The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-03-22
Harbors of Samoa.

AoAooAS VI SAHOa.
To TIE Editor ofhsc Pacific Cowmsre,gl Idr,-iissr
hAv1 been requested by some Of the prominent
ci,iTep sSt Honolulu to give you a statement for pub-
l'eation. Some facts about the harbors Of the samoan
Islands. The only harbors that | heard II we're at
the port Of Apia on the northwest side Of the Island
OF CPolu, and an open roadstead with a chanael
through the coral reef Another on the southwest
side OF the island, very similar, with a coral Island in
the entrance. with deep narrow channels ia the reef
near the shore. forming almost natural docks. This
harbor the agent OF the Polyntsiau Land Co talked
Of having surveyed, aud 10 lay oat the second great
city Of the Pacific. aud remove there the company's
depot on Upolu. This he contemplated doing because
he could not obtain land satisfactory a, Apia. There
is another similar harbor about fifteen or twenty
miles TO the southeast Of Apia, ON the north coast Of
| polu. and the harbor or where the 6rsi great city
OF the Pacific is TO be built, Pango Pango. Apia and
range Fango arc the only ones where vessels Of any
sire resort There are no harbors ON SAvaii where
ships can lay in safety. The port Of Apia is open to
the sea TO the northwest, but perfectly safe from tho
southeast trade winds. The shore line is an almost
half circle, and the settlement on the beach Is divided
into three towns. The point 10 the right as you
enter the harbor is called Mettaphalia, and is the
greatest settlement, aud is where the German CON-
pany have some piers, warehouses. cotton gins aud
presses. There are several stores, a ten-pin alley, ~
boarding house, and gin shops, keut by various na-
tionalIties. In the centre is Apia, and consists Of
the house and office Of the British Consul, several
stores, two boarding houses, boat builder. SC.
the churches and houses Of the English mission.
Apia is divided by n small river from Mettaphalia.
On the right bank (as you enter the harhor) is the
French mission church. which has n town clock and
bell. Back of Meitaphalia arc the mission lands. said
TO De the best on the islands. The river Is crossed by
a foot bridge of perhaps fifty feet in length. Near
the English mission church there is another river
that marks the boundary between Apia aud Matauta.
This river Is crossed in "A punt, for which you have 70
pay Sl.OO per month If you don't choose TO wade.
The bridge and punt are all the public improve
ments they have. There are no roads for carriages
and no carriages for roads. At the left point Of tho
seml-circle Is Matauta. which consists Of the residence
OF the pilot, American Consul, the VIGOROUSLY dis
tinguished Captain Hays, two SALOONS aud sailor
boarding houses, the State warehouses aud boat-land-
ing Of Mr.. Mcfarland, (who is the most business
man OF the place. The Polynesian Land Company'a
store-room, Barnard's auction house, two private
residences, and blacksmith shop. The harbor Of
Apia is so open TO the northwest winds and sea that
four or live years ago. in a northwest gale, the sea
came III aud swept the beach, killed the brcadfruit
trees, and filled the stores and residences so that they
had TO put their furniture on the counters 10 save Il
from being wet. A large German vessel went down
at her anchor, and all on board but one were drowned.
The boosted harbor Of Pango Pango is described 10
me as being perfectly land-locked with n narrow
crooked entrance, the trade winds blowing directly in
for nine months Of the year. Surrounded on two
sides by steep and almost perpendicular bluffs OF bare
black lava, for about half way 10 the top the submits
are crowned with vegetation The peaks of the
mountains OF the channel and harbor are about 3 ZOO
feet high. AT the head Of the bay, a mile or more,
the water shoals to a canoe or boat landing on n coral
A~NA AhSAC ~ ~ otEeuiHo l NhItT tnhL COMES IN from
q very steep rayine. There are some cocoanuts hut
very little else is raised at Pango Pango, but there
are some small islands in the vicinity that are moro
productive. The water is deep 10 the very base Of
the bluff. On the left bluff Gas you enter the harbor)
the Polynesian Land Co., have purchased a small
piece Of land, say from FIVE TO ten acres If IL could
be measured by acres. Here the Land Company has
built n small house and started a trading post. They
have ne store-houses for cobra and il rams almost
daily. Their agent got starved out last fall, and
went down TO Apia where he was when we landed.
This is said TO be n good and safe harbOr for steamers
and sail vessels to get into, but very dangerous for
them to get out. There have been some vessels
wrecked in getting out.
This is the place that the President Of the Land
Conn any calls the Company's harbor, but why he
calls II so no one can conceive. unless he wants 70
deceive, as II is a national one according 90 the treaty
made last March by Capt. Meade. When the Presi-
dent OF the Land Company was at Apia last April he
invited some Of the residents TO take a trip 10 Pango
Pango and behold the site Of the first great city Of
the PacIhc which was to spring up ns il were from
his magic touch. On the way many suggestions
were made in regard to the name of the future great
city, some suggested one and some another
until they had about settled on Samoa city as
the most appropriate. But when the HItch
Queen was safely anchored in Pango Pango
a heavy tropical shower having been succeeded by
clear sunshine, which constantly alternate one an
other in that beautiful harbor, the mountains shut
Jung out every breath Of air, the vertical sun pour
ing down its uninterrupted rays Of intense heat, as
he sat upon the deck OF the vessel tanning himself
with one Of those beautiful Samoan fans, his boots
filled with perspiration the events Of his past life
came wildly to his memory, the intense glowing
scenes and prospects of his future residence came
like q premonitiOn TO the mind of the President, and
he suggested and concluded that the name Of his
future city should be Hades. W. r, FRINR.
Honolulu, March 18th. 1879.