Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-11
LAST OF THE ISLAND FEASTS.
The Native Celebration in Tahiti on July
The 1dsh.

to be celebrated at Tahiti on n scale of
unusual splendor. II viii probably con
stitutc the last opportunity of witnessing
in the Pacific Ocean a genuine. native
carnival. unspoiled by civilized Influence
Not that the native Tahitian know,
much about the BaStie. ar the causes
that lsd to its fail, hut that his islands
have long since fallen under the sway ot
France and he is obliged To look to his
superiorS for permission Ia let himself
loose when he feels in the humor to DO
so. The French system of colonial gov
eminent is nothing If it is not raternal.
The natives are ruled III a strict. but
kindly manner. They are treated like
children who must be amused if they are
to be kept out of mischief. Hence when
the period of governmental rejoicing
comes round. special license is extended.
and the Tahitlans have fun rein 10 do "a
they please. And they do it.
They forget all convcntionality. indulge
their own sports. their own supcrstitious
ceremonies. their own convivia.itie' :. their
civilized form as possible. For three days
from the 18th Ia the 18th of July. the cap
ital city of the islands is filed with
throngs Of dark-skinned natives not only
from the Tahtian islands themselves but
from neighboring groups five hundred
miles away. ana remarkable rcvclrE
goes on.
1t seems to begin with Il rush Of people
from the mountain sides and the valleys
and a simultaneous inflow of decorated
boats. smacks and ships to the harbCr.
romantic Wales. ttt1l ShEStS cut Dt Sbltl'
ancient volcanic disturbance. radiate in
every direction towards the sea. and from
the little groups of native hutS which dot
the slopes or are hid in the trees. men.
women and children. clad in fcStal orna
ments. come singing down the hills or
out from under the arborcal canopiCS.
The placid little harbor becomes Gov
cred between night and morning with
small craft Of all kinds-thc native cata-
moranS. filed with the visiting tribes
chanting their hvmcneS and displaying
their bunting. their pampas and cocoa
nut plumos. their old-time weapons and
all the transportable paraphernalia of
the days of so-called "barbarism. No
matter how hard the trade wind may
blow, no matter how roughly the south
ern storms may throw the breakers up on
the barrier reefs. the visitors from t.imeo.
Tetuaroa, Tubai-Manu. and Mcneil
make the voyage to PApctc Most OF
them go in vessels of European model.
which have largely replaced the oldfash-
toned canoes. But there are still some OF
the ancient vessels left. and row ana
again one shoots through the mass of
other vessels like Il vision OF genera
ton ago One marVelS how the huge. ui1-
calmly affairs. with their double halls
connected by a bamboo platform, can be
managed in a sea; but in the smooth Wa
ter they glide along as smoothly as a
gondola. with fifty strong radders chant
ing an old war song and making the eve
ming or the daylight rcsoInd with sug-
gestive. haIf-melancholv reminders of an
era that is rapidly passing away.
Ashore the town is Tiled to its utmost
capacity. Every native house has its
Reared like wild untrammcled children
of nature. they realize nothing # the hor-
rors of the grim rison walls the anniVer-
sary of whose destruction is being OBJ
served. and to them there is nothing but
play in the entire fcStiv.t trder the CD
regime they celebrated with equal giee
Napoleon's fate day. August 18th: nov,
because they are ruled by a republic in
stead of an emperor they rejoice with
the revolItionists who wrought the free
dom of France.
The festival opens with n grand native
procession. winding its way. like a M my
hued serpent from the beach. through
the streets of the town. To the governor 5
palace. The tiny colonial army of per
haps two or three hundred soldiers and
gendarmes. marches past in review or
der. and the encircIns group of natives
cheers and shouts itself hoarse at tn ;
brave military display Then the real
Tahitian interest develops. and first ana
foremost. to the student OF native life,
comes the massed choir contests. Every
little village. or group OF villages through
out the mountainous land has sent us
singers. each choir generally containing
about fifty men and women. The Tahi-
tians are essentially musical race. they
have sweet we'll developed voices. and
long continued missionary training mas
worked wonders with their vocal organs.
And these men and women are the picked
singers of the land so that il is no Won
der That the result is an n3TfHtHlt tt' a.
of the highest order. There is no orcnes-
ira. not even an organ. each choir sing;
its carefully rchearSed ''hymencS guided
only by the waving hand of its leader.
the time is perfect, and the effect pro.
duced by fifty powerful well trained
voices chanting in unison SUCH z hymn
as 'l'Eternal est Crcatcur Is magical.
The volume of song swcils ana rises
above the Gothiclike arches made b.
palms overhead: the tropical sun: fltcrins
through the interlacing foliage. nehts W
the gay dresses If the singers win curi-
GUS CLEANS Of golden light. the vast az
dience listens respectfully, but with the
deepest interest. as each chotr ESSAYS lts
task. The competition for the prize Is d
the keenest and the village winch car
ries off the trophy justly holds its head IN
pride above ali Tahiti for the next year.
Less fascinating for the cultured Euro
pean. though more boistcrolls'y dtnu-'ui
regatta. Every variety Of sport both
land and aquatic. is provided to please
the native fancy. But most OF an they
delight in walking the greasy pole. a
Ikind of contest only possible amongst a
semi-a1latic people like the Tahitians A
great spar. Aperhaps eighty or ninety fee'
long IS rg but horizon:aly from rom the NE Sea sSa
bay Its s,,r4ace is round and smooth.
and moteoIla$ bountifully creased he
must b paa sad M snatch faa waH
bered tas from the wheel at it's further
end. HindroJs essay the task only to
fail ignQ,ninioAsly. amid derlsive shouts
Of iaugh err from the delighted spectators IS
But the natives areas much at nome IN
the water as on land. a..d the duckins
does them no harm. a few lucky youths;
more agie than the rest, reach .lG en- AZ
and secure tickets. but hey pFuaently 40
not try to walk back: they Jump over,
board and gain the shore in me easiest
way. The prizes range IN value an .ae
way from cash gift OF 500 70 t.ine
like sucking pig or a buncn OF banana
so that an additional gambling inIere ST.
lent to the game. fdr no man SHOWS what
he has won uHtil he reaches the snoIe.
The regatta embraces every variety ..
rowing and sailing race, and the sKiiI OF
the natives on the water is abundantly
demonstrated. Another equally interest
ing ature is the native dance. given by
special permission of the go Ifrnment In
the old Tahitian costume. suth as was
worn iii Captain Cooks days. ordinarily
this dress or lack of dress. is not permit
ted. and this is the only opportunity the
visitor has of realizing how this once
savage race appeared to our forefathers
The men wear only their grass girdie5
nrof,,gely decorated with shells. the
women, are content with a pareua or CIR,
die. likewise made of grass. and coVered
with brightly stained strips of pandanuS
fiber. But to make up for this scarcity
of attire they are all profusely decorate
with leas or wreaths of sweet smelling
flowers The dance. given to monoton-
-, ,too< &c yyair6ly h1 rbo N its effect