The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-30
FEARFUL 1es1 OF EEAlrX.
The ordeal Go which n Samoan Low
err was Subjected.

- -
The following grewsome though true
story shows what powerful lever fam
lily approval and tribal influence exert
upon the Samoan character. The story
Is youched for in every detail:
A certain young Samoan, the son of a
chief. who had reached that age when "a
young mans fancy lightly turns to
thoughts Of love-" became deeply enam.
ored OF the taupo. or belle, belonging 10
neighboring village, between whose talk
ing man." father of the taupo, and the
suitor's family there existed a bitter
feud. The attachment was reciprocated.
but, as is customary in such important
matters as matrimony, the question of
eligibility was duly submitted to the
aiga ta-e-nal, or family council which
promptly returned a verdict Of "impos-
sible.' Instead. however, of accepting
the decree OF his family and renouncing
his inamorata the young man rebelled
and declared he would wed his dusky
sweetheart in spite of all the code II
Faa Samoa and. the trammels of family
and tribal disapproval that could be inn
posed. The young girl also INSERTED her
independence and scorn for the obstacles
which were put in their way and, with
the help of a few girl friends. began pre-
pairing her trousseau of fine mats and
gaudy tapa, which brides in Samoa af-
feet.
The wedding day approached. The
feeling between the rival villages ran
high and. before the arrival of the date
fixed for the ceremony, eliminated in
open hostilities. Overwhelming pressure
was brought to bear upon the poor lover.
who was reviled and taunted with being
a traitor and all the curses of endless
generations of ancestors heaped upon his
devoted head; family influence combined
to exert its every vile TO break the en-
gagement, but still he stood resolute. He
was driven from house and village, an
outcast on the world and his property
confscated and divided
The day came, and the bride sat alone,
deserted by her family, waiting for her
faithful bridegroom. The hours passed.
He did not come. Suddenly a step was
heard outside the hut where she anx-
iously waited. She rose expectant. 4
curtain was thrust aside. Something
was thrown into the room and rolled TO
the feet OF the Mortified girl. She stoop-
ed and picked il up, and then, screaming
and laughing. she fell upon the ground,
maniac.
II was the severed head of her father.
and before her stood her aifianeed hus-
band, stern, relentless and cold as If
turned to stone, In his hand the terribis
mife-oti (head knife) freshly dripping.
Family persuasion had triumphed at last.
and the ordeal which had been given him
of proving his fidelity to tribe and family
in order to be forgiven was the task he
had pcrformed-taking the head of the
brides own father and throwing it at her
feet.
The shock was too great for the poor
girl, whose reason mercifully gave way.
She may yet be seen about Apia, home
less and wandering. a sadly pathetic fig
ure, decked, Ophelialke, In bridal
wreaths. with a chapet of vines twined
around her head. singing her family song
of victory or grooming love ditty. The
young warrior upon whose fealty so ter
rible test had been imposed sought aii
found in war that oblivion which Is
poor afflicted bride elect yet hopelessly
awaits.-San Francisco Chronicle.