 by great num-
hers OF monstrous sharks; but instead
OF being intimidated. the duslSy swim
mers do not hesitate 10 leap into the
water and dive down to attack the
sharks with their knives. The fact
that very few Of them are ever killed
in this dangerous work shows how skill
ful and brave they are.
Excepting the chiefs, who are per-
mitted TO have as many wives as they
choose, the Marquesans do not prac-
tice polygamy. One reason, / think,
why the women are not physically
so fine as the men is the fact that
all the work deyolves on them. They
are virtually the hewers OF wood and
the drawers Of water, and they do all
the agricultural work Of the islands,
which is very considerable, as the prin-
cipal food is fruit and vegetables.
While naturally quick-tempered and
inclined TO be domineerlng, the Mar
quesan islanders are fond OF children,