Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-01-03

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 white haired old chief. though
the word, is a misnomer 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
When all ready five ancient talking
men" representing the chief districts advanced
until within hundred feet Of Mataafa and de-
Mvered long addresses to him upon his duties
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
anonted 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 inno-
cent revelries were not lessened by the fact that
bloody war was 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 Mataafa's election was invalid
That came later, and SO did the fighting
Next day we all went out again to see talo-
10. or food procession. Once more Mataafa sat
in state and before him filed his subjects, long
line OF men women and children Leading the
deleeation from each district village was its
esnecial taupo the maiden who is designated
Official hostess of her village and who retains
the Office until her marriage. She was attired
only in the old-time lava lava or skirt OF bark
cloth and her ornaments consisted OF flowers
wrea3hs and plenty of palm oil Chanting some
ancient song in archaic language, she danced III
advance of the slowly moving and chanting pro-
cession for some fifty yards and then waited un
I'll the talking men WAC led ii reached her side
This was repeated all along the beautiful path
way until the throne" was reached AS each
person nassed the king he or she tossed in
heap before his majesty some article OF 1000
One r,.ght bring live pig trussed up but
squeezing: another a squawking fowl or nne
fish wrapped in fresh leaves: another huge
bpnch II bananas or a basket of pineapples
But not one was without his offering. even If 1t
was bot a breadfruit or a piece of taro. So
dancing and singing the parade passed. and
then without any sense Of the ridiculous broke
nm turned back and helped the king eat up all
che gists That was indeed a monster feast
Perhaps the people ate up Mataafas food with
the loss conjunction because they knew how
abstep,ious he was. One morning called on
his majesty bv appointment and found him at his
hreokfast The royal meal consisted of a bowl
Of kava and two bananas big purple ones OF a
variety not known here: and the king courteous
Nv offered to share the fruit with me Grave
wise1ooking and big physically. mentally and
rnorotlv Mataafa sat there crosslegge6 in his
simnle INIT and chatted with me about his loved
friend Robert Louis Stevenson, munching his
banana and driving away the flies with his fly
Hammer lie was true nobleman and his death
last sun,rner deserved more than the foar-line