Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-01-02

assembled on Mulinuu Point just outside Apia,
and there took place almost daily decid-
edly picturesque doings.
Biggest and best of these. naturally, the
coronation of the white-hared old chief though
the word Is A misnomer for there was no crown.
Mataafa sat alone in the center of large open
space, and all around. in the shelter of palms
and banana trees, thousands of natives and
the entire white population of Upola island. The
kings house turned 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-
uvered 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 him and
anointed his head with a sacred oil His
majesty then retired amid the loud cheers of
his people, and the rest of the afternoon and
the evening given up to feasting. The limo
cent reyelrfes were not lessened by the fact that
bloody 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 SUI
preme court that Mataafas election was invalid.
That came later. and did the fighting.
Next day we all went out again to see 'talo-
To-" or food procession Once more Mataafa sat
in state and before him filed his subjects, a long
line of men women and children Leading the
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 attiTed
only in the od-time lava lava or skirt of bark
cIoth 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 I'M
til the talking men who led it reached her side
This was repeated all along the beautiful path
way until the throne" reached. AS each
person passed the king he she tossed in
hean before his majesty article of food
One might bring live pig, trussed up but
souealins; another a squawking fowl, or a fine
fish wrapped in fresh leaves; another huge
buncb of bananas. or a basket of pneappes
But not one without his Offering, even If -
was but a oreadfruit or a piece of taro. So
dancing and singing the parade passed, and
then without any of the ridiculous broke
up turned back and helped the king eat up all
the gifts That was indeed monster feast
Perhaps the people ate up Mataafa's food with
the less conjunction because they knew how
abstemious he was. One morning | called on
his majesty by appointment and found him at his
breakfast. The royal meal consisted Of bowl
of kaya and two bananas bis purple ones of 8
variety not known here: and the king courteous
IL offered to share the fruit with Grave.
wise-lcoking 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, muncbing his
banana and driving away the flies with his fly
fapper. He was a true nobIeman and his death
last summer deserved more shan the four-line