Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05
POSITION OF FORCES.

Malietoa, Mataafa's headquarters, are IN
Laulii and Tamasese's in Lutuanuu. Tamas-
ese's forces are all in the forts and the town Of
Lutuanuu. The main fort is on the top of a
ridge, and is surrounded by palisade. the bush
being cut away for about one hundred wards
outside the fort The whole country Is
very rough and covered with dense bush.
Brandeis and Tamasese, with of about twelve
hundred men, are here closely besieged by the
forces of Mataafa numbering about five thou
sand warriors. As the party of Tamasese are
provisioned from the stores of the Deutche
Handles and Plantagen Gesellschaft company
(being landed under the German fag) and
their position too strong to be taken by attack.
the struggle promises to be long one, unless
some of the greater powers become involved Is
was nearly the case the other day.
The German corvette Adler no doubt becon-
ing tired of provisioning the army of Tamasese
threatened to lombard the besieging forces Of
Mataafa and drive them away from the fort
claiming as pretense for such action that they
were encamped upon German ground and he'd
committed depredations upon German prop
erty.
With this purpose in view early on the morn.
ing of the 18th of November (the l4th with you)
she steamed out of the harbor and around the
point to Saluafata. As she got underway the
United States steamer Adams and her British
majesty's gunboat Lizard raised steam and fol-
lowed her out Everybody was in state Of
excitement. and it was thought a crisis had
been reached. The commander of the Adams
sent word to Tamasese that he understood his
fort was on American property and threatened
to shell him.
This action was taken also on account of the
plundering Of the residence of an American
named Scanlon, by the forces of Tamasese, and
the murder therein of two of Mataafa's men
and Commander Leary demanded the return Of
the articles taken, and threatened to lombard
unless restitution was made
no ny,ch Ao< hol A
ground occupied by Matasfa, to prevent the
Germans from firing upon him. After a con-
sultation between the German consul and
Mataafa, in which the latter denied the charges
made against him. the Adler returned to AHA
followed at intervals of about a mile by the
Lizard and Adams. The sigh of relief was
finally drawn and matters settled down to their
former condition.
A hospital has been established at the En-
glish consulate for the relief of the wounded
ana surgeons from the English and American
men-of-war are constantly in attendance.
THE UNFORTUNATE KING, MAIIEroA.
who was abducted by the Germans last wear
seems to be destined never to return to his
native land, and one cannot refrain from ex-
tending sympathy to this broken-hearted
monarch, thus ruthlessly despoiled of his
kingdom by an avaricious nation. and doomed
to perpetual exile through the Vaccinations of
petty German corporation. The attitude of
Germany throughout this matter cannot be too
severely censured
THE NATIVES
are frank, simple race of people, possessed
Of undoubted courage and 'grit" They 60 TO
war in their long canoes, always with song,
the melody Of which is not unlike some of our
old plantation songs and il serves TO time their
paddles, all of which seek the water with me-
thodical precision In complexion they are
mostly Of light copper color, though some
Their features are expressive, and are illumined
by dark lustrous eyes, that laugh and talk
in . language OF their own, Their diet
IL almost purely vegetarian, and fruits form
the principal part The women are usu.
ally handsome and we'll developed, and
are possessed Of natural grace that would
be the envy Of the girls Of our land, They srs,
e class, virtuous and retiring. OF course the
climate prohibits the use Of superduous cloth
ing, and the Samoan belle 10 not usally clothed
e extensively - she might be. but nevsrthe-
less the 'lavs-lsva," OF colored scarf, which
most women wear z hastily drawn
sre near. They ere generous ana a.
fectionats IN disposition, and, Il b said, make
rood wives and mothers. Many Of then aro
married 70 white settlers, and ere regular q.
tendans q ne pretty Catholic church On ean-
day.
ars usually circular In form, Win pointed,
thaAshsd rood, and unprptsetsd ddss. ssosps
b easss vhscs The indnsery nd fngsnuity -
ths wife hes caussd naas - b woven fron -
leaves of the cocoa pa1m- 1kese ma<b - -.
pendsd around he hut duri.g ~ day . vard