Omoo: Adventures in the South SeasMelville, Herman
General
Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas
Melville, Herman
Adventure stories; Polynesia -- Description and travel -- Fiction
Near the trees, on one side of the clear space, was a ruinous pile of
stones many rods in extent; upon which had formerly stood a temple of
Oro. At present, there was nothing but a rude hut, planted on the
lowermost terrace. It seemed to have been used as a “tappa herree,” or
house for making the native cloth.
Here we saw lights gleaming from between the bamboos, and casting long,
rod-like shadows upon the ground without. Voices also were heard. We
went up, and had a peep at the dancers who were getting ready for the
ballet. They were some twenty in number;-waited upon by hideous old
crones, who might have been duennas. Long Ghost proposed to send the
latter packing; but Rartoo said it would never do, and so they were
permitted to remain.
We tried to effect an entrance at the door, which was fastened; but,
after a noisy discussion with one of the old witches within, our guide
became fidgety, and, at last, told us to desist, or we would spoil all.
He then led us off to a distance to await the performance; as the
girls, he said, did not wish to be recognized. He, furthermore, made us
promise to remain where we were until all was over, and the dancers had
retired.
We waited impatiently; and, at last, they came forth. They were arrayed
in short tunics of white tappa; with garlands of flowers on their
heads. Following them were the duennas, who remained clustering about
the house, while the girls advanced a few paces; and, in an instant,
two of them, taller than their companions, were standing, side by side,
in the middle of a ring formed by the clasped hands of the rest. This
movement was made in perfect silence.
Presently the two girls join hands overhead; and, crying out, “Ahloo!
ahloo!” wave them to and fro. Upon which the ring begins to circle
slowly; the dancers moving sideways, with their arms a little drooping.
Soon they quicken their pace; and, at last, fly round and round: bosoms
heaving, hair streaming, flowers dropping, and every sparkling eye
circling in what seemed a line of light.
Meanwhile, the pair within are passing and repassing each other
incessantly. Inclining sideways, so that their long hair falls far
over, they glide this way and that; one foot continually in the air,
and their fingers thrown forth, and twirling in the moonbeams.
“Ahloo! ahloo!” again cry the dance queens; and coming together in the
middle of the ring, they once more lift up the arch, and stand
motionless.
“Ahloo! ahloo!” Every link of the circle is broken; and the girls,
deeply breathing, stand perfectly still. They pant hard and fast a
moment or two; and then, just as the deep flush is dying away from
their faces, slowly recede, all round; thus enlarging the ring.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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