the pronunciation of the Hawaiian word _ae_ (pronounced like
our aye), meaning "yes," involves the opening of the mouth to
its full extent; and this action, when accomplished, results
in a sympathetic lifting of the eyebrows. It is this ultimate
and completing part of the action which the Hawaiian woman
adopts as her semaphore of assent.

One of the puzzling things about gesture comes when we try to
think of it as a science rooted in psychology. It is then we
discover variations presented by different peoples in
different lands, which force us to the conviction that in
only a part of its domain does it base itself on the strict
principles of psychology. Gesture, like language, seems to be
made up in good measure of an opportunist growth that springs
up in answer to man's varying needs and conditions. The
writer hopes he will not be charged with begging the
question in suggesting that another element which we must
[Page 182] reckon with as influential in fashioning and stereotyping
gesture is tradition and convention. To illustrate--the actor
who took the role of Lord Dundreary in the first performance
of the play of the same name accidentally made a fantastic
misstep while crossing the stage. The audience was amused,
and the actor, quick to avail himself of any open door,
followed the lead thus hinted at. The result is that he won
great applause and gave birth to a mannerism which has
well-nigh become a stage convention.
[Page 183]

XXIII.--THE HULA PA-HUA

The hula _pa-hua_ was a dance of the classical times that has
long been obsolete. Its last exhibition, so far as
ascertained, was in the year 1846, on the island of Oahu. In
this performance both the olapa and the hoopaa cantillated
the mele, while the latter squatted on the floor. Each one
was armed with a sharp stick of wood fashioned like a
javelin, or a Hawaiian spade, the _o-o_; and with this he
made motions, thrusting to right and to left; whether in
imitation of the motions of a soldier or of a farmer could
not be learned. The gestures of these actors were in perf