The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-09-14
THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
The Character, Condition and Ro-
sources of the People.

The Character, Condition and Ifo-
sources of the People.
A dispatch from Washington says
that Hon. w. l.. Chambers, OF Ala
bama, is in that city to make his re-
port as chief Justice OF Samoan Islands
to the three governments for which he
acted-the United States, Great Bri-
tain and Germany. Judge Chambers
has the accent of the South and the
fine manners OF cultured gentleman
of that section. Ho has a good face
sion in any gathering. Upon certain
mattors pertaining to recent happen
ings In Samoa he begged to be excused
from speaking, as it would be lmpro-
per for him to talk in advance Of the
presentation Of his report to the State
department., nor did he wish to go into
any topics that wore subject Of inter
national differences. "
AS to the people, their mCde OF life,
national characteristics and resources
of the islands, Judge Chambers con-
yersed very entertainingly. In the
first place." said he, "tho Samoans
must be given credit for possessing
many admirable qualities. They are
not o highly educated race, but nearly
all of them have fair amount OF book
| learning-enough at least, for al Of
| the practical ends Of life. Their lead
| ing mon are possessed of the gift Of
oratory to a degree that would sur
prise o foreigner. They ore, moreover,
| good-tempered, atfectionate and hospi-
table beyond any people | over saw.
They are not crafty and vindictive like
the North American Indians, but easy
to got along with.
"The men arc magnificent specimens
| of nh al
tall, broad shouldered, and their car.
ria &c is superb. The young girls are
often extremely beautiful, but with
maternity tho attrao&iVeness departs
They are an especially clean race, II
being the national habit to bathe twice
o day in the ocean, and the younges
children swim. with ease and grace
Their houses which are of light con
struction, are built for comfort, and
are models of neatness, mats being
used in profnsion by the occupants
criminately. Dancing is the chief d.
version Of the natives, and they also
! delight In card playing, but gambling
seems to be unknown.
The Sam0an5 exist TO large eX-
tent on broad fruit, which scientists
say has moro nutrimont than potatoes
1t can be cooked in three or four ways,
and is so palata bic that one soon learns
to like 1t. One tree will contain enough
bread fruit to supply a family for
months. They are also great fish
eaters, and 1t Is q common practice for
them to deVour fish In tho raw state.
Bananas are 30 plentiful that they arc
j fed to horses and COWS. For q dollar
one can buy wagon.load of bananas
1.-THE climate Is not bad and the
| hnr rQr
The nights arc always delightfully."-
cool, breeze setting In from the ocean
with the close OF the day. at the
samo time the natives do not utilize
the nights tor sleeping, but carry or
thoir @easts and dancing till the small
hours and slumber during the day
time. Tho gre8 test pest on the Islands
is the mosquito, which ia with you al
, ways, and tho protecting net IL in evi
donce in every house.
"Under q good regime the Samoan
would be happy, prosperous and peace
full. They can live almost entirely a.
. homo, having to import scarcely any
thing that Is essential to civilized life
They will be the servants of the whlt
4 man moro to show good will than 70
s pay, and though ignorant Of our ways
Q show an adaptabihty and an molina
" tion to learn that is surprising. re
!! gard them as among the first OF tn
. yelloW-skinned races, and In case
u whore they have acted wrong 1T ha
l. usually been at the instigatiOn Of ou
}. siders, who used them for sinister pu
9 poses;"
J.