The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-11-23
Where They Came From As Told
By Mr. Churchill.
LOST IN WAR AND LEFT SAMOA
Battle of Matamatame Twenty
Creation-AncientA AK.

The Y. M. G.. A. hall was we'll filled
last evening for the lecture of Mr.. VIM.
Churchill, x-Consul-General for the
United States at Apia, Samoa. The
affair was under the auspices of the
Hawaiian Historical Society and Mr..
w. r. Castle presided, gracefully in
PRODUCING the visitor Mr. Churchill is
a Polynesian student and authority.
He has several works on the subject
in preparation, one of which will have
early publication. His talk last even
ing was the presentation of his own
view of the origin of the Hawaiian,
Maori, Tahitian and kindred races.
Samoans date their genesis from the
dawn of creation and have a version
Of the beginning which includes as an
incident the making of woman from
a worm. Mr.. Churchill blushingly
apologized to the ladies present for
this statement. According to the Sa-
means they were always just where
they are now and furnished the popu-
lation for the other Islands of the Pa
cific. The emigrations were made
from various causes. War was usual
Iy the immediate reason for departure
of those who sailed away.
Twenty-seven generations ago, says
Mr.. Churchill in presenting the con
clusions from his researches, people
called by the Samoans the Tongans
supposed really to be SamoanS from
distant Island of the group, but mo-
definitely or absolutely classed or lOca
ted made war upon the Samoans of {
certain Island. These Tongans sen
word that a massive stone must bt
moved by the SamOans into the sea
or the failing laborers would be
slaughtered. The workers were unable
to accomplish the task, but the stone
was rolled into the sea through the
agency of couple of saltwater eel:
brought by boy in a friendly party
The Tongans came in considerable
numbers, but the preteXt for an attack
was gone. It was noticed, however
that they were determined to kill. Tt
gain time the Samoans provided dane
ing for amusement, producing those
most skillful at posturing while seat
ed To view the entertainment the
TOngans were required to stand in {
row. At given signal the Samoan:
fell upon the invaders and put them tt
rout. Some escaped to the hills, bu
others took to their boats and journey
ed to Hawaii and New Zealand, pro
ducing the races now known as Maori:
and Hawaiians. Some of those presen
last evening did not entirely relish
this version of the settlement of thi:
group.
There was much more in the story
told by Mr. Churchill. He talked bu
one hour and five minutes He himsel
has many times heard the recital of tn,
history of the battle of Matamatame
preceded by the legend or account O
the Samoan creation and followed By
the relation of the routing of the Ton
gans, or original Hawaiians and Mao
ris. Mr.. Churchill says he not one,
had the story entire told to him in les
than thirty hours. He is to be compli
mented, certainly in showing such re
markably ability at condensation. Hi
lecture was chock full of Samoan name
| OF necessity, but was interesting from
| first to last
Mr.. Churchill read at times from
notes, but for the most part talked il
conversational style as he leaned up
on a genuine Samoan talking stick.
| The speaker exhibited a battle ak
which he is satisfied was used at th
vanquishing of the Tongans. It has
| name of that effect and has a we
authenticated history of several hun
dred years. History of Hawaiians an
Maorls begins about twenty-three O
tWenty-four generations ago. which
considered near enough to the perio
or the IOngan defeat to accept the date
as practically the same In his dis
courses Mr.. Churchill used the nam
OF the present Malietoa and traced hi
FAMILY tree back for many generation.
The Samoan story Of the creation doe
not sound entirely strange grea
God Or spirit sent the thunder to huil
from coral. The thunder called fc
heip and was given it. He asked fc
more assistance and the Iightnin
came to work at the construction.
One OF the legends of the land is {
the son OF king who was very necr
liar physically. This heir IN q thror
had body only to the waist Fl
father made tour of the Islands an
eventually succeeded in adding sati.
factorily to the head. arms and tors
At the conclusion of Mr.. Churchill
talk he was warmly applauded an