WEIRD DANCES

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1933, Page 9

WEIRD DANCES

NEW GUINEA NATIVES. “WHITE CHIEF” FARE WELLE I). SYDNEY, May 27., A message from Rabanl states that, in order to show the “big white chief from Siteni” just how they can dance, 2000 natives, mostly Tolais, assembled this afternoon at Mount Toma, 30 miles from Rabanl, and gave Mr. Marr an exhibition of picturesque dancing. It was a magnificent farewell by the Territory, for Air. Marr departs to-night for Sydney after a fortnight’s comprehensive tour.

On arrival at the scene of the “sing sing” Air. Alarr saw hundreds of natives ordinarily attired, but from the hush on all sides came weird singing. Suddenly two men boat a drum rapidly, and from the bush came Tambnans, who were dancers wearing huge billowing grass skirts, and a gaily coloured conical head-dress covering the face with strange masks, and reaching to the shoulders. A drum band and singers appeared, and the Tambnans danced around the ground in perfect time. They were followed' by Due Dues wearing a tailor but similar headdress. Afore drums came, more singers, and more dancers till the large area was full of groups of dancers, mem and women, and the air full of the healing of drums, accompanied by weird and frenzied cries.

Each group of dances had a ceremonial and religious significance, “The dance belong Tambaran,” or “Dance of the Bad Spirits/’ was the rarest as well as the strangest, and most impressive. The dancers wore pointed headdresses made from red, yellow, and white feathers, beautifully designed, plain lavas, and huge branches of yellow croton leaves on their backs. Their legs were painted with red, yellow, and white ochre. Some rattled cowrie shells. All held wands of red flowers.

An old man, bearded, and similarly dressed, and wearing a collar two inches wide, made from dog’s teeth, directed the proceedings, which followed a long and ordered design, every movement of which had significance; while the “orchestra” of two dozen men beat drums and sang. Meanwhile, more and yet more devils appeared from every direction, all dressed differently, and all wearing the most brilliant colours, each party bringing its own drummers and singers. One group consisted of masked men, and appeared most hideous. Another group was Irom the wild Bantings, part of which is still uncontrolled.

Tin* Bainiags performed ;i snake ilam-o. They wove a dress consisting of all leaves, a head-dress of yellow grass, pyramids, and woven masks, like pas-masks, with white shell at the top, giving; a pnome-like effect. In their own district the Bainiags carry live pythons during the dance. In another part of the ground hundreds of women danced and sang. Mr. Man- left before the “singsing” was concluded, for, if allowed, the dancers would continue all night. As the official party made its way down to the road thore came the sound of beating drums and singing across the jungle.