The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-23
THE SAMOAN WAR.
Mataafa Deposed and Deported- Death
Of the Chief Ulu.

The last scenes in the recent Samoan
war have been played and the tragedy
is over Matadfa and ten Of his
chiefs have been deported, pending the
decision Of the powers as to the man
ner of dealing with them, and the
Faipule are considering what punish
ment should be meted out to the other
prisoners now at Mulinuu
On Saturday last the Secretary of
State, Mr. Maben, boarded the men
of-war armed with authority from the
King to take over some twenty of the
prisoners. They were taken ashore
guarded by royal troops and lodged
with others, who had been brought up
the coast, in Mulinuu gaol.
The treatment of the prisoners, or
some of them, by their victors on Sat
urday was very regrettable episode in
connection with the trouble which has
now come to a close. 1t seems that
they were grossly insulted, smaCked on
their faces, and subjected to various
unmentionable indignlties. One promi-
nent chief was knocked down by
violent blow in the mouth, and another
was driven along the road with whip.
These things happened in direct oppo-
sition to the orders issued by the Con
suls as to the treatment of the prisoners,
but the offending SamoanS were APP
parently uncomfortable. 1t is a pity
that this contemplate triumphng over
fallen foe could not have been pre-
vented
lmme diately after the arrival of the
Katoomba from Manono Mr.. Robert
Louis Stevenson sent presents of food,
etc, to Mataafa and his chiefs, and
subsequently visited him on board 1t
has been stated that Mr.. Stevenson was
not allowed to see Mataafa, but the
statement is incorrect The only pro-
hibition was that politics should not be
talked.
At the request of the Government
Mataafa and ten of his chiefs have
been deported, it being recognized that
their landing at Apia might have been
followed by undesirable results They
were sent to Fakaafo, one of the islands
of the Union Group, and will remain
there till the Powers are heard from as
to what is to be done with them. They
were taken thither on Wednesday by
H. |. c. MS Sperber, the following
being the names of chiefs who are with
Mataafa: Teia, Mulipolu, Flame,
Tupnalo, Sau Sau, Lauu, Faamunia,
Sauni, Fagaloa, and Soa.
Just prior to the departure of the
Sperber from Apia an impressive and
important native ceremony was per.
formed on board. The chiefs of the
various districts which had given
Mataafa his names solemnly and amid
evidences Of poignant grief Invested him
Of them. CocoanutS were broken
above his head and the milk poured
upon him, each of his names being
thus hguratlvely washed out.
The Faipule met on Thursday and
yesterday to consider how the prisoners
at Mulinuu shall be dealt with In all
probability about twenty of the leaders
will be sentenced to terms of imprison-
ment, and the others will be fined,
certain time being allowed for payment.
There are about 100 prisoners
Thirty of them are in the
Mulinuu gaol, and the others are dis
tributed among adjoining Samoan
houses.
AS reported last night when the
katoomba returned from Manono, she
brought news that only few of the
native houses had been burned. 1t
seems, however, that after the warsbip
left they were all or nearly all destroyed
The statement that eight boats
brought men from Savaiito join Mataafa
IS absolutely incorrect. The boats
were from Faasaleleaga, and contained
adherents Of Maietoa.
The chief Ulu, who was shot through
The lungs at Vatele, died at the Lon
don Mission hospital last night. His
body was placed in a native boat and !
taken to his former home.
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