Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03
A NEW PARADISE.


During the last few years the attention Of the
civilized world has been attracted 10 the COM
merce Of the islands of the south Pacific, and in
the struggle to control this valuable desiderat-
um the Leading nations have engaged in q brisk
competition, with various results. In the strife
over the more prominent prizes the lesser or
most distant ones have been quietly utilized by
shire wd traders without the slightest opposition.
And in this manner the traffic belonging BY
right TO America, and more particularly to San
Francisco, has been diverted from its legitimate
channel into foreign markets. Thus the pro-
ducts of the Samoa Islands have slipped into the
management Of German merchants, not be-
cause America was agreeable TO this disposition
OF profitable trade, but for the sole reason
that we had no adequate idea of its immensity
and the profits that accrue from it. These
islands lie between the lstitudes OF 10, q and IA
west, and consist of four principal islands and
i've smaller. including Rose island to the
eastward, among the number. They pos
sess an aggregated area of 300 square
miles, and q native population of IS, n97, nearly
ali OF whom lave been converted to Christianity
Through the courtesy of Colonel A. Steinber-
ger, the accredited secret agent of the Ameri-
can government, whose arrival from the Samoa
group oil the Sd instant has excited a deal OF
speculation, We are enabled TO present to our
readers few scraps oil general information
that ut this time are of surprising interest t.
the entire country. Colonel Steinberger left
San Francisco last June. and reached the Sa-
moa at most suspicious season. The termi-
nation OF the most disastrous civil war In the
the healing process, the cementing of various
Interests, was not yet commenced. The war
had dashed to pieces many traditions of the
race. In a contest between the ariStocracy and
the common people the latter had achieved a
partial victory and attained certain desirable
results. Entering at once upon his mission the
colonel visited the different islands of the group
ana held interviews with every chief In all
cases he was cordially received and rendered
facilities for prosecuting his wsrk. lie found
hlmsen among people possessing written
language of their own and customs that
have no existence elsewhere; a people yirtuous
almost beyond belief, handsome, generous, and
rapidly progressing toward a higher civilization;
people entirely free from the terrible taiuts
OF vice that began the work of defamation
among the inhabitants of other tropical islands
in the Pacific, and is yet unchecked; people
in paradise with only few intruders among
them, held in sway by patient missionaries,
whose counsels have stimulated a morality that
has endured for years and seemingly has no
limit. The physical appearance of the Sa-
means is marvelously beautiful. In form and
feature they are the embodiment of grace. The
cast of countenance lie unlike that found in any
other race on the Pacific Islands, in that it is as
regular as the Europeans. Then there is look
OF intelligence which is surprising in the ex-
ueme until we are apprised that every adult
reads and writes the native language. Most of
the barbarous traditions to which the people
still adhere are practically of a harmless ma
ture, and under the pressure of enlightenment
must soon pass away forever. There is one
chief who is considered sacred. Though he
ID.
and is not the ruler, he occupies an exalted po-
sition that no other person save his eldest son
can ever attain. The family of the peerless
Samoan enjoys the benefit accruIng from the
respect paid to him, and to a certain degree
the members thereof are sacred. The group
is divided into districts, which are gov
eTned by chiefs. But the petty rulers do
not arrogate to themselves the right to man.
age the village where they respectively reside.
According to a beautiful custom, that only
shows in a slight degree the respect paid TO the
women Of Samoa the villages are ruled by the
daughters of the chief, each village having it,
maid. The SaBoans probably owe their present
prosperous condition to the higd regard eXhib-
tied for the females, regard that is inherent
and last through life, forming an irradicable
trait in the character of the Samoan that is
worthy of emulation by the nations of the earth
who boast of civilization based upon the broad
est principles of human progress. Amid the
fercest conflict the women can travel to and fro
unscathed, visiting either or both of the con-
tending parties and supplying friends with
ammunition, provisions, water, or any other
necessity. The Samoan never absents himself
from home three days without writing to his
wife. Generally a runner or bOatman is dis
patched home to the spouse each day during
such absence, with an affectiOnate message.
These letters abound in charming figures OF
speech ard present wthal the acme of sincerity.
The same may be said of the native poetry.
Considering the temperate habits of the Sa
means, it might be considered strange that an
internecine war should occur, if we did not
state that the principal island numbers few
population.
The islands. save Rose, are of volcanic origin,
and abound in remains OF extinct craters. The
geological feature of the group and the flora en-
gagged the close attention of Col. Stein berger
and bis notes on the developments in that di-
rection are coplous and discriminating. As An
enthusiast in botany and geology he found in
the islands fitting field for the exercise of his
tastes in this direction, and evidently he awaited
himself of every facility that offered itself. In
the course of his tour through the islands he
hlGPanhGh unt ~ M a nd at
depth of many hundred feet discovered large
grove of stately trees, as fresh and healthy a.
If upon an open PLAIN. In the centre OF the
grove he peered over the edge of a yawning
abyss which the lack of proper appliances pre-
venting him from closely Inspecting Again,
he passed through a cave, with arteris
Of several branches he estimates at three
miles. The cave runs in direction
almost horizontal, conforming TO the
topography of the country above, has a roof ten
any tunnel in America. On one Of the islands
he saw waterfall eco feet in height, and pos
sessing an Immense volume OF water, bounding
boldly from the rocks, and finally subeidinS
into calm, gentle stream, and disappearing
in tropical grove. The scenery around tina
ran is rich and varied, and fairly enrapturas
she visitor from temperate CLINE. Natural
surface Of the islands On the occasions of te sne
pestaoas Weather, the hike water Of the ocean
ssc snig 'nronsh .ortuous passages and finally
& vent amid the cocoanut trees. Col
umDs OF water thus forced from the sea, having
diameter of ten or fifteen feet, rise majestic
ally to the height of several hundred feet
eclipsing In point of beauty the grandest efforts
OF nature in the Yellowstone region. There are
also number OF cascades leaping down the
mountain sides.
The islands abound in broad fertile valleys
where are large forests of trees adapted to
cabinet work, one forest alone embracing 5000
acres of land. The trees rise to q great height
and are of large girth. The day will come when
the lumber interests Of the Samoan group will
have direct bearing upon the market of San
Francisco. The cOcOanut tree reaches per-
lection here without cultivation, and its fruit
furnishes the staple article of export from the
group. Formerly the natives prepared cocoanut
oil for the European market, but now the Ger
mans bring the dried fruit OF the cOcoanut-the
article Of commerce known as copra-and take
il home, where the oil is expressed. The Samoa
trade in cOpra amounts to more than the entire
sugar product of the Hawaiian Islands. This
fact alone entities the Samoas to considera-
ton by the merchants of this city. Vegetables
grow upon the islands in bOundless profusion.
The indigo grows rank, and like the California
mustard, is detested as an intruding weed.
Colonel Steinberger discreetly refrained from
communicating information in reference to his
secret instructions, and, therefore, the public
must remain as much in the dark as ever On