Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-05
BEAUTIFUL TUTUILA.
Some Features of Our New Samoan
Dependency.

Tutuila is, in many respects, the
most beautiful of the Samoan isles;
though casual visitors often come
away without that impression, owing
to the frequent, almost continuous
rains, in the neighborhood of Pago-
Page bay, which have a tendency to
curtail excursions. 1t lies thirty-eight
miles from Upolu. and is the third Of
the Samoan islands in size; being II
miles long, miles wide and go miles
in circumference. Its outline is bold
and picturesque, and presents striking
evidence of volcanic origin. The is
land is almost cut in twain by the
waters of Pago-Pago bay; and the en-
tire eastern portion, nearly two
thirds of its area, is a chain of well
wooded mountains, with an average
height of 1000 feet, diversified by mas
sive cones of uplifted lava, intersected
by valleys and ravines, and often ex-
tending almost to the sea- Except for
the cocoanuts upon the shore line,
this portion of Tutuila can have little
VI ~ value.
The western portion, however,
though it has the same volcanic ap-
pearance, has greater width of area
broader valleys, and higher mountains
OF the latter Matafu is the most lofty
peak, with height of 1850 feet above
the sea level. From it one descends
southwark to an undulating plain of
considerable fertility, some $4,000
acres in extent. This tract is, for the
most part, forest land, broken by oc-
casional waterways; and the soil is
comparatively rich. producing most of
the fruits and vegetables indigenous
to the group. Beyond this, to the west
ward, mountains again prevail; though
the country about Leone, in the ex-
IRENE southwest, is the richest and
most popula ed section of the island
In Leone bay, also, there is fair
anchorage; and in the settlement
around it several traders of Apla
have agencies. The total superficial
area of the island is 240 square miles,
inhabited by about 5000 people.
tween Breaker point on the east and
Tower rock on the west, is three-quar-
trs of mile in width, with soundings
of thirty-six fathoms. Within it, a
mile and half from Tower rock, and
connected with the west bank by a
coral reef, is Goat island. two acres in
extent; and this marks the entrance
to the inner bay. The latter is sur
rounded by lofty hills. which neu-
tralize the influences of the trade
winds and render it secure from hur-
ricanes. At various points along the
narrow shore are native villages and
the cocoanut groves; and low down on
the hillsides breadfruit. bananas
oranges, taro. and yams grow il 'uf-
ficient quantity to provide for the
scanty poulation. Fish is fairly abund-
ant in the bay; and a sufficiency Of
fresh water is usually found in the
small rivulets at the mouths of the
mountain ravines.
of the southeastern coast Of Tu-
tuila, and separated therefrom by a
deep channel. lies the small island of
Annu. This has an area of about ten
square miles and a population Of be-
tween 200 and 300: and it Is chiefly
remarkable for the alleged immunity
of its inhabitants from the scourge
of elephantiasis. TO which the natives
of the other Samoan islands are more
or less subject
Thanks to their isolated position
and to the unsophistocated character
Of their people. the islands of Manua
group may claim to be almost I'm
known to the outer world OF the three
Islands, Manua. or Tau. as it is some
times called. is the largest, having an
area of about 100 square miles; Ole
saga, four miles distant TO the north
west, is credited with twenty-four
square miles; ofu has barely ten. An
are of volcanic origin and mountain