The sun., 1872-06-08
OUR VEN POSSESSIONS.


lpfd Co,resj, 0Hdencc u Me Aita California.
We arrived here from Honolulu on April
l. after a splO ndld passage Of tiirtc- days, the
fastest on record. Entering the harsor Just as
tho sun Is Smiling beneath the sea. the eve rests
on the most perfect tropical vcrdure, the beach
breadstufs, guayas, and vil-trees. cascade
leepng from tho highest mountain on the
island lends charm to the scene unsurpassed
in any country. The beach around the harbor
for perhaps one a half miles is inhabited by
the Europeans residing on the island. There
are perhaps sixty European houses, badly CON
strncted for the tropics, but the people settled
On. On th.as Isolated isles far away from sliza-
social life In Apia appears to stranger TO
be In a very prlmitiye state The Scotch
and, as a Frcnchman remarked to me, "You
English wherever you 90 carry your games with
other world II II should be my sad fortune to
pass into the bottomless pit, shall find Scotch
man Country I Sanee ball g az e% PoSt an hnis IL
sight not to be met with in any other place. The
assembly generally consists Of eighteen or twen-
dancing is kept up with vim unknown in colder
regions. The Windows are all open and the
lights reflect upon the shining skins Of the naked
natives who crowd the yerandahs TO gaze on the
dance Of civilization. Tho native dance, hula,
hula" seems to our eyes obscene In the extreme,
but our waltz, danced the Samoan ladies'
dance It, appears to the natives equally im-
proper. Although the European residents enjoy
themselves, the natives have little left to look
forward to. for the unhappy fratricida war that
has desolated the country FOR the past ten years
= =
ui uestitutiOn.
CAUSE OF THE WAR.
Ten years ago the King Of the Samoan group
died, leaving son OF about twenty years of age,
entitled to step into his fathers place, but
his uncle, then high chief Of savii, fifteen
miles distant from the seat Of government in
vaded the Island Of upolo with powerful fleet
OF war canoes, and defeated the young. King,
Since that time there has been almost continual
warfare, but about two years ago both parties
ever since have been preparing for war again,
and few days before our arrival hostilltios
commenced afresh. On the lst Of April two forts
cut of: 1t is the custom TO give no quarter
and ana when S, Person P Is taken his head is at
coiyes the trophy with great Joy. and the foriu-
nate warrior who has taken tho head calls out
neutral, and either party can enter IL without
with a singular feeling to see a canoe being pad
man stuck upon the end Of IL; or, again, to see
the natives passing along the beach with large
stained with blood, when the head of some un-
fortunate native has been taken on just few
----s..--s--; ~ i.@,y-,-,. ----s--~..l-..
~. re !Llc here, AlgL There. 20 net Eagls .g.
white residents. The war has been entirely car
ried on by each party to gain the supremacy, and
kept up now begause the party that wins will
tak,e the lands and property 4 the others, and
viii destroy the principal chiefs.
the PRESENT POSITION.
This state Of things prevailed on the arrival Of
Nr. stewart the President OF the Central Polync-
sia Land and Commercial Company. lie at once
requested meeting Of the King MalestOa and
his principal chiefs, representing to them that
tie company he represented had purchase large
tracts Of land on the island and that IL was Inn
possible that the war could be continued longer
without destroying the native "a, p. The King at
once agreed with Mr.. Stewart. and slgnihed his
wish 20 hand over his right TO the United states
and the company, and Immediately an agrce-
ment was drawn up handing over the royalty Of
the island 70 the United states. The following
day the other party met In the house OF the
United states Consul, and agreed to the same
proposition, and in ACCORDANCE herewith a |
treaty was drawn up, the nfth clause Of which
roads thus;
. We do acknowledge the Absoiute authority o. the
United sttna ot America with tsard 90 ali 4tt,r.
whats. p ana l.-I ourselves 70 s1g; the clLiu
lass " america.
This agreement Is signed by the two kings and
Ia &. .t.- - '.... ASy.alsE 80! AsASr.sanl LA "
httach their signatures anu seals IL Is sume-
what singular To see so many English people
favor the establishment Of an American colony |
IN the South Sea Islands, more particularly SO on
such an island this Is, covering an area Of l21
square miles Of perhaps the most fertile land Ia
the world. The group contains an area OF 100 |
square miles, but this island h not SURPASSED Tor
Its beautiful climate luXurlant foliage and rich
ness Of soil Iao 81 hest ridge g At an elevation
81 not more than 1900 feet above the level of |
the sea, and more than three-fourths Of the |
island l. suitable for cultivation.