A FORBIDDEN DANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2420, 14 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FORBIDDEN DANCE.

The Wild "Hula-Hula" as danced by Ten Beautiful MaidensAmonjr the forbidden amusements nf the Sandwich Islandsisdane.ing whatisknown as the "hula-hula." A. reporter, now at Honolulu, al tended one of these dauees recently, and gives the following description of it : T was invited hv a native chief, whose acquaintance I had formed, to i;o with him to witness a red hula-hula, a ironuino da nee of the good old times. T eairerly accepted his hindii' ss, and at 0 o'clock one beautiful evenimr westarfed for l.lio rendezvous, a native house, !rra.-n thatched and walls ot slender cmo work. Amviii-r there we entered a larsre room, on the floor of which a number of native spectators lay stretched oil foft iirits. Room was made for u», and we had hardly taken our seats before a curtain, which was stretched at the far end of the room, was drawn arid the entertainment, commenced. Kirst,, the musicians entered and sat down on one end of the stage, which was simply a larsre thick mat. on three sides of which reclined the spectators. The music consisted of six drums, three largo and throe small. Tho large ones were enormous calabashes, tho heads of which wore covered with tightly drawn sltins; the small ones wore eoeoanut shells covered in tho same manner. The leader, a sprightly dame of 70 summers, was a very important person,ape, as it was her business to direct, the performance by the expression of her face and the actionofherhands. Suddenly a strange chant was raised, accompanied by a beating of the drums in pcrfect time. This gradually died away, and two more musicians appeared holding long sticks, from which they elicited clear notes by striking them with shorter ones. These took their places behind tho rest of the orchestra, and After them, nil dancing in a row, The comely virgins camo with garlands bright, All fresh as flowers. Ten girls fantastically dressed, with scarf bound round their waists and crowned carlands of flowers, and with wreaths of gardenias around their wrists and ankles, made their way, with slow and graceful movements, to tho end of the stage, on which they sank just as tho music ceased. Some of these srii'ls were beautiful and had softly moulded limbsand figures of extreme grace. At a tap of tho drum they raised themselves to their knees and commenced a wild song, to which they at first beat time with a clappinjr of their hands. Gradually this changed into the most expressive pantomime. Tho sticks and drums took up the measure ; arms, hands, and even fingers spoke a torrent of words with a precision that the host-drilled ballet troupe could never attain. The body swayed backward and forward, the slightest motion to the right or left by one being 1 repeated by all. Something snake-like and and repulsive, anon seductive and pleasing, until finally a wild tossing of tho arms, followed by a low wail, proclaimed tho end of the story, to the evident discomfiture of the maiden and tho triumph of the lover. During the interval required for rest, a very intricate perfoimanco was gone through by four men and four women, who sat opposite and close to one another. Each held a bamboo about two feet long and split at the end into strips. When struck together they made a peculiar sound, which formed the commencement to the song.

A distinct rhythm was kept up all the time by the bamboos and as their found bejrstn to get somewhat monotonous, loud cries were raised for the "hula." The dancers now formed a circle. Each held a small calabash ornamented with feathers and with seeds inside, so tint it. cuuld be u-ud as a tambourine or rattle. Slowly the rinp begins to circle round, hands and feet keeping time ina majestic, formal fashion. Soon they quickened their Kteps, and the sharp rattle keeps up a running fire with now and then a deep boom from thebigdrnm The cirele widens, and just as with wild grace the dancers reach the inner row of spectators the music ceases and they throw themselves down on the ground, leaving two of their number standing in the centre. After a pause tho music and singing begin again, and as they bccome moro passionate so does the dancing of the pair become more intoxicating and abandoned. Others join them, oach pair working out the old story of coquetry, jealousy, and tho final surrender of tho maiden according to their own taste and ideas. Soft, swaying movements, and a gentle turning awav, timid glances and startled gestures gradually sivc place to more rapturous passions. The excitement of the dance inspires them to fresh and moro rapid evolutions until exhausted nature can stand no moro, and they drop fainting on their cushions.