ROYAL TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1920, Page 5

ROYAL TOUR.

QUAINT ISLAND SCENES FOR FIJI By Talejiraph.—Preaa Assn.—Copytljht, ' Honolulu, April 15. The feast at which the Prince of Wales, was entertained hero is called the Boyal Luau, reserved exclusively for Royalty. It - contained a feature which has nqtbeen represented since the Duke of Ediri. burgh visited Honolulu in 1858. the Prince, who sat garlanded with, flowers, between the Hawaiian Princes# and his hostess, Mrs. Atkinson, two *p" Hawaiian* stood holding the sacred taplt eticks, long pointed rods, ornamented with globes. The tapu sticks still profoundly influence the native imarina-.i tion, and emphasise to their mind the sacredneßs of kingship. They are never produced except for a royal personage The ship's officers, wearing whiteoMa jackets with gold lace, and t]sfr war decorations, were similarly as were the ladic9 who were prewjgt jtt - equal number. Several ot aristocratic Hawaiian familia du participated in the feast, amid the rant odours exhaled from the waSl™ flowers. Gleaming jewels were worn by fashionably-dressed ladies. The guests ate Hawaiian delicaciei in Hawaiian fashion, while strange drinki of unknown composition were served Iff. wnall glasses. If Hawaii was not »o uncompromisingly dry in common with the rest of the United States territory noL m ! g , Ut , hav ? 6US P €C J ed «"»« alluring palatable drinks to b? American codttails in the guiSe of beverages co#n pounded by ancient Hawaiian art. Mfißr ot the guests who resided in Hawaii used their fingers for eating, but th» strangers were accommodated with fork*. During the , progress of the feast Ul Prince showed close interest in the wtogramme presented by the Hula Hula girls, and listened to the plaintive Ha- : wauan chants and love songs. An 1 Amenson lady, versed in Hawaiian low.' kindly interpreted the meaning of maiv songs and explained them. They were e w n H lßt °o ic !i bal , lads lUte thoge •>< Mr Walter Scott, celebrating the warlike achievements of Hawaiian aemi. find giving their genealogies and the exmi, 1* anc ' P6tors and descendants. , Other ballads referred to the Prince of Wales and recounted the ancient ties of friendship between Hawaii and Beretania, which is the name for Britain. Others again were purely love songs. The principal singing girl, who accompanied hermnM° n h ® ukalele - possessedj a voice of much sweetness and charm, and quite chfimed her'' 6 lou % «V Ha «'aiian dancers, who are aimptfecd to portray draftatie scenes and stories, were rather monotonous, but <aneed with extraordinary vigour and abandon. An old man comedian furn'n* with* n° m 'i rel ' Gf ■ ainffing an 3 danc * ■<Y «ith the chorus of Hula Hula sirls ' lm performance was quite unlntellitf." • ible to outsiders, but was greeted wlfh upt-onnous laughter and applause. With » he plaintive love songs of the Hawaiian prima donna, who sang under her native coconuts, ringing in their oars, the party went back to the city and boarded the ship. The Renown left for Fiji at daybreak on \\ cdmsday. Atis.-N.z. Cable Assn.