Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-22

the following morning, April list. The an
Rroach 10 Apia differs greatly from that OF
faSo fago, the haIbOr being an open road
stead, surrounded by coral reefs, many of
which are visible at low water. The town is
DIVIDED by Apia creek into Apia and Ma
tautu, and is the residence OF the foreign con-
suls and about two hundred white people of
dlHerent nations, mostly traders from the
colonies. Mulinuu,
THE SEAT OF THE SAMOAN GOVERNMENT
is located on point northwest from Apia
and one mile distant. The native population
OF the bay live at this place. Apia and Ma
tautu present an almost civilized appear
ahce, with the several churches and Eu-
ropean residences interspersed with the ma
i've houses, while Mulinuu is purely Sa-
moan village, with the round matched houses
clustered along the whole line of beach ftom
Apla TO Mulinuu Point. The mountains
oIck OF the town, valleys. precipices, and
plateaus, with the dense tropical venture
covering all, produce a scene worthy of a
na''lter <ill We were warmly welcomed
oy the natives and Foreigners and particu-
t ,aTry was the return of Col. Steinberger
A court OF inquiry, consisting of officers
inquire into
THE CLAIMS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
Tor remuneration from the Samoan govern
ment Tor damages inflicted upon them during
me late war. The session of the court lasted
three weeks. A deputation of the Taimuas
or judges of the government of Samoa were
present at each trial, and their skillful cross
examination of the claimant and witnesses
and their ready approval of decisions against
them displayed intelligence and a keen sense
OF justice which would be unexpected in such
people.
On the 9th OF April Col Steinberger's yacht
Peerless" arrived from San Francisco hay-
ing made the passage in % days, including a
snort stay at Honolulu.
A BIG "FUNo" TO COL. STEINBFRGFR
Immediately on our arrival the Samoan
government began TO make arrangements
Tor great "funO' or meeting of rejoicing
and welcome to Col. Steinberger and the
"Tuscarora.' Messengers We're dispatched
TO all the villages of the group, notifying the
inhabitants TO he present at Mulinuu on the
21st OF April, and a week before the event
large canoes with natives from the ifferent
Islands were continually entering the har-
Dor; Day and night their songs and chants
could he heard as they passed the ship, aud
stopped 10 survey what many of them had
never seen befOre-an American war ship.
The chiefs were seated with dignity in the
stern OF their canoes, aud all were dressed i'm
Their best (if fancy cloth about the loins and a
liberal coat of cocoa-nut oil on the skin could
be called dressl, with red flowers stuck on
their cheeks and through the hair. The
talking man" or orator for each deputation
was stationed with his insignia of office the
talking staff" in the bow, and executed a
war dance TO the time OF their songs. Day
by day the arrivals increased, until Null
Huu was Overlooking with people. All Samoa
seemed interested in the event, aud districts
seventy miles distant were represented. On
The morning of the 2lst Col. Steinberger,
capt. Erben, and the officers OF the ship pro-
ceeded to the government house at Muiinuu.
them. 1t was estimated that more than
10000 people, men, women, and children
about one-third of the population Of Samoa
were there.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GRANT,
and addre, es by Colonel Steinberger and
captain Erben were delivered, after which
the natives formed in a long procession. the
populations from the different districts i'm
companies gorgeously arrayed in head
dresses made OF human hair, decked with
flowers, and their bodies smeared with co
marched
house, depositing their offerings 10 the ..Tus-
carora." AS each party came up the talk
Ing-man" made short speech of welcome.
Ii was, indeed, great day for Samoa. lions
ana tons OF vans and yaro, chickens and
pigs innumerable, fine mats, "siape" or ma
tive cloths, were piled on the ground. Before
returning TO the ship two parties, dressed
and painted in war costumes, detached
themselves from the crowd, and a sham Sa-
moan battle took 5place, which was SO nat
ural in all its details that it was
hard TO believe that il was sham.
A response was made by the talking mar
OF the government TO the speeches of Colonel
Steinberger and Captain Erben, in which he
thanked them as representatives OF the
American government for the help rendered
10 and the interest shown in the Samoan
IeOple by America.
We row returned on board the shin, and
the natives loaded their canoes with the
presents, and brought them alongside. Both
sides OF The quarter deck were soon covered
with vast piles of vans and taro. Six hun
dred fowls, and forty pigs were received, and
much more which had to be sent on shore
for want OF stowage room in the vessel. The
deck was crowded with pig pens and chick
en- cOopS, and one would have imagined that
we were merchantmen loaded with live
stock, rather than man-Of-war. A new
nag was raised resembling our own at a dis
lance, having a single star in the field, three
white and four red stripes, which we saluted
with u guns. The latter end of May we
commenced our preparation for returning,
having seen the government firmly estab-
lished, with
MALIEToA AS MING AND COL. STEIN
BERGER PREMIER.
On The 2lSt OF NJ ny our preparation having
been IN ade we got underway for Honolulu
highly pleased with our interesting cruise of
three months. Arrived at Honolulu on the
10th instant, having had very boisterous
passage, with succession of head winds
and squalls the early part of the passage.
We are now making preparations for our re-
turn TO San Francisco, as our cruise is near
at end. as we are over three years away,
and will come home; yet shall not part
with the old "TuScarora" without feeling
OF regret. During our long cruise have
brought myself TO regard her almost as a
living thing. In the tempests we have expe-
rienced in all kinds of climate when have
heard her timbers creak, her cordage strain
like the strong man in agony-saw her hull
almost buried in the wrinkles ON old oceans
breast, then CALAMITY rise again upon the
ere u OF some huge mountain wave, toiling
and winning her wav, / felt as If she suf-
fered. Yet am glaG TO get home once more
Were leaving this good old ship TO Join
another would feel bad indeed, but going
home is too good thought for any regrets.
We expect to leave here on the 9th of JULY
All on board are well. The following is the
list of officers now attached: Commander
henry Erben, jr., commanding; Lieuts. c. A.
Schetky lex officerl, @. A. Norris (naviga-
tor, +. M. Symonds lrelieved), j. N. Hemp
hill, c. o. Allibone, c. w. Jarboe: Ensigns,
w. III. H Switzerland, r. II. Gait, V. l..
Cottman; Midshipman, F. +. u. w. Veeder;
T. A. Engineers, c. Audrade, J. NJ. Eman-
uel; 2. A: Paymaster, l. g. Hobbs; Surgeon,
w. j. Simon; Assistant Surgeon, w. H.
McClurg; Boatswain, j. I. Barker; Gunner,
Z. II. Venable; Carpenter, j. l.. Thatcher;
Sailmaker, j. K. Roddy; Captains Clerk, j.
deb. Higgins; Paymaster's clerk, +. S.
Davis. "
PRAYERS FOR RAININ GEoRGIA-An un-
expected plant is heard from Georgia. Up
TO the 4th of July the cotton prospect was
excellent In the Augusta section, but in
teDsely hot and scorching weather since has