The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-18
SAMOA


The Islands That Germany Seeks to Pos
Nsv Y~E Tina.
The Samoa islands, sometimes called
Navigator's islands, constitutes group Of
thirteen islands, lying about 49O miles
northeast Of the Fiji islands, OF the
thirteen only three deserve the name Of
island, the remainder being little else
than barren rocks. These three proper
islands are sawii, Tutuila or Manua, and
Upolu. The first OF these contains ZOO
square miles, and Is for the most part
entirely covered by mountains OF lofty
and barren nature, The peculiar nature
OF the soil renders extinct all rivers, aud
ou this island the soil is so porous that
the water filters through.
Tutuila ia about eighteen miles in
length by one'third that distance in
breadth, The center OF the island is
nearly cut In two by the harbor OF Pago-
Pago, which for vessels OF large draught
Ia one OF the finest in the South Pacific.
Upolu Is mountainous like Sawaii, but
the soil Is OF different nature from that
OF the latter island. Evidence OF that is
seen in the presence OF several streams
Of considerable size.
The chief city in the islands is Apia,
situated at the head OF IN oval bay In
Upolu. The government OF this city is
managed by municipality controlled
by the consuls OF Great Britain, Germany
and the United States. Christianity was
introduced in the Samoa islands by John
Williams In 1880. The result OF his
teachings has been the conversion OF
nearly all the people on the island OF
Upolu. The fertility OF the soil in the
Samoa Island has attracted large NUN.
Der Of foreigners thither, until now the
foreign residents own the greater part OF
the group. The cotton yields are very
large and in the raising OF this staple the
foreign residents have mostly identified
themselves,
There are at present as many as 700
Europeans and Americans In Samoa, to.
gether with $500 imported laborers
from the islands Of New Britain, New
Hebrides, Pine island and Asiatic ports.
The Samoans are either too lazy or too
independent; NJ any rate, help can not
DO got in the islands by foreigners by
the natives.
The Germans largely outnumber all
the other foreigners located throughout
the group, aud the ease with which the
Germans appear to get help from their
country Is olninous Of the fact that Ger.
many would like to have her country.
men well and strongly established
in what Is proving 10 DO u colony
for Germans. The natives In Samoa
number nearly $4,000, and In describing
the personal appearance OF the men
ono writer says they arc "second
only to the Tongese in all tho different
islands Of tho Polynesia" The men
average about five feet ten inches in
helghlh, and arc erect aud proud
in lnien. Their physlques are nagniH.
cent, and their frmly.puttogGther
bodies attest great strength. The wo.
men are small in stature, but light and
graceful In movement, and have Us n race
Comely figures and rather pretty faces.
The nose In both sexes Is straight, and
save for the heavy lips and olive COM
plexion there would be little to dis.
tinguish the general features OF a Samoan
from an American or European. Poly.
Camy Is customary III the islands, yet 1t
is seldom that two wives live in the
same house. The women are consider
ed the equals OF the men, and have an
equal share in the interests OF the differ
ent tribal relations.
The introduction OF Christianity into
the islands improved wonderfully the
mental condition olthe natives. As it is
now there arc few children over seven
years Of age who are unable TO read and
write in their own tongueif not in Eng.
lish or German.