Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-12-01
CHIEFS TAKE IN WASHING.
The Lordly Samoan Laundrymen OBJ
ject to Being Held TO Strict
Accountability.

A Samoan chief has q ravenous hun
ger for testimonials. Promptly on
making acquaintance with the heredf-
tary ruler of any one of the island
communities one meets the request or
the demand for a tusi, writing. No
matter how slight or how formal the
association, the white man is expected
10 write paper setting forth the con-
spicuous virtues of the potentate,
dwelling with especial emphasis on his
capacity for letting horses, getting up
Samoan picnics or dances, and par
ticulsrly his reliability and prompt
ness in the very necessary matter OF
washing clothes. To each new arrival
on the beach at Apia are presented by
q batch of chiefs their respective
sheafs of testimonial tusis, concerning
the reliability Of which there can be
no doubt.
Folau, who was the Samoan chief
Justice of the native supreme court un-
til he settled personal dispute by q
revision to a method of practice ante
dating the institution of law courts,
IN which he clubbed an important
member of parliament, has a pocket
book filed with his testimonials, col
lection of the autographs of officials
and glohe-trotting visitors, as well as
4 proof of their willingness to oblige
a friend and depart somewhat widely
from strict truth. Seumanutafa, the
chief of Apia and man highly hon
ored by the American government for
bravery at the time of the hurricane,
uses the letters with which he was
honored by admirals and high officials
at that time.
Once in awhile some tourist intrusts
himself Tor month to the baroness of
the Apia hotels; to him comes the oc-
casion of having TO read all the testi-
monials before making the momentous
decision of giving out his wash" The
largest harvest comes for the chiefs
when q war vessel makes it's first visit
TO the harbor. Then Folau and half
dozen other men of rank set briskly
forth TO pay their respects Always
among the first is the great whale
boat. which the United States gave to
Seumanutafa, and, as his testimonials
glisten with seals and waste of wax, he
claims the first consideration. On
equal terms he pays his call upon the
commanding officer, and lays before
him the precious documents, which
show what great man the chief OF
Apia is among the great ones OF the
earth. Seumanutafa will talk by the
hour with the newcomer on the high
political themes which the stranger
vainly thinks are of interest to the
local statesman. But at the end
broad hint, in fact blunt demand,
suggests that "Fa'atulia he do your
wash cheap, he got plenty girl"
Fa'atulia being, despite the masculine
pronoun. the chiefs wife. At the same
time there is always pretty girl in a
canoe somewhere in plain sight of the
Quarterback A hail from the chief
brings her aboard for exhibitions; she
probably improves the opportunity to
beg a shilling =. her own account, and
she gets the contract to wash Tor the
commander and never fails to ask him
TO order the wardroom to patronize
her as well. Few commanding officers
are quite at their ease in the role OF
soliciting agent for a colored washer.
woman. But in some way the transac-
tion is concluded and the chief folds
away his testimonials in readiness for
the next opportunity for their display.
At first it seems a little awkward 70
spend one day in discussing with
chief the affairs of state and persuade !
him not TO declare a war and then to
summon him next day to explain dis 4
crepancy in the list of pieces returned .
from the wash. In either case, if he .
finds that he is being held to a strict .
accountability, he suddenly loses ali .
his English and promises TO talk about .
ii later when he has an interpreter.
The SAM oans look upon II as mark
of an interior station If white man
shows a disposition to hold them to
strict accountability either in state
craft or laundry work. In politics a
thing said is far better than thing
done. In laundry accounts, If there Is
shortage in the pieces returned, orif
the articles are of varied ownership
scattered all along the beach, those
little things are supposed to be wiped
out by the enormous bunch of flowers
which the girl brings with the clothes.
N. Y. Sun.