New Britain herald., 1919-09-24
Revival of Ancient Customs to Express Joy For Re- turned Warriors in Pacific Isles.

Washington, D. C., Sept. 24.-when me boys of Tahiti came marching nome from the World War the fan ~astlc native dances, the "himinies" pr folk songs which have been com pared to Wagnerian opera, and the Pnclent fire walking ceremony, were feVlVed to welcome tham.
 These customs all but suppressed #oy clv1llzing French influences, were among the most interesting practices pr Polynesian peoples according to bulletin from the National Geo. graphic society.
 Tahiti women were extolled by Early travellers as being the most beautiful in the Pacific Islands; their men still are fine physical specimens; &Rnd the early civilization of this iso- lated people has been one of the wonders of science" says the bulle- tin
 The Tahitians knew some of the eonstellations, navigated by the po- Fitions of the stars. made progress n music which is startling, yet pre- serVed many savage customs, such as pIucking an eye from a human being to be placed in the mouth of a priest hs an acceptable offering to their gods, and encouraging their women to euckle dogs, pigs and other animals held in high Veneration."
 The bulletin then quotes from a Hilary presented to the society by the late s. P. Langley who visited the island nearly twenty years ago and heard old time songs and saw native 1ances and rites, which have been revived to honor the men who fought under Allied colors in France:
 'The native women sing 'himinies' with some very striking effects" he wrote. ''The voices have something plangent and metallic in them, yet are melodious and in harmony. In the first song, at the end of each verse, all stopped suddenly, giving the effect of the 'couac of the opera singer. In all the verses there was hn undertone beneath the song. This undertone continued alone for a few seconds at the end of each verse, after the supefposed song was fin shed, and died out separately and Slowly, like the drone of some great bagpipe. The natives gave names to bach of us, mine being 'A-to-hi,' which means 'qui a les lauriers.'
 "I went out to the public dancing Rnd singing, in competition for prizes offered by the government It takes place in the square before the gov Prnment house, and everybody is here, either performing or looking bn. Almost the whole population of he island has come.
 "The chief interest among the islanders seems to lie in the compe- tition of singing 'himinies,' and next Eo that, in the dancing, which is pan tomimfc as much as regular. As a public show, most of the native dances hre unpresentable, so that, I have un- 3derStood. the authorities have had some difficulty in finding a dance (which will do for such an occasion. Savages are here from the neighbor- ling islands, a f1ne-loolling chief from 8Cook island taking a part, and woman from the same island gave h little of the presentable part of lthe 'Hoola Hoola.' Her body would be quivering like a jelly, and sud- denly grow rigid as a statue-a nota- bly, odd effect.
 ''In one very good dance by the Cook islanders over thirty persons fake part. They sit down in three rows, representing rowers in a canoe, while two scull and steer. They have paddles. and paddle to the sound of