0734 Belles of the South Seas 03 01 21 00

[Music] white sand softly Washed by the Blue Waters of the Pacific the languid warmth of Summer breezes perfumed by flowers this is the South Seas the Last Frontier of romance and peace in a troubled World lies off the Beaten Track of oceanic travel gateway to the South Seas is Tahiti better known than other islands in the Polynesian group much has been written about this colorful Outpost life here is undisturbed by the fortunes of the world outside this is a PE peaceful bit of France but it is still Tahiti even though some of its younger women wear civilized clothes they want to be like white women but they will always be [Music] tahitians these are subjects of his Britannic Majesty they are mayori one of the most intelligent native races of the empire [Music] South Island home of the neoris consists of a precarious crust of safety above a Subterranean Inferno evidenced by Boiling Springs the whole district is famous for its geysers and superheated pools and the native women take advantage of them by cooking much of their food in specially made boiling bags how simple yet there is no evidence that native so blessed by nature in other lands ever thought of this thoroughly cooked potatoes ready for the mayori dinner [Music] table when a native woman meets someone she loves this is the way she shows it the art of wood carving is a Heritage of prehistoric ancestors skilled wood Carvers much of their work remains some carving suggest our modernistic Studios others show rare [Music] Artistry a little more than 50 years ago these were cannibal Isles inhabited by a Savage people and there are Villages today where it is still old [Music] Fiji here in the interior of one of the larger islands these people perform the same dances as did their ancestors centuries ago the Micky Mei danced as almost all Polynesians Express emotion to rhythm with graceful hand and head movement and a NeverEnding chant accompanied by the hollow sound of log drums beaten with the hand it is difficult to believe that their ancestors were feared by early explorers certainly there is no suggestion here of a Savage Heritage Snow White Teeth and a friendly smile a typical Bell of the Fiji Isles east of Fiji America's stake in the South Seas is sented here at Pago Pago Samoa it is a naval station one of many Pacific bases this Mansion formerly the home of Robert Lewis Stevenson is used by the governor who was always the commanding officer of the naval contingent in the islands not far from this spot is the last resting place of Robert Lewis Stevenson who wrote his own epap this be the verse you grave for me here he lies where he long to be home is the Sailor home from the sea and the hunter home from the [Music] hill red fruit trees and coconut palms are abundant on the islands and the fruit is easily reached by the natives who will defy a white man to do this obtaining food is so [Music] simple a San's home is merely a circle of pillars and a thatched roof they are the purest type of Polynesians and they have been The Originators of tattooing for the word tattoo is Polynesian meaning to decorate the skin with dyes life in Samoa is casual there are no scarcities a new dress is merely a problem of going out and cutting some grass then weaving [Music] it the FM Leaf can be used for hundreds of necessary things the tough slivers from the stock are like steel but lighter than aluminum the Simone is a master of the weaving art and his DEA flying fingers quickly fashion whatever it is he needs for his wife or [Music] himself there it is ready for his next catch of fish here the ceremonial dance typical of all Polynesia is called the siaa but there is one thing different about the Samoan Festival of Rhythm there is always a chiefess of the dance honored in this way for her beauty and popularity this is not the girl wait there she is with Maids of Honor no doubt about her Regal Beauty no people of the South Seas are superior to Samoans [Music] just off the northern coast of Australia there are lands of the South Seas rarely visited a people primitive and hostile impenetrable jungles gigantic swamps crude homes infested with flying ants and hordes of mosquitoes Small Wonder that this is a land far beyond the front teers of romance it is a strong child who survives infant mortality is Ally high in these primitive places to live is to become immune to disease a papuan village is built over the water with one side touching the land so it cannot be surrounded by enemies from other Villages cannibalism has so depleted the male population to whom this fate generally Falls the women greatly outnumber the [Music] men so it is that a male infant receives all the care and crude protection that an ignorant savage can devise The Village will need its [Music] men women their life work is to be a wife one of several wives always they can propose marriage and if refuse the man will be severely beaten adornment of the skin takes the place of clothes here's one who likes a v-neck effect bells of the South Seas filthy papin bck their heads for ceremonial occasions this colorful Bonnet is made of bird of paradise feathers and it represents a small fortune to the owner then there's the warrior type who disdains adornment unless it brutalizes him the ceremony now is a devil dance ordered by this Sinister Witch Doctor all powerful who rules the entire Village through Superstition and mumbo jumbo for the Warriors may be Savage and even courageous but they fear devils and the witch doctor's [Music] medicine the women are less credulous because it is a man's world here what difference would a few more Devils make the skin drums begin to Boom the dance begins it will go on for hours in a monotony that dulls the brain individuality is submerged all move and think as one there is no music that deserves the word nothing of Grace or of beauty simply a tuneless chant the brutal rhythm of skin drums the scuffling of bare feet on the hard [Music] ground here the light of civilization is as dim as the fading light of day in the south see [Music]