Evening star., 1919-09-21

'EHiminies," Dances and Fire
Walking Ceremony Revived
| From Savage Days.

When the boys of Tahiti came
marching home from the world war
the fantastic native dances, the
"himinies" or folk songs. which have
been compared to Wagnerian operas,
and the ancient fire-walking ceremony
were revived to welcome them.
These customs, all but suppressed
by civilizing French influences, were
among the most interesting practices
of PoIynesian peoples, according to
bulletin from the National Geographic
Society
Tahiti women were extolled by
early travellers as being the most beau
tiful in the Pacific islands; their men
still are fine physical specimens. and
the early civilization of this isolated
people has been one of the wonders
of science" says the bulletin.
The Tahitians knew some of the
consultations, navigated by the posi-
tions of the stars, made progress in
music. which is startling. yet pre-
served many savage customs, such as
plucking an eye from a human being
to be placed in the mouth of a priest
as an acceptable offering to their gods,
and encouraging their women to
suckle dogs. pigs and other animals
held in high veneration."
Visited Island 20 Years Ago.
The bulletin then quotes from a
diary 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
dances and rites, which have been re-
vived to honor the men who fought un-
der 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 an undertone
beneath the song. This undertone
continued alone for few seconds at
the end of each verse. after the super
posed song was finished, and died out
separately and slowly, like the drone
of some great bagpipe. The natives
gave names to each of us, mine being
.A-to-hi, which means 'qui a les
lauriers.'
Il went out to the public dancing
and singing. in competition for prizes
offered by the government. 1t takes
place in the square before the govern
ment house, and everybody is there,
either performing or looking on. AL
most the whole population of the
island has come.
Competition in Singing.
The chief interest among the
islanders seems to lie in the competi-
tion of singing 'himinies," and, next to
that, in the dancing, which is panto-
mimic as much as regular. As pub
lie snow, most of the native dances
are unpresentable. so that, 1 have un-
some difficulty in finding a dance
which will do for such an occasion.
Savages are here from the neighbor-
ing islands, f1ne-looking chief from
Cook Island taking a part, and a
woman from the same island gave a
'hoola hoola.' Her body would be
qulVering like jelly, and suddenly
effect. oN0
codn In one very good dance by the
take part They sit down in three
rows, representing rowers in a canoe
wniie two scull and steer. They have
paddles, and paddle to the sound Of
horizon till he sees a big fish, and
the canoe rows for him. One Of the
s.eerers sharpens a harpoon and
QdsSeS IL forward, ana the fish "a man
dressed In red) is harpooned There
IS a tremendous time in pulling him
IN; ne runs around and entangles the
line among the bystanders, and finally
he gets second harpoon in him, is
hauled on board, and Tin pantomime)
cut up with an ak, dismembered and
eaten by the crew. Everybody is in
motion. but 1t is rather panto-
mime than dance
Dig Pit for Fire-Walking.
In the afternoon I went over to see
Preparations for the dre-walkinr.
Within a hundred yards of the shin