The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-11

but, reaching to MS rect III liOtlt' CA'V"N
ed in magnificent train behind
Following in close attendance upon the
twain came three elderly female relatives
matrons of large and comedy exterior, at
tired in all the splendor of flowing court
trains of tapa. Behind walked bands or
young men bearing the plated baskets or
palm leaf containing the ready cooked ma
terials for the wedding breakfast. Slow
ly the procession neared the seat of honor
under the canopy just in front OF US.
To our amazement, it was the three stout
females who seated themselves on the
slippery bales of mating. lheh the
bride, turning slowly round in front OF
one of the dames-her unwieldly bulk ot
clothing making movement ditt1cult-was
drawn onto that ladys lap and there sup
ported a half standing, half-sittng pos
ture The bridegroom in the meantime
rested his girth gingerly on the knees or
the two other relatives, and there remain
ed. uneasily poised. Thus propped up
the happy couple stayed silent while the
food bearing procession slowly marched
past, deposiung the enormous number OF
pigs roasted whole, and baked yams ar
ranged in a line in open palm leaf kits
alOngs the middle of the lawn. Then the
brides dover was brought and laid on
the grass close by the enthroned quintette,
who, while observant enough, yet pre-
served the extreme nonehalance deemed
proper in their position, There was
goodly pile of tapa, and many grass mats,
F'iiian and Samoan as well as Tongan,
some having especially elaborate designs
and scalloped edges. Two of the distinc-
tive TOngan pillows were there also, stools
of dark polished wood, with curously
carved feet branching from either end.
A pillow is the one article of actual furnl-
ture indispensable in the starting of
South Sea Island home. The superfine
gifts. ranking much as diamonds do at a
display of wedding presents at home, were
contained in three quantity shaped black
baskets, and comprised a marvellous col
lection of odd-colored glass BOTTLES filed
with the favOrite cosmetic, cocoanut OIL
bottles blue. green, pink and Yellow in
tone, which had evidently begun existence
as the perfume TASKS of some cheap toilet
set. One supreme treasure was displayed,
in the shape of a large round, crystal re-
ceptacle, whose form. though vaguely ia
miliar, haunted us as unclassable, until
the scales fell from our eyes and we rec
ognzed in it the lower globe of a goso-
genel
While the wedding party sat motionless
the troupe of maidens entertained them
with songs, humorous in character to
judge by the laughter of the audience;
and thel little dancing mink had darted
out and performed a bewitching dance
both OF these attempts to amuse being re-
ceived by the couple and their attendants
with perfect Immortality Throughout
The ceremony Taimi sat by our side and
piled her fan for our benefit, anxiously
watching to see how the proceedings i'm
pressed us. 1t delighted her when, at some
fresh turn of the kaleidoscope, we would
show appreciation by clapping our hands
and crying I'll le."
Dressing the Bride.
The musical and terpsichorean perform
ance ended, the lady supporting the bride
slowly hosted her to her feet, and, rising
with difficulty from her own cramped po-
sition, led her away, the matrons hold
ing the bridegroom, also escorting him
from the scene. We were lamenting the
disappearance of the bride, when a noise
In the barniike depths behind MS made us
glance round, to see the bride being as
sisted over the threshold. A bevy of the
Veriest hays attended her, and, babbling
and chattering, they began at once TO I'M
wind her countless wrappings 1t Is
shameful to be forced TO confess it.. bur
curiosity overcame proprety, and, turn
ing round we stared frankly over the
high back of the pew. All the crones In
Navau, looking the more hideous for their
close cropped heads, tOothless mouths and
babyish muslin frocks reaching only to the
knee, seemed to have reserved their en-
ergies for that moment. Chattering and
Cabling, they surrounded the girl who
stood silent, resigned TO their treatment
as to an ordeal tnat must be endured.
The little loose Jacket of scarlet satin,
which, in accordance with the ma
tive fashion, did not reach to the waist,
was first removed That It was the
property of our hostess, and had merely
been lent for the occasion, was evident,
for Taimi was a hand 10 receive Il. and
lost no time I'm carrying II away to stow
II in the Tongan equivalent for a ward
robe. The scarlet bodice was replaced with
one of white muslin. Then, as we reioiced
prema turely in that the bride had been re-
lieved of some of her burden of clothes,
the hays brought in a fresh supply of tapa,
and. the girl retaining the perpendicular
by resting her hands on the shoulders II
two stalwart matrons, wound the clumsy
stuff round and round her graceful form
Entering with obvious zest into their task
they bound the harsh tapa tightly about
her, and using great exertions 10 COM
press each fresh layer so that more might
be piled on anw swa hing each robe Sc
curely in place with long narrow bands
IL was the hight OF the hurricane season.
and the temperature in the shade reached
some preposterous degree, Yet sustain
ed by pride the martyr submitted TO IL
all giving but an occasional sign Of the
discomfort under which she labored by
rubbing her wet fact with a pocket hand
kerchief which was rolled up In a damp
ball in her hand.
When the hays desisted the operation
was so complete that the poor br ds's
arms were forced TO remain horizontal. IL