The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-06

and nature furnishes such clothing as
they require. except in the case OF tao-e
whose desire TO attain higher STATE
OF civilization has carried them as far as
a suit Of light material cut Ia pajama,
and even these are not difficult TO OBJ
tain.
In such land poverty Is naturally un-
known. but 10 this attractive cline no
man should come unless he * prepared
10 forswear all labor, either mental or
physical and 10 allow hifnseh 70
relapse into that condition OF mind
that is exemplihcd IN the old philosophy
OF epecurianism. A man who has no
thought except such az are embraced IN
tho maxim 90 cat, drink and be merry
would be at homo Ia Samoa. Here no
would have food IN plenty. beautiful
women 10 wait attendance upon his
wants and. as soon as he became accus-
toned TO the taste OF native beverages.
al the drink that he could demand.
when one remembers that IL Is under
those conditions that the Ssmoans have
lived Tor several generations II does not
seom strange that 10 the superficial Oh
server they should appear a race Of vag-
abonds When one comes 10 know them.
however. they become a people more low
able than otherwise and their peculiar
train Of thought that often suggests
mcndacity as we'll as their habit of for
ever borrow without the idea Of re-
paying arc accepted az traits OK char
acter natural 20 the race.
To Say that the Samoans are naturally
a iovabis people IS readily attcstcf by all
who have come to know them intimately.
They are simple. 10 IS true. but they arc
extremely bright and quick 10 learn.
There IS scarcely a samoan who cannot
ssrf Hn
class natives there are many whose edu-
cation would put 10 shame that Of many
apparently vel educated Europeans In
fact they have taken the greatest posi-
bic advantage II an tho opportunities
that have been offered them and II IL
certain that their shortcomings are NOT
due 90 any lack OF intelligence. In adj
dition 10 an This they are moral peo-
pie, in spite of an mat has been said 10
the contrary
While their standard ~ morality Ike
their form of Christianity is not that
Of highly civilized America ana Europe
there is comparatively lttie out and out
immortality among them and poygamy Is
absolutely unknown. 10 is true that
their conception OF The sacredness of the
marriage ne IS practically % 2 negative
character but lnfdeIty is almost un-
known as long as the man and woman
live tOgeti r. When they have mutual
~ agreed 20 separate they simply part
and assume marriage relations with 9TH
ors To persuade them that this Is
breach Of the moral law is a task that
the missionaries have long since under
taken but with littio success This
method N procedure was approved by
their fathers and 80 they VIII live AZ
long as a samoan Is samoan.
OF the thirteen islands that constitute
the Samoan group three only are large
enough 20 be considered as OF much Inn
portance Hawaii. which contains about
seven hundred square miles. Is occupied
almost entirely hy high barren noun
tains. but Upou. which is also mountain
Gus. is extremely fertile Apia is rs
CHIEF town The third island Tutuua.
Is chiefly noted for Page. the harbor Of
which is probably the best in the South
Pacific ocean. on am Islands however,
cotton cocoauuts and breadfruit are Gull
tivated for export and corn. coffee and
sugar are raised for home consumption.
While the trouble that has existed IN
the islands This year has Interfered
greatly with tine agricultural industry IN
1895 the value of the exports exceeded
one million dollars as aeline' 5000.
which in round numbers r'-'f-- - mo
value of the imports during ;,at I'D.
With an this the Samoan is. 60 nave
not begun 90 Doe cultivated. re bulk
OF the agricultural work "a done on the
plantations Of the big German company
that has SO many valuable concessions
here and which has been particularly ac-
tive I'm causing trouble during the past
few years In fact the entire Samoan
question may be regarded as the result u
this company effort 20 gain control u
this group Of islands. Leff 90 itself tho
country would be "a prosperous and peace
ful one. for the native OF Samoa scarce
iy knows the meaning of the word 'iu-
trlgue." and % fight requires altogether
too much eNertiOu.
The commercial ioalousies that have
arisen. however have led to efforts on
the part of petty officials to usurp a land
that does not belong % them and these
days OF trouble will never cease unil one
country gains tho upper hand or ~
withdraw from the scene leaving the
islanders 10 govern themselves the con.
dition Of affairs that 20 my mnd. Is
most % be desired.
To this great German company how
ever. nearly an the discrediiable ac's
that have blackened the pages ~ Sa-
moan history may be traced. Long ago
stevenson. who knew Samoa as few men
have known &c. charged this company
with gross criminality and the indict.
ment has never been disproyed. lie
wrote.
Seven or eight hundred mon and wo-
men have been Imported 90 coil Tor no
company on contracts of three or i've
years. and at hypothetical wages Tor a
few dollars IN the month. II is
said that the whip Is very busy on some
of the plantations. 30 is said that punt
tive extra labor by which the thraifs
term OF service is extended. has grown
20 be an abuse; and 30 is complained
that. even when that term is out much
irregularlty occurs Zoo the repatriation Il
the discharged" u Is this firm. accus-
ed OF practical slavery that is mainly re-
sponsible for the death and mutilat.on Il
tho gallant American and English s0l-
diers who were killed here a few month";
ago.
From the earliest days ~ the stories
of South Sea iife every tale that has
come out o. this enchanted country has
fingered fondiy upon the physical perfec-
ton OF the men and the grace and beauty
OF the maidens of these Islands. That
this is not due % the Imagination ~ tho
sailorf0lk and the writer's OF romances
will be admitted by everyone who has
met the native Samoan In his o1n and.
for there IS no question that men here
attain tho finest OF proportions while tho
women are endowed with a remarkable
degree Of beauty Here The men are tai.
so tail that they may be regarded as al
most the talest race of mankind. The
women. on the other hand. rarely exceed
what s. regarded as middle height but
the beauty Of their regular features.