The Tanpau Dance Of Samoa

The taupau of a neighboring village, pecially enlisted as a ñrst rate dancer, ritu four girl coinpanions, formed the allet. The taupau wore a marvelons ïeaddress, reseinbling that of the youth who mixed the kava at Malie. Round ïcr f orehead was a band of small pieces of nautilus sheU, above towered an erect ■wig of human hair which had been )leaohed for nionths in a marsh, little ooking glasses were placed in front, and ;he whole was surmounted with a trail of red hummingbirds' feathers. Tlie effect was snrnething between hat of a miter and of a Persian king's crowu, but part of the structure feil off [uring the exertions which ensued. Beïind the girls sat three or foiir men, one of whom contributed the musical accompanimeat by beating on bottles wrapped up in cloth. The others assisted in the chorus singing, but their part was a very subordínate one. The performance of the five girls in front, who were at first seated on the ground, was exceedingly amusing. It consisted of a series of songs, mostly "topical," with a great deal of action. The taupau generally started with a solo, and the others presently joined in, swaying arins and bodies backward and forward, touchingeach other'sshoulders and movinff their hands and fingers