Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-01-16
THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

1hc TeduinS WorIu mas had Its at
tention called in the direction of the
Samoan Islands during the past few
days, because of their seizure by the
German Empire.
The Samoan group of islands are
situated III the South Pacific Ocean,
between latitude. - degrees % min
utes and IA degrees Is minutes
south. and longitude 172 degrees 4S
minutes west. They include nine in
habited islands, viz: Manua, Oio-
singa, Ofu, Anuu, Tutuila, Upolu,
Manono, Apolima and Savaii, besides
five islets. The area is about 1875
square miles, and population nearly
10000. These islands are of volcanic
formation. Manua rises like dome
to the hight of $500 feet. Tutuila is
high and mountainous, with precipices
rising from the ocean to hight of
from 1900 to 1900 feet. On its north
coast there are many good ports, but
the best is Pango- Pango on the south
side. Upolu is the most important of
the group; its area is about 335 square
miles, and population nearly 10000.
A range Of broken hills occupies its
middle, sloping to the sea. Apia on
the north side, is the chief town and
the official residence Of the various
consuls, Of the mem bers Of the Lon
don Missionary Society and of the
Roman Catholic bishop of Oceauica.
Its harbor is second only to that Of
Pango- Pango. Savaii is the largest
OF the group, having an area of 700
square miles and population Of about
10000. Its interior is occupied by a
mountain chain, in parts nearly 5000
feet high, sloping gradually to the
sea. 1t contains series of wonderful
caves.
The climate Of these islands is very
equitable, the mercury seldom rising
higher than 88 or falling lower than
70. Rains are distributed evenly
throughout the year, excepting in Jan
uary, February and March, when
heavy rain storms, with northern
winds, prevail; but destructive storms
are rare. The interior IS covered with
dense forests of tropical luxuriance,
containing many varieties of valuable
timber trees. Among the trees and
fruits are the bantam, two varities oil
pandanu,, several species OF palms
the anauli, the ava IA species of pep
peri, bamboo, rattan, breadfruit, CO.
coanut wild orange, lemon, lime
banana, plantain, yam, paper null
berry, tocca from which arrow-root is
madeI pineapple, viapple, guava
mango and citron. Wild sugar cane
grows abundantly, and there are two
varieties Of sea-island cotton. Some
tobacco and coffee are raised.
Among the Polynesan islands the
Samoan group rank in personal
appearance second only to the Ton
gese. The men average about 5 feet
~ inches in hight. The skin is dark
olive, the hair black and straight All
are now nominally Christians; there
are schools and a church in every vii.
lage. Nearly all the children seven
years OF age can read their own lam
guage, and most Of the adult popula
ton can read and write. The Bible
has been translated aud printed, and
hymn-books and other works are pub
lished at the missionary printing Of
fee. The commerce of the islands is
small. The exports are coppra, or
dried meat Of the cocanut, from which
oil is made, and small quantity OF
cotton.
The Samoan Islands were named
by Bongainville, who visited them in
1863, the "archipel DIES navigateurs,"
from the skill Of the natives in using
their canoes. The first missionaries
landed in 1880 from the Society Is
lands. The islands were surveyed in
1889 by Commodore Wilkes, at which
time they were governed by native
chiefs. In 1875 king was elected,
under whom Colonel Steinberger, a
former agept Of General Grant, for
a time figured as prime minister
by what right the German Empire
claims these islaR,ls We are at loss
to determine. 1t is officially an
nouuced by latest nress disnstohns