The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-05
An Almost Unknown Land.

Away, lar away In the mlust Oh tHe
South Pacific, in latitude l50 south and
l7l0 east longitude, and right in the
track of the United States, New Zeal
and, and Australian steamers, lies the
beautiful Island of Tutuila, rising in its
solitude TO an elevation of $500 feet
above the level of the sea, and clothed
with evergreen tropical verdure. To the
mariners eye is presented one OF those
Eden.like scenes rarely to be found on
our globe. Resting upon the tops of
the mountains are seen the clouds pc.
culiar to these regions. The almost
perpendicular ridges from the noun
tain top to the sea, intersected with
beautiful valleys covered with foliage of
all kinds, with the rain pouring down
in torrents in one; in the next the sun
sh ming brightly; in q third, the fog
hurrying from the mountain top to the
beach; fourth is scarcely visible, with
the many tinted rainbow forming an
arch across the whole; the ocean eX
pending its force upon the white coral
reef; the long line of cocoa-nut trees
along the beach, with the native villa
ges here and there. Away to the
windward are three whale boats, and on
the other side of our ship, looking
right into the harbor of Pango Pango,
and coming out to meet the Nevada, is
wal canoe propelled by fifty painted
warriors, which approaches at almost
lightning speed. The naked savage on
the bow is dan eing his war-dance, and
as his club moves from side to side, the
fifty paddles strike the water. This
isolated scene, far away from civilization
and all our old associations, forms pic
ture never to be etfaced from ones
mind, and which Hogarth would have
travelled twice round the world to
sketch. Here man is beheld in his
natural state, without dress, without
art, and yet even the inherent modesty
of mankind is 10 be found among these
pc ople; around their loins is a covering
made from the bark of cactus tree,
inches long. They are fine athletic
people, averaging from five feet nine
inches high to six feet, well formed and
strong. The women are particularly
good looking, medium height, and in
their wild simplicity adorned with
flowers and wreaths.
The islands of the Samoa group have
seldom been visited by Europeans, and
in consequence, the natives are unused
TO our habits and customs. Upolo, for
ty miles TO the west of Tutuila, stands
first among the group in point of fer
tility, having an area of l,025 square
miles, which may be divided into three
districts-the West, Middle and East
10 oh L, l,
level to the sea. The western slope,
from the mountain to the sea, is all
suitable for cultivation, and three
fourths of the middle, and two thirds of
the eastern are all susceptible OF cult
Walton; the soil is Of the richest kind,
composed of decomposed vegetable mat
ter, etc. Rains are frequent through
out the year, and small streams every
mile or so flow from the mountains to
the sea, afiording a plentiful supply of
water at all times. Upolo is certainly
the most fertile island in the Pacific,
more so than the island of Ceylon. In
every district are to be found figs, dates,
indigo, tamarinds, cinnamon, nutmegs,
ginger, taro, bread fruit, cocoa.nuts,
bananas, sweet potatoes, mangos, mel
ons, lines, pumpkins, pineapples, or
anges, custard apples, citrons, guaves,
pomegranates, mulberries, maize, cot
ton, sugar, rice, coffee, etc.
On this island is situated Port Apia,
Inhabited by perhaps one hundred and
sixty Europeans, who have chiefly
found their way in whale ships a popu.
lation not likely to develop the vast re-
sources of the country, and from which
little progress might be expected, were
it not that the United States, New Zea-
land and Australian mail line will, in
all probability call at the port of Pango
Pango. The native population, num-
bering about 10000, are exceedingly
friendly disposed toward white men,
and have on several occasions sought
the protection Of England and the
United States. The island of Upolo
is governed by three chiefs, who are al
ways fomenting war among themselves.
The only law that exists for Europeans
is a sort of Consular Court, which is not
looked upyn with favor.
The island to the westward of Upolo
is not quite 90 fertile, but covers much
larger area, and it is estimated that
there are about six hundred square
miles of il suitable for coffee, sugar and
cotton. Atno distant date these islands
will become the garden of the Pacific.
As n central Polynesian depot, the har-
Dor OF Pango Pango is not to be sur
passed. Situated at almost equal dis
lance between the Society Isles and
New Caledonia, 800 miles from Auck-
land, and little over 5000 miles from
San Francisco, in close proximity with
the FIJI and Friendly Islands, the Navi-
gators will certainly become great in the
future development of Polynesia. The
French have already taken steps to
form connection with the steamship
line now running to Australia. By this
arrangement all the French settlements
will be brought into immediate connec-
ton with each other, and reduce the
time from New Caledonia to France to
thirtysix days, and the benefit that will
accrue to our continental railroad, from
the increased travel and transportation
of cotton, &C., will be very large indeed.
A Curious Forgery.
curious case of forgery has inst