The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-11
A TONGA WEDDING.
hava and Clothes Play a Great Part
in the CeremOnN
From Blackwood,s NIagazil

From Blackwood's Magazine.
"A IaIllIlar chorus caught our ears and
all unexpectedly we found ourselves at
the concert room of the preceding nie mt
AS before, two lines of singers occupied
the floor, but now they sported gaia
dress. Flowers and strangely twisted orna-
ments OF dried grass decked their heads.
and beautiful garlands of leaves and bios
SONS wreathed their necks and arms
Their practice of wedding songs interrurt-
ed by the arrival of a confrere, who car
RED a little coarse rouge or raddle, screw
ed up in scrap of paper From
every side brown hands were eagerly
stretched out, and dehcately shaped fore
fingers were dipped in the pigment An
too obviously the mystery of rouge was
but tradition with a people who had
never seen red cheeks; for with a soil
tary exception, they contented themselves
with drawing a lively streak down one
side of the face. The odd maiden who
had happened to secure an extra quantity
OF the paint, further adorned herself by
smear1ng red band across her upper lip
BY illustrative signs we succeeded in ex-
planning that on the cheeks alone was col
or admissible, and the damsels were not
slow TO avail themselves of the hint
Seeing the musicians prepare to seek
the scene of the feast we lbetook ourselves
again 10 the mansion of the hospitabIe
Ialmi, taking with us the gift of kaya
root which Tongan etiquette requires YOU
TO present to your hostess. All the world.
including plenty of OUT native fellow pas-
sengers, seemed 70 be now Fastening to
the great grassy lawn surrounded by or
ange trees whereon the ceremony was to
take place. Many brown faces smiled at
us; numerous soft voices wished us a
kind 'Malo Ii le;" and grave fathers
marching with dignity under the shelter
OF their black cotton umbrellas. gave us
courteous salutation. To be accorded a
seat in the doorway of a chief-is the high
est possible honor in Tonga; and gracious
Taimi had prepared for our coming by
placing the pew across the DOORWAY Sit
ting there in the shade we looked at che
spectacle outside as though at some mar
vicious living picture. Directly in front.
under the tapa canopy was a high mound
OF shppeIy grass mat, designed to act as
throne for bride and bridegroom The
Poynesian has a natural gift for pictorial
erect; The company awaiting the arrival
OF the bridal party had grouped itself in
a way that could not have been improved
upon by even the most skilled stage man
agement Opposite the dais sat the
flower decked singing girls To the right
under the shade of an orange tree was
seated cluster of handsome and digni
ned elders, what at the close of each
Item gravely complimented the perform
ers. Behind them countless women and
children, all in gay though scant rainent
We're seated on the grass; while TO the left
the warriors and youths of Vavau were
grouped in company. There was no crowd
ing. Acting upon some unwritten law
OF precedence, each had taken up the posi-
ton 10 which birth and social standing
entitled him. leaving the entire center of
the stage-for the whole resembled exact
ly a scene in some exquistely mounted
play-for the action yet 20 take pace.
The Happy Pair Appear.
The flower decked girls we're singing
accompanying their voices with rvthmi-
cal gesture and hand clapping. when n
instant SOUND OF chanting caused sudden
stir among the assembly; and looking In
the direction indicated by Tainn's finger
we caught a gleam of vivid color advanc.
Ing between the trunks OF the giant cocoa
nut palms. The bridal procession was an
preaching. Ia front, walking abreast
came the welded PARTIAL handsome
and of an excellent tawny hue. The bride
beautiful young girl, exhibited a ludi-
crously absurd appearance. Her shabely
legs and feet We're naked. She wore low
bodice of scarlet satin bedecked with
shoulder knots of brilliant blue Round her
body so many robes, some of the paper
like bark cloth, others woven of the native
grass, were enwrapped that her aspect.
instead Of impresSing us, as Il DOUBLE less
did the natives, with respect for her
wealth. merely made comic suggestion
that the poor child was parading inside
a Darrell Her pretty head, running over
with close rings of tan-tipped hair. was
uncovered and her neck and limbs glisten-
ed with OIL
Words fail to tell of the dignity and i'm
portance Of the bridegrooms appearance.
He wore a vivid crimson silk shirt, VIII lie
the magnitude Of his stock Of mats not
only muffied the contours OF his fine ng-