The Red Cloud chief., 1876-05-04
The Samoan Islands,
oonsthinG Dsdnits Abeut the Kinsdsn
Of 6t0tab0rRer.

One OF the most Interesting groups Of
the South Sea has received scant justice
from recent visitors, who seem content,
for the most part, 70 chronicle Steinber-
gers ~farcicsl performances. A Prussian
surgeon, however. Dr.. Ernst Bohr, At
tached to q frigste now cruising in the
Pacific, has studied the Samoas 20 better
purpose.
In an exact and literal sense, these
islands realize the dream OF the Hes
perides, combining all the natural con.
ditions OF serene, voluptuous existence
untrammeled by the necessity Of labor,
untroubled by peril Of any kind. In
such circumstances our northern maxims
lose their Significance, for fruit and fish
being always at hand, there 10 no i'm
providence in living from hand to
mouth. 1t appears that the weather,
too, is q subject Of Indifference, since
there is no sessO of the year when q
loose palm thatch and a few hanging
mats will not afford ample protection.
No fever is exhsled from the dense TO
liage, nor do any venemous snakes find
q covert in the luxurisnt underground.
On the SamOas, as on most of the South
Sea Islands, no species Of quadruped
has ever been discovered, the few do
nestle animals now owned by the ma
tives, bein" descended from imported
stock. Even sea fowl, which are 81
common further south, are here rare.
On the other hand, the Samoan woods
abound in singing birds and gay colored
parrots Of divers sorts. When We add
that the forests largely consist OF the
cocoa palm, while the river and BAYS are
full Of edible fish, it will be observed
that these fortunate isles exhibit oil the
kindlier features, without any of the
drawbacks, Of the tropics.
DIR. Bohr considered the natives of the
Samoas the handsomest race he had ever
seen. In figure they are tall, slender,
and usually Of perfect symmetry. The
men bosses q powerful muscular &c.
velopmen', aud the younger women
have ex4uisitely rounded forms. Their
complexion is n pleasing cinnamon
brown, not darker than the skin OF
European gypsies. The face is open
and nobly shaped, tho eye black, large,
and mild, the lips somewhat sensual but
only slightly p%rotrudlng, while the black
hair flows owe the shoulders in abund.
ant curls. DR.. Bohr is not surprised
that many anthropologists should &C.
count the inhabitants of the Tonga,
Samoa, and Tahiti groups related to the
equally brown Hindoos, and 90 to the
Circassian race, since a. respects beauty
they appear inferior to no variety of
that Wanted type.
A peaceful disposition seems to have
preserved the Samoans from the ~strocity
of csnnibalism practiced by their neigh
bors Of Papuan stock. Of foreign wars
they seem to have no record, and civil
dissension is infreQuent and never de-
structive. Before the appearance of the
whites crime was literally unknown,
and even the passion for tobacco and
strong drink, and the consequent covet-
ing Of money, have impelled this pecu-
liarly gentle race rather to deceit and
roguery than to deeds of violence. The
white race, which, by every method of
corruption, had undermined the morals
of Samoan women, Is now attempting,
through its missionaries, to inculcate
more exemplary principles; but so far
the main result Of their lsbors has been
to divest the natives OF their naiss sim.
plicity. Polygsmy, however, has long
been abolished. Marriage is %studiously
encouraged BY the laws, and even the
morganatic unions contracted with the
whites are subject to strin ent regula-
tons.
Although tho Samosns ar, in most
respects, a thoroughly civilized race,
they retain some primitive characterize
les. The normal garment of both sexes
is a broad strip of native stuff, dyed
with the most gaudy hues, which is
wound about the loins aud fastened with
q scarf of the same material. Upon the
urgent remOnstrance of the missionaries,
this costume is sometimes supplemented
by the younger females with . circular
cape, having an aperture for the head.
The men continue to tattoo their bodies
above the waist in a quaint checker
work pattern, whose effect is not dlss-
greeable. Like the Vsnetians of TIT
ANS day, the Samoans count It An en-
belllshment to stain their black locks
red. Their dances, to which they are
addicted, are described as sus
being as unlike those Of the
Hindoo bayadere or Spanish gitans as
to a European quadrille. They resemble
, ballet, action and mimicry being NO
less essential than graceful motion. The
Samoan' have a pleasing voice, and
their singing is melodious. The Ian
gusge appears to be soft and liquid; out
- to its structure, DR.. Bohr is not ex-
plicit. He says it comprises only sew
enieen characters, but as he adds that
t is syllable, the two statements are
hard to reconcile. Like the Chinese