The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-02

and so long as the Government derives
q revenue from drunkenness there is
not much hope for the country. The
Chief Executive of the land he found
a man of American education. and one
who may bring about such reforms that
the country will fulfill its destiny as
one OF the progressive nations of the
world.
Lieutenant Saffords talk on Samoa
was practically story OF his trip 10
the Samoan group while serving on
the United States ship Mohican in 1888.
He had a chart showing the location
of the diffe1 IT islands of the group. and
followed tie course of his ship with an
interestinE narrative Of his experiences
among the natives and study of the
fora. The ship arrived on a Saturday.
and the officers were surprised that no
canoes came out TO meet them, but aft
erwards found that the Samoans were
keeping Sunday with Australia, hence
the American Saturday was the Sa-
moan Sunday.
In his tramps about the different ISL
ands Lieutenant Stafford made par
ticular study of the flora, and found
many plants of worldwide distribu-
ton. The morning glory, which grows
there is held in great reverence by the
natives, as their legends teach that the
race rose from the leaves of that plant.
The natives live almost entirely on the
sea coast, although in some islands
they have been driven from their lands
by the Germans. One old chief said:
"By'n bye all Germans hold good lands.
Samoan all bad lands The Germans
got possession by selling rifles and am
munition, requiring the natives to sign
a paper. This paper was d mortgage;
the natives had no money and knew
nothing of the character of the paper
and in a short time the white man came
and told the native to get off the land,
as he had not paid for the rifle or the
interest on the mortgage.
Among the trees Lieutenant SAT-
ford found two species of the lau-
hala and also the kukui which
was there called che lama or torch
tree. The geology of the group
is simple, being a volcanic chain with
all the peaks extinct except a small
submarine volcano, said to be slightly
active when he was there in 1888.
Many of the craters have lakes, which
are surrounded by PUSHES and vegeta-
ton, springing from seeds probably
brought by birds. Along the coast the
vegetation was entirely marine. The
Hawaiian MALE, two varieties, also
grows in profusion, and is used by the
natives in making leis. OF the birds,
the most striking were the doves and
pigeons of brilliant plumage. The ma
tiVeS hunt the pigeons with bow and
arrow, concealing themselves in the
trees, covered with an improvised net
work of leaves and branches. The Sa-
moans as rule, were fine physical
types. There are very few excessively
fat persons and outside OF Apia practic-
ally no half-caStes.
Lieutenat Stafford told of interest
ing incidents during the warships
stay at Pango Pango. The ship was
met by hundreds of natives who
came out in canoes, it being no
ticeable that there were none of
the large double canoes known in
Hawaii. The natives were covered with
leis, and Immediately on coming on the
ship, each selected a friend, to whom
presents were given, for which presents
were expected in return. 1t is char
acteristic of the native-that if he
doesn't see what he wants to ask for it.
1t is no crime to ask for anything in
sight, and according to the custom of
the country, they expect to get it, TAX
ing offenSe when refused. When ma
tives expect visitors they sometimes
stow away their valuable mats, etc,
simply because if friend asks for any
thing in the hut it is given. Mr.. SAT-
ford selected his friend and went on
shore to the native home, where he
found an Hawaiian deseTter from the
Kaimiloa, who acted as Interpreter.
The family seemed particularly inter
ested and pleased with the many Ques
tons asked concerning the construc-
ton of the hut and the general para
phernalia of the place. He was treated
to ava, prepared by grating the root
on an improvised utensil made by MAX
ing holes in a piece of tin, and diluting
the Juice with water. The beverage
was not unpleasant. During his stay
among the Samoans Lieutenant Stafford
did not see any natives who had been
affected by the excessive use Of ava.
He saw the native dance. The first part
was very pretty, but the finale was in
decent.
When leaving PangO Pango he was
asked to buy presents for his friends
family. the list including pair OF
crescent earrings, an iron pot, holuku
and a cleaver something similar to the
cane knives. These he purchased, and
when presented were source of family
thanksgiving and joy. The talk Of the
evening was closed by relating an eX-
nerience at a feast given in honor OF
the great American chief, Lieutenant
Stafford, which wound up by the whole
party going to the ship, where they
were presented with gifts, ranging from
pieces of calico to towels and pieces OF
soap.