The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-12
A SAMOAN DANCE.
How the Girls of the Island Enter
tanned Visitors.

Harper's Magazine.
The girls having announced that they
would give dance that night, after
short interval OF rest spent the remain
der of the afternoon weaving wreaths of
flowers and dressing their hair. When
night came the guest house was lighted
with two or three lamps placed upon the
floor. and a screen was arranged at the
far end. behind which the girls retired
to make their preparations. Four mu-
sicians seated themselves on one side,
and proceeded TO beat a sort OF wooden
drum at the sound IF which the guests
began to assemble. Neither the chief
nor the old men showed themselves, as
the silva is looked upon with great dis
favor by the missionaries, and the elders
doubtless thought ii would not be decor
Gus of them TO be present, though they
gave me TO understand that they had no
objection TO the dance taking place. The
house was soon filled with the young
men and girls, who sat chatting, laugh
ing and smoking and facing a clear
place left In the center for the perform
ers.
The musicians beat a sharp tattoo on
the drums and, at great round Of APP
plause and clapping of hands. the four
girls appear from behind the screen and
take their places in the open space. Their
handsome brown bodies glistsn with cocoa
nut oil. and their hair Is decorated with
shells and white and scarlet flowers, and
each Is clad in a very short lava lava OF
about the size OF a large pocket handker-
chief. over this Is a frlnged and tasseled
girdle made of pandanus fiber and dyed
In brilliant colors. and each wears round
the neck and falling over the breasts a
wreath Of strongly scented flowers.
The lamps are now placed on the edge
of the mats. and the girls seat themselves
in line facing them. one begins singing
in shrill hgh-pitched voice. and the
others I'm turn take up the strain the four
voices blending In a weird sort of har-
mony. to which the beating of the drums
and the deep bass of the musicians make
an effective accompaniment. AS the girls
sing. their bodies sway from side 20 side.
the arms wave gracefully in perfect time.
while the music. which commences slowly
gradually quickens. until arms bodies and
voices are gradually going at lightning
speed; then they gradually slow down
again, and the song dies away in a soft
tender whisper.
After more applause and loud shouts of
'Leleil lelei," (good, goodD the girls
stand up. the music starts again. and
they begin 10 dance the real Samoan silva
the anathema rnaranatha OF the missior-
AIRY, and the chief delight OF the pleasure
loving islander. The brown bodies glis-
tening In the fitful night, sway from the
hips In dreamy languorous motion, while
quivering. rising and falling like the rip
ping OF water when the breeze kisses It's
surface; the air IS heavy with the sensu-
Gus odor OF the wreaths and the scented
OIL with which their bed-.s are anointed
/ the limpid brown eyes CLEAN with strange
light. and are yelled again by the droop-
ing lids. Again the music quickens. and
+ IS intermlngled with quaint bsrbaric dis
cords; the drums give forth a louder.
harsher note. and the voiuptuons sway
+ ing motion elvcE place 10 quick leaps high
{ IN the air. Wild gestures and tempestuous
tossing % the limbs. the wreaths and
! girdles whit and twist. the eyes that
were 50 soft and dreamy now CLEAN and
sparkle Ike burning Goals. louder stlll
! sounds the shouting and the drums.
quicker speeds the dance. till at length
+ with one wild cry it ceases and the girls
sink on the mats. painting and quivering
/ with excitement and exhaustion.