New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

THE NATIVE CLOTH.

oyer the pit to confne the heat where it win be
OF value
THE NATIVE CLOTH
After the fishing and the preparing OF the food
the chief occupation Of SamaIia appeared lie In
the direction Of the native cloth, tapa. This
involved sending the junior members Of her family
out into the bush TO get the saplings which have
the inner bark, which is available this purpose
The girls brought in bundle after bundle Of these
for their needs samaiia siashed the bark from
eho TO end Of each sapling and peeled it of from
@ ne "ooI hoiolng the end Of the bark In her teeth
and employing both hands 10 facilitate its easy
m0vaL These broad bands OF bark then
roIed up like so much tape, with the inner bark
on [he outside of the roll Having been sunk IN
aTates from the woody outer layers and appears as
Of india silk mas ms Is Iea9gn ou5 70 {as 46sRssS 6s
with arrowroOt, the outer layers made water
proof and decorated with whatever design may
suit the fancy Of the maker and that is ali there
Is gb,t % the making Of the Samoan native cloth
Whlch ls really no more than a heavy paper.
CHIEF OCCUPATION OF WOMEN
The highest occupation which sanalia is called
on to perform is the weaving OF fine mats This
is a duty 10 be performed only by the Of
mature years and forbidden TO girls. The young
and highty may assist in the preparation Of the
materials, but they are considered too young 70
have any share in the actual weaving Of i'm
me d5Vv~v -'-G ~ 1s 7,It 5te W IN IE S}Eg Oe par VI
These mats are fine q heavy dauask; they
carefully prepared leaf Of the screw palm shredded
into threads. Such commonly four TO
six yards square, and years is considered quite
rapid work in making @ small There IS
q great deal Of fuss about making these hne mats.
the day has TO be just right for the employment
spoiled The work is to be done only in a house
set apart for that purpose, and men are forbidden
70 enter il.
The time of making fine mats is also the time
for the discussion of any subject which may in
reTest the women. It is here that they formulate
their demands for presentation TO the Council Of
the village chief and elders Here also. they settle
who shall become the maid Of the village
THE MAID OF THE VILLAGE.
This is an Office found nowhere else in the
world. One Of the young girls, the daughter of
certain specified families. IS eligible TO be chosen
to the position Of village maid. known in the
Samoan the 'taupOu.' AS such she is q chief
and can claim all the complicated ceremonies of
courtesy which chiefs exact She has her dUenna
and her company of young girls for her service
and amusement and occupies the finest house there
Is in her village In return for this she has to
mUnity. 10 lead the forces in war encourage all
eligible SuitOrs and TO discourage all detrtmentals
eventually to permit the village council 70 choose
for her the husband who shall bring most property
and influence to her family and her town.
''SamaIa, whose daily have been thus
tions to wouans sphere. She IS just much
respected in the community her husband. her
work IS made light she has the right of free
speech, she has her parliament for the settle
ment OF matters which concern women, and she can
demand OF the parliament Of that they register
For plain savage without any knowledge OF the
theory OF such things she seems TO have estab-
Hshed q practical condition a state Of affairs
somewhat in advance Of European artatnments"