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

tho most desirable OF the virgins. The
gods have chosen-but as yet the chtef
does not know their choice.
Tie dancing and the chanting have
ceased with the fall of the arrow. The
Young chief opens his eyes. but he
cannot see the arrow
qua Ne! Pua Me-" he calls. and
straiyhtway the hiding arrow. from its
Mace at the virgins feet. answers. In
q clear voice:
NE! Me-"
with this. the other maidens step
hack and-her young beauty all SHIN
marins in the sun-the heaven chosen
Glands revealed to him who has come
seeking his bride.
In the background n soft voice
/ speaks of the glories OF the chosen
one Another takes up the theme and
from lip to lip the song is carried till
all the voices blend in one sweet ca
dence that swings softly up and down.
I'M and down, with the softly swaying
/ bodies of the chanters. or her beauty
/ they sing. of her grace in dancing the
hula and her wonderful skill In the
Iomilomi (massaging). Presently. keep
inc time To the rattle OF her own hula
gourd. the bride-to-be begins to dance.
with slim. brown body lightly poised
and dainty feet quiescent. she dances
the marriage dance, the muscles under
her glowing skin ripping like tiny
waves in a sunlit pool That is the
Young mans signal With a cry of
"Thou art mine. o beloved: thence
forth thou shalt dance for me alone
IN nv but-for me and none other!
he seizes the maiden In his arms and
bears her away with him through the
forest
Then begin the preparations for the
wedding. A great luau. or feast. must
be made-called the luau or ohaaina-
male wedding FEAST. Some go to
sea TO bring back fish that are Of fine
flavor and good omen. Others bring
fatted pigs, fatted pups, kalo already
made into the delicious poi. and sugar
cane. Ava, too. must be procured
and well born men and maidens with
clean. strong teeth must be found. for
be II known that the ava root must
be chewed In the mouth until 1t Is SOFT
and pulplike. placed then In n kao
bowl, water poured over 1t. and then
strained. to make the liquor for the
ohaaina-male.
Then the drum man with his two
drums appears. The drums. smaii
one and larger one. are made OF the
followed sections of cocoanut trees
with the followed end covered with
shark skin drawn taut and fastened
with thongs. With q drum on either
side Of him. the drummer beats WIN
his fingers. so that those hearing him
catch the drummed-out words: Hoao
ma Ill e! tThe chiefs are MARKEDLY
With shout the words are taken up
by all who are near, and In from their
surfboard riding. racing, arrow
shooting. dancing, swimming. discus
throwing. westinghouse the wed
ding guests, and out from his nut
comes the young chief. with his sim
brown wahine. The bridegroom ana
his lady touch noses. All the hign
chiefs among the guests touch noses
Then an old chief. bearing a wonderful
piece Of tapa cloth. comes forwaru
The wedding pair face each other aho
the old chief throws the tapa over
them both.
Four times four prayers the kahnna
utters-being four to the gods oil 'he
air, four to the gods Of the sea, four &c
the gods Of marriage and four 10 tht
gods Of birth. All the high CHIEFS ano
the people again join noses from
every throat present swells forth iou'
times, In triumphant chant; hoa'
ma Ill e! Hoao ma Iii g! Hoao ma IL
9! Hoao ma Iii e."
The chiefs are married. and tn'
guests sit down with them to tht
wedding feast