Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-10-21
THE FALL OF BASSTILLE
NATIVES OF SOUTH SEA ISLAND CELE.
BRATE ANNIVERSARY.
Dr.. Edwards Writes Interesting Description
Of Unique Festival Of Tahitians in
Papeete.

| fap66G6, OCC. 10. ln6 festival WnlC0
celebrates the fall of Bastille in Pa.
peete is probably the most unique in
the world. for here the savage race is
making holiday of an event of which
they know nothing. The French gov
ernnent exercises paternal relation
over these natives of the South Sea,
and in order that all of them may have
an opportunity to enjoy a special oc-
casion, it sends a gun boat around
among the islands. and gathers up all
the people so that they may have free
transportation to Papeete, and then it
takes them all home again. Thus it
is that the people of all the little
islands for hundreds of miles around
gather on this day at the capital of
the group for their annual outing.
By the way it must not be forgotten
that these people are to be called clans
and not tribes. So far as tribal rela-
tionship is concerned they are all OF
one tribe, but they are separated into
clans as distinctly separated as the
clans of Scotland. The result is that
during the celebration there is great
rivalry between the clans for the
prizes. Every district of the islands is
inhabited by different clan. For
instance. the Papars district. of which
l shall have something to say in an
other letter, belongs to Tati Salmon,
and the people Of that district belong
to the Salmon clan.
The central figure on the platform
with the Judges of events was Prince
Pomare, the direct descendent of the
king who sold the islands to the
French government. He draws a PEN
sion of something like $40, 600 wear.
and has the right of pardon, conse-
quently is looked up to his people as IL
he were the reigning sovereign. The
Governor and his staff, and all of the
officials grace the occasion by their
presence, and the natives feel that they
are really of some Importance in the
general scheme of affairs ~
Immense nlaaands. ara r~-+-a --ia -~-e<r
the city and on the roads over. the
islands, telling Of the events which
are to take place during the festivities
and announcing the various prizes
which are offered for excellence. It is
significant OF the way things are run
to note that there is prize for every
clan that enters into competition.
The events enumerated cover the sing.
ing Of "bimins." dancing, canoeing,
spearing. racing, yachting. sham fights
and pyrotechnics. Of it all there was
nothing more interesting that the
singing of the himines. This word.
as may be readily understood, is q oor-
ruption OF the word hymn of the mis-
sionaries, and If one listens to the
weird music in the darkness of the
night there is something about it that
makes the flesh creep.
There is no native music in Tahiti.
nor is there native tune Every
song Or himine that 1 heard had it's
origin in some familiar tune heard in
other lands. Hymine mingled with
dance hall tunes, and it was no un-
| usual thing tohave solemn tune sud.
denly branch off into the lively air of
he French dance hall Even Our own
"Dixie" found place in the repertoire,
and | must say that as much as I
| love the old tune felt that these nat
ives had improved it by their rend-
tion of the air. OF course all the. q
tunes carry native song. l asked
what they sang about and was told
that most or the himines were improy-
isions. the leader making up the words
on the spur OF the moment, or relat-
ing some OF the adventures of the peo-
pie about him. They are based on
the incidents of the day or some OF
the happenings OF the trip to the
town, and in several instances were
made up about certain peculiarities
Of the people who came to Tahiti to
see the native dances and to hear them
sing.
The himines are sung by leader
and the other members Of the party.
numbering from twenty to two hund.
red, join the chorus. While the tune
is carried by q few the remainder
carry on peculiar drooning sound in
commandment, much resembling
the sound OF pipe organ. The chief
popularity OF this is the long sus.
tanned final note. which carried ont
the impression of an organ more than
can be imagined. While the main
part of the chorus carried out this or.
gan sound a number Of male voices
emit q series Of grunts. caused by
quick pressure OF the arm against the
sides. These grunts resembling in
uo6AoO eho OioaAiu8 uOt6S OF 1rOQS.
The natives say that the frog notes
were taken from the sound emitted
by the frogs in the marshes of the
islands
This singing is carried ON without
any musical instrument Of any sort
the high pitched voice of the female
leader starting the tune in most pe-
culiar manner, just as you think the
song has been finished. She i--ds
with several words and then the en-.
tire body OF singers join in and the
verse is carried to the end, finishing
with the long drawn out final note.
There is great similarity between
the tunes, and with the exception of
the dance hall tunes and Dixie one
would think they were all alike.
But with all the incongruity there is
complete harmony all through the
singing, and one feels that he is list.
ening to the songs of another world.
Clarence f. Edwords.