The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-23
A BELLE OF SAMOA.

Sefalina was the prettiest girl on the
Samoan island of Manono. All the young
ma naias smiled at her and brought her
real apa-lagi-foreign-p Of gay
ribbons and parasols whenever they re-
turned from a trip to Apia.
The other girls were jealous and said
that she was a witch, who turned the
hearts of men with her ugly face; that she
fancied that she was above her comrades,
and Of even more Importance than the tan
DO, who was the daughter Of q chief. Sc
falina, they said, was of poor family,
too, and for this alone she ought to be
tabooed. But she lived merrily along un-
heedful Of the envious glaLces cast upon
hsr.
Now, however, q change was to come.
She was 10 years old and was yet unmar-
ried. Her parents were alarmed, for 16
years is q very advanced age at which to
be married In Samoa. She would soon be
an old maid and would be obliged to mar
~ some common man, for in Samoa every
ono Is married sooner or later.
1t was I'm vain that her parents expostu-
lated with her and begged her to listen to
the pleadings Of some dusky youth. She
WOuiu always say ATooit 1Ot
be auiet-and run of to the woods, where
she gathered flowers and played with the
birds all day long.
1t was as she came tripping down the
mountain side from one of these excur-
sions that young Taliau, the high chief Of
Apolima, first saw her. He heard q sweet
voice singing little native melody, grow
ing more and more distinct as the owner
"a a. nd ho and
denly found himself face to face with the
most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
Her lava-lava, or skirt was of native
tapa, stained In gorgeous figures Of scar
let and brown. A tipouta, or loose bloust
of thin yellow tapa, bordered around th'
neck with fluffy ruching, covered the up
per part of her body. Her feet were bare, Al
were her round, glistening. brown arms
Behind her left ear was q scarlet hibiscus
peeping out through q soft brown curl
and round her neck was string of Grim
son sea beans.
She carried a basket made Of q woven
palm leaf, filled with gorgeous tropical
flowers, and the brilliant light of the sun
falling upon her and illuminating the
background of green, made her seem like
some wood nymph just stepping out OF
3 her sylvan cave.
Tnliau had seen many Samoan bellies
He had been courted on all sides because
of his high rank, but never before had he
been impressed like this. The south sea
Cupid had sent an arrow straight into hit
savage breast. AS he greeted her with the
usual "TaIofa',-my love to you-he made
up his mind that Sefalina must be hi
bride.
She looked up at him innocently and
replied, "Soifua!''-m God bless you'll
and passed-on down the mountain.
The next day four Samoan girls came
fine mat, the gifts of Taliau, and within Q
iau for the hand of Sefalina For, however
slowly the Samoans may move In matters
of labor, inlovs affairs there is no lag
ging.
But SefaliNa still said, "Lcai" Taliau
was rich, but she did not care for his fine
mats. She did not like him, and ahe would
not marry him.
This time, however, her parents were
firm. Old Aeli, her father, would not heal
Of Letting the echance 60 by of uniting hi
family, which was of humble origin, with
that of so high chief as Taliau, and h<
sternly bade his daughter be quiet and
make ready forthe engagement. InSamoa
the fathers word is law, and when her en-
treaties availed soothing Sefalina could not
rebel
At first she grew angry; then, as the IA
tai day arrived, rad and melancholy. AL
the leading families came over from Apo
lima to witness tho marriage Of their chief
The five suitors Of Sefalina-Taliau and
-four others-weres placed In the upper por'
'tion of a-Samoan house made for the pur'
pose, and each onesof them was presented
with palm leaf, which he was to put
through ascrack in 1he floor. Sefaiina was
In the lower portion Of the house, and az
she pulled each of these palms in success
sion the owner who was concealed above,
was tn speak her name.
III it was the right person who thus
spoke, she was to say "Tbis Is the voice
of hLn whom wish to marry" III, how
ever, the owner of the first palm leaf was
not tho successful candidate for the maid
ems affections sho wonld say, "This is
not the voice of him Iwish to marry, and
would pass OH 30 tho next
Scfahna pulled the first, second, third
and fourth leaves, and to each one gave
tho expected answer. She paused before
the fifth and last, and then, stepping for
ward with look sf determination ON her
facu, gave 10 reso,uto pull. AS the loud
voice OF Taliau pronounced her name she
answered in firm, clear toner, This Is not
the voice of him wish to marry"
A hush Of establishment fell upon the
multitude. Then "A young talking man,
who had been standing ready To cover
Sefalina with fine mats. spoke out This
daughter Of the people has refused TO
marry Taliau, the high chief Of Apolima
Il Is "a foul trick. Her father shall be
punished for thus playing with the tribe
OF Taliau. Down with himP
But old Aeli, his bronze skin crimson
with wrath, cried out; 1T IL q mistake