The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27

men have been imported to toll for Tia,
company on contracts of three or five
years, and at hypothetical wages for few
dollars in the month. . IL Is said that
the whip is very busy on some OF the plan
tations; II Is said that punitive extra la
Dor, by which the thrall's term of service
Is extended. has grown to be an abuse; and
1t is complained that, even when the tern
Is out, much irregularity occurs In the
repatriation of the discharged" II Is this
firm, accused of practical slavery, that is
mainly responsible for tho death and mutt
lation OF the gallant American and English
soldiers who were killed here few months
age.
To go into detail in regard to the trou-
bles OF the past or TO dilate upon the dis
cords OF the present would be as super
fluous as 1t would be difficult to describe
the many charms of the islands. Seen from,
tho ocean the full beauty of the scenery,
the montains covered with verdure, the
glens and ravines made darker by the
shadows, the varf-tinted foliage that
marks each line of vegetation, each of a
different colored green, may be grasped at
glance But beautiful as this first glimpse
may be- the attractiveness OF the islands
IS not limited 10 this view from the seas.
tor the longer one remains In this cline
the more the charm of the delightful land
VIII grow upon him and at last he Will
cease to wonder that sailors of old have
mutinied because their captain has insisted
that they should leave this paradise OF
spots.
Apia Is picturesque little town located
at the head OF an excellent harbor. 1t is
practically town OF one street and while
the houses of the natives are generally In
rather dilapdated condition those that
are occupied by the foreign residents are
substantially built of red wood and are
almost invariably empowered In blooming
vines and tropical plants, Like Hawaii.
Samoa is a land of flowers and music.
Fine dress Is a passion with both men and
women and in the absence of ribbon and
other feminine fnery of civilized countries
the natives drape themselves in flowers Of
many hues. intermingled tastefully with
green leaves and vines.
From the earliest days of the stories of
South Sea life every tale that has come
out of this enchanted country has fingered
fondly upon the physical perfection of the
men and the grace and beauty of the mail
ems of these islands, That this is not due
to the Imagination of the sailorfolk and the
writer's of romances viii be admitted by
everyone who has met the native Samoan
in his own land, for there is no question
that men here attain the finest proportions
while the women are endowed with a re-
markable degree of beauty. Here the
men are tall, SO tall that they may be re-
garded as almost the tallest race of man
kind. The women. on the other hand,
rarely exceed what Is regarded as middle
height, but the beauty of their regular fea-
lures, their mobile and expressive coun
tenances and their graceful forms must
be seen to be fully appreciated. There is
no more beautiful sight than company
of these maidens in native costume, flower
bedecked and happy in freedom that none
of their Caucasian sisters can ever know.
To the stranger who meets a Samoan
maiden for the first time her features and
complexion are revelation. This COM
pleXion. while always brown, varies from
the lightest, which Is about the hue OF the
Spanish American, 70 tho darkest. which
marks those of the lowest birth. Even in
the darkest depths, however there is no
trace of the characteristics of the African,
the skin being of warm brown hue which
seems to accentuate the regular features,
Nature has indeed been kind to Samoa.
and as the traveller sails away from the
island, on which the white moon is shin
ing down so peacefully. feeling akin to
inconsistencies seizos upon him as If he
could not bear to 20 away from this fairy
land of nature, back TO the hurry and
noise and hustle Of civilized lands.
George Alfred Edwards.