Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-02-26
Dr.. Edwsrd'sl 100 !, !.


the most unique in the world.
Here is a savage race making a
holiday Of an event of which
they really know nothing. The
French government exercises a
paternal relation over these ma
tives of the South Seas, and in
order that all of them may hvae
an opportunity to enjoy the fes-
tai occasion, it sends gun boat
around among the islnds and
gathers up all the people SO that
they may have free transporta-
ton to Papeete, and then it
takes them all home agin. Thus
;, it is that the people Of all the
little islands for hundreds OF
g. miles around gather on this day
at the capital of the group for
their annual outing.
By the way it must not be for
gotten that these people are to
T.. be called "clans" and not tribes.
80 far as tribal relationship is
concerned, they are all of one
tribe, but they are separated In
to clans which have as distinct
separation as do the clans OF
Scotland. The result is that dur
ing the celebration there is
great rivalry between the clans
for the prizes. Every district OF
the island is inhabited by a dill
ferent clan. For instance, the
Fapara district, of which | shall
have something to say in anoth-
er letter, belongs to TAFT Salmon
and the people of that district
belong to the Salmon clan. :,
The central figure on the plat
form of judges Of events Is the
Prince Pomare, he direct de,
, scendent of the king who sold
the islands to the French gov
eminent. He draws a pension
something like. $4,000 a year,
and has the right of pardon, col
; sequently is looked up to oy
his people as if he. were the tine
reigning sovereign. The govern
or 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 placards are posted q
over the city and on the ROADS
over the island, telling OF the
events which are to take place
during the festivities and an.
nouncing the various prizes tna y
are offered for excellence. 1t is
significant Of the way things are
run to note that there is.a prize
for every clan that enters into
competition. The events enumera
ed cover the singing of "hlmln'
es," dancing, canoeing, spearlng
racing, yachting, sham nights an
there was nothing more interest
ing than the singing of the nj n
mines. This word, as may readl
" be understood, is a corruption
OF the word hymn of the mlsslol
aries. and as one listens to tht
wierd music in the darkness O.
the night, there is something {
about It that makes the 1lesl
creep. IT,
There is no native music III II
hiti,nor is there native tune
Every song or himine that l nav
heard had its origin in some ian
lar tune heard in other lands
hymns mingled with dance nal
tunes, and it was not un1sua
to have solemn tune SUDDEN!
branch off into a lively air o.
some French dance hall. Ever
our Dixie" found place IN thf
repertoire, ana I must say ina
as much as love the old tune
felt that these natives had lmpr'
ed on it by their rendition OF tn
ar. Of course all these tunes G
nv a native song. l asked wha
they sang about and was told tt
most of the himines were lmprc
visions, the leader making up III
words on the spur Oh the Hiolllei
or relating some of the adventul
of the people about him. The
are based on the incidents OF tn
day or some of the happenings
the trip to the town, and in se'
eral instances were made up Az
certain pecuiarities of the peop
who came to Tahiti to see the n
tives dance and hear them sing
The himines are sung by lei
er, and the other members OF tn
party, numbering from twenty
two hundred as the casemay b
-, - +bo ohOruS While ii