THE MAY CELEBRATION ON RAIATEA.
By Iva F. Cady
I AM not sure which is considered the most important by the Raiatea people, the "New Year's" or the "May," as it is termed. For some years this custom has been in practice. The presiding minister would appoint a certain day in the month of May, and upon this day the grown people make donations in money for the foreign missionary work, and the children donate to the interests of their school work. This is considered to be the children's day, and in their minds, at least, is the greatest day of all. Though it is celebrated by religious services in the church, it is with about the same spirit as is manifested by the average American upon the Fourth of July. It is a day of general feasting, and all expect to have a "good time." The services in the church are conducted after the same rule as those upon New Year's day. Each district has a class of singers, and where the district has enough children, it has a division of children besides the one of grown people. One class at a time takes up its work of singing and reciting in concert some portion of the catechism. The largest division was made up of our school children, whose work was quite different from the others. Each one had been taught to arise and repeat alone a question upon the life of Christ and passages of Scripture answering the question. It took a long time, for there were about ninety children. All of their songs were those which have been translated from our hymn books, and are much more musical than most of the native hymns. The parents expressed themselves as very much pleased with the proceedings, and it was the means of arousing more of an interest in our school. Upon this day each child carries to his teacher a plate of prepared food. It is mostly the native poi, of which there are many kinds. But for such times as this, two certain varieties are made, one of arrowroot and cocoa-nut milk, and another with banana added to these ingredients. We have to give most of it away again, for there is more of it than we can use. This year two days were kept by the children of our school. After the usual day was over, another one was appointed by the parents for our pupils to gather here in the schoolroom, and exhibit before their friends something of what they have learned in the school. On account of rain in the morning they were a little tardy in coming, but, in time, quite a crowd had gathered here, bringing with them tokens of their appreciation in the form of a large amount of food,—oranges, yam, taro, sweet potatoes, live fowl, etc. These were deposited by the schoolroom door, and then a speech made, presenting them to us. Of course such substantial help as that is thankfully received by us. After opening our exercises with singing and prayer, according to the people's wishes, the next thing was an opportunity for those who desired to donate in the way of money. Little and big, young and old, responded diligently, and Brother Dean, who acted as treasurer, was kept quite busy for a time receiving the mites. The queen and her husband also added their donations with the others. All together the amount received was $82.14 of Chile money, which would be about $55 in American money. For several months there has been a restriction upon the coconuts, so that the people here could not make copra, which is their principal source of money, so that they are quite poor just now, and, considering this, we feel quite pleased with what they have done. We have tried to do as well by the children as possible with our many inconveniences, and leave the results with the Lord. Our work for them has drawn them very close to our hearts. IVA F. CADY.