Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-04-13
ONE OF GERMANY'S LOST
TERRITORIES

The former German samoan Is
lands constitute one OF the important
groups Of Pacific islands that have
fallen TO the lot OF Great Britain.
through New Zealand, as result OF
tie World war.
The Samoan group. called by form
er geographers The Navigators
Islands" from the skill in navigation
shown by its Inhabitants. consists OF
four principal bits of land lying in
the South Pnclfic, nearly midway be-
tween New Zealand and Hawaii.
The number of islands in the group
may. by counting the smaller. be in
creased 10 II. o. even IA. but only
Savii. Upolu. Tutuila. (owned by the
United States) aud the three usually
included under the general term
Manua. are important.
All are verdure-clGd and inhabited
and in appearance and shape resem-
bic immense green hats. the interior
representing the crown being noun
famous. while the brim or shore il
covered with coconut palms. bread
fruit. banana and other tropical trees,
which furnish the native food.
At some prehistoric period the
peaks OF 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
frUSh-waier streams forcing their way
through. form openings in the coral
barrier.
Between reef and shore a lagoon.
varying In width from 200 yards to
two or three miles. provides secure
highway for coast and inter-island
traffic. The entire length Of the group.
II Rose island be included. is little
less than. 500 miles, and tie gross area
Of the islands is larger than the state
OF Rhode Island by 30 square miles.
The native inhabitants of the
isiauds 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-
tary In the sense that they must he
long 10 certain families. but elective
In that they exercise authority by
virtue 81 titles conferred on them.
The Tulafale. talking-man. is their
executive officer. who phrases their
thoughts In eloquent language. and is
frequently the central figure In the
district and the source of authority.
Below him and above the lowest class.
composed OF what are known as the
common people" are the native
teachers and catechists. who wear
more clothes and do less fighting than
the rest of the population.
There is nothing in the dress or
bearing OF a high chief which enables
n foreigner TO distinguish him.. but he
is isolated from the rest Of the people
By system Of rigid etiquette NO one
may hold up an umbrella or do GER
tain kinds OF work in his presence,
and a special vocabulary Is set apart
IN which 10 address him. The com
mon names for food an axe. pig.
etc. are tabooed in his presence. His
face. his anger and other attributes
are described in an entirely different
set OF words from those used for
Ordinary men.
The powers and duties Of the talk
ing men are considerable. They are
men Of much dignity Of carriage, and
as they stand leaning upon stan
Of Office with a "fue." or fiy-fiap cast
over one shoulder. with which occa-
s,onany 10 emphasize their remarks,
they compare favorably In appearance
with the orators Of a nation more
civilized than themselves.