White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-07

When the boys of Tahiti came
marching home from the world war
the fantastic native dances, the
"himiniesp or folk songs which have
been compared TO Wagnerian opera,
and the ancient fire-walking ceremony,
we're revived to welcome them.
These customs. all but suppressed
oy civilizing French influences, were
among the most interesting practices
Of Polynesian peoples, according TO
A bulletin from the National Geograph-
c society in Washington.
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
he early civilization Of this isolated
people has been one of the wonders OF
science" says the bulletin.
"The Tahitians knew some OF the
consultations, nayigated by the posi-
lions of the stars, made progress n
music which Is startling, yet preserved
many savage customs. such as pluck
ing an eye from a human being to be
placed in the mouth of a priest as an
acceptable offering to their gods"
The bulletin then quotes from a
iiary presented TO the society by the
ate s. p. Langley who visited the
lsland nearly twenty years ago and
heard old-time songs and saw native
iances and rites, which have been re-
gived to honor the men who fought
lnder allied colors in France.
Saw Ancient Rites.
"The native women sing 'himlnies'
with some very strIkiB effects" he
wrote. 'sThe voices have something
plangent and metallic in them, yet are
melodious and In harmony. In the
arst song. at the end of each verse. all
stopped suddenly. giving the effect OF
| The 'couac' Of the opera singer. In an
the verses there was an undertone be-
Meath the song. This undertone con-
tinued alone for q few seconds at the
end Of each verse. after the superim-
posed song was finished. and died out
separately and slowly, like the drone
Of some great bagpipe. The natives
rave names TO each of rs. mine being
A-to-hi,' which means 'qui Q les Ian
riers.'
II went out to the public dancing
md singing. IN competition for prizes
| offered by the government. II takes
place in the square before the govern
nent house, and everybody Is there.
either performing or looking on. AL.
most the whole population Of the Is
and has come.
'The chief interest among the Is
landers seems TO lie In the COMPETE
lion Of singing 'himinies.' and next to
that In the dancing, which Is panto-
mimic as much as regular. AS a public
show most of the native dances are
mpresentable, 80 that. I have under
stood, the authorities had some diff
.ulty In finding a dance which will do
,or such an occasion. Sayages are
here from the ~neighboring tribes, a
ane looking chief from Cook Island
taking a part, and a woman from
The same island gave a little OF the
oresentable part of the 'hula-hula.'
Her body would be quiyering like a
Jelly, and suddenly grow rigid as
A statue-a notably odd effect.
Thirty Take Part.
'In n very good dance by the Cook
islanders over thirty persons take
oar+ Than, elf douyn In throa roxye
representing rowers in a canoe. while
TWO SOUL and steer. They have pad
lies, and paddle to the sound Of
drums. A lookout man sweeps the no.
rizon till he sees a big fish, and the
canoe rows for him. One of the steer
ers sharpens a harpoon and passes II
forward, and the fish Ga man dressed
in red) is harpooned. There is a ire
mendous time In pulling him in; he
runs around and entangles the line
among the bystanders, and finally he
gets q second harpoon In him, Is haul.
ed on board and Tin pantomime) cut
up with an ak, dismembered and eat
en- by the crew. Everybody Is in mo.
ton, but It Is rather a pantomime
than q dance.
"In the afternoon I went to see
preparations for the fire walking
Within q hundred yards Of the ship
shallow pit is dug, about 8 by 20 fee
by IS inches deep. This is to be filled
with firewood and the stones heapet
on the wood. These are smooth, wa
ter-worn, volcanic stones of varying
size, but all rather large and weigh
ing, at a guess. from 10 to so pounds
The number of stones was about TIVE
hundred, and their average length
about 10 inches.
"In preparation for the fire cere
mony 1 took a ships tin measure full
of fresh water. This is to be used II
half filling, with three or four meas
ures. a large wooden bucket or tut
with fresh water, into which one of tn
smaller hot stones from the center O