Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-22
THE CRUISE OF THE "TUSCARORA."
Colonel Sfeinburger's Mission.
Life At the New Samoan Kingdom.

Lie Al inc New Samoan Kingdom.
ARRIVAL AT HONOLULU, HAWAII IS
LANDs-vIsIT TO THE SAMOAN GROUP OR
NAVIGATOR ISLASDs-INCIDENTs OF
THE CRuIsE-"HoMEwARD BOUND"
Especial Correspondence Of The Evening Sar.l
u. s. s. TUsCARoRA.
HONOLULU, ii. J., June %, 1855
Dear Star: My last letter to you left us at
Ounalaska, Aleutian Islands, where we
bad stopped on our way from Hakciaii.
japan, for supply of coal to complete our
deep sea soundings TO San Francisco, Cal,
from Japan by the northern route, which we
found TO be very favorable for lay .rg sab
marine cable, the bottom being very regular
and uniform: We arrived at Sal Francisco
September ID, 1874, and after a short stay OFF
that port we proceeded TO the navy yard and
into dock for repairs. Quite a number of
officers were detached here among them our
commander, to whose credit rebounds one OF
the greatest successes of modern times the
completion Of the deep sea soundings from
San Francisco to Japan; surrounding all
obstacles, allowing nothing to deter him
safely through many storinyand ternpestuous
seas, and when we bade him farewell as he
left the gangway for his home we all felt
that we had indeed lost a friend. Our
affable executive officer also left us here. The
new commander, Henry Erben, jr., now
cara fre bis s,p preparations according to
sounding on a direct course from San
Francisco TO Honolulu, Ii. l., our first line
haying been run from San Diego, Cal:
We sailed on the list of November, 1874 and
after pleasant passage of twenty-five days
arrived at Honolulu, taking the Soundings at
intervals of thirty miles; the same success
attending us as in our previous soundings.
We expected to have had a good rest here,
then return to San Francisco, but our antici-
cations In that direction were not realized,
Pensacola, with Col. A. b. Steinberger on
board, arrived and we at once commenced
taking on board, artillery, stores, &C.. TO be
tt
By the LIST of March we were ready for sea
and on the 18th sailed out of the harbor head
ing south and toward
THE NAVIGATOR ISLANDS
A pleasant passage of twenty-five days
ensued, add Manua, the easternmOSt island
OF the group, was sighted on the 10Th. This
island is nearly circular in form, and rises
like huge dome from the water, and is COW
cred with vegetation to the mountain sum-
nit. The cOcoanutS grown on this island are
the largest in the world. the green nut often
furnishing half a gallon of water, and
the Manuan shells are highly priced by the
natives of the other islands, being used as
vessels for holding water.
PagO PagO Bay, where we were to make our
first anchorage, is less than two miles from the
northern coast of the island. The entrance
cannot be seen until close aboard, and viewet
from distance, this point would be the last
to which one would look for shelter. The
coast near ii is extremely rugged, and the
entrance being narrow, is not easily OBJ
served.
Pago Page village, from which the bay
takes IL name, is the largest settlement, aud
residence OF The High Chief Maungo. AL
though Samoa is in west longitude, their
time is kept with Australia, and the day of
our arrival, although Saturday, was the
samoan Sunday, and we were somewhat
surprised, cOnsiuel ing the rarity of a visit of
q man of war to their quiet bay, that none OF
the natives came Off TO the ship TO welcome
us. But such was the case.
SAMOAN SABBATH.
The village seemed sine ularly quiet. lmOSt
deserted; scarce any of the people could be
seen stirring about, and a truly Sabbath
quiet seemed to reign supreme. A visit on
shore that afternoon still further showed the
rightly with which the commandment to
keep the Sabbath holy is observed in Samoa.
Landing on the beach at Faiatma, the ma
tives were seen clustered in tneI houses, but
The streets deserted and the canoes hauled
up on the beach. AS We passed their houses
Invitations were extended by all to enter
Bibles aud hymn books lay upon tue mats,
or were being read, and IN reading or speak
ing voices were suppressed, as if the day was
too holy TO talk in an ordinary tone Of voice.
Entering one of the largest houses, we seated
ourselves upon the mats beside the occu-
lants, who consisted of about ten persons OF
both sexes Immediately cocoa nuts breai
mutt, yams and other eiibles were ofIercl Us.
winch we accepted; and while we were eat
ing IL was @Inusing TO see the curiosity we
eXclled' Our clothing and everything about
US was carefully examined and commented
upon. One old man could speak little Eng
lish, and with the help of signs We kept up
passed. We soon after returned to the ship,
much pleased with our first look at Samoa.
Too much cannot be said in praise OF the
missionaries of their indefatigable zeal, pa
thence, and high moral attributes. BY their
religious teachings and godly lives, aud not
only the incubation, but also the practice of
domestic ard social virtues, they have ex-
erted over the natives wonderful power for
good. changing il half a century the whole
moral aspect OF the country.
RELIGIOUS STATISTICS.
erentS ara
numbered according TO the census of 1869 as
follOws:-Independen PresDy terians, q ,02l;
Wesleyan, 50o2; Roman Catholic, 3,00I.
SAMOAN FRIENDSHIP.
The second morning Of our stay at Page
P8go differed essentially from that of our
arrival. Day had scarcely dawned before we
were awakened by a hubbub of voices, and
found the ship surrounded by canoes crowded
with people from all the villages of the bay,
and nlled with fruit, shells, and articles of
their manufacture, which they we re anxious
TO exchange for tobacco, soap, cloth, or any
trinket that we might choose to give.
Through every open air port peered face,
and one was continually greeted by the in
terrogation of "You be my fiyn n?' (friend0
If in this you assented you were at once pre-
sented with an offering of fruit, and was eX-
pected TO make a return 10 seal the bargain.
After this they were not backward in asking
Tor anything they saw or wanted, and our
"frlends' generally got the best of us in the
end; especially was this the case with the
girls, many of whom were almost beautiful,
aud their pretty faces reaped for them a har-
vest. am sorry to say / was SO urfortu-
nate as 10 get
VERY UGLY MAIDEN "FRIEND.n
L was not sufficiently pos ted the first time /
went on shore, or would not have been so
easily taken in. An old girl asked me If
would be her "hynn," and / consented and
upon that she placed upon my finger a pew
ter ring, and was at once sealed, the rest of
the girls recognizing her right, and thus l
was trapped by an old maid ana Stunned by
the rest of the girls, as she watched me with
jealous eyes If was on shore, and was con-
stantly near me during the time they were
allowed on board ship.
THE HIGH CHIEF MAUNGA
paid visit TO the ship next day. He was of
medium SIZE with dark complexion, and
straight, black hair, but unpreposseSsing
He wore uniform coat, white pants and
straw hat, but barefooted. After being en-
tertained in the cabin, he came on the quar-
ter-deck, and making few remarks TO the
natives, they assembled there, forming
circle as near as the deck would permit and
treated us TO a series OF their native dances,
whilst all Joined in singing and clapping
hands TO the tum-t um" of an old drum
which we loaned them for the occasion; and
1t was novel and interesting sight TO all,
and as grOtesQue as the dances of the Ma
jilton's. After this we treated them TO some
N nd ST hr1t xul,o