The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-10-26
WOMEN NSA FE INSAMOA.



oans, though we lived through NOR,
than one war and very exciting panic
i During the troublesome times o
10000 there were constant rumors O
an attack upon Apia by the rebels o.
4 Atna. Our house, Vailima, lay on tn.
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 war party; men of the Taumasaga
| government party) coming up to
Vailima to skirmish for the enemy in
the woods behind our house. Though
we were well known to be Mataafa sup
/ pofters, the Taumasaga men would
Y greet us Cordially 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 ex-
change OF badinage, for the Samoan is
cheerful person and easily moved to
laughter.
Though not afraid of the men, 1 must
confess to looking with considerable
alarm upon their weapons, rusty old
guns and rifles loaded to the muzzle
and pointing inevery direction, as they
sat cross-legged on the mats Hospitality
spread for them and drank their tea.
When they finally departed, with
friendly "Alofa," the feu de joie they
fired off in honor of the family was
truly terrifying, as the bullets flew in
all directions.
During that time I often went alone
or with a party of native girls into the
forest to get certain plant We would
cut on the leaves, and sitting by pool
OF water, strip the stalks into long
white ribbons that we afterward woye
into fans and baskets. During these
excursions we often encountered bands
OF warriors, hunting or travelling par
ties OF Samoan men. Instead of being
afraid, we made them useful, begging
them to carry our bundles of stalks or
borrowing their terrible head-kniyes
to cut more.
Late one afternoon was riding up
from town alone and met war party
coming down the forest road. Thew
were in fighting trim; instead of the
graceful lava-lava that reaches to the
knee they wore little more than a
breech clout covered by a girdle of
leaves; on their broad brown shoulders
were garlands of green, which they
also twisted about their ankles; tall. /
sinewy men they were, polished with
freshly scented cocoandt oil until their
bodies shone like bronze. On their
heads they wore scarlet turbans Of the
Malietoas, and they were armed with
rifles and dead tooth" knives.
l drew my horse to one side in the
shadow of the trees to let them pass.
saying: "Alofa ALL" Greeting, d
chiefs, to which they all replied with
the single word "Sula," that the die
tionary defines as term of admira-
ton for wealth or beauty, and ssnil-
ingly and courteously passed on.
Twice l 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
sympathies 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
Malietoa villages crowded with armed
men, who knew our errand. On one
of our excursions, as Mr.. Stevenson, my
mother and reached the last town on
The outskirts of the Taun1asaga. we
whipped up our horses and passed at
!, good pace, On reaching the turn Of
ihe road I heard an exclamation from
dr. Stevenson, and IoDkEnR back we +,
Jaw my mother far behind us in the
enter Of the village, surrounded by a
'rowd Of armed men. With some alarm
We turned and agalloped back to find
nat her saddle had turned, and that
hese gentlemen had come TO her as
lstance. Another time, during a brisk
kirmish between the two forces, II,
wanted to make some sketches, and my
nother and walked over alone to the
amp Of the Malietoa men. We wan
lered about without the least fear.
me native houses are like huge bowl
haped roofs set on short stills, and are ,
pen on all sides to the gaze Of the pub I
c. We could see the soldiers looking 4,
at at U.S. occasionally greeting us
nth friendly "Alofas" and invitations I
enter. we accepted the hand Of a 1