The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-13
SAMOA-THE ISLANDS AND THE
PEOPLE.

SAMOA-THE ISLANDS AND THE
PEOPLE.
Recent events have lent an import
ance to the little island group of Sa-
moa in the distant waters of the South
Pacific which many people may look
upon as wholly disproportioned to their
value either present or prospective.
There is, no doubt, good deal to be
said for this view of the case, as the
islands are very limited in extent, and
so far as America is concerned, can
never be of any great commercial i'm
portance except as convenient coal
ing station and port Of call on the trade
route-destined hereafter to be second
to few in mportance-between this
country and Australia. The islands,
indeed, take rank only among the small
Ter groups of the Southern Pacific, and
their native inhabitants, who were
never very numerous, have steadily de-
cined in number since they have
been brought in contact with Euro
peans.
The islands of Samoa are practically
three in number, as, in spite of the
| islets, none of these are more than a
| few hundred acres in extent. OF the
| three islands, the most northern
known as Savaii--is considerably the
| largest: Upolu, the central, is also the
most fertile, and by far the most pop
ulous; while Tutuila, the most south
erly, is scarcely third the size of
Upolu, and consists entirely Of a noun
famous ridge, descending on both sides
abruptly to the sea. OF the three
islands Savaii possesses no harbor Of
even the smallest value for commerce;
Upolu contains the harbor of Apia,
which is available in ordinary weather,
but, as experience has shown, is dan
gerous in the hurricane season; and
Tutuia possesses the excellent land
locked harbor of Pago-Pago, which has
unfortunately no level land whatever
in it's neighborhood. Upolu is the most
populous of the group, containing
nearly two-thirds Of the natives, while
IL is estimated that there are about
twelve thousand in Savaii, and nearly
four thousand in Tutuila.
Like all, or nearly all, the islands
scattered over the Southern Pacific, the
Samoan group is Of recent volcanic
origin; indeed the existence of an ac-
tive volcano in Savaii is responsible
for its smaller population, nearly the
whole of the central district being rem
dered uninhabitable owing to the de-
posts of lava and ashes. There is no
appearance of any active volcanic
agency at present on either of the other
islands, though ample evidence exists
that such agencies were responsible for
their formation The result has been
to produce Islands that are wholly I'M
surpassed for romantic beauty, and
almost unequaled for their fertility.
For the most part they are covered
with thickets Of tropical plants and
bushes, out of which grow palms, nut
megs, and other tropical trees, hardly
close enough together to be called a
forest, but sufficiently near to afford
much shade, ard to give a singularly
beautiful effect to the landscape Each
of the islands is surrounded by bar
rier reef of coral, which is only divided
at one or two points, at which alone it
is possible to approach the shore
within distance Of from half to a
quarter OIL mile.
The European township of Apia is
situated on bay on the eastern coast
of Upolu. and not very far from the
center of the island. which at the place
is about twenty miles wide. The harbor
is formed by natural breach in the
coral reef about two hundred yards
wide, which supplies deep-water en-
trance to the bay. which is protected
from the ocean swell. but in no degree
from the wind, by the reef-a belt of
white coral rock several yards wide,
and rising at low water perhaps four
feet above the water. The greater part
of the harbor, which is about two miles
long, is too shallow for large ships.
which are practically confined to the
middle and the southern end. close
to the reef known as the man-of-war
anchorage. The township consists Of a
little more than single street of some
tells, following the shore of the bay
for about mile. At the northern
end it terminates in the stores
and buildings of the German COM
pany, the German consulate and a
few small German stores; at the south
ern end are the American consulate.
and beyond it, at the point of the bay |
that of Great Britain. The extreme |
northern point Of the bay is known as
Mulinuu point; and since the establish |
ment of a king it has been recognized |
as the seat of the royal government
Golfers Weekly.