The record-union., 1899-03-13
SAMOA.
The Ways Of It's Native and For
eign Population.

Samoa NAV be likened to q caldrOn
in which several conflicting elements
seethe and strive for mastery. This mas
has been the normal condition OF the
islands since they became known TO
the civilized world During the last
few years there has been a reign OF
outward and comparative calm, but
this is now threatened with rude ter
mination 1t would be unfair to tax
either the natives or any one OF the
three protecting Powers with sole re-
sponsibility for such denouement-the
natural sequence of an inappropriate
and artificial system of government
which has only been tolerated thus long
because anything seemed preferable
TO changes likely to reawaken dormant
jealousies. A crisis having arisen,
Germany, as usual, appeared best pre-
pared to meet it; but, contrary to gen.
eral expectation, she has-aS ten years
ago-faltered to take full advantage OF
her opportunities. Whether this hest
tation should be credited to treaty
scruples or apprehensions of foreign OPP
position it would be vain to inquire.
Yet, at the same time, it is well to re-
member 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
concentration of 1888, which was in
tended to hasten Samoan annexation,
but ended only in disorder and total
wreck
Somoa is quite capable of supplying
all the immediate needs of her children,
even in their present state of quasi
refinement Although Christianity is
general and the Samoans are being
gradually weaned from their primitive
customs, their progress toward 'civili
zation'-as understood by the trader
is lamentably slow. Family pride and
objection to sustained labor are the Sa-
means equivalent for caste. They are
gastranomes after a fashion, but the
luxuriant vegetation and fertility of
their lands, together with the many
products of their prolific waters, pro-
vide every necessary for a well-nour-
| shed and healthy existence. For all
clothing also, which is essential on the
score of climate, decoration or decency.
Samoa is sufficient to the Samoans.
| Tonga" or fine mats, are precious
| heirlooms; and scarcely less valuable
| in native estimation are the lava-lavas
of 'saipe," the cloth made of the inner
bark OF the paper mulberry tree, which,
with garlands Of berries and sweet
smelling flowers, serve as ceremonial
attire The latter may be deemed
somewhat scanty, but it certainly har-
monies more pleasantly with the Gin
nanon- brown skin of a Samoan beauty
than do the gaudy calicoes and velve-
teens which have been introduced by
the traders, and which-when cut after
| "a long way after the fashions of Su
| burbia-are the peculiar objects of
consular and missionary benson. The
unsophisticated, much bathing chief
| lightly clad during periods of unof1-
cial life with waistcloth and elaborate
| tattooing, seems to the unprecedented
cosmopolitan more consistent type of
virile honesty than his cousin of the
Europeanized 'beach," strutting about
in the incongruous, ill-fittlEs products
of an Apia store. For reasons such
as these Samoa has up to the present
proved a somewhat infelicitous field for
the foreigner intent merely upon COM
mercial exploitation.
The white resident in Upolu-for that
| is the only island in which they settle,
except as occasional units-seldom ex-
| coed 420 in number. About 80 per
cent. are British subjects, English or