Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-07-18

M AM years dSO-ln lodo-dI lhC
M close of an intensely hot day, l
set out from Apia, the principal port
of Samoa, to walk to a village named
Laulii, few miles along the coast.
was bound on a pigeonshooting
trip to the mountains, and intended
sleeping that night at Laulii with
some native friends who were to join
me farther on. Passing through the
semi EurOpeanized town of Matautu,
! emerged out upon the open beach.
With me was young POlynesian
half-caste named Alan, about % years
of age, and one of the most perfect
specimens of athletic manhood in the
South Pacific. For six months we
had been business partners in small
cutter trading between Apia and Sa-
yaii-the largest island of the Samoan
group. Now, after some months of
toll, we were taking weeks holiday
together, and enjoying ourselves
greatly, although at the time the
country was in the throes of an in
ternecine war.
A walk of mile brought us to the
mouth of the Naivasa river, small
stream flowing into the sea from the
littoral on our right. The tide was
high; therefore we hailed a picket
stationed in the trenches on the OPP
posite Bank, and asked them in a joe
ular manner not to fire at us while
r.
prise-for we were both well known
to the contending parties and on very
friendly terms with them-half
dozen men sprang up and eXcitedly
babe us not attempt to cross.
$50 farther up the bank and cross
to our olo Cines) in a canoe" added
Young Manono chief, whose family
knew well. "There is tanifa about.
We saw it last night"
That was quite enough for us-for
the name tanifa sent a cold chill down
our backs. We turned to the right,
and after walking a quarter of mile
came to hut on the bank at spot
regarded as neutral ground. Here we
a canoe; and in less than five minutes
we were landed on the other side, the
women chOrusing the dreadful fate
that would have befallen us had we
attempted to cross the mouth of the
| river.
"E lima gaia lie unit" ("'Tis five
fathoms long!') cried one old dame.
"And a fathom wide at the shout
ders." said another lady, with shud-
der. 'It hath come to the mouth OF
the Vaivasa because it hath smelt the
blood of the three men who were
| killed in the river here two days ago.
Wen hear the true yarn present
w." said my companion as we walked
down the left-hand bank of the river
There must be a tanifa cruising
about. or else those ManOno fellows
wouldn't have been so scared at us
wanting to cross"
AS soon as we reached the young
chiefs quarters we were made very
welcome. and were obliged to remain
and share supper with him and his
men-all stalwart young natives from
the little island of ManOno, a lovely
spot situated in the straits separat
ing, Upolu from Savaii. Placing ou
guns and bags in the care of one OF
the warriors. we took our seats or
the matted floor and filled our pipes;
and. whilst a bowl of kava was being
prepared, Lilo, the young chief, tolC
us about the advent of the tanifa.
Let me first explain, before giving
the chiefs statement that the tanifi
is a somewhat rare and greatly dread
ed member of the shark family. BY
MANY white residents it was believed
occasionally to measure from 70 to 2
feet in length-as a matter of fact i
seldom exceeds ten feet; but its grea
girth and solitary, nocturnal habi
have invested it, even to the nativ
mind, with fctional powers of vo
r. racitv and destruction. However, al
though the natives accounts of tn
creature are exaggerated, it is reall,
| q dreadful monster, and is the NOR
dangerous to human life because o
the persistency with which it FIRE
ouents muddy and shallow water
the mouths of streams, PARTICULAR
after a freshet caused by heavy rain
: when it's presence cannot be dis
cerned.
/ Into the port of Apia there fall tw
;, small streams-called rivers by tn
II local people-the Mulivai and tn
Vaisigago. 1 was fortunate enoug
to see specimens of the tanifa o
4 three occasions, twice at the Vais
It gago and once at the mouth of tn
Nulivai: but bad never seen on
- caught. or even sufficiently expose
Z. 70 give an idea of its proportion
e. However, many natives-particularl
]. an old Raratongan named Hapal, wh
g, lived in Apia and was the proud cal
turer of several tanifa-gave me r.
- liable description, which I afterwarC
II verified. A tanifa ten feet long, Hap
AZ assured me. was an enormously bulk
and powerful creature, with jaws al
r. teeth much larger than an oceal
w w haunting shark of double that Length
ne and its width across the shoulde'
IT. was very great. Although it gene
ally. swan slowly, it would, when
had once sighted its prey, dart alol
.e- the water with great rapidity, wit
.e- out causing a ripple. At village
Savaii, a powerfully-built woma
who was incautiously bathing at I
w. mouth of a stream, was sudden
Of swept away by one of these shar
en- almost before she could utter CT
so swiftly and suddenly was
- seized. Several attempts were ma
W, to capture the brute, which contlnu
o. o. to haunt the scene of the tragedy
in several days; but it was too cunni
to take hook, and was never caugl
- The tanifa which had been seen
CHI the young Manono chief and his IN
ion the preceding evening had made
appearance soon after darkness h
. fallen. and had cruised to and