Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-25

[Apia Correspondence of the Alta California
We arrived here from Honolulu on April list,
after splendid passage of thirteen DAYS, the
fastest on record. Entering the harbor Just as
the sun is sinking beneath the sea, the eye rests
on the most perfect tropical verdure, the beach
Skirtcd with palm trees, in the background
breadstuffs, guava, and vil-trees. A cascade
leaping from the highest mountain on the
island lends charm TO the scene unsurpassed
in any country. The beach around the harbor
for one and half miles is inhabited by the Eu-
ropeans residing on the island. There are per.
haps sixty European houses, badly constructed
for the tropics, but the people settled on these
isolated isles, far away from civilization, seem
happy and contented. Indeed, the social life in
Apia appears to a stranger to be in a very
primitive state. The Scotch reel and High
land fling are danced here, and, as a French
man remarked to me "You English, where
ever you 90, carry your games with
you, and l feel certain that when | pass to
another world, if it should be my sad fortune to
pass into the bottomleSs pit, shall find Scotch
man dancing the Highland fling and an English
man country dance" A ball at Port Apia is a
sight not to be met with in any other place. The
assembly generally consists Of eighteen or TWEEN
ty ladies, and perhaps thirty gentlemen and
dancing is kept up with avn unknown in colder
regions. The windows are all Open, and the
lights reflect upon the shining skins of the naked
natives, who crowd the veraudahS to gaze on
the dance of civilization. The native dance,
hula, hula, seems TO our eyes obscene in the
extreme but our waltz, danced as the Samoan
ladies dance, appears to the natives equally i'm
proper Although the European residents enjoy
| themselves, the natives have little left to look
forward to, for the unhappy fratricidal war that
has desolated the country for the past ten years
has left these miserable people almost in state
of destitution.
Ten years ago the king of the Samoan group
died, leaving son of about twenty years OF
age, who, according TO the established rules, was
entitled to step into his fathers place, but his
uncle, then high chief of Sayaii, fifteen miles
distant from the seat Of government, invaded
the island of UpOlo with a powerful fleet of war
canoes, and defeated the young king, who re-
treated to the east end of the island Since that
time there has been almost continual warfare
but about two years ago both parties gave up
lighting from sheer exhaustion, and ever since
that time they have been preparing for war
again, and few days before our arrival osili-
ties commenced afresh. On the list of April two
forts were taken by the invading party, and six
heads cut off. The king, seated on mat, re-
ceives the trophy with great joy, and the lortu-
nate warrior who has taken the head calls out
the name of the king. The town of Apia is
neutral, and either party can enter it without
arms and with perfect safety; but it impresses
one with singular feeling to see a canoe being
padded across the peaceful bay with the head
of a man stuck upon the end of it,; or, again. to
see the natives passing along the beach with
haps stained with blood, when the head OF some
unfortunate native has been taken off Just few
minutes before. Both parties live in perfect
harmony with the European and American peo-
pie residing here, and there is not single in
stance Of any outrage being committed on the
white residents. The war has been entirely
carried on by each party TO gain the supremacy,
and kept up now because the party that wins
will take the lands and property of the others,
and will destroy the principal chiefs.
l. (. r Il. 81
of Mr.. Stewart, the president OF the Central
Polynesia land and commercial company. He
AT once requested meeting of the King Males
toa and his principal chiefs, representing to
them that the company he represented had pur-
chased large tracts of land on the island, and
that it was impossible that the war could be
continued longer without destroying the native
race, The king at once agreed with MIR. Stew
art, and signltied his wish to hand over his
rig hit to the United States and the company.
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 treaty was drawn up, the fifth
clause of which read thus:
We do acknowledge the absolute authority
of the United States of America with regard to
all matters whatsoever, and bind ourselves to
adopt the common laws OF America
This agreement is signed by the two kings
and 100 chiefs, and the British and American
consuls attach their signatures and seals It
IS somewhat singular TO see so many English
people favor the establishment of an American
colony in the South Sea islands, more particu-
larry so on such an island as this u.s. covering
an area of 1927 square miles of perhaps the
most fertile land in the world The group con-
tains an area of 2600 square miles, but this
island is not surpassed for its beautiful climate,
luxuriant foliage and richness of Isoil. The
highest ridge is at an elevation of not more than
1000 feet above the level of the sea, and more
than three'iourths of the island is suitable for
| cultivation.