The times., 1899-02-05
LIFE IN SAMOA.
The Ways of Its Native md Foreign
Population.

(From the Fortnigfitly Review)
Samoa may te iikened to caidron in
which several conflicting elements seethe
and strive for mastery This has been the
normal condition of the islands since they
became known to the civilized world. Dur
ing the last few years there has been
reign of outward and comparative calm,
but this is now threatened with rude ter
nlination. II would be unfair to tax either
the natives or any one of the three pro-
tceting powers with sole responsibility for
such denouement-the natural sequence of
an inappropriate and artificial system of
government which has only been prefera-
BILE to changes likely to reawaken DOR
mant jealousies. crisis having arisen,
Germany,-as usual, appeared best prepar-
ed to meet it; but, contrary to general ex-
pectation, she has-as ten years ago-fal-
tered to take full advantage of her oppor-
tunities. Whether this hesitation should
be credited to treaty .scruples or appre
tensions of foreign opposition IL would
be vain to enquire. Yet at the same time
it is well to remember that Germany has
at present at her command in Polynesian
waters a naval squadron OF quite unusual
strength, strangely reminiscent, both as
regards power and occasion, of the con-
centration of 1888, which was intended to
hasten Samoan annexation, but ended on
ly in disaster and total wreck
Samoa is quite capable of supplying all
the immediate needs of her children, even
in their present state of quasi-refnement.
Although Christianity is general, and the
Samoans are being gradually wsaned from
their primitive customs, their progress to-
ward ''civiliZation"-as understood by the
traders lamentably slow. Family pride
and objection 10 sustained labor are the
Samoan's equivalent for caste. They are
= aFr
RANT vegetation and fertility of their
I lands, together with the many products of
their prolific waters, provide every neces-
sary for a well-nourished and healthful eX-
istence. For all clothing, also which is
essential on the score OF climate decora-
tion, or decency, Samoa is sufficient to the
! Samoans. Tonga" or fine mats are pre-
cious heirlooms; and scarcely less va uabl 2
| in native estimation are the laya-,avas OF
saipe' the cloth made of the inner bari,
| Of the paper mulberry tree, which, with
garlands of berries and sweet-sme ling
| flowers, serve as ceremonial attire. The
| latter may be deemed somewhat scanty,
| but it certainly harmoniZes more pleasant
! ly with the cinnamon brown skin of a
! Samoan beauty than do the gaudy calicoes
! and velyeteens which have been introduce
( by the traders, and which-when cut after
I Ia long way after the fashions of Subur-
( bia-are the peculiar objects of consular
and missionary benson. The unsophisti-
! Gated, much bathing chief. lightly clad
/ during periods OF unofficial life with waist
| cloth and elaborate tattooing. seems to the
! uGprejudiced cosmopol!te Il more consist
ent type of yiriIe honesty than his cousin
OF the Europeanized beach" strutting
about in the incongrGous ill-litting prod
ucts OF an Apia store For reasons such az
these Samoa has up to the present prove
a somewhat infelicitous field for the for.
eigner intent merely upon commercial ex.
p!oitation.
The white residents in Tpolu-for that /.
the only island in which they settle. ex.
cept as occasional units-seldom exceed
42O in number About 80 per cent are Brit.
ish subjects, English or colonial born. no
a few being ''beachcombers'' of the typa
familiar to readers of fiction, and conse
quently meriting but slight regard in tn
councils of the motherland. Others hay
| achieved more or less success as owner
or managers of plantations. while 4 thir,
and considerable section share with mem
bers of other nationalities connection will
the Apla stores. The Germans resident il
Samoa number only about l20 but, gener
ally speaking, they possess greater innu
ence and are more layishiy blessed will
the worlds goods than their British o
American rivals From the very beginninj
they suffered under no restriction in pro
curing imported labor, whereas the othe
whites for many years were prohibite,
| from equivalent rights. Thus during
! considerable period the Germans in Samo
enjoyed practical monopoly, which prov
ed the foundation of their export trade.