, 1889-06-26

The GERMAN PLANTATIONS IN SAMOA
MIR. Sewell, The American Consul General
at Apia, in Il report which has just been
published and which is of special inter
est at this moment, says that the Ger
man plantations in Samoa comprise the
greater part of the cultivated land on
the north side of the Island of UpOlu.
The largest covers the entire western end
CT the island, and has an area of $500
acres and a sea frontage of more than six
miles. The total area of these plantations
is 1920 acres. Their natural features are
very diversified from the sea they extend
far up the mountain sides, down which
flow numerous large streams. They have
been laid out with great care and i'll
beauty Of scenery and rich fertility
the views among them cannot be sur
passed. They are highly cultivated and
are capable of producing anything that
will grow in the tropics. They are mainly
planted with cocoa nuts, for the prOduc-
ton Of copra, the dried kernel Of the nut.
The annual production OF this is between
500 and 600 tons. The clearing of the
land for plantations is a laboriouS opera
ton, for it is denSply wooded with a tough
native growth. There are also many
rocks, which prevent ploughing. After
clearing, cotton is planted, and this Is
grown for three years then cocoa-nuts
are planted and grass is s0wn, and until
the trees are large enough to allow cattle
TO run among them, some cotton is still
gathered. After six years cattle are adj
mitted, for by this time the trees have
grown so that cattle cannot lnJure them.
The seventh year the trees begin TO bear,
and at Is years after planting they attain
Their prime. The grass grows luXurlantly
In Samoa, for drought is unknown there,
and cattle find among the cOcOa-nut trees
rich feeding ground. On the two largest
plantations there are 1000 head Of cattle,
many Of them of good breed, imported
from New Zealand and the Australian
colonies. There are also some fine horses
upon them. Next TO COCOA nuts and cot.
ton, coffee is the most important product
and It's cultivation is being increased, for
it is the best paying crop. 1t is of excel
lent quality, rivalling the finest Mocha,
and commands a good price III the Ham
burg market. where it is chiefly sent.
These plantations are worked by Imported
labour. for the SamOanS will not work.
This labour is recruited chiefly from the
islands to the west IF Samoa, the New
Hebrides, Solomon, New Britain, and
New Ireland islands also from the Ellice
andGilbert islands to the north. AS a
rule the labour trade is humanely cOnduc-
ted bv the German labour vessels. yet it
is not wholly robbed of its horrors. The
labourers are under contract for three
years service, at the expiration of which
time they are to be returned to their homes
This, however, is sometimes not done, and
the unfortunate people are landed among
a hostile tribe who speedily Kill or enslave
them. Men, women, and children are
recruited at wages of 50 a month, paid
in trade. On arrival at Samoa the labOur-
ers pass an examination before the Consul,
and great care is taken that none come
on shore against their will. They are
we'll cared for on the plantations. A
physician visits each plantation at least
once a month. They are well housed, and
are fed on rice, biscuits, and vans. Their
hours for work are regular, and Sunday is
a holiday. There are about 200 of them
upon different plantations.-Ttmes.