The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-05
Samoan custom-they rested, had kara
and exchanged observations.

Samoan custom-they rested, had Kara
and exchanged observations
Close to the homestead on the station is
a cattle-yard surrounded by stone wall,
and in that catt1e-yard large detach-
meDt of Mataafa's men were stationed.
SOne Of them sung out to the enemy lni-
mediately facing them, "Come on: we are
waiting for you" The reply was, Very
well ynu will all be dead this day"
But even then the war did not begin.
Two or three men on Mataafa'5 side rec
ognized friends in The opposing ranks and
called to them in friendly greeting. Cor
dial handshakes were INDUCED in and
kara exchanged. and indeed it seemed as
if the most friendly relations were about
to be re-Pstablished. One ferncous old
warrioi-Patu. the hero of many warlike
stories-apparently got eXasperated at
this undue familiarity and unSeason BILE
amity. With big stick he began whaling
his men with the object of driving them
back into their ranks, ard when chief
on the other side began to automatically
interrogate him as to what the war was
all about his rude and impolte answer
was, shut your mouth!
a proper sense of the fitness of things Patu
got in the center OF the space between the
two lines, md at that moment shot in the
bnsh was heard At once the firing be-
came general and the fighting began in
real and deadly earnest
On the seabeach opposite the catte-yard
were posted number of the Apia contin-
gent of royalsts, and Mataafa's men. to
render their fire upon these men as ef-
feclual as possible, advanced to the wall.
By doing so they exposed themselves to a
raking fire right along their line, another
detachment OF Malietoa's army having
taken advantage OF an open space in the
| side wall to pour in murderous and re-
peated volleys.
The Mataafaites were forced to abandon
the stockyard, and as they got over the
wall at the rear they were greeted with
another terrible attack upon their flank,
and were forced to retreat to the shelter of
another stone wall, little distance in the
bush. Here they remained all night, but
the morning they found it deserted. The
enemy had fled to Male.
1t is estimated that Mataafa's loss was
about thirty killed and twenty wounded
| Fifteen heads were brought in triumph to
the King at Mulinuu, it being the custom
| of Samoan warfare to deca pitate killed or
| even wounded enemies and forward the
CORY trophies to headquarters.
| Among the heads were two belon ging TO
women, but they must have been unknow.
| ngly taken in the excitement of the fight
as no Samoan would willingly incur the
mercess and never-ending rldcule which
would follow his killing and beheading
| woman, Nevertheless, the women took a
very active part in the proceedings. II
not actually engaged in the strife. they
encouraged and melted the men to deed
of yalor. carried ammunition to them and
otherwise displayed their enthusiasm.
The royal party marched on Malie and
there met the Aana people-that section
of Malotoa's forces which ought to have
prevented Mataafa's escape He and his
followers had, however. got awav in their
boa ts to the adjoining island Of Manono.
On Thursday, the 18th. King Malietoa
sent an ultimatum to Nlataafa demanding
the surrender Of himself and chiefs. the
sole condition being that their lives would
be spared Nothing definite was heard in
reply. and early in the following week the
climax came.
The British man-ofwar Katoomba of
the Australian station arrived at Apia on
Sunday, 10th inst, bringing Joint in
structions from the powers that the rebel-
lion must be subdued, and consultation
took place between her commander, the
captains of the German war vessels and
the Copsuls. The result was q step decisive
and imperative.
The three warships (America was not
represented by o vessel. though United