Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27
LIFE IN FAIR SAMOA.
A Group Of Lovely Islands in the Far
South Pacific.
RUINED BY THE GERMANS.
How Cheatins Europeans Have Stolen the
Islands From the Natives-samoa ~ Viewed
by the visitor-Ths Way the Natives Live
A Paradise Of the Ocean.

III INSH OI Wv a LINZ great goo was nSn-
Oing in the sea and his hook caught in q
rock. He pulled 30 hard to get 1t loose that he
brought up rock and all to the surface, and in
this way was formed the group of islands in
the Pacific known as Samoa. When this had
happened the god sent down his daughter, the
curlew, which dropped upon the new-made
land . seed that grew into vine. The leaves
Of the vine shriveled, fell off and turned into
maggots. and the maggots became men and
women. Thus it was that Samoa was origin
ally populated.
"At all events that IL the tradition in which
the natives Of Samoa believe" said Ensign
Stafford Of the navy, who has spent a long
time in the country, to a writer for THE STAR.
''They call the white people sky breakers be-
cause they believe that the heavens shut down
over the earth at the horizon, and therefore it
seemed to them that the pale-faced people must
have burst through the wall of sky from be-
yond in order to reach the islands.
vrRrUoUs SAMOAN WOMEN.
'It is true, as has often been said, that the
Samoans have no word for female virtue, but
that is simply because they do not possess
terms for things abstract. The women of the
islands are more chaste than those of any other
race in the world. One reason for this is that
from time immemorial the most tremendous
penalty has been dealt ont for any lapse in this
regard. In the old days girl found guilty
was promptly killed, usually with a war club
in the hands Of her own father. Even now the
women who are not altogether respectable are
every one of them deserted wives Of foreigners
who have married them by native rites and de-
serted them afterward.
Though so entirely virtuous the women Of
Samoa have little modesty in the sense in
vii
lied people. Their native costume is simply a
petticoat Of bark cloth. but remote from the
large villages it does not embarrass them much
apparently to be seen without even this gar
ment, simply because they are free from any
lmaSinings OF improperly in the matter. The
men wear similar short petticoats, but under
the influence Of the missionaries they have to
some extent adopted shirts also, while the
females in the towns very generally appear in
small ponchos, after the Mexican fashion, with
slit In the middle to put the head through.
SUGGESTIVE DANCE.
''The missionaries have done their best to do
away with a certain highly improper national
dance of the Samoans, called the null pa i-pa'i,
performed always by girls. It is exceedingly
suggestive in its nature, and those who partici-
pate in it divest themselves of all their cloth
ing incidentally. But the muli-pa'i-pai is still
danced on the sly. Samoan and his wife will
say to you: We missionary people; no have
muli-pa'i-pai. But after little we go to bed
and then our daughters will dance the null
ai-pa'i for you.
when you arrive in barber of the Samoan
group your ship is at once surrounded by
scores Of native canoes, the occupants of which
make earnest offers Of friendship. The COM
mon expression. whether the person making
the appeal Of amity is man or a woman. is,
You my fien me; me my fen your If you as
sent to one of these offers an exchange Of pres
ents Is In order between yourself and your new
friend. Every stranger is supposed to have
one such friend only among the natives, though
ne may be agreeably acquainted with any num-
Der in addition. He must give to this friend
many presents from time to time-such things
in particular as tobacco needles, thread scissors
knives, cotton stuffs, hatchets, bright-colored
handkerchiefs and perfumery, of which last
the islanders are extremely fond. In return
for gifts so bestowed you receive bark cloth,
mats Of pandanus leaves. shaggy mats
OF the fiber Of a nettle-like plant fans Of
cocoanut leaves, war clubs of iron wood,
spears and sea shells Also your friend
keeps You supplied during your stay with fruit
and other fresh food. But You must on no ac-
count give the smallest article to any one but
this friend, because it will be bitterly resented
Upon learning Of the gift your friend will say:
bad you! You give presents to other girl.
She no your friend, she Mr.. Smithy's friend
VALUABLE MATS.
Among all the presents you get in this way
none has much value except the fine mats,
which are worth on the islands from $50 to
800 according to their age. The older the mat
Is the more 1t Is worth, because of the rever-
ence which the natives have for anything that
is ancient and for their ancestors. When these
mats are torn, they are carefully mended and
very often one that is covered with patches will
sell for the highest price. The history of each
mat is carefully recorded. 1t takes two women
sometimes as much as two years to make single
mat six feet square. Pandanus leaves are split
for the purpose and cured by soaking in salt
water and drying in the sun. Frequently these
braided mats are ornamented with borders of red
feathers from the breast of the Fijian parroouet
imported to Samoa in great numbers, kept
alive in cages, fed on fruit and plucked regu-
larly twice year. In all this interchange of
presents the object Of the native is to get as
much as possible and to give as little in return.
The islander is very shrewd. 1t is his custom
nowadays. having entertained strangers at his
house with dances, to finally place wooden
bowl or some such receptacle in the middle of
the floor and throw q silver dollar into il, after
which each guest is expected to do likewise.
SAMOAN HOUSES.
''The Samoan house may be compared in
shape to big beehive, raised on posts five
feet high. OF beautiful wicker work the bee
hive is composed with thatch Of sugar cane
leaves. The floor is of loose, clean gravel,
raised about a foot above the ground. There
inclosed at night or in bad weather by sort of
Venetian blinds made Of cocoanut leaves On
each side OF the tall, strong center posts is a
hole for making fire in lined with stones and
baked earth. The house ia all one room. but
is usually separated into compartments at
night by lowering curtains Of bark cloth from
the roof. This is done not 80 much for mo-
tives Of modesty as to keep out the mosquitoes.
HOW GUESTS ARE TREATED.
"When you enter one Of these native huts a
clean mat is offered you to sit down upon and
you are given fresh cocoanut. Should dinner
be about to be served you will be invited to the
family repast and will find bill of fare posi-
bly, something like this: Fish baked whole.
without being cleaned or scaled. comes first,
| and next 'afatO," which is the larva of a beetle
found in decayed wood and very much priced
for the table. In addition you will partake of
| fresh-water prawns, bread fruit, vans and
dishes composed Of the tender leaves of the
| taro and the juice expressed from the meat OF
| the cocoanut with taro root. All the cooking ia
done in . small house a short distance from the
| dwelling. A hole is made in the ground. in
| which stones are heated with fire. Subse-
] Quently the fire is raked out and the food mt
into the hole, wrapped in leaves and covered
| over with hot stones and leaves Boiling ia
unknown to the Samoans. They make FIRE by
rubbing pointed stick in q groove of soft
| wood.
eat q certain time each year the sea about the
| islands swarms with peculiar marine worm.
called the 'palOlo,' Of which the natives are eI,