Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-05-10

especially those of high rank.
has always been attended
H by more or less ceremony.
writes a Honolulu correspon-
dent of the New York Evening Post.
The wedding festivities of a hgh-born
maiden on the island of Hawaii last
summer continued without pause Tor
four days and nights. Nearly all the
native population of the big island en-
ioyed. in one way or another, this
great feast with it's outdoor sports and
games. but | doubt whether-in spite
of the modern education and elegance
of the lovely bride. in spite OF the
wealth and magnificence of her family
this wedding equaled. to the Ha-
waiian mind. marriage OF the high
born In the olden days.
Before the coming of the haole
(white mani to these sun blest isles,
when a high chief wished to take unto
himself wife he would have gathered
together from among his people a
group of the most attractive maidens.
Smooth and straight OF limb were
these maidens. glossy haired. with the
gold OF the tropical sun glistening in
the ruddy bronze OF their satiny skins.
None among them was there who was
not desirable. But the young chief
must not choose too hastily, for upon
his wahine (woman) depended Tn a
large measure the future fate OF his
people, the line of royalty In Hawaii
descending then as now. through the
maternal side of the house. There
fore. the young chief must look well
to his choice.
Sometimes, In his perplexity. he
would call to his assistance a kahuna
(medicine mani. who would invoke the
aid of the gods In the momentous Sc
lection to be made. Then were things
simpiified for him. He no longer had
any will In the matter, but became the
instrument OF the gods themselves.
Taking Charge Of the Affair.
Upon the kahuna fell the duty OF
taking temporal charge of the affair.
At a signal from. him the virgins. each
with her hula gourd in which were
pebbles male and female. would squat
in line before the young chief. With
right arm holding the hula gourd ex-
tended they begin. with low moaning,
to chant the life story Of him who
comes to seek a bride.
Louder and stronger swells the
chant as the singers go on to tell OF
the young chiefs beauty az child. OF
how his mother loved HIM. Of his
speed In running. and his strength and
grace in swimming. in throwing the
discus. and in riding the bounding
surf board. until. with n grand ere
soendo Il reaches the climax of his
triumph over the great shark, or the
poisonous eel With this the singers
spring to their feet and the hula dance
Ia on.
Now the chant becomes refrain
dwelling and sinking. falling and ris-
ing. accompanied always by the rat
Ting OF the pebbles. male and female
I'm the hula gourds. In perfect. un
broken rhythm the virgins dance. now
twirling the rafting gourds over their
heads. now striking their palms to
gether four times, or kneeiing to
thump four times on the mat at tneif
feet.
At last. through the kahuna. the
gods interpose. At signal from the
kahuna the dancers recede and form
a circle within a circle. Round and
round they dance. breaking and re
forming the circles. changing and In
terchanging. Now. for the young CHIEF
the gods will choose his bride. The
kahuna lifts his hand. the young chief
takes a backward STEP closes his eyes
and lets fly an arrow from his bow.
The Arrow Of Chance.
With swift. unerring instinct the ar
row wings its way among the dancers
to fall at the feet OF the most beautiful