Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-03-07

1
to 80 people, men, women and chill
dren, seemingly whole small village
with all the wares that they could
pick up,-trinkets and fruit, which
they had brought to trade. A few of
the women had on dresses but by far
the greater number of both men and
women We're nude to their waist,
and wearing sort of skirt made from
cocoa fiber which they wore wrapped
about their waist and reaching to be-
low their knees. This cloth seemed
to stay on without any other fasten-
| ing except folding and tucking in, and
did not come off even when they were
in the water swimming, which they
were soon doing, men, boys and girls,
all about the ships ladder, diving
for pennies and small coin which the
passengers were tossing to them.
Like Duck.
Il saw young girl near the ladder
and threw a small silver coin to see
Il she could get it. She saw me toss
it and went under like a duck catch
ing the coin before it had got down 10
feet. Then coming quickly to the sur
face she held it up and laughed as
much as at say, try it again.
| Ashore.
With some friends | started to go
On shore. When we got to the bottom
of the ships ladder a native called
out, Me Sam. Take you Shore
1T was but short distance and
boats were coming and going, some
landing at little wharf that had
stairs while others ran their boats on
to the sand and carried the passen-
gers on their backs. When we reach
ed the shore we saw a strange
and curious sight. There is only a
narrow strip of level land about the
bay, the hills and mountains rising
up steep on all sides. The longest
level place has been selected by the
United States government for the
coaling station at which it is now
building a dock. Behind this was a
low, snow-topped hill which had been
cleared from trees and on which was
erected tall white Flagstaff, from
whose top floated the stars and
stripes whose bright colors stood
out in vivid contrast to the dark
green of the mountains side behind.
| Besides the dock there was a post
office, store and boarding house, then
a narrow footpath along the waters
edge and on the bank behind this
rows of the natives huts ! had
heard much about the good looks of
the Samoan people but was surprised
to see how handsome they really are.
The men are tall and straight with
fine, regular features and a bright
maulatto in color. Some of them
have whiskers and mustache and
many with bright blue eyes and limbs
well formed and graceful in proper
ton. The women are handsome also,
but are inclined to be ralner short
and thick and after middle life the
most of them are very fat. Most Of
the natives on snore were naked to
their waist and wore long strings of
shells about their necks. l noticed
that the men were nearly all tattooed
on their legs and arms with red and
black ink. AS soon as we landed we
were surrounded by old and young,
all wanting to sell us something.
had stopped to purchase piece of ma.
tive cloth made from cocoa fiber
which was woven in a curious pattern
and was about two yards square.
This they sold me for two shillings
and for another shilling I had bought
a string of shells two yards or more
in length, which l then put about my
neck in native fashion. A number
had said to me, Me you friend
Climbed Like Monkey.
Il noticed in particular that good
loking man had said this to me more
than once, so | answered. Yes, will
be your friend
Then he said.
My friend. Come me- and as |
had become separated from my CON-
panions l followed on in the direction
which they had taken, this man keep
ing by my side and saying to me, Me,
Your friend. Come me house
OOOh hC DC6dn W SiliuD up q Slttp
bank away from the path by the
water and beckoned me to follow him.
l climbed up the bank about 80 feet
and then found a little level space in
which was native hut surrounded by
cocoanut trees, pineapples and
benanas. He brought from the hut
a piece of mating and spread it on a
stone for me to sit de- under the
shade of a tree. A woman came out
and brought me a palm leaf fan and
a little boy came and stood, boy like,
behind the tree to look at me. The
hut was round and stood on posts
which were perhaps four feet long:
that is, the roof which was made of
thatch rested on these posts and the
ewes extended to quite a distance to
shelter the walls. The floor was
raised few inches above the level
of the ground and was covered with
cocoa fiber mating, while rolled up
and hanging to the roof inside of the
posts were rolls OF this mating that
could be let down to keep out the
wind or storm. | sat few minutes
in this cool shade to fan myself, for I
was hot after climbing that bank.