The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-03-17

s. l ssntss of what We 'Chlisttans call
thes, is 50 apparent. and the people
= { 50 modest in behavior and graceful
N manner that scanty coverings sug-
SIS no thoughts or feelings of indecen-
vnlsarsty or ven improperly, We
q 2 quickly ~reconciled To the manifest
mess of things.
These people have the strictest no
tons of etiquette, their expressions uf
Trend ship are sincere and cordial and
I'm their social ceremonies no prince
could be more punctllious. The Tepau
is "a kind of continual MAY Queen >
She not only leads the social circle hu,
she leads the soldiers T., battle as w,ll.
ana her person during the contests is
heiu as sacred as the cross of st. George
or the yellow Nag. She leads in thu en-
teitilnment of strang rs also.
Afier the Interchange of salutat;ons.
an We're seated. squa.ttng cross-,egcei
llke tail"rs on the MATS that almost en-
tlItIN covered the ground floor of the
hahitation. AS | was the noted stran-
ger, OF big chef being introduced
by the consul general, IN EXTRA mat was
spread b.f"le me, ON which 10 fold my
legs. MI We're :, at"d i'm a circle. and
during The chat The kava was ordered.
Tor strangers OF Visitors must BIZ hos
p.tabiy treated. To pass the kava
among thes" amiable savases is like
~ VI 81 llsII ne
lnaiahs, the vine cup by he French.
The lager beer by the Germans. tlla
WHISKY and soda by the English, 81 the
ockta by the yankees.
But this kaNa. | don't care for klv:l.
My readers may no have heard all
about it Well. it is made of a peculiar
root, IN this Use: -Four pretty Young
girls. wearing lirtle hut an expression.
slt down c~ress-leggod round a shallow
bowl, cal ed TIE "sanca. I'll Their atnnl,.
months WlTh. II as ~ tlha ,Nt IL. "a L.
ilhe and SPIT 1T into the bowl. 1t is not
a SLOW process. for the ladies of Samoa,
as elseWh@le, work their mouths with
asacfl'N. oui,e soon the erist is ground
and the bowl set befose the tapau. She
takes a wad or swab of tough fiber
which looks like fine, narrow shavin-s
and as an attendant pours in water
from a cocoanut bottle. the process is
beg n 7 e swab or saAb 5 pl nged / to
the 1uld, With the cl.an hands of the
tapau and hlled and frequently wrung,
as a housewife would -ou yarn. After
some little time the fiber IS wrung as
dry as possible and handed to an at
tendant who takes it ia the edge of the
tent ! k" no s. ard sh X S 1t Wig ro;sly,
for the purpose OF eNpelling the drees
or solid portions of the material used.
me process Is repeated over and over
AGAIN, until the remnants or powder of
the roots are gone. The f1uil then pre-.
SCENTS the appearance of soap suds.
w non lllilSlltN the tiIliD takes the nlDll.o
or cup made of cocoanut shell, and dips
out the beverage. This her attendant
hands TO the most important parsonage
present and as he raises it to his lips all
Clap their hands in unison. The hipu,
at MIR. C~furrbill 5 e.ss4ion. cam. tirst
To me. and etiquette demanded that il
be emptei nj a SINCE %drausht. | don't
care f"l. kaNa. of course. it is good.
Very good. hui I don't care for it: nm
polite. ! WELD to 70 barbarian in polite
ness. SO ] eulped it down. but | don't
are for kava.
The drinking of the kava ended this
visit and Very soon all arose for final
tal"fls. f.tiulette requires that all Wis
iturs retire from the hous" and the pres
ence # he o t laskward, and so.on W..
We're out in the burnin. sun again. As
w" We're Just leaving and waving final
tal"fa, the chieftafn's Wife, Naa. or
Mrs. Tofacona. came from the house
and PIE entcd me With two fans and the
modest and graceful tanau sent me a
beautiful titi by one of her attendants.
This call being ended we hurried to
the other village, Apia. prope.. to visit
the great chief. Saumanutafa. Who rem
dered such signal service during the
trouble Of March. 1889 and for which
ne was rewarded and complimented by
o1r government. a splendid, .dignifei
fellow, S~aumanutafa, and he VEL
coined us with as much ease y dig
nifty as did his royal master. or as could
any prince in Chr.stendnm. here L
was introduced TO Jialia Zukanou, high
chief and SX-pl"mier Of Tonga.
| found in this Tonga chief a rare and
Interesting parsonage. He Was fully SIX
feet tall. broad shou.dered and superbIv
built, with commanding but modest
presence, file head and a brow and a
face express ye of rare Intelligence and
~senll"ness. He was like his host. he
great Sonmanutafa, Very LITTLE encum-
btrri with clothes. but these omissions
impress Us as Of little Importance when
We observe the "Naked truth that
SHINES forth in these am.ahle barbara
ans. only 10 impnre y. rsons does the
Samoan attn" convey impure thoughts.
The Tonga chef With a retinue of fifty
persons was The llonor"d guest of Seu-
tertained, After beng introduced and
having shaken hands uil, these grand
personages. We iotned the c.rc,e. sitting
again on our heels Ike a turk ana once.
more participated in tossing off" the
kaNn Asain l say ] DON care for kava.
70 entertain a nobie and his retinue in,
IN the taxpayers pocket, hut the great
chief Senmanu!afa enterta,ns for a month
this hair hundred noble guests WITH no
more n sence than for his depend
entS 10 pick II few extra cocoanutS. In
nailas and mangos per day, which to them.
tor such an occasion is always a great
These peop,e are Wonderfully hospitable.
In every vil.ise there $ erected a large
I'ubi.F mouse. or caltN3nSera for The tiS,.
and accommodate n % strangers ard tray
eng parties. Here strangers is a holy
nt1ne,' and during the stay of visitors or
tolr SIS, they are well supplied with ev-
necessary of life. anI uSu4tly depart
loaded with presents. Few things strike
a stranger more t@reelblN than the c.ean-
:ineSs of the samoan natives. and the APP
parent heath of all classes. am m
formed tina; tftlr notions of morality are
very peculiar. but in the observance OF
Their moral code they are street and con-
sistent. They have no lcnrosY or other re-
pllsiVe diseases, save tho e~'eplaptiases.
which Is so freuuent as 30 MAJ the peas
of every call. though the disease is
neither painful or fail However, ii is
about the fnost Wasiehtly malady that
Afflicted humaa tY. 10 Frequently
meet active and apparently happy per
sons with an ann or leg as large AZ n
parsons body. s"rfls = ol}ill through ones
blood. even IN a c,r4tte ike Somol.
The commerce Of S1noa is of very little
importance. and ABOUT AL the real indus
try IN th. istfaGs * IN German hands.
What Interests tae English or Americans
to just fN eNtensive pleddiing or ex-
pellsiNe part c~t,attnn in ruling. is not
easy for a casual observer or a critical in
~ rer 10 understand.
But the four busy hours have past, the
eeneS of Ma are but pictures on mem
lry's walls. the sturdy arsnea leave the
short. behind. and | seek rest on the COOL.
shady deck of the aAlameda"