St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-07-05
A WOMAN IN SArIOA.

oans, though we lived through more
than one war and very exciting panic.
During the troublesome times Of 1898.
4 there were constant rumors Of an
attack upon Apia by the rebels of Atna.
Our house, Vailima, lay on the road
three miles behind the town on the
mountainside Of Vaea, between the two
opposing factions, and often on busy
morning we could hear the drums OF a
war-party, men of the Tuamasaga (gov-
eminent party coming up to Vailma to
skirmish for the enemy in the woods be-
hind our house. Though we were well
known to be Mataafa supporters, the
Tuamasaga men would greet us cordial
ly, and willingly accept a breakfast
OF tea and ships biscuits. Then the
family would assemble on the veranda
to hear the news, and there would be
much joking and lively exchange of
badinage, for the Samoan is a cheerful
person and easily moved to laughter.
Though not afraid OF the men l must
confess to looking with considerable
alarm upon their weapons, rusty old
guns and rifles loaded to the muzzle and
pointing in every direction, as they sat
crosslegged on the mats Hospitality
spread for them and drank their tea.
When they finally departed, with a
friendly "Aloia," the feu de joie they fired
off in honor of the family was truly
terrifying, as the bullets flew in all d.
rections.
During that time often went alone or
with party of native girls into the
forest to get certain plant; we would
cut off the leaves, and, sitting by pool
OF water, strip the stalks into long
white ribbons that we afterwards wove
into fans and baskets; during these ex-
cursions we often encountered bands of
warriors, hunting, or travelling parties
OF Samoan men. Instead of being afraid
we made them useful, begging them to
carry our bundles of stalks or borrow
ing their terrible head-knives to cut
more.
Late one afternoon l was riding up
from town alone and met a war-party
coming down the forest road. They
were in fighting trim; instead of the
graceful lava-lava that reaches to the
knee they wore little more than breech-
clout covered by girdle of leaves; on
their broad brown shoulders were gar
lands of green, which they also twisted
about their ankles and the biceps of
their mighty arms; tall, sinewy men
they were, polished with freshly scented
cocoanut oil until their bodies shone like
bronze. On their heads they wore the
scarlet turbans of the Malicious, and
they were armed with rifles and death
tooth" knives.
drew my horse to one side in the
shadow of the trees to let them pass,
saying, "Alofa Ali" Correcting, 0 chiefs)
to which they all replied with single
word "Sula," that the dictionary defines
as "a term OF admiration for wealth or
beauty" and smilingly and cautiously
passed on.
Twice have visited Mataafa's camp
in wartime, and it is not surprising that
we should be well received there, as it
was known far and wide that our SYM
pathies were on that side, and Mr..
Stevenson and the grand old chief were
friends of long standing. But to reach
the camp we had to ride through Male
toa villages crowded with armed men,
who knew our errapd. On one of our
excursions, as Mr.. Stevenson, my mother
and | reached the last town on the out
skirts OF the Tuamasaga, we whipped
up our horses and passed on at good
pace; on reaching the turn of the road |
heard an exclamation from Mr.. Steven
son, and looking back, we saw my
mother far behind us in the center of the
village. surrounded by crowd of armed
men. With some alarm we turned and
galloped back to find that her saddle
hod f,tr I'D hot
had come to her assistance. Another
time, during a brisk skirmsh between
the two forces, wanted to make some
sketches. and my mother and walked
over, alone, to the camp Of the Malietoa
men. We wandered about without the
least fear; the native houses are like
huge DO shaped roofs set on short
stills, and are open on all sides to the
gaze Of the public. We could see the
soldiers looking out at us, and OCCASION
ally greeting us with friendly "Alofas"
and invitations to enter. We accepted
the hand of handsome brown girl, who
ran out and led us, like little children,
into her house, and offered us freshly
gathered cocoanuts to drink. A young
man, | remember, was sitting on the
floor filling cartridges, and he looked at
us somewhat resentfully, but no remark
was made, except the ironical one Of a
passing soldier, who asked, as we were
leaving if we found the Malietoa men
so much handsomer than the Mataafans
that we came here shadow. catching"
as they call drawing and photography.
1t is not that the Samoans particularly
respect white ladies; they are kind and
considerable to their own women-kind.
They have many words in the language |
of compliment to the fair sex. Adele,
the native name that my mother is
known by. is term of admiration,
meaning beautiful as flying cloud"
There are sua, and agalelci, and many
others; also they have words of respect
for the aged, which are carefully taught
to welbred children. The dictionary
defines one as "a deprecating address, in
asking favor of an old person." and
"an affectionate address to the aged"
and many more Of respectful esteem.
The distribution of their daily work
shows more than any thing else could do
the place women hold in Samoa. The
men bring in the heavy logs for building