Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-02-02

~ er's tales heard in New York
for some time was related by
W by an Englishman at luncheon
downtown recently.
you have done so much for me.
Mr.. Black. since ] have had to be
here on this steel business he said.
you have put yourself out to be so
hospitable that shall always think OF
you as worthy to be a Society Is
lander
"How's that7 Why unless they have
changed very much since was In the
middle of the Pacific some years ago,
the Society Islanders are the most
hospitable people in the world. OF
course. their way of doing things isn't
Just like New York or London But
It's right from the heart
Il was in Tahiti. and my savage
host wanted TO do me honor. These
people make very wonderful and
curious bark cloth. As we sat under
trees close to this big mans house q
young girl came toward Us. ] knew
something Of the South Sea dialects,
and ] had no difficulty in understand
ing that here was a great present for
me. the best he could give.
The girl was an extraordinary
sight She was wrapped with yards
and yards of this native cloth. wound
so that 1t covered her completely ex-
cept her head and arms and stuck out
below her waist as II she were wear
ing an old-fashionel hoop skirt. My
Tahitan friend grinned and pointed
at her. She was a pretty girl and |
was just wondering whether | should
have to carry dusky beauty back to
Liverpool when she lay down fat on
the ground. A girl who had accom-
panied her, dressed only IN sort of
sash. began TO unwind her; yes. IN
wind. Over and over the pretty brown
girl rolled. her companion pulling
away the cloth, which soon was in a
great heap by itself Then the first
girl jumped up, now wearing nothing
more than the same kind of sash. and
smiling ran away. My friend pointed
at the great pile of stuff and said in
Tahitan: 'Yoursi' There was host
for youi"
Very often, when It comes to the
test. the heather in his blindness
evens up pretty well with the white
|snan in taking care OF his guests.
remarked another member Of the
party Here on Fifth avenue or
Broadway what they do sounds queer,
but on the spot It feels good II
should tell you that North Ameri-
can Indian tribe ] dropped in upon
late one afternoon gave me Turkish
bath to remove the dust and fatigue
Of a long days journey through the
desert. you'd say was crazy. would
MT you? Well. that is exactly what
happened.
THE Indians we're the Havasus. or
tho Havasupais, whichever way you
want to call them. When arrived
at this village Of theirs. hot and Gov
cred with CRIME. was as complete q
stranger as there ever was. The
chief motioned me to seat beside
him. and was well satisfied in being
received kindly and allowed to rest.
No Indian, as you know. ever talks
much. and hence no warning OF what
was to come was given me. 1t could
hardly have been much over half an
hour before a youth beckoned me.
found out afterward that he was a
son of the chief, intrusted with these
special rites Of hospitality toward
strangers.
she led me to tent. Later
learned that was known as the first
guest house. II was practically air
tight. its entrance covered by a double
Zap of blankets. In It women OF the
village had. ever since my arrival,
been placing red hot stones, under
the direction of the lad BY now It
was filled with heat and steam.
THE boy told me II was part Of his
duty to care for my clothes while
went inside | made record in get
ting them on There never was q
bath as delightful as that"
Odd Custom Of African Tribe.
my story win seem tame after
those OF you two" put In the man who
was giving the luncheon. but there's a
tribe in Africa. the Ovambos, whom
Stanley or Livingstone or Lord Kitch.
ener or overwhelmingly. at any
rate-called the Merry People. that
have your Tahitans and Indians beaten
a mile when It comes to oddities OF
hospitality Their way isn't nearly
so pleasant as those We have been
hearing about. What do they do?
Hold water in their mouths as soon
as you are seated at a meal and squirt
II In your face. You are expected to
be greatly delighted 1T this. and then
your host comes around to you and
rubs your face and head with fresh
butter II a white guest protests he is
looked upon with suspicion
There Is another African tribe,
you may like to know. the Nuebrs OF
centrsl Africa. that have a custom
very like this. They greet those
they are about to entertain by spit.
ting. yes. splitting on your hands and
face. II Is the most gross and bitter
insult II you do NOT spit back One
traveller. It Is said. who didn't know