The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-03-25
Notes on Samoa.

The chief islands of the group-and, IN /
deed the ones worth mentioning pa t
vail, Upolo, and Tatuila. The first IS the
largest of the three; it measures forty s
miles from east to west, and twenty RON
north to south. Its interior Is occupied
by two parallel chains of mountains. Un ]
the south side of the island these run
close to the coast, and form precIpltous
and rock bound shore, without reefs or
harbours. On the northern aspect the
land slopes gently down to beach OF
coral, encircled at a varying distance by q
natural breakwater. Here the soil Is q
rich alluvium, covered with perennial veg
citation. and dotted with native villages
and bomesteads. But with Sayaii, as with
so many other islands in the South Pa
cifc, narrow strip of land Is the only
portion which possesses any commercial
value. The great portion of the interior
of Sayaii is q barren track of country,
thickly strewn with scoria, ashes, and vol
canic debris. This portion is known to the
natives as 20 lie mu," or the burnt coun-
try.n In Upolo, the second island OF the
group. the land is more fertile, and the
scenery more tame Its interior, however,
like that of Savaii, is occupied by vol
canic range, but without the forbiddlng
lava beds About four miles from Apla
the commercial capital of the group,
the whole range becomes lower. and grad
ually trends away towards the sea. This
portion of the coast is wonderfully fertile,
Consisting of a deep rich alluvium,
watered almost daily throughout the year
by genial showers. Unfortunately, 1t is
strictly limited in extent, and is,moreover,
thickly covered with native villages. Apia
is the chief town of Upolo, and indeed Of
the whole group. 1t has population Of
about 100 Europeans and 200 natives; bu
the number of the latter is never constant
Apia, like Constatinople, looks its best a
a Assistance. From the harbor it presents
long crescent-shaped line of white house
slittering in the sun, and peeplng out a
it we're, from amid dense grove OF cocoa
nut trees, the iron roofs sparkling gally
while the flag of the various consulate
and "stores" impart an air OF business an
cheerfulness to the little town. But on
nearer approach much of this apparel
beauty is dispelled. The houses arc
wood, and, with scarcely an exception,
more or less advanced condition OF d
cav. There are no wharves. no hotels, l
buildings of any size, nothing but a lie
native nuts and drinking saloons. Inc
is only one street and has only one SID
A few missionaries and Sydney traders hi
established themselves in an uncertain WI
in Tonga and Eastern Fiji. Their ira
WAS limited to beads, knives and clo'
which were exchanged for cocoanut
bec1e de ruer, and in Fiji and the New h'
rides for sandal-wood. The profits W.
enormous, and SO also were the risks. L
Godeffroys were the first to put any ca
tai and commercial knowledge IN South
Island business. They established tact
les round Apia, and employed fleet
some seven sailing vessels, averaging ct
over 1000 tons. These fitted up dlrec
for Hamburg, and, in order to get th
cargo, literally secured the whole so
Pacific
The position of an agent on ont
these out-stations was peculiarly hazi
GUS. Their isolation was complete. NJ
Of them have told me, more espeelall
the Caroline Island, that they never
secure of their lives for half an hour.
yay they managed to live was someV
as follows: They first of all constru
a house of planks, with galvanised
roof to lessen the risk of fire, and
this was further strengthened by slab
cocosuut wood, thick and strong enc
TO turn q muSket Dali. In blls las
thew could resist attack from the out
But treachery was not sc easily qua
against. Natives, especially IN the we:
groups, are very fond of laying ambr
for an enemy, and many time they
this method on Godefroy's traders
man told me he was constantly being
in wait for, and had anticipated his
mics many times. killing over sixty d.
his residence of five years in a &C
island Most of these traders had IN
defence married" native women;
these ''wivesr most of them were ind
for their safety, for they formed abs
" the only channels through which
Information could be obtained.
fidelity of these women to their hege
though touching and praiseworthy
frequently, one regrets to say, rev
by treaehery and ill-usage; as the
effroy interests grew, the firm bee al
bankers of the South Sea Islands.
imported large quantities OF d.
silver from Peru, which was accep
Samoa at fictitious value, but
nevertheless remained there, and
a very convenient current coin.
The first white man who ever S