Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-30

mereial Agent at the Navigators Islands.
We some time ago published the appoint
ment of another gentleman to similar
or the same office. but which. we are
not informed. The letter win be found
of no little interest to the numerous
friends of Mr.. Chaplin in this commu-
nifty
! u. s. COMMERCIAL AGENCY,
APIECE, Samoa or Navigators Islands.
July 18th, 1855.
| DEAR If don't write you a
long letter now. you must blame Mr.. c.
I'll. Howell for it. Mr.. III. is passenger
or rather the Physician of the Baraue
President, bound from San Francisco to
Australia, and have Just been giving
Kim the news that has transpired in
Clarksburg, since he left. was glad to
meet the first face in him that 1 was ever
acquainted with in Virginia, since l left
the old Dominion.
! have been here upwards of month.
having arrived on the Sd of June. l
found these Islands pretty much as ex-
pected, although not quite in as good
state OF cultivation, considering the capa
cities and capabilities of the Islands
Nature has indeed done much in eve
rythinS for them. and man has only to
lie down In the shade of his fig tree, and
live without exerting himself but little; if
he can content himself with leading an
indolent life.
The Islands are indeed beautiful-the
b beautifully arched Banona groves, toge.
Their with evergreen shrubbery, are in
deed magnificent. l don't see here that
waste and barren land there is upon the
Sandwich Islands in some places; but We
getation teens from every spot, and is
rife from the tops of the mountains to the
beach, which is encircled with rows of CO.
coanut trees that are both an ornament
and useful to the Inhabitants. The coun
try, however, is as yet, in quite an un-
cultivated state, and much in need of the
hoe and pillow.
The natives are not so far advanced in
civilization as the Sandwich Islanders II
nor do they dress near as well. but they
have more healthy appearance-light-
er complexion -rounder and better form
ed. They are now engaged in civil
war, which was suspended about two
years ago.
On the morning we came to anchor in
the harhor, we were greeted with the
war song of the warriors as they entered
the harbor in their canoes, or rather long
boats, about double the length of a
whale boat, built expressly for the occa-
sion. to hold from fifty to one hundred
men. As they approached, an experien-
ced and active warrior stood on the bow
of the boat. throwing himselfin all kinds
OF antics, and cutting up all manner Of
shines randishing his war club in eve
ry direction. They travel in large par
ties. but few miles day. stopping at
night to carouse and feast with their
friends-:hey appear to go more for plea
sure than fight. Even the neutral party
must feed them while on the way, and
they sometimes eat them ont of house
and home. They have peculiar kind
of work around their boats, made OF,
bamboos, constructed in such a manner
as to glance of the musket balls. They
are rather more afraid of getting into
war than eager to do so. Some parts of
the Islands are fighting against other
portions, while other places on the same
Island are neutral. The centre of this
island (Upoley) in which their harbor
Apia) is situated. stands upon neutral
ground. and the lives and property of
foreigners are regarded as the same e
Well they might, for they will not soon
forget demonstration made by British
man-of-war here few years ago when
they were blockaded until they were
nearly all starved TO death. Mr.. Pritch-
ard (the British Consul) aud myself, in.
tend visiting the seat of war in a few
days, where We can meet the two con-
tending parties face to face, in conse-
quence of some boats short time since
having been intercepted.
But enough of war and natives. L
have been about as busy as one man
could reasonably be. since came here
1t has always been the custom that if a
man gets into any private difficulty, no
matter how trivial. he runs to the Consul.
At first put them off. telling them that
they were matters with which l had no.
thing to do, but find have to come to
it.
This port is one which has been much
frequented by whaling vessels which
cruise on the line for sperm whales
Now, vessels from California to Austria
liza put IN here for supplies and water, it
being about half way house, and bids
fair, before long, to be place of conside-
rable Importance.
This morning. before 1 could go to
breakfast, l took a considerable sum from
consular fees and in the store, gave away
some dry goods and any quantity of to-
bacco, cleared Two vessels for Australia,
one for Nantucket. and / don't know
what else. You see scarcely get time
10 write. 1 have had plenty on my mind
and hands TOO. since have been here.
and so long as can keep them employ
ed shall be pretty we'll contented. II
expect. however. when there are no YES
sells in port il will be r,rettr dull tinaas