The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-23
rHH rHrEF AND rHE HAEIrARDa.
A story OF Samoan Envy and Methods OF
Finding n Petty Larceny Criminal.

~ " W ~ ENVY SAa Nn0 VA
Finding n Petty Larceny Criminal.
In Apla. where there is always a wild rumor
that some foreign power is about to raise it's
flag. there is a g~enerous-sized forest OF flag
poles. Naturally the Hottest OF the lot displays
the official nag. Inasmuch as that Flagstaff is
the tallest on the beach. so 10 ia provided with
the longest signal halliards. The Samoan may
not be very keen on the subject OF iaRs,
whether Of his own country or OF the guardian
powers. but he has a great interest in signal
hslliards. Braided line. such as is employed
by the governmental officers for hosting their
bunting. makes the very best kind Of n line for
catching sharks. which are esteemed a delicacy
at Samoan feasts. But the cost OF braided line
IL far too much for the penniless islander.
While he has to put up with his own shark line.
laboriously plated Of fibre Of the cocoanut
husk. he thinks Of the superiority OF braided
line. He cannot pass one Of the official flag
poles without envy Of its ample supply OF the
coveted line.
When the present American lagpole was
erected at Apia after the great hurricane, Of
which It's two timbers. coming from the Van
dalia and the Trenton respectively. are COM
memorative. q vigorous effort vas made to i'm
press on native neiRhbors In Vaiala the sane
tity OF that and all other articles OF the prop
erty OF the American Government. Despite all
this It was not long before the signal halliards
were stolen during the darkness. TIL Vaialn
chief was summoned and told that he must
find the offender who was guilty OF q crime
far moro heinous than any mere theft. 1t Is
possible that the Consul made It rather strong:
IL is natural to exaGgerate when dealing with
people Of that kind, and In most cases is neces-
sary. Denying that his own town harbored so
despicable a thief. the chief OF Vaiala agreed
that 1t was necessary to administer such con-
A. .I.-..I -
signal halliards and TO discover the thief.
e5 In sIH@4a 10 tS Sn fnd The h. O Ssba Is BY y NO %ss means sa9s
had them in his box Under lock and key. where
left the. fagpoie. II the theft had been over
looked he, would have been the gamer by 50
had been taken up as q matter Of grave mo-
melt he VAS In a position to gather In the
Of ofi the Stolen good" goods. II But as to d iHs 5SefR1S' tRe
matter II another sort, he could not with any
70 this combination. OF petty larceny and
high treason. That would not look well
to King Malietoa. As he had lust denied in the
name Of his village that any yaiala person had
the question. to order one. OF the common peo-
pie to give himself up as the thiei.
kI STst how 10 w fhis G 6adG g VIVA WAS of HdIus ss s Is Hno
know much more than the surface appearance
OF samoan affairs. AS a result OF purely native
negotiations, a man from a village a short way
up the coast was selected as the thief. He was
cred at the consulate for Judgment.
In this there was a certain striving for the
atrical effect. at which the simple islander is an
adept; The surrender of the criminal was de-
ferred for several days until the evening on
which there was to be an official receDtion.
Meanwhile the criminal was an u~ntrammelled
resident Of a house in close proximity to the
f%lagpole. from which he was selected as thief of
the halliards: On the night 81 the reception.
present. a party Of Samoans made their way
into the large reception room with the air OF
men who were acting officially in a duty which
was pleasing as we'll. Slung on a stout saplinR
the Samoans carried a long bundle plated in
green c%ocoanut leaves, Through the inter-
stices OF the woven leaflets a man could be seen
wound from head to foot in the stolen signal
halliards thus dramatically. returned.
The bearers deposited their burden In the
centre Of the floor and stepped aside, to make
place for the orator OF the town, who made
proclamation Of the meaning of the ceremony
that this was the thief. and with him was re-
stored the sacred property which he had
stolen; Thus the RELATIONS between the village
were restored to O state Of cordially,