ROYAL TONGAN WEDDING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 2

ROYAL TONGAN WEDDING

The Princess of Tonga was married to Prince Uliami Tugi late in September. The illness of King George, ner fathor, caused some months' delay in tbo celebration of the nuptials, which, in the light of mighty current events, were scarcely noticed, by the outside world. Some details have filtered through eulogising tho European ceremonial and quite ignoring the ancient Tongan customs, which were more picturesque and interesting. Conforming to her Christian upbringing Salote was wedded in the Royal Cliapel, with all the pomp and dignity afforded by bridal trappings, wedding bells, a guard of honour, a brass band, six bridesmaids and a train-bearer of royal blood, two ministers of the national religion to tie tho knot, and iv kingly father's blessing. Two days afterwards—during which intervention feasting wont on throughout tho Iwid —like a loyal son and daughter of the supernatural (Tongan tradition) :we, from which they are descended, the prince and princess propitiated tl'.o Tongan deities by going through the Tuuvala, tho marriage ceremony of their ancestors. For this Salote had been preparing for weeks. Her handmaidens had massaged her body every day with a scented paste made of flower petals, sandalwood, and candJenut, chewed to the proper consistency by their own white teeth, and anointed her with coconut oil. As the wedding day approached the massagings increased from one to four a da)". fliO like common outside the palace was tho scene of the ceremonial. At the appointed time the princess came forth m all the glory of her dowry of finely-woven Sampan mats, somo of greatest value. They were wound round her waist until-her arms stuck out straight and she could not sit down or stand up. without support. Her bare arms and legs glistened HKe brown satin in the sunlight from the frequent anointings with coconut en. Her concession to modernism—a catm and lace camisole covering her bosom —rather spoilt the picture. Her lord was similarly attired, except that a shirt substituted the camisole. A spaco about the width or a roaawav divided the couple, who were sunported bv their relatives, and surround-, cd by their, presents of tapa. (native cloth), of which one chief gave /4UU yards, fine mats, baskets, and all manner of Tongan industry, and eatables beyond calculation, consisting of whole baked pigs, native fruits, .and vegetables. The princess approached ber husband's goods, and, doffinga nn, placed it on top of the pile He there upon went to her side and did . likewise This performance was repeated three times, on each occasion the pan retiring to don a fresh mat and to reeled Then the largest pig cut- up and the back of it to t!? pr«™ to j£ a'nee with ancient P« sto f'/f£ n ° e " s i,® lap of the n«t lnghe t ch.^ ftuness m tho land. Lusiane, dauglito oi tno Chief of N«'ft lu Sl'of 1 tlw Legislative Assembly. The princess received her kava in a cup made ol n voting banana leaf, while Tug. re- &&&»»»£* „ile while a group of veteran chiefs squatted near bv returning thanks on behalf of the bride and groom. When ?he lowliest subject had been served with kava and fortified wit. pig. the iiriuce ami princess wero n'rnwed to shed their costly, uncomfortable, drapincs, and dress. in. the latest Sydney fashions to depart for their honeymoon.