Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

ern Samoa Is IN, keeping Win
American traditions of justice
and fair play, finally giving the territory
a fixed status which it has not enjoyed
since 100000, when the chiefs offered
themselves and their lands for union
with the American people.
To many of us Samoa is but name.
Few have visited Samoa or even know
where 1t Is other than that We believe
it is a South Sea island" and that
implies that it must be in the PACING
ocean. The Pacific Ocean is the largest
body of water on earth--a sea Wnlcn
covers an area of more than one-thlro
of the earths surface. 1t occupies more
space than all the land masses COM
bined. roughly rs, 900, 900 square miles.
The number of islands in the Pacific
IN not definitely known. The majority,
however, are found in a long, narrow
area. about 1000 miles long. running
from northwest to southeast across the
Equator. About the center of this area
and IA degrees south of the Equator lies
the Samoan group. 1t Is more than
1000 miles southwest of San Francisco
and 1850 miles from Sydney. Australia.
The Samoan group runs from west TO
east. The islands of Savan, Apolipna,
Manono and Upolu west OF I'll degrees
longitude are governed under mandate
from the League of Nations by New
Zealand. Those east of this longitude
Tltuila, Aunum, Tau, Ofu and Olosenga
and several smaller islands-are known
as American Samoa.
Climate Is Tropical.
Fhe climate of Samoa is tropical.
Vegetation grows luxuriantly from the
rich vegetable mold. Frequent rains
keep the forests dripping even in the
41,-gs which ere
from April to November. The Islands
are of volcanic origin and are noun
famous, with small areas of fiat land at
the valley entrances and in some mar
row strips along the shores.
A dense tropical forest covers the is
land of Tutuila, which has wonderful
harbor in Pago Page, Cocanut, the
predominant tree is seen everywhere,
even along the crests of the high central
range. Bread-fruit trees also are plenti-
full. Cascades of green verdure Of many
shades appear on every side, from the
mountain tops down to the sea, a tropi-
cal paradise such as is often pictured
by imaginative authors.
PoIynesians Inhabit the Islands.
Samoa is inhabited by Polynesians
who are related in degree to the
Maoris of New Zealand, the Tongans,
Tahitans and Hawaiians. They speak
similar dialects. The Polynesians re-
semble the Caucasians rather than the
Malays to the north. After many CEN
turies in Samoa the Polynesians have
developed a culture unlike that OF any
other land.
The London Missionary Society has
been working in American Samoa for
more than 90 years with the result that
nearly every village, about SO in number,
has a native pastor (faifeau), who be-
sides his regular duties, also instructS
the younger children In elementary sub
jectS. Attendance at church Is uni
verSal.
A communistic. form of government
was established. All property belonged
to family groups composed Of numerous
smaller families, The head Of each
family group was natal who adj
ministered the family lands, assigning
lands to certain individuals. or family
units, az
Checks on Tyranny.
A natal could arbitrarily deprive
people of lands, but this was seldom
done because IL meant that his action
was subject to Investigation by the
family group, which might remove him
from Office and take away his title.
The greatest penalty that can be i'm
posed upon a Samoan is TO be deprived
of his title: death is preferable.
The head of each separate family
now Is a natal. Under the present
system it is extremely diff1cult to re-
move a natal from office or to deprive
him of his title. Under the commu-
nistic system there is no guarantee that
the ambitious worker will reap the
benefit of his labors If he works hard
and accumulates wealth, it Is likely
that his wealth will be taken and d.
vided among others. This does not
happen often, though 1t has happened
occasionally.
The younger generation have grown
70 disregard the ancient customs and
culture and they outnumber the older
chiefs.
I saw an aged woman, carrying four
eoconut shell containers, go to the
spring for drinking water She was &C
companied by her daughter and several
grandchildren, who carried buckets
made of kerosene cans. Carefully. and
slowly she filled her containers letting
the water gurgle in through the small
holes in them. Meanwhile the daugh-
ter and her children sat in the shade
singing modern jazz" in mixed English
and Samoan. When the grandmother
arose. the children dashed their pals
into the water, filling them without de-
lay, and followed her.
Ancient Songs in Vogue.
Ancient "Siva" songs and native folk
songs are still sung at most entertain
ments At one performance, noticed
that the greatest applause went to Q
young chief, who sang Show Me the
Way to Go Home" He received many
encores. Can any culture Withstand
such onslaughts?
The Samson house is still universally
used because it is better suited to the
climate than the frame or stone house
The '1ava-lava" NATIVE skirt) is still
worn for the same reason.
Somoa cannot Withstand world con-
tact much longer even If she wished tc
which she does not. Navy admins
tration, however beneficial. has brought
TO the Samoans a contact with the
modern world.
There are no public lands in Ameri-
can Samoa. The lands are all owned
by family groups-which generally re-
side IN villages. Nearly every one in q
village is closely related. The village
is ruled over by the town ruler
(pulenu'u). Every village makes it:
own rules. The village ruler is chosen
by the natal (heads of families) and
this candidate is appointed by the gov
eminent.
To allow any one other than. Z
Samoan or part Samoan to own lane
In American Samoa is unthinkable
There is not much desirable land there
If the increase in population continues
as it has during the last 20 years undei
the administration of the United State
Navy, In few years there will be bare
~ enough land there to take care o
the native people.
Native Culture Droops.
This rapid increase in population
more than 40 per cent in 20 years
may account to some extent for tn
disintegration of native culture. Tn
food nrohlem will force changes which