The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-21

was given TO him ny Commander Meade In 1879.
THE RETURN.
He presented the ship with large quantity or
fresh provisions ana vegetables. Two weeks later
the yacht Peerless was sent to convey him to
Apla but without success, and up TO the date OF
| our departure ne had not given 10 his allegiance.
the yacht at this time brought back two or three
OF ,he high chiefs OF Tutuna, VINO rule over The
| remainder OF that Island. One OF them, a native
over ninety 1--WE years or age was so overjoYed
\ az the estabshm INT OF perm lnent government
| and at seeing all the chiefs OF the ISLANDS give in
their allegiance 10 IL, that he al - the daY follow
ing the meeting (wnicn l shall soon descrinel,
saying that he was willing to die, now that they
had recognized nation
FAREWELL.
On the evening OF the 31st OF March we took our
departure from that bay reaching Apia next
morning, after a run OF twelve hours
APIA
This harbor IS a crescent in shape, with mode
rately good anchorage, most completely sur
rounded. both IN the direction OF the and land
by coral reefs Just awash at low tide. There is q
good entrance into The harbor through an open
ing In the reef, as also a few openings for
small boats going ashore. IL is for about Elk
months In the year, from the middle OF May
TO November, an ulsaie harbor, as durlng that
time gales rom the northward and westward and
northward and eastward prevail which set into the
haroor very heavy sea. Tns is by no means the
best harD0r, that OF Faleiln being much superior.
This is on the southern side and Is well protected
capable OF oldlng from Twelve 10 nlteen large
vessels ana with goou holding ground. Two har-
bors in Savaii were examined, one OF which,
'Asau Mt was found could be made useful, only re-
! qurlng an entrance. Tue channel Is now carrying
/ only two fathoms OF water ana is very narrow.
| By blasting, which has been proposed, channel
through the reef could be made without great
| difficulty or expense. Sucn an anchorage for that
island is necessary as much cotton 10 imported to
Apa from there. and can be brought now only in
| canoes.
THE SEAT or GOVERNMENT.
Apia harDor at It's northern and westerly end Is
densely covered with cocoanut trees, ana Is at
present the government headquarters. Here
the King, Tatmua representatives from all the
districts OF the islandsl and many chiefs and ora
tors reside. Tnis point has been in litigation
some time, it being claimed by Mr.. COe, formerly
United States Consul, and also by native family.
In about the centre OF the naroor tue beach is
lined with low white houses, gnmtls IN excess.
and, with some exceptions, occupied by people OF
questionable and weak character Their wonder
fully surprising amount Of faitn is the only one In
teresttng Characteristic they possess. 1t gives
them that ineffibe happiness offeeling that what
ever may happen to other poor mort ais they have
nothing to fear. Such people, enviaDle additions
as they are to any community, are be found Ia
all parts OF the world watching with vulturelke
shrewdress for easy prey. and are, regret to be
obliged to say, too often Americans. The portion
set apart for foreigners can be, with truth, called
a brothel. In this respect there ts ma ked diff
ference between this place and ''PanGo-Pango."
or other places uninhabted by foreigners, for at
those places unaffected modesty and virtue are
tue predominant characteristics OF the women.
THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS.
The nearest approach TO road In Apia Is q
bride path extending from ono end OF the cres
cent to the other. From this trails Iun back and
over the mountains, which reach to from 1000
TO 1000 feet In height. Beautiful ana varied Ii
the sea view OF the mountain scenery.
SANITARY CONSIDERATIONS.
The damp, marsny valley, extending from the
settlement TO the base Of the mountains, must be
eventually, II not now, Objectionable in a sanitary
point of view; still but little sickness prevails,
with the one exception Of that rightful disease
eephantlasis cases are met with on all these
islands ana 10 an alarming extent. It's cause is
unknown, as is It's cure, although all operations
that have teen performed on the scrotum 10y a
Mr. Turner, an English missionary ductor, have
thus far been successful. It preceded by CALLS
and fever, and Is said or supposed, 10 originate
from malaria the atmosphere coming from low
marshy ground; bat this is merely one OF many
theories.
Finer sugar cane growing really wild or with
out even ordinary cultivation, and cotton cannot
be grown. one German plantation OF about 100
acres raised 900, 600 pounds OF cotton TINS last
year. This is sent to s. dney, where it hnds
ready market.
WATER POWER.
Water power Is abundant, flowing down in large
creeks from The mountains with considera Dle ra
pldty and volume. Thege diner from mountain
gfrpaues gennraJy hpInO LARGE at thnir gonrcn
ana smaller at their mouth
TIMBER.
Some or the most valuable timber in the world
exists here IN profuson, SUCH as PAM, milo (rOse-
wood, maala, ealc, ebony eamanu ana tGlele.
OBJECT or THE NAVAL vIsIT-AMEEICAN EQUITY.
one or the objects visit here was TO 10y re-
quest OF the state. through the Navy Department.
inquire into all claims made by Americans against
native samoans and express opinions upon the
same. A Court OF Inquiry, composed OF omcers
OF this ship convened by order OF the comm nd
ing oGicer Commander Erben, on the % OF April,
for this purpose, and upon the 9th Of May, alter
tedious sitting, the work being completed, was !
dissolved. Thirteen claims were brought before the
Court, all resulting from oepredatons committed |
during the late war, and many involving the w.
lidity OF deeds. In several cases csiman' were |
unable 10 prove American citizenship, although |
they mad been acknowledged bY our former con-
suls OF this place as such; which plainly shows a
great lack OF caution, If not great neglect OF |
duiy on their part
LAND GRABBERs
II was found that a greater part OF the deeds
brought before the Court were Tor land purchase |
during the war, all OF which deeds the Samoan |
representatives disputed, for during tnat time the
Samoans would not only part with every or any /
thing they possessed for arms ana ammunition, /
but with property which they might temporarily
be occupying but watch belonged 70 a distant
relative. Ofthis lack District honesty, OF course
foreigners never took any advantage ~ Again, |
the head name Of lamI5, or the one holding by
right OF heirship The lauliy name. who is gener.
ally the oldest member Of the family mas the /
rights ana privileges over all lands possessed by
tho family, and none can be sold without his writ. |