The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-01-23
SPELLS DEATH OF
PERFECT WOMEN

teeth, a slender, graceful form, q skin
Of velvet texture and unblemished sur
face, and these physical attractions
are combined with q ~vlvacity Of spirit
and action ~eXaggeration become diiii-
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.
IL doubt seriously If a more carefree
or cOntented maiden ever existed. Her
domestic duties were light and agree
able. The furnishings of her matched
shelter consisted of a few p%andanus
sleeping mats-nothing more. Outside
on the stone platform was IN 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 ard
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 IL 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 a 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 a modern mas
seuse. Usually two or three hours
were required for the operation. At
It's conclusion the skin was like velvet
in texture, without a trace Of oilinesA
They treated their hair I'm n similar
1 InUHueT anu lit VI, uNu idhA
~tresses were probably due to the at
! tention given them In the use Of coco
oil and massage.
Beyond the preparation Of the sim
gle daily meal, her massage and such
tappa or mat making as desire or ne
cessIty prompted, the life Of the Mar
ouesanne was devoted entirely to
pleasure.
"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 q 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-
gether with baskets Of flowers to be
woven into wreaths and garlands by
the happy couple"