THE KING OF ARORAI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 6, 1 July 1911, Page 10

THE KING OF ARORAI.

ROMANCE OF THE GILBERT GROUP. Archibald C. Everett, a former stockbroker of Wall-street, New York, manabout town, and boulevarier of two continents, now reigns as King of Arorai, in the Gilbert Islands,

Mr. Everett was as well known in Paris as in New York. He lived on lobsers, champagne and all kinds of rich food. The chorus girls never had a more generous host.

Suddenly a slump in Wall-street left him without a dollar, and in a shaky | state of health. Disinclined to become a drudge where lie had once been a prince, he .borrowed a thousand dollars, packed up several trunksful of good clothes, and started out to wander tnrough the world. At last lie came to Arorai, in the Gilbert' Islands. Mr. Everett fascinated old King Rovaka of Arorai. His handsome appearance, his smart clothes, his easy, genial manner, captivated the venerable monarch, lie begged Mr. Everett to consider everything on the island his, gave him his favorite and handsomest daughter in marriage, and named him heir to the throne.

Within two years the venerable, ruler was gathered to his fathers, and Mr. Everett ascended the throne. He has ruled with great wisdom, moderation and success. He is fitted by nature and training for his high post. Bevies of charming chorus girls, or, rather, dancing girls, exert all their arts to please him, and ask no greater recompense than a smile and a kind word from him. They catch unlimited lobsters in the inexhaustible ocean and cook them for him. Domestic life here (wrote Mr. Everett 5 recently) is entirely free from the worries that accompany it in the United States and most European countries. Here I find that a girl not only considers it an honor to marry me, but costs me nothing and contributes to my support as far as lies in her modest power. During the six years I have been king of this island I have never refused to marry a girl, old or young, rich or poor. This, 1 believe, ia the°'chief secret of my hold on my warm-hearted people. NEW BRIDE ONCE A MONTH. At least once in each month I take a fresh bride, but 1 have no rule against admitting larger numbers to my household. Sometimes it happens that I rereceive as many as a dozen at a time, families are large and rapidly growing in these islands. Whenever a father has a marriageable daughter lie does not know what to do with, he presents' her to me to mark his loyalty. It is an ancient custom, and I cannot but respect

The ceremony is always an occasion for a joyful gathering of the people of this and neighboring islands. Then they display their picturesque native customs, Wreathed in hibiscus flowers and smiles, men, women and children dance and sing ana pledge my health in cocoanut wine for three whole days and nights. You must not suppose that the frequent acquisition and exchange of wives is destructive of permanent domestic affection. My darling Arawaii, the only daughter of the late King Rovaka, lias always remained my permanent and'most beloved wife. She was the old king's favorite daughter, and when I married her he named me his successor on the throne.

She presides over my household with perfect grace and modesty, never doing anything to disturb my peace and comfort, or that of my newer wives.

My wives arc recruited from daughters of neighboring kings and leading chiefs of this island, and even from daughters of poor fishermen,' who, by their pleasing manners and appearance, may gain a place in my household. They are happy, simple, iina.fl'ected little creatures, whose only object in life is to minister to my pleasure and win my approval. My wives wreathe themselves in flowers and sing am. dance for me. They live .or me. My life is one long round of perfect domestic harmony. No wife every quarrels with me or talks back at me. They would sooner bo stricken deaf, dumb and blind than do that.

Tliey would never dare to quarrel amongst themselves unless T gave them permission, and then they would tear one another to pieces. But I never give them permission.

I do not keep all my wives. By a simple but affecting ceremony I transfer those T feel I can spare to some other eiiief whom I wish to honor. Last Christmas T gave one to my old and esteemed friend and subordinate. Chief Rubbarari. She was a little lame in the feet and unable to wait on me briskly, find, therefore, of no especial value to me. But the old chief received this token of my affection with tears in his eves.

Tn spite of my occasional liberality I have an abundant, household, counting at present two hundred odd wives.

Our time is spent in feasting, singing, fishing, and resting beneath the shady palm trees. Xo one works unless he has n mind to.

Our life is enlivened by pleasant social intercourse and swimming parties. Our neighbors come to see us in their big canoes from as great a distance as five hundred miles, and when they come they stay for a month or two. KING RUBA My old friend, King Ruha, or Orrawal, an island two hundred miles from here, drops in to see me, quite frequently in ins royal canoe, with a dozen of his iyonnge.st wives. He is a delightful old gentleman, full of humor and character. Dressed in a naval officer's coat, a small pair of bathing drawers, a necklace of sharks' teeth, and a Panama hat, he presents a decidedly picturesque appearance, and yet. withal, he is every inch a king. The old monarch's memory runs back to gtirring times and events. I suspect that hi" i« not entirely a stranger to "Jo»g-pi(j" himself. However, he would refer to thia subject in my presence, for he i« quite a jeatleman. I feel perfectly Bafe ■with hi«. Whatever his weakness ■«t be, I am «urs ha never ate a man with yihom he had previously dined.

Here 1 war »»y that 1 feel it to be. my •acred duty to respect the religion, the cn»to«j», *ad even the ancient prejudices of these people. If I did not they would *ot Ift «« star hers. They are happy, prosperous and free from care under their Bystem of government and morals, and one cannot blame them if they do not care to have that system changed for one suited (o an entirely different race of people. My .subjects occasionally go on a war party in their canoes. Before they go on their journey there is a. "rent powwow of (he warriors, and 1 preside, wearing the terrible triple-laced deatli niasic. f do not j,'o away with the fiirht.cvs, for my royal duties require my presence hero. When the warriors return there is a fresh supply <if meat on the island. f am particularly careful (o respect ilc-ir religious customs, many of whieli are very curious, not. fo say alarming, "'hey Tv-iim-iiu a large chns of priests, of "medicine men," who live in idleness and luxury . Tf. has been one of the first, prini'ipl-t i»f my government to treat lii-se jrea.ller.-nvn generously and never

misfortune, a solemn gathering of tue | people is held under the direction of the priests. . I merely occupy a position of dignified inactivity at these meetings. THE APPARITION Of DUK-DUK. A supposedly supernatural creature called the "duk-duk'' makes hi« appearance and smells over the people until he has found out who have offended against the goos and thus brought misfortune on the land. He picks out two or three of the richest and meanest citizens for punishment, and they are carried away lor a, course of treatment by the priests-. The sinner is made to part with all Ins superfluous wealth, and then everybody is happy again.

Tlio "duk-duk" is well-known in many of the South Sea Islands. His distinguishing feature is a high mask, with eyes and nose outlined in white, designed to inspire terror into the simpleminded islanders.

The "duk-duk" never pays any disagreeable attentions to me, because 1 am king, and because I possess the sacred royal fetish, which is itself a divinity. The possession of thia symbol of authority and supernatural power is indispensable to the king of the island; it is tue. emblem of my royal power in this island. I obtained it from my esteemed predecessor and father-in-law,' King Rovaka,

The chief of police, who keeps the crooks away from me, is a black, bushyhaired fellow, with odd ideas of facial decoration.

As I never question the right of my people to observe their ancient customs, so they never expect me to .share in those that are repugnant to me. It is probably the fact that I am different from them that makes me such a successful and satisfactory king. My prestige among these simple people has also been greatly augmented by the white lliiimel trousers, made by one of the best tailors in New York.' which I wear on State occasions, When I lived in more conventional lands, I hau a great fondness for well-made white flannels, and so 1 happened to land among these islands with a trunkful of them. I suppose it Is the contrast between my white-clad limbs and their own uncovered ones that makes them feel that I came from another world, and have been sent from heaven to rule over them.

■ A good supply of neglige shirts, an old high hat, some colored silk socks, and varicolored pyjamas help me to make a royal impression. Here I sit on my throne, waited on by my faithful wives, honored by the medicine men, magicians and soothsayers, and served by the best cook on the island, who prepares for me the finest chickens and lobsters, and even a plump dog, which is especially esteemed by these simple people. lam as happy as man can ever expect to be. '