New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
MATAAFA'S NAT FEAST.
AN ODD SAMOAN CEREMONY WHICH
GENERALLY CAUSES TROUBLE
CHIEFS OF THE NATIVE KING AT PRESENT QUAR-
RELLING OVER HIS DISTRIBUTION
OF PRESENTS


ton have not entirely removed the difficulties Of
Samoan administration. which have distracted
generation OF advisers OF the native State.
Even in German Samoa is this true indeed par
tcularly true OF Upolu and Savaii which were
surrendered TO the Germans 1t may sound
well TO call Samoa a ''Schutzgebiet" but it does
not in the least alter the fact that il is the
same old Samoa that has been brewing teapot
tenpests for these many years The United
States has secured the part of the island king
dora thai has always been placid: the Germans
have annexed the most contentious people on
earth. whose habit Of life has been since the |
reTnotest antiquity. to have rebellion once in |
every three years and 10 do nothing but talk
fight in the intervals. Just present the fight |
tax is making itself heard. The trouble is the |
same as il always has been Mataafa and
Nalietoa.
The immediate result Of the partition of |
Samoa was TO take Apia and the German ISL |
ands TO large degree of the map. The mail |
steamers plying between San Francisco and |
sydney ceased calling at Apia and went TO
Pago Pago. with its good harbor and freedom |
from port charges. The amount of trade for |
either port is 50 slight that the stop amounts |
TO little more than extra inducement for |
world girdling tourists Being thus sidetracked. |
the Germans have been able TO make their own |
policy OF dealing with their own samoan ques-
ton. and little Of il has become known They |
have a full set OF colonial officials II would |
be difficult 10 suggest any increase of the taxes
and imposts whereby the officials are paid. |
The German mark has driven out the English |
shilling. The Samoans are TO be taught Ger |
man II any attempt is made to teach them |
any foreign tongue at all and only after they 4
are fluent il German may they study English. |
These are only administrative details The /
point where the trouble is brewing is the de- |
termination Of the position OF Maraafa
The Samoan politician and that includes |
every man, woman and child in the islands has /
TO regard for the white man. the "Papalangi," |
as such but only ne may be put TO use for |
1.-The benefit Of the Samoan No Samoan ever |
allows this opinion to appear. 1t is seldom |
that the Samoan does disclose his real purpose 4
and his real thought. To any white man ne |
assigns the most fulsome hattery he calls him 1
Ahonga' and "Susunga' in every sentence, |
and he could do for a king than he |
Goes Tor the beachcombing trader. Every
"Papalangi" is literally the one who has burst !
through the heavens This sort OF adulation
has its base in some self-interest il may be
TO smooth the way for begging a tin Of beef; it
may De 10 intervene in politics Samoans de-
spise white men, save as they can be used
In all revolutions when the foreign powers
have interviewed TO restore order Samoans OF .
each party have looked upon the foreigners as
unpaid assistants helping one side or the other
as a result Of the SamOans' tricks Of politics
No Samoan has ever for a moment caught the
faintest glimmer Of idea that under any cir
cumstances any Samoan could be subordinate
70 foreign power.
Under present conditions Germany has an
nexed the more troublesome part of Samoa IL
can do what il pleases with the Samoans No
Samoan knows Of any such result as that
According TO Samoan ideas Mataafa is King OF
Samoa. and Germany has driven his enc
mics, America and Great Britain. and remains
IN Samoa for the sole purpose OF keeping him
on the throne against the Vaccinations Of his
TWO foreign enemies and his Samoan rival Ma
letOa Tanumafili.
That such is indeed. the Samoan interpre-
tation Of recent events is made clear in the
royal ceremonies which have just been taking
place under the eyes Of the German Governor
and with his sanction and participa tion. This
is the mat feast OF Mataafa.
II is custom OF the most respectable Samoan
antiquity that when any chief becomes the
Samoan King he receives formal presentation
OF fine mats from his adherents as we'll as
from the defeated party All the resources OF
savage pomp lavished this ceremony.
II Is the practical equivalent Of coronation At
ter receiving the fine mats the King appOr-
tons them among the chiefs Who have bestowed
made him King. This is a long and difficult