The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-04-08
ONE OF LOST
TERRITORIES

The former German Samoan is
lands constitute one of the important
groups of Pacific islands thai have
fallen 10 the lot of Great Britain,
through New Zealand, as a result of
the World war.
The Samoan group. called by form
er geOgraphers The Navigators'
shown by its inhabitants, consists of
four principal bits Of land lying in
the South Pacific, nearly midway be-
tween New Zealand and Hawaii.
The number of islands in the group
may, by counting the smaller, be in
creased to II, OF yer IA. but only
Savii, UpOlu. Tutuila. (Owned by the
United States) and the three usually
included under the general term
Manua. are important.
All are verdure-clad and inhabited,
and In appearance and shape resem-
BILE immense green hats, the interior
representing the crown being noun
famous. while the brim or shore is
oNNAtu WIN " Rohbit pAtpN
fruit, banana and other tropical trees,
which furnish the native food.
At some prehistoric period the
peaks OF a submerged mountain chain
running northeast and southwest have
been lifted from the depths of the
ocean by the upheaval Of volcanoes
now long extinct. Accommodations of
soil brought by heavy rains from the
mountains meet the ever-grOwing reef.
which prevents easy approach to the
land except in those places where
freSh-water streams, forcing their way.
through, form openings in the coral
barrier.
Between reef and shore a lagoon,
varying in width from u yards to
W or three miles. provides a secure
highway for coast and inter-iSland
traffic. The entire length of the group.
if Rose island be included. is little
less than 800 miles. and the gross area
Of the islands is larger than the state
of Rhode Island by 50 square miles.
The native inhabitants of the
are of POlynesian stock and
are clearly related 10 the natives of
both Hawaii and New Zealand. For
practical purposes these natives may
be divided into four classes. At the
head stand the chiefs. who are heredi- |
in the sense hat they must be-
long TO certain families, but elective
that they exercise authority by
virtue of titles conferred on them.
The Tulafale. talking-man. is their
executive officer. who phrases their.
thoughts In eloquent language. and is
the central figure in the
and the source Of authority.
Composed Of what are known as the
people," are the native
and c%atPchists. who wear
more clothes and do less fighting than
he rest of the population.
There is nothing in the dress or
of a high chief which enables
foreigner to distinguish him, but he
s isolated from the rest of the people
y a system of rigid etiquette. No n
nay hold mp al umbrella or do GER
ain kinds of work in his presence,
nd a special vocabulary is set apart
n which TO address him. The COM
ION names for food. an axe. a pig.
tc.. are tabOoed In his presence. His
ace, his anger and other attributes
re described in an entirely different
of words from those used for
rdlnary men.
The powers and duties Of the talk
lg men, are considerable. They are
len Of much dignity of carrisge. and
3 they stand leaning upon q staff
office with a "fue." Or fy-1ap cast I
YER one shoulder, with which Occa-
Onally to emphasize their remarks. !
ley compare favOrably in appearance
itt the orators Of q nation more c
viliZed han themselves. ]