Journal of Residence in the New Hebrides, S.W. Pacific OceanBice, C. (Charles)
History
Journal of Residence in the New Hebrides, S.W. Pacific Ocean
Bice, C. (Charles)
Missions -- Vanuatu
I had the old men for school to-night, and very interesting it was, old
blind Sulu (Daniel) was among the number and paid the greatest
attention, assenting in a marked fashion when anything especially
pleased him. Poor fellow, he finds wonderful comfort in his religion,
and is a most regular attendant at all services and at school. He gets
about wonderfully in spite of his blindness, and does wonderful things
for a man so totally blind. His patience and cheerfulness under his
affliction are marvellous, and he seems to live in hopeful anticipation
of the time when he shall see his Lord and Master face to face, Whom now
he sees with the inward eyes of his spirit. He is the only blind man
here, and I have never seen but one dumb man in these islands.
_Wednesday, 28th July._--Our people had a great dance last night after
school which they kept up with great spirit and vigour until an early
hour this morning. The occasion was the thatching of the new gamal, and
a great many took part, and never once intermitted their vigour from the
start to the finish. The dance is called a “Sagoro,” but the chief part
of it consists of singing with a clapping of hands and peculiar dancing
in time. It is no easy work, and when I went to see them about the
middle of the performance the perspiration was running down their
bodies. Some of the songs are very pretty, but the movement of the dance
is not particularly graceful or elegant. The women stand in a ring
outside, and what is called “weluwelu.” This ‘weluing’ consists in
keeping the feet close together and moving the knees from right to left
besides joining in the chorus. Their shrill voices sound quite weird
along with the deep tones of the males, but by no means discordant.
Native songs have mostly an air sung by one voice, and a chorus joined
in by all, and these Maewoese are noted for their songs. I did not
attempt to go to sleep before the performance was over, and the
consequence was a slight dilatoriness this morning, which as might be
expected, was not only manifest in my case. However, after morning
duties here I started with Arthur Huqe and Patrick for Mandurvat,
passing through the pretty snug little village of Naruru on the way.
Here we found a man by name ‘Tamaragai’ sitting with his pretty wife and
child in the neat enclosure in front of his house. All the other
denizens of the village according to the invariable custom which
prevails here, had scattered to the four winds. After the dew is off the
bushes here there is a general exodus from all the villages, and at noon
it is useless to look for any one at home, for all are abroad. They are
very industrious people and find perpetual occupation in their gardens
or elsewhere from morning till evening. They say if they stay at home
they do nothing but sleep, and a native has not many resources for
occupying his time indoors. They have a great dread of the dew, for they
say it engenders elephantiasis. Cases of this unpleasant disease are
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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