The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-19
sAnInA ANn 1rs pRopLF.
The ProdustS Of the COunuy-A Soil Of
Matches Fertility.

kAN ENN4a9kN Va kAl k9AAN y W
MAtOhlSSS Fertility.
HtS York Tina,
Germany, like Oliver Twist, wants sa-
moa, and the charming little archipelago
is certainly a tempting prize. On the
honeward voyage from Australia to Amer
ics, when Fiji already lies nearly 400 miles
to the southwest, you descry in the dis
lance a dim purple shadow overhaugipg
the sea, which shapes itself little by little
into q bold range Of wooded mountains
more than 1000 feet in height, This ID
the first appearance OF the Samoan or Nav
gators IBlands, that ocean garden" which,
after q slight diplomatic Irritation with the
United States under President Grant, and
two vain appeals to the English Governor
OF Fiji (Is75 and 1870 for q British pro-
teCtorate, is apparently about 70 end by
swelling the eVer.groWing domains OF the
Fatherland. The stoae which the English
builders rejected has become the head OF
the German corner, which seems likely to
bo a 'Corner' in every sense as regards
thu trade Of other nations.
Avoiding aeYeral treRGheTouH coral reefs,
and slipping deIteTOusly through one Of
those winding channels where the Hsrthd
Haunted the Prulaian flag above her iron
clad bull before the eyes OF wondering
tboueends seventeen years ago, you glide
into the deep horseshoe bay protected by
q natural breakWateF OF coral which forms
Apia Harbor, A famous harbor 1t ia, and
except the smooth, spacious, landlocked
inlet OF Pango-PApgo-the Boston Of Sa'
moS-whiGh is deep enough close 10 shore
to Eioat the largest vessels. 1t has no equal
In this part Of the Pacific, All along the
edge OF the bay, on the lowest terrace oil
the great mountain stair that extends the
whole length Of the Upolu Island, runa
tue long struggling village Of matched cot
tages representing the native metropolis,
You see before you as you cast anchor the
hOMCly little GOnsulates OF Britain, Ger
many and the United States, the editorial
huts Of the Samoan Time and the South
SEA Gazette, and q little further on the
sIatelier frontage OF the Roman Catholic
cathedral with It's attendant college,
The mass OF vegetation that clothes the
hills from the waters edge 10 their very
SUBMITS sufficiently proves the matchless
fertility Of q Roil which numbers among
It's products coffee, tobacco, sugar. cane,
two kinds OF sea island cotton, and almost
every known variety Of tropical fruits and
vegetables. Scarcely one barren spot Is TO
bs found IN the eight larger Islands,
! Which, together with a great number Of
small islsta (some Of which are only a few
hundred feet in extent), make up the
archipelago yRriOusly known as Samoa or
tho Navigator's Isles. Nor are the inhRb-
itanls in any way unworthy Of such a
country. Nowhere In the great Pacific
except, perhaps, among the 'nature.bred
mobiles" Of the Tonga Isles-Can one
lind anything to match the. splendid
! physique OF the samoans, whose fine
build and goodly stature, rarely falling
short OF 8 feet 10 inches are well set oil
by one OF the most picturesque costumes
imaginable. No Scottish Highlander ever
rejoiced II q gsyor kilt than the Samoan
"liku," formed from the long overlapping
leaves Of the dracela, gorgeous with all
the brightest tints Of crimson and green.
It's st4lwart wearsrs, though greatly
changed since poor Capt, De LangIe and
eleven OF bis men were killed aud eaten
here barely a hundred years ago, have
been famous warriors In their day. One
Of the relics which they show you Is q
basket containing 1907 stones, commemor-
ating an equal number Of battles, In some
oil which the few Scared veterans who still
llnger in the remotsr islands have played
q prominent part,