Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-06
SOME YOUNG SAMOANS

In China so much respect is paid to
old people that IL is often said that the
Chinese worship their ancestors; but
while they thus reverence the old. am
sorry to say that they do not pay enough
attention to the young. They are peo-
Die who reverse all this, and who, leav-
ing the old to care for themselves. Ialr-
~ idolize their children.
The Navigator Islands, of which Apia
is the capital, may be said 10 be the
paradise Of children. Much OF the time
of the men and women ia spent in pet
ting and playing with their little ones,
and yet, with all this wealth OF loving
indulgence, the children OF Sa-
moa are not spoiled, but are
as bright and happy and inno-
cent as any youngsters In the world.
The SamOanS are very handsome
race, and until the coming OF the whites
were so peaceful that they knew moth
ing about war. They are famous fish
eImen, and they are as expert as mon
keys in climbing trees. They are skill
full carvers, and they delight 10 make
toy canoes, miniature war clubs, and
dolls OF every size, shape and color for
the amusement OF their children.
A few years ago / was At the town or
Apia, where there are great many
more natives than Vhites;out wishing to
see the people in their primitive mode OF
life, I accepted the invitation Of chief
or head man, named Malinat, who, with
his pretty white pantal, lives six miles
down the coast, to visit him.
packed my valise, and In an
out-riggsr canoe, managed oy
Malinat and his handsome young son
Unger, made my voyage between
the coral reef and the shore in safety
and with great pleasure to myself In
s little bay looking like silver bowl In
a setting OF emeralds we made land
ing, and here, under the banana and
bread fruit trees, we found
cluster of dozen or more huts, Occu-
pied by as many families. Like those OF
the Sandwich Islanders, the huts OF the
Samoans have cOnical roofs, and the
walls are OF mats that can be rolled I'D,
aud they are always kept up unless
when IL rains.
Into this little bay there falls the
clearest of streams from the mountain
10 the center of the island. In this
stream scores Of children were shouting
aud laughing, swimming and screaming
and spaShing about like so many frol-
licking wild ducks, while their mothers,
standing knee-deep in the water, washed
the limited family linen on the volcanic
rocks that rose above the bed OF the
creek. In queer, crsdle-like baskets,
that looked ike odd nests, a number OF
babies were suspended from the
branches OF the bread-fruit trees. One
OF these was Uuger's little sister, who
had the pretty baby name Of La-la.
These people wear but one garment
called q lava-lava, a sort Of sheet made
OF the inner bark of the mulberry tree,
fancifully painted, which is knotted
about the waist and hangs below the
knees. The complexion OF all looks like
polished brass, and was not little
surprised TO find that many Of them had
hair OF the same color, while the locks
OF others were as black as the ravens
wing. soon found, however, that the
hair was cOlored by the use Of coral
lime, but the effect was TO make the
owners look like so many brass statues.
The Samoan children can swim quite
rs soon "a they can walk, and soon be-
come skillful in making charming shell
necklaces, and in weaving crowns and
mantleS Of many-hued flowers, 10 which
they greatly delight. Unger had been
for one year at the mission school at
Apia, and had learned TO read and write
his own language very we'll and TO talk
some English. l tried TO explain TO him
the great sport boys had in America
skating on the ice and coasting down
snow-cOvered hills, but as he had never
seen frost or snow, he, Of course, failed
10 understand me.
Where the waters TEEN with fish and
the Trees on shore are burdened with
cocoanuts, bananas, oranges and bread
fruit, the poorest child in Samoa does
not know what hunger is. In
deed, there are DO poor and no rich.
Nature is very generous with these her
children, and, with equal generosity,
they share everything in common. l
enjoyed my visit 10 the native village
very much, and when l asked Unger II
he would come with me to the United
States, he threw back the black masses
OF shimmering hair from his handsome
face and said in broken English:
mo; I cannot leave my father and
mother and La-la the baby. And then,
l cannot think that the God has made
any land so beautiful as Upola."
CAPTAIN Tom.