The Red Cloud chief., 1913-01-02

pelagO the adherents or Mataafa had
assembled on Mulinuu Point, Just outside Apia
and there took place almost daily some decid.
edly picturesque doings
Biggest and best of these, naturally was the
coronation OF the whtehaire old chief though
the word is a msnomer for there was no crown.
Mataafa sat alone in the center of a large open
space. and all around, in the shelter OF palms
and banana trees. were thousands Of natives and
the entire white population Of Upola island. The
kings own house was turned over to the con.
suls, naval officers and other distinguished per.
sons When all was ready five ancient talking
men" representing the chief districts, advanced
until within hundred feet Of Mataafa and de.
livered long addresses to him upon his duties
as ruler, concluding with the administering of
what passed for the oath of office. The king
replied with utmost dignity. rising to speak, and
the talking men thereupon closed In on him and
anointed his head with sacred oil. His
majesty then retired amid the loud cheers OF
his people. and the rest Of the afternoon and
the evening was given up to feasting. The limo.
cent revelries were not lessened by the fact that
bloody war imminent. On the other side
OF the town were encamped the forces of Tanu.
and to precipitate the conflict there was needed
only the decision Of the white Judge of the su.
preme court that Mataafas election was invalid.
That came later, and so did the fighting
Next day we all went out again to "talo-
TO-" or food procession. Once more Mataafa sat
in state and before him filed his subjects. a long
delegation from each district or village was its
especial taupo, the maiden who Is designated
official hostess OF her village and who retains
the Office until her marriage. She was attred
only in the old-time lava lava. or skirt of bark
cloth and her ornaments consisted Of flowers
wreaths and plenty Of palm oil. Chanting some
ancient song In archaic language. she danced In
advance of the slowly moving and chanting pro-
cession for some fifty yards and then waited un
Ill the talking men who led II reached her side
This was repeated all along the beautiful path
way until the throne" was reached. As each
person passed the king he she tossed in a
heap before his majesty some article of food
One might bring live pig trussed up but
squealing; another a squawking fowl. a fine
fish wrapped In fresh leaves: another huge
bunch of bananas, or basket OF pneapples
But not one without his Offering even II It
was but a breadfruit or piece Of taro. So
dancing and singing the parade passed, and
then, without any sense Of the ridiculous. broke
up, turned back and helped the king eat up all
the gifts That was indeed a monster feast.
Perhaps the people ate up Mataafas food with
the less compunction because they knew how
abstemious he was. One morning I called on
his majesty by appointment and found him at his
breakfast The royal meal consisted of a bowl
of kava and two bananas. big purple ones OF
variety not known here: and the king courteous.
" offered to share the fruit with me. Grave
wise-lookng and big physically. mentally and
morally, Mataafa sat there cross-legged In his
simple hut and chatted with me about his loved
friend, Robert Louis Stevenson, munching his
banana and driving away the flies with his fly.
fapper He was true nobleman and his death
last summer deserved more than the fourline