Fair play., 1880-04-10
How the Sam0ans Appoint King

The Apia correspondent Of the San
Francisco Chronicle writes:
Yesterday there was held the grand
est taad-bolo on Mulinuu probably
ever witnessed in Samoa. Malictoa, the
King, and Malietoa Laupepe (king in
Steinberger's time), the regent and heiI
apparent, the German naval Captain:
Deinhard and Churden, the German
Consul General, Zembasch, and United
States Consul Dawson, with nearly all
the foreign residents in Apia, and about
1900 native warriors and others were
present, and there was 4 grand review
| before the King and the officials named
The native troops We're mostly from
Savaii, the Itufatine, Fassale!eaga and
others. The chiefs We're all rugged out
in their high head-dreSses Of long hair
and red feathers, and wore their finest
matlayalaras. The warriors had on
their war-paint, and some of them
looked hideous enough. Some were
painted black all over and acted a.
clowns. The scene was truly pictur-
eSque and grotesque. \ thousand OF
two yolleys OF mu>ketry we're fired,
after which the multitude assumed
the form of circle, and there
was great SRA or dance in the center
by the high chiefs and an Itufatine
girl. After this came the presents to
the OfiicerS-cocoanuts, talo and pigs.
The United States Consul received as
his portion two pigs, 100 talo. ten young
cocoanuts, and the rest in Ike manner.
When the crowd dispersed the process
sion reached from Mulinuu 10 Matanta,
about three miles. The night that
came on was magnificent moonlight
one, and Apia and vicinity was crowded
with young men and m;iidenS until a
late hour. On December - the eight
provinces of Samoa, each represented
by two Taimera, assembled on board
the German man-of-war Bismarck, and
entered into the following agreement,
namely: Article |. Malietoa Talarou
is hereby appointed King for life. Mai
ietoa Laupcpe (King in .Steinberger's
time) is hereby made Regent, and will
attend 10 the work of the King. Article
III relates TO the fiag, which is Il fac
simie of the Danish, with white star
in the upper corner. Article Ill gives
each province two Tamua, sixteen in all.
There are to he thirty-four Faipule. The
Parliament will thus consist of fifty
members The Taimua hold Office
four years, and the Faipule three. Par
Lament will be in session three months
each Year. The remaining nine months
seven of the Taimua will remain ut the
capital to aid the Regent in conducting
the Government. Malinuu is to he the
capital of Samoa. Each province is to
appoint its own Governor, who shall
hold Office two and half years. The
Taimua and Faipule are to hoh their
meetings separately, and the former
body will have 4 tainiua, or sill, or
President, or Premier. The agreement
authorizes the settlement of war claims
among the Samoans and the making of
provisions for the return to their re-
spective provinces of the minorities
who joined opposing districts. Claims
of foreigners are TO be decided by the
COnsuls and Government of Samoa.
Disputes between the two Houses are
referred TO the decision of the Hing.
The new Government meets January
20, 1889. The King received n salute of
twenty-onc guns from each one OF the
two German war-ships the day he was
nrOclaimed