Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-10

WASHINGTON, July "a report just re-
ceived from United States Consul Griffin,
of Sydney, New South Wales, urges upon
the United States greater attention to the
importance of the islands of Bismarck
Archipelago, because our commercial inter-
ests there are larger than those of any other
country, One passage of his report savors
of the romantic.
Mrs. Emma E. Forsythe, a daughter OF
Mr.. Jonas NJ. Coe, formerly Consul at Apia,
Samoa, and his wife, who was the daughter
of Samoan chieftain, owns a plantation Of
10000 acres, employs so Europeans and
several hundred natives, owns several
steamers and is building others, and con-
ducts business larger than the combined
business of all the civilized residents OF the
island of New Britain. Mrs. Forsythe is
now sc years of age. She received her
education at Sydney and San Francisco.
Besides being highly accomplished she is
lady of very prepossessing appearance and
of remarkable energy and intelligence. At
the time of her marriage she was acknowl-
edged to be the most graceful and beautiful
woman in the island. She made such an
impression upon Lord Pembroke that he
sketched her portrait at length in the char
scter of Coe in his work entitled "South Sea
Bubbles
A REMARKABLE WOMAN.
Although married to an Englishman,
Mrs. Forsythe never renounced her nation
ality After the death of her husband,
which occurred in the year 1872, she took
up her residence with her uncle, Mr.. E. H.
Coe, in San Francisco Cal, and at a later
period joined her fathers family at Apia,
Samoan Islands. She rendered assistance
to her father in keeping the books OF the
consulate.
She is quoted as an authority on native
languages and dialects, and during Consul
Grithn's term of Office as Consul at Samoa
she, on various occasions, acted as his
amanuensis and interpreter, and translated
nearly all his correspondence with the
Samoan Government. She has always taken
great interest in the trade and commerce of
the South Sea Islands, ana is, perhaps,
better posted on the subject than any other
citizen of the United States residing south
of the equator.
In 1879 she removed to the island of New
Britain, and, having purchased from the
natives several large tracts Of land there,
she formed a partnership with Mr.. Thomas
Farrell, and in the same wear she established
one of the most extensive business enter
p-ises in the South Sea Islands under the
name of Thomas Farrell & Co., planters
and trading merchants.
A BIG FARM.
The headquarters of the firm were estab-
lished at Raaluan, near one of their largest
plantations, which now includes IA, 500
acres of the choicest land in New Britain.
on which are raised, among other products,
vast quantities of cotton. Her property and
that of the firm within the Imperial Ger
man protectorate is estimated at 120, 900
acres, and that outside of the protectorate at
S0,000 acres, making total of $50 900 acres,
nearly all of the landed estate being owned
by Mrs. Forsvthe.
Consul Griffin saws in conclusion: ''Nrs
Forsythe rendered very effective aid to me
IN the preliminary steps which secured to
the Y nlted States for period of ten years
the use of the harbor of Pago Pago as a
coaling station, and not long since she
made an offer to the American Government
of 20 acres of ground on her own property
in the Island of Malulu for another coaling
station. The Island of Malulu is outside Of
the German protectorate, and as no nation
has as yet set up claim to it. she is quite
anxious that her offer shall be accepted"
In another part of his report Consul
Griffin tells of a remarkable custom of the
inhabitants of New Britain as follows:
.'The inhabitants, it is said by Wallace,
have peculiar custom of
COMBINING THEIR GIRLS
in cages until they are old enough to be
married. This custom is said to be peculiar
ito the people of New Britain. The cages
hre made of twigs of the palm tree, and the
gfyls are put into them when only or
yeaSs- of age. The Rev. George Brown es-
fablished WESLEYAN mission in New
britain iu 1876, and 1 learn from
him that these cages are built in
side of the houses, and that the
girls are never allowed to leave the house
under any circumstances. The houses are
closely fenced il with a sort of wicker work
made of reeds. Ventilation under the cir
cumstances is rendered very difficult. The
girls are said to grow up strong and health
Jul in spite of these disadvantages"
The Bismarck archipelago consists of two
large islands, New Britain and New In
land, and q number of smaller ones begin
ming at the equator and extending to the
Sth degree of south latitude and about the
148th degree Of west longitude.