The age-herald., 1899-05-16
HOW THE SAMOANS
 FEAST AFTER A BATTLE

orange in his mouth. The feet were neatly doubled under, and the tail curved in real istic fashion over the back. Their nicely Drowned skins looked very tempting as they laid upon the banana leaves about forty in all. Between the roasted pigs were yams which were nicely baked, and taro which is something like potatoes, being a baked root. There were also large fish and enormous bread fruit, so that the table was as tempting as any ever spread at club banquet.
 The guests of honor, who were principally Germans, were dignifed by having two roast chickens in front of their plates, and three guests had each a small turkey, which is great deicacy here.
 There were no plates, knives, forks or spoons, and all the eating was done with the hands, which tore the food apart and conveyed 1t to the mouth. The roast pigs were eaten in this way and the chickens were pulled apart and eaten. The oranges and cocoanuts seemed to furnish the fluid Behind the guests -at the younger mem bers of the family \ 10 eagerly watched each disappearing mouthful As occasiom offered the guests surreptitously hahded behind them pieces of pig, chicken, quar-. ters of oranges and halves of coeoanuts, which were put in baskets quickly.
 After eating for an hour all rose at @ signal and then, at another signal, there was grand rush forward; and those who had sat behind now took their places at the feast. There was less ceremony with them and they eagerly attacked everything in sight. Inside of fifteen minutes not a mor- sel remained of the bounteous feast which adorned tho table 0 few minutes before Even the bones disappeared, carried away by dogs. Meanwhile immense gourds had been brought, filled with water and here the guests washed their hands--a ceremony very, necessary considering the manner of eating.
 After the feast came the native dance which is called Maululu Siva. This is danc- ed by young women who wear the lava lava, which is small skirt reaching from the hips to the knees. The lava-lava is made, from the bark of the mulberry tree The bark is manufactured into tappa, or a crude cloth from which the laya-lava is cut and made.
 Women are specially trained to danee see national dance, and when properly perform ed it is a very interesting ceremony.
 About two hundred girls seat themselves in two parallel rows, cross legged, on the ground. Their only covering is a skirt of the tappa reaching from the waist to the knees. In their hair is woven garlands of flowers, and their bodies glisten with coco anut oil freshly smeared In the center Of the first line sit the Taupos, who, with hands upraised, give the signal for tho chant to commence. At first low, mourn ful wall from the Taupos and on it's dy- ing away all the rest lean forward with their heads almost touching the ground
 Next chant is commenced which gradu- ally swells as their bodies slowly recover an upright position. This is followed by skipping of hands upon their breasts, and as the chant is continued, which lasts for twenty minutes, 1t is accompanied by q series of gestures with the arms and bodies all in perfect unison. Swaying to and fro, with hands clapping to beat the time, are all the spectators in the background, as in- terested and excited as the dancers theni- selves Gradually it all dies away until a dead silence reigns over the entire assem- blaze. Suddenly the dancers spring to their feot. general handshaking ensues, and the Maululu Siva, or national dance, is at an end.
 The "tail dance' is another native dance. This is performed entirely by the men who twist frayed-out rope around their bodies and danee in the smoke made by burning leaves This follows the national dance and is atIIoSt as interesting.
 , < DANA SCOTT CHURCH, M. D,