WILD ISLANDERS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 59, 7 September 1945, Page 9

WILD ISLANDERS

A NATIVE "SING-SING"

ENERGETIC DANCING

Writing from an R.N.Z.A.F. station in "the Islands," a Wellington airman describes the quiet turn of events between the cessation of actual warfare and the Japanese surrender. "To avoid frightening the Japs, we are not aPowed to fly over Jap-held territory, and are supposed to stay at 7000 ft. From that height there is precious little to see, especially when you have to see what you can from over the sea. However, we are permitted to go down low to inspect barges if they are away from the coast. I took advantage of this to go down and 'inspect' a sampan. There were three Japs on board. They stood on the deck and waved as we went past. They at least did not show any signs of fear. "We are all hoping that one of these days we will be able to land on an aerodrome near Rabaul and have a look at the place. About a couple of hours there should be enough to enable one to see all there is to see. The place is pretty well blown about. Ships litter the harbour and beaches. Actually we have seen Very few Japs on the move, and it is hard to believe that there are allegedly 60,000 to 100.000 Japs in that area. "Some of U3 were lucky enough to see a native 'sing-sing.' The 'singsing,' a cross between a fair and a community dance, is held only twice a year. It starts about three in the afternoon and goes on without a stop until 5.30 the next morning. This sing-sing was held at a native village on the top of one of the surrounding hills. A special stand was built for the European visitors, of whom there were about 50. In front of the huts was a clear space and stalls containing native products on one side. The opening ceremony was some sort of a witch dance. • <> \ HIRLING WITCH DOCTORS.

"The performers were heralded by the stamping of feet, the beating of drums, and weird cries. Heading the performers to the cleared space came half a dozen witch doctors, wearing high, brightly-painted dunces' hats surmounted with feathers. The rest of the dress consisted of leaves, which covered the body from head to foot. All that could be seen of the witch doctors were their hands and feet. The whole dress was remarkably constructed and gave the effect of jungle flowers. Behind the witch doctors came warriors with painted shields and long spears. Then came other men in loin cloths, armed with spears only, and the drummers. Last of all came the girls, adorned in the brief native costumes. They could hardly be described as beautiful.

'"The throng, which numbered 50 or so, chanted and stamped round the clearing, following the witch doctors, who whirled about so energetically that they had to take rests periodically to save themselves from collapsing. On they came again, after a brief spell, and the celebrations continued.

"Unfortunately, we did not know the significance of the movements of the dance. It eventually bored us, so we left to go swimming. We were told subsequently that the witch doctors, although not now witch doctors in the true sense, were done up in the dress of a dreaded society which flourished in these islands years ago. The society, like the Ku Klux Klan, instilled great fear into the natives. So much so that a photograph of one is sufficient to make a native's eyes boggle—even though he may be a mission boy."