The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-04-24


How the Samoans Appoint . King.
The Apial correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle writes:
Yesterday there was held the grand
est taad-b0Io on Mulinuu PROBABLY
ever witnessed in Samoa. Malietoa, the
King. and Malietoa Laupepe (kine in
Steinberger's tame), tho regent ana heir
apparent, the German naval Captains
Bernhard and, Churden, the German
Consul General, Zembasch, and United
States Consul Dawson, with nearly AL
the foreign residents in Apias aud about
4 900 native warriors and others were
present, and there was . grand review
before the King and the officials named.
The native troops were mostly nom
Savaii, the Itufafne, Fassaleleaga and
others. The chiefs were all rugged out
in their high head dresses OF long hair
and red feathers, and wore their hnest
matlavalaras. The warriors had on
their war-paint, and some OF them
looked hideous enough. Some were
painted black all over and acted as
clowns. The scene was truly pictur-
esque and grotesque. A thousand OF
two volleys of musketry were hreds
after which the multitude assumed
the form of q circle, and there
was great sira or dance in the center
by the high chiefs and an ltufaflne
girl. After this came the presents 70
the oficers-cocoanut talo and pigs
The United States Consul received a
his portion two pigs, 100 tal0, ten young
cocoanuts, and the rest in like manner
When the crowd dispersed the process
sion reached from Mulinuu to Matarlta
about three miles. The night tina
came on was q magnificent moonlight
one, and Apia and vicinity was crowded
with Young men and maidens until
late hour. On December % the eigh
provinces of Samoa, each represented
| by two Taimera, assembled on 0oart
the German man-of-war Bismarck, and
entered into the following agreement
namely: Article 1. .Malietoa Talaro!
is hereby appointed King for life. Nal
ietoa .Laupepe (King in Steinberger'
time) is hereby made Regent, and vii
attend to the work of the King. Articl
III relates to the nag, which is q fac
smile of the Danish, with q white sta
! in the upper corner. Article III give
each province two Tairnuas sixteen in all
, There are to be thirty -four Faipule. IN
Parliament will thus consist OF hit
|, members. The Taimua hold ofiic
, four years, and the Faipule three. Pal
! lament win be in session three month
each Year. The remaining nine month
seven of the Taimua will remain at tn
,, capital to aid the Regent in conductin
} the Government. Nahum is to be tn
, capital of Samoa. Each province is I
appoint its own Governor, who sha
hold Office two and half years. Th
! Taimua and Faipule are to hold thel
; meetings separately, and the forme
. BODY win have . tAimua, or SILL 9
President, or Premier. The agreemer
authorizes the settlement Of war claim
! among the Samoans and the making
) provisions for the return to their r
|, spective provinces Of the minoritis
/, who joined opposing districts. Claim
; of foreigners are to be decided BY Il
Consuls and Government OF Samo'
Disputes between the two Houses ~
!, referred to the decision of the KIM
The new Government meets Janua'
20, 1880. The King received salute
!, twenty-one guns from each one OF u
two German war-ships the day he VI
proclaimed.