The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-15
A SAMOAN TEST OF FEALTY.


what was Required Of a Lover who
C,urted q Maid OF Another Faction
The following sruesOme though true
story shows shows what "a powerful lever
family approval and tribal influence eX-
erts upon the samoan character. The
story is vouchcd for I'm every detail:
A certain Young Samoan the son OF a
chief. who had reached that age when
"a young mans fancy lightly turns 10
thoughts of love- became deeply ehsm-
ored of the taupo or belle belonging 10
neighb0rng village, htween whose taih-
ing man." father of the taupo' ana the
suIt0r family there existed blltet
feud The attachment was reciprOcated.
but as IS customary in such important
matters as matrimony. the question OF
eifgTbilftv was duly submitted % the
atca (a-e-naJ or family council. which
promptly returned a verdict Of "impossi-
ble" Instead. however OF accepting me
decree OF his family and renouncing his
lnam0rata. the young man rebehed ana
declared he would wed his dusky sweet
heart i'm spite Of all the code of Faa sa-
noa and the trammes of family ana
tribal dIsappr0val chat could be imposed
.rne Young girl also asserted her inde-
Incidence and scorn for the obstacles
which which were put I'm their WY ana
with the help Of few girl friends oesd"
prepa>ing her rousseau or Hne mat ~
ana gaudy tapa hich brides In Samoa
auecr. -,
THE wedding day approached The ieel-
inc between the rival villages ran hign.
and before the arrival of the date hAeu
for tho ceremony eliminated IN ""e"
bostuities. Overwhelming pressure was
brought 10 bear upon the poor lover WHO
was reviled and tainted with oeihS
traitor and AN the curses Of endless
,,,ror.tfons of ancestors heaped upon his
devoted head family influence comolned
IN overt its every vile TO break the en-
earement. but still he stood resolute
lie was driven from ohuse and village an
outcast on the world and his properly
confscated and divided.
The day came. and the bride sat alone
deserted by her family. waiting for her
faithful bridegroom. The hours passed
he aid not come. Suddenly step was
heard outside the hut. whore she anxious
~ waited. She rose cXpectant. curtain
was thrust aside something was thrown
into the room and rolled 20 the feet or
the Mortified girl. She stopped and pick
ell it up and then screaming ana Laughing
she fell upon the grOund-a maniac.
u was the severed head of her father'
ana before her stccd her attanced nus
band. stern. relentless and cold as t
turned 20 stone, In his hand the terIloie
mife.Ou head knife freshly dripping.
Family persuasion had triumphed at last
and the ordeal which had been given him
OF proving his fidelity 20 tribe and family
in order % be forgiven vss the task he
mad lust performed-'sb'r the head or
the brides own father a. throwing II
al her feet.
The shock was too s-D.l for the poor
girl whose reason. mercifully. gave way.
She may yet be seen about Apia, home
Jess and wandering. a sadly pathetic
figure. deckcd Ophela-like "a bridal
wreatns. with chapiet Of vines twined
around her head. singing her family
song OF victory or grooming n love ditty.
The young warrior upon whose fealty
so terrible a test had been imposed
sought and found I'm war that oblivion
which his poor afiicteI bride-eiect yet
nopelessy awaits.-San Francisco Chron-
icieV