Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-05-03
SAMOAN NATIVES.

ing, thieving and Discrimination.
strangers making n short visit 20 Sn-
moa form the most exalted opinion
OF the native character, and depart
with the firm conviction that the na-
1--WE people are everything that is
charming. Alas. They only see the
outside, and do not stay long enough
to have their eyes opened to the real
traits underlying the surface. Grat-
itude and love are unknown terms.
There are no words in the language
defining such sentiments. and no
wonder they are omitted, for no such
sentiments exist IN their hearts.
The apparently free and generous
offerings of presents and food are on
ly blackmail disguised. For pres
ehtS representing value of cents
they expect n return of dollars IN
value. High chiefs. who have the
appearance and bearing of kings and
the manners of courtiers. i'm public.
will do the most contemplate tricks.
and resort To petty, miserable subter-
fuges To attain their ends. .>amoaus
consider themselves, far above the
white people, and only assimilate
with them for the sake of .'spoils. ="
Give them anything YOU have. and
they Will ask for more True. there
will be a profusion of thanks aud
complimentary speeches, bat as soon
as ont of sight they laugh. and say
what fools the .'papalagis' foreign
ers-are, and will rob YOU if they get
the opportunity.
The women have their names tat
coed on their arms. and some small
ornamental designs on their hands
and limbs. The men are covered
about the body and limbs with AN
immense amount of designing. which
takes the form of intricate patterns
and figures. The body and hair are
constantly anolnted with cocoanut
oil. scented with fragrant flowers and
leaves. Often on dark nights have
met and passed people, only IA short
distance away, stepping so noiselessly
that their presence was only maui
Tested by tie scent of the cocanut
oil in the air. This could be detect
ed floating on the breeze for many
yards after they had passed.
Time Is not of much value to the
natives. have seen half dozen
men come into store TO sell one
chicken or four or five eggs carried
in handkerchief. They would hag-
gle over the price, visit several stores,
and spend half the day before dispoS
ing of their stock in trade.
y few DAYS ago the commonest
word heard or the street. aside from
everyday satutation. was the word
"tafaga to trade Now the word
"faatan barter or trade has taken
the front rank. \ man will fire.
quently enter sto.e accompanied by
IA child, intent on buying some arti-
Gle necessary for business or house
hold purposes. After looking about
the store and pricing everything but
the one he wants, the child will
wheedle him into buying some toy or
foolish thing that he has no use or
need for at all. Children do as they
please, and are never corrected. The
fact is, the elder people need the cor
rection quite as much as the children
do.
The girdle of ii leaves, varying in
depth from II to 30 inches, softened
with cocOanut oil are much priced
as articles of dress. | have seen a
young Samoan wearing perfectly
new, fancy cotton cloth "lavalava,"
stop girl on the main street wear
ing one of these leaf girdles and per
suade her exchange with him. The
girl evidently did not care to swap"
but could not say so. Both crouched
down ill the road, side by side, at
arms length; each unfastened their
garments and passed them one to the
other, and after the exchange and
adjustment both arose and resumed
their journeys. They probably had
never met before that time. bu; the
fact of their beng perfect strangers
made no difference in the trade.
1t is rare sight to see natives