Melanesian Mission.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 November 1913, Page 6

Melanesian Mission.

Loh, 'Torres Islands. The people of Loh have originated a unique form of recreation which they call the " Crab Dance." Their copyright of the performance is not likely to be infringed, since only m Loh are the necessary properties (a particular kind of crab) obtainable m sufficient quantity. The peculiar feature of personal decoration for this dance consists of elaborately ornamented belts. Beside the dancing ground a fire is lit, and the drummers, with their bamboo drums, perhaps twenty of them, take their places. The bandmasters cry "I! . . wa ! " and at the first slow syllable all drum-sticks are raised and brought down together upon the slits of the bamboos at the sharp "wa!" with the effect of a roll of kettle-drums. There is no baton, but " Accelerando " is indicated by shouting " Op-op-op-op-op I" very loud and fast. The orchestra being ready, some children are told off to feed the fire with dry cocoanut shells, which burn fiercely and make a splendid blaze, and "the rest of the people stand by armed with empty baskets.

Soon the dancers m pairs come into the circle of light out of the surrounding gloom, each couple carrying a stick between them on which is slung one or more large baskets full of a struggling mass of crabs. All the spectators stand waiting developments. When the dancers have circled the orchestra several times, the excitement grows hot, for they start throwing out crabs from their baskets, and as the creatures scuttle ' rapidly away, they are pounced on by any one who can catch hold of them, and transferred to the empty baskets. The whole dancing ground becomes thick with .people moving round and round, dancers and crabcatchers, being mixed up m a confused crowd, while the cries of excitement and the laughter and the shouting are mingled with the calls of the drummers as they cheer one another on to beat faster and more furiously. Gradual^ the dancers' baskets become lighter and those of the catchers heavier, till the transference of the last terrified crab is the signal for the end. " We-i-o !" cry the bandmasters, and 011 the final vowel the drumsticks fall for the last time, and the people retire to their homes to perform there the last figure — cooking and eating !