The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-16
THE TRUTH ABOUT SAMOA.
German Land Grabbers Jealous of Angie
American EDcroachm ments.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SAMOA.
German Land Grabbers Jealous of Anglo
American EDcroachments.
Froz, Golfers Weekly.
Recent events have lent an Importance
TO the little island group of Samoa in the
distant waters of the South Paclhc Which
many people may look upon as wholly
disproportionate 10 their value, either
present or prospective. There is no doubt
a 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 con-
cerned, can never be of any great COM
mercial Importance. except as convent
ent coaling station and port Of call on
the trade route-destined hereafter TO be
second to few in importance-between
this country and Australia The islands,
indeed, take rank only among the smaller
groups of the Southern Pacific. and their
native inhabitants. who were never verv
numerous, have steadily declined in num-
hers since they have been brought into
contact with Europeans.
The islands of Samoa are practically
three in number. as, in spite of the fact
that there are a good many smaller islets,
none of these are more than a few hun
dTed acres In extent. Of the three islands
the most northeTn-known as Savaii-is
cOnsiG erably the largest; Upolu, the CEN
tral. is also the most fertile and by far
the most populOus; while Tutuila, the
most SOutherly, is scarcely One-third the
size of Cpolu. and consists entirely Of
mountainous ridge, descending on both
sides abruptly to the sea. OF the three
islands Savaif possesses no harbor of even
the smallest value for commerce; Upolu
contains the harbor of ADia which is
available in ordinary weather. but. as
experience has shown. is dangerous in
the hurricane season, and Tutuila pcs
sesses the excellent land-locked harbor
OF Pago-PagO, which has. unfortunately
no level land whatever in its neighbor-
mood. Cpolu is the most populous of the
group, containing nearly twc-thirds of
the natives. while it is estimated that
@ I@le1e are ABOUT twelve thousand in Sayau
ana nearly four thousand in TutuiIa
Like all, or nearly all, the islands SCAT
tered over the Southern Pacific. the Sa-
moan group Is OF recent volcanic origin
ihueeu, the existence Of an active volcano
III SaVan Is responsible for its smaller
population, nearly the whole of the con-
tral district being rendered uninba bitabie
owing TO the deposits Of lava and ashes.
1here Is no appearance OF anY ac-
tive 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 UNSURPASSED for
romantic beauty and almost unsaualed
for their fertility. For the most part
they are covered with thickets of trcDioaI
plants and bushes. out of which grow
palms, nutmegs and other tropical trees,
hardly close enough together 10 be called
a forest, bat sufficiently near to AFFORD
much shade, and 10 give a sIngulariy
beautiful effect TO the landscape Each
OF the islands is surrounded by a barrier
reef OF coral, which is only divided a enc
or two points, at which alone it is pczsi-
BILE to approach the shore within dis
tance of from half to quarter of a mile.
The European township Of Apia is situ-
ated on a bay on the eastern coast of
Upolu. and not very far from the center
of the island, which al the place is about
twenty miles wide. The harbOr is formed
by a natural breach OF the coral reef
about two hundred yards wide. which
supplies a deep-wdter entrance to the
bay which is protected from the ocean
swell. but I'm no degree from the wind by
the reef-d belt Of white coral rock sew
eral yards wide, and rising az low water
perhaps four feet above the water. The
greater part q; the harbOr, which is about
two miles long and too shallow for large
ships, which IRE practically confined 10
the middle and southern end clos to shc
reef known as the man-of-war anchorage
The township consists Of little more than a
single street Of somewhat scattered houses
stores, and hotels following the shore
Of the bay for about mile. n; the narth-
ern end 1t terminates In The stores and
buildings of the German Company, the
German Consulate, and a few SNAIL Ger
nan stores, al the southern enc are The
American consulate, ana beyou ii, al the
point of the bay. that Of GIstJ BRAIN.
The extreme northern point o. the bay Is
known az Mulinuu Point; and since The
establishment Of { King il has been rec
ognized as the SIT Of the royal govern
ment.
There are few prettier tropical town
ships than that Of Apia, owing 10 its si!-
very beach or coral sand, shaded BY CO.
eoanut palms, the calm waters or its bdy
nashinB IA the sunshine In front, and the
fnge or houses embOWered In tropical
trees forming d middle background. y aile
a succession OF broken hills close IL m
behind. rising from 1.ao TO 100 feet
above the sca. At the foot of one II
these hills stands the house built. fOT ms
own residence, BY the late X. l.. Steven
son. the novelist. and his grave and mon
ufnent are at the top, on level spot over.
looking the bay. A singuidTy r0Iaanti.
road leads through the little valley In
which Stevenson r house STANDS inland To-
ward the center OF the island, where the
lake. filling the basin Of an extinct crater
scenery and vegetation OF the island
There are perhaps no finer specimens
OF the true PO!yneslsn race thau the Sa-
moan natives, both III physique and gen
eral intelligence. Both men and women
are tall. powerful. and finely proportional
The girls when young are generally pret-
", and nearly always handsome in figure
ana even the singular golden brown tint
OF their complexion II considered by many
rather TO Increase than detTact from their
charms. Fortunately for the women .rry
little manual labor Is required 10 supply
food Ia Samoa, As what there Is a. 20
fails generally 10 their share TEig con-
sists mainly In planting sweet potatoes
yaTns, ana tarO-the great water lily o,
the Pacinc-the root OF which forms one
leading article OF consumption. and also
In preparing the ripe cocOsUu; for drying
n the sun, and 30 producing the "copra'
Of commerce. In this latter task they are
assisted by the boys and lads. the mea
r-servinS themselves Tor the more irrs
portant pursuits OF war. II would be a
mistake. however. 20 suppose that the
Samoan j. Quzrrrls0rnr. on the contrary
In his original condition, before eiylllza-
ton undertook 10 improve hIm nEhtiag
Was comparatively rare. and Bas usually
confined to the occasion OF the accession
OF q successor 10 the High Chief u D :.
Or other or the ISLANDS. IL % indeed muci
more than doubtful whether outside inter
Terence has In any Asy lTnLrOVed The
nstlYe condition of samoa, aud lt may b.
questioned whether the thin geneg.- Of
either Christianity or civilization has moi
been dearly purchased 81 new vices ard
disturbed conditions which xssr. 81,