The farmer and mechanic., 1913-03-25


mony. The wedding festivities OF a
high born maiden on the island OF
Hawaii last summer continued Win
out pause for four days and nights. |
Nearly all OF the native population "a
the big island enjoyed. in one way or
another. this great feast with its out-
door sports and games, but douDt i
whether-in spite Of the modern eou-
cation and elegance OF the lovely Drlde, !
in spite Of the wealth and masnifl-
cence OF her family-this wedding
eouaIled, to the Hawaiian mlnd,
marriage Of the high-born in the olden
days. says a Honolulu letter to the
New York Evening Post.
Before the coming of the haole
fvhite mani to these sun-biest isles,
when high chief wished TO nave
himself a wife he would have gafher-
cred together from among his people
a group Of the most attractive malo-
ems. smooth and straight OF limb
were these maidens, glossy -halreo,
with the gold of the tropical sun gllst-
ening 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 mas
tiiy. for upon his wahine (wOman)
depended in a large measure. the fu-
ture fate OF his people, the line OF
royalty in Hawaii descending then,
as now. through the maternal side OF
the house. Therefore. the young chief
must look we'll to his choice
Sometimes in his pSrplexity, he
would call to his assistance kahuna
(medicine mani. who would invoke
the aid OF the gods in the momentous
selections to be made. Then were
things simplified for him. He no
longer had no will in the matter. but
became the instrument Of the gods
themselves.
Duties OF Kahuna.
Tpon the kahuna fell the duty of
taking temporal charge of the affair.
At a signal from him the virgin, each
with her hula gourd in which were
pebbles. male and female. would squat
in a line before the young chief. With
right arm molding the hula gourd ex-
tended they begin. with low moaning,
to chant the life story of him who
comes to seek bride.
Louder and stronger swells the
chant as the singers go on to tell OF
the young chiefs beauty as 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 -DOTO, untit, Wltu h SIduQ CIcS-
cendO it reaches the shark. or the
poisonous eel. With this. the sing
ers spring to their feet and the huls
dance is on.
Now the chant becomes a refrain
swelling and sinking. falling and ris
ing. accompanied always by the rat
Ting Of the pebbles, male and fe
male, an the hula gourds. In per
feet. unbroken rhythm the virgin
dance. now twirling the rattlin,
gourds over their heads, now strik
ing their palms together four times
or kneeling to thump four times o,
the mat at their feet. From thei
birth they have been trained to d
this dance. With joints made suppl
by exercises devised for that purpos
they whirl their loins. here. ther
the muscles under their shinin
skins moving in rhythm measure t
the chant and the rattle Of the hui
gourds.
AT last, through the kahuna, til
gods interpose. At a signal frol
the kahuna the dancers recede an
form circle within a circle. Roun
and round they dance, breaking an
reforming the circles, changing an
interchanging. Now, for the your
chief, tho gods will choose his brid
The kahuna lifts his hand, the your
chief takes a backward step, clos
his eyes, and lets fly an arrow fro
his bow.
Arrow Finds the Bride.
With swift. unerring instinct Il
arrow wings its way among the dal
GERS. to fall at the feet Of the mo
beautiful. the most desirable Of Il
virgins. The gods have chosen-b
az yet the chief does not know the
choice.
The dancing and the chanting ha
ceased with the fall Of the AFRO
The young chief opens his eyes, b
he cannot see the arrow.
Pau Ne! Pau Me-" he calls. q,
Araishtway tho hiding arrow, IRE
its place At the virgins feet, answs
in clear voice:
me! Me-"
With this. the other maidens at
back. and-her young beauty all shi
mering In tho suh-&he heaven-choe
stands revealed to him who has col
seeking his bride.
In the background q soft vo
speaks Of the giories Of the cho,
one. Another takes uD the fher