New-York tribune., 1909-06-13
BY Lewis n. Freeman.

The captain OF the FauEa-sas drank deep 1om
his epu Of ksva. tossed the heetaps back over his
shoulder as etiquette required and sent the shin
ing cocoanut spinning back across the mat TO the
feet taupo who. IN festal regalia OF dancing
skirt and headdress, presided ~ the kava bowl.
Then he nodded gravely to the Pago Pago captain
opposite. and each leaned forward and spat
solenanIy into the palm of his outstretched hand
Instantly every voice within and without the coun-
ell house was hushed. and in the waiting silence
the buzzfng OF a huge bluebottle fly sounded in
sistently above the tapping OF the waves on the
beach and the lisp Of the leaves Of the palms.
Suddenly the 5uzzing ceased and with a great
shout Of triumph the Fauga-sa captain sprang TO
his feet and waved his hand from the doorway on
which action the shout Immediately taken up
by the other eight and sixty members Of his team.
who fairly the hillsides ringing with their
cheers.
And why should they not cheer? Had not the f1y
lighted upon the hand Of their chief and captain.
Malatoha- thus giving him the choice? And
would he not send the Psgo Pages in 70 bat during
the storm. which every sign said was due for the
next morning. leaving Fauga-sa the cool dry days
which always follow storm TO finish IN? What
matter Il Page Pago had eighty-five men TO their
sixrv-nine-the mud would soon wear down the op-
posing runners and more than make up for so
slight handicap. They arrive al the decision
somewhat differently the beach at Pago Pago
than ct the Polo Grounds. and the winning Of the
toss IS infinitely more importance in Samoa
than IN, America
Samoan baseball is not quite so primitive that
of the Esqutrau tribe IN which the batsman with
g. thigh bone strikes at 2 ball improvised from
skull b11 il sufficient points OF divergence
from its original model make predatory
explanatiun essential 10 understanding Of the
game. Originally Samoan baseball was adapta-
zion Of the English game OF cricket and by that
rrene it is still played in the German islands Of
ETpolou and Savai- with the establishment OF an
American naval station in the splendid harbor Of
Paea Pago. however. and the extending Of an
7Snerzcau protectorate the rest of the island
-u1rila so un-Arnerican institution cricket
uld not be tolerated by the patriotic natives. and
srde present game of baseball is the result The
ansine Of the bowler was changed 10 pitcher; that
Of .hs wicket keeper 70 catcher: the points and
coverposnts hasemen and shortstop. and the
ritoh was called a diamond. EXCEPT for the
changes Of nane. however. the game is still played
subject TO most oftShe old native rulings
-. ALL ABLE BODIED MEN PLAY.
- 4 contest between TWO localities IS far more
Eteuresenta1fve in the island game than In real
Baseball or cricket. for q team consists OF every
rshle bodied man in the viIage-every male not IN
zEs= first or second chi1dhood-and II one village
chances 70 be larger than another Il Is ali IN the
fortunes Of war. The overwhelming advantage this
scheme might give large village small one
g1s :, certain extent rninirnized by the custom Of
having relsy~of four DO the running for al
the bats-en Of each team. and II its runners are
not men CT great endurance as well as speed
big team may beat itself by wearing them OUT
through N-N0
contest
The bail is regulation" and the bar. in size and
shape compromise between that OF baseball ana
cricket Il is made Of light coored native wood
II medium weight and has its large end slightly fat
.fsned for striking the ball and the handle is bound
with sinnet TO insure firm grip 70 the batsmen
INSTEAD of plate, single stake Is used. the
player being out if this Is struck By pitched ball
as IN cricket The bail is delivered about es In
Yitchfng and from approximately the same dis
and short zE-f n
sts infancy
A game consists of singie inning, and Is fin
thed when every man playing has had his turn at
BAT. consunmatton which may be reached in
anywhere from four 70 ten days. Time Is not Of
. fhe essence OF the contest. and one ever has
ly business 70 csn him away, the game Is always
fought out the bitter end
Tie visiting players proceed IN boats 20 the VII
kge with whose team they are to contest, and re-
main there guests Of the chief during the period
u the match Play the first day usually begins
Z the afternoon. but on the days following except
Tor short interuisstons taken by the fielding team
Tor q triunpfal after each cut lasts from
sayiight TO dark The nights are spent IN kava
ieasts and siva-stva dances, and a Samoan village.
] after a week Of baseball IS over, always reapses
TITO aaeequal period Of almost absolute somnolence
!. Rhils IL takes the rest cure.
"a The game In question between the villages
~ Fsnss-sa-the Fsless OF Stevenson's story The
Beach Of Feiesa'-and Pago Paso. respectively the
OF Ihe 4eSWsfo anc WlIf1Ward eloeS OF
! he American island Of Tutuia. The winning Of
+. 4hs -'toss- by Nalstoba- of ERuga-ss, was con-
ssdersd o. great Importance. for all the signs indi-
: ssted that. q storm would prevail during the first
Esys Of the match. and game Is called
n sccouDt. OF inclenent weather, Il reasoned
hat Pasp PRgo's runners would tire in the
! rain snd wind, making heavy scoring impossible
.sEhne ths batsnen could be retired just fast in
fasa n sunshine And, to certain degree,
! il traDspfred. but The handicap 70 Pago Pago
prlFet only sufficient tr cut down the advantage