The circle of spectators opened their ranks, and entering the open
space reserved for them, they began their slow and sometimes grace-
ful movements, which were principally confined to the arms accom-
panied by characteristic gesticulations. They sang in alternate strains
with the musicians the praises of their gods, and celebrated the
exploits of their famous chiefs. Another dance was called sura anaa-
papa. Five musicians, who were seated on the ground, struck a piece
of folded tapa with an oval-shaped calabash, about three feet high, to
which was attached a smaller calabash having on the top an aperture
about three inches in diameter. As soon as the dull monotonous
music struck up a young man advanced, who cut his way through the
crowd, and entered the arena reserved for the dancers. His hair was
flowing in loose ringlets over his naked shoulders ; strings of braided
human hair bung round his neck, from which a parava cut of a whale's
tooth was suspended ; his wrists were ornamented with bracelets of
hogs' tusks ; his ankles were encased in loose buskins thickly gar-
nished with dogs' teeth ; and his loins were girded with a beautiful
maro of yellow tapa, which reached down to his knees. Swinging
his gourd rattle in exact measure with the beat of the calabash drum,
he moved forward and backward across the arena and varied his per-
formance with songs which commemorated the achievements of the
ancient Hawaiian chiefs.
