Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-01-17
SPELLS DEATH OF
PERFECT WOMEN
Famous South Sea Bellies Are
Now a Drunken, Degraded
Race.
LIVE IN AN ALLURING EDEN
Remnant Of Marquesan Race Is Be-
You'd Redemption French Can
Only Allow Natives to Die OF
as Speedily az Possible.

as Speedily az Possible.
Washington.-"There can be no
doubt that today this drunken, disease
ridden remnant Of the Marquesan race
is beyond redemption and all the
French colonial administration can do
is to pursue its present policy of nomi-
nal supervision and let the natives die
off as speedily as possible"
Such is the pathetic epitaph, written
by John w. Church, in communica-
ton to the National Geographic so
ciety, of people whose women were
pronounced the most beautiful in the
south seas, whose dances were the
most joyous, whose tattooing was a
fine art and whose island home was
an alluring Eden before the white man
came.
"To describe the dainty, graceful
Marquesanne as she unquestionably
was, will, I fear, lay me open to the
charge of exaggeration," writes Mr..
Church.
Attractions Beyond Compare.
"When a woman possesses beauti.
full, luxuriant hair, fine eyes, perfect
teeth, a slender, graceful form, skin
of velvet texture and unblemished sur.
face, and these physical attractions
are combined with vivacity Of spirit
and action exaggeration becomes diff.
cult and unless all chroniclers Of the
islands have for several centuries
agreed to deceive the world such was
the Marquesanne, and so she is today
when sickness has not diminished her
charm.
IT doubt seriously if more carefree
or contented maiden ever existed. Her
domestic duties were light and agree.
able. The furnishings of her matched
shelter consisted Of few pandanus
sleeping mats-nothing more. Outside
on the stone platform was an assert.
ment of bowls, crudely carved by the
men in their intervals from warfare.
These held poipoi, fish, fruit or what
ever of food might be prepared for the
only daily meal.
"Then there were dainty coconut
shells, ground thin and polished by
rubbing on stone under water, often
carved, which held the coco oil and
other preparations for the toilet, dear
to the heart of the Marquesanne.
II have mentioned the use of coco
oil by the Marquesans. Probably no
race ever attained a greater skill in
the art Of massage-certainly none
ever practiced it more constantly. The
oil was obtained by filling large wood
en- bowls with the meat of broken CO.
conuts and placing them in the sun.
Into the oil thus drawn the intensely
fragrant blossoms of qua or the seeds
of the spicy, aromatic lime were
thrown, seeming it with delightful
perfume.
Much Time Spent at Toilet.
'Men and women alike were daily
massaged with this scented oil, every
muscle being gently manipulated, with
a skill seldom found in modern mas.
seuse. Usually two or three hours
were required for the operation. AT
its conclusion the skin was like velvet
in texture, without trace of oiliness.
They treated their hair in a similar
manner and the wonderful, luXuriant
tresses were probably due to the at.
tention given them in the use of coco
oil and massage.
Beyond the preparation of the sin
gle daily meal, her massage and such
tappa or mat making as desire or ne.
cessity prompted, the life of the Mar.
quesanne was devoted entirely to
pleasure.
1.-THE marriage Of the Marquesan
maiden to the youth of her choice was
an interesting ceremony. A home for
their occupation was built by their
friends and the various necessities for
connubial happiness placed therein.
"The maiden was taken in charge by
several young matrons, to be mas
saged with perfumed oils and her hair
and body decorated with wreaths and
garlands of flowers. The youth was
consigned to the ministrations of two
older women, who rendered him sim.
liar service, besides smoking him thor.
oughly with the fumes of sandalwood.
At the appointed time the scented and
garlanded pair were escorted by the
village to their fac, or hut, where the
king with much ceremony declared
them tapu for two weeks.
"For the period of the tapu none
might speak to them or in any way
disturb their honeymoon. Food was
left each morning on their terrace. to-
woven into wreaths and garlands by
the happy couple"
Painful Accident AMUSING.