The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1889-01-31
SAMOA.
A Description Of the Islands and
Manners and Customs OF
the Natives.

In0 SdmOdu OF NdhiSd'oiS l."
lands are located in the SOUL
Pacific Ocean, between latitude
13e 3O~ and 14o 80" sonth and
bngitudes 1862 and 1872 west
They are in the line of CONNER
. ~ial travel between North Amer
ra and Australia and New Zea'
and. The population Is ahon
$500 There are four prlncipai
islands and FIVE smaller ones
The area is about 1850 sqnar'
miles and the trade. Which l.
small, has been and is controlled
by Germans. and consists chief,
If copra, which is shipped exlen
sively to Europe. The island
have been governed by King
and National Legislature. The
Legislature was compelled to fins
any member 500 who appeared
IN the sessions in a state of ma
ture.
In 1877 a civil war ragged Oh
VI e islands which was caused b.
fhe proclamation of young chiei
10 he King without the consent
sf the separate districts. as was
ths custom. The country became
impoverished, the chiefs selling
. their lands for merely nominal
sums 10 obtain arms aud ammu
Riiion.
While the war was raging Com
ii Cd re Meade, of the United
States Navy. visited the islands
and the chiefs caused him to take
she harbor of Pongo.Pongo un-
der the prot ection of the United
States, and in 1873, Col. A. b
S,einberger was sent 10 the is
lands as a special agent of the
United States. He reported that
large majority of the chiefs
and the inhabitants were anxious
for a protectorate of the United
States. Accordingly IN February.
1875, in Gen. Grants administra
-tion, Col. Stelnberger was again
sent to the islands. The object
of this second expedition was to
establish, if possible, perma-
nent government, and 10 exam
sne closely the demands for dam
ages made against the natives
Thel arrival of the Colonel was
hailed With JOY by the natives.
The Epresents Of Gen. Grant,
consisting of arms and ammnnil-
BON and a new flag, composed OF
seven alternate red and white
stripes, with one white. star OF a
blue field. A constitution was
adopted in which the King was
elected every fonr years instead
ef for life, and the dignity 10 al
ternaie between two leading FAM
iies. Col Saeinberser was elect
ed Prime Minister for life. Ac-
cording 10 the new constitution.
the Legislature consisted of a
Senate and Assembly. In the
schools, the English, as well as
the native language, is taught.
Trial by jury prevails, and the
marriage and divorce laws are
framed after those Of California
Apia is The capital. In 1878 the
United States formed a CONNER
e,al treaty with the Samoan Gov
ernment, but in 1879 treaty
granted to Germany the rights OF
the most favored nation, and
conceded a port for the use ofthe
German navy and the maintain.
ance of magazines.
The natives resemble very
much the Malays, except that
their noses are short and not fiat
tened as are those of the Malays.
Their mouths are large and Their
lips thick, and IN some cases the
eyes are oblique. The hair is
black and straight. Boards are
not as ccnmon as among the
Europeans though some have
heavy boards. Polvgammy Is
sommon, but two wives seldom
five in the same house. The
women are CONSIDERED the equal
of men, and both sexes join in
the family lahors. The mission
aries haye obtained a strong hold
on the islands, and indeed, The
natives do worship one God
whereas they formerly had all
20 If. Earlv in November, or
tn, 9th. bloody engagement
was fought between the two con
tending native forces, those o'
King Mataafa and the rebel Tam
asese, in Which The forces of The
King were about fonr thousand
those of NE rebel about one
thousan seven hundred. The
forces Of The rebels were strongly
intrenclled on a hill, up which
those of the King had 10 climb
fighting for every inch of ground
The brutaities were terrible; the
women fighting side by side will
their brothers and husbands. II
is customary to cut off your op
ponent's head, or ifyou are going