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

Pests have greatly increased recently,
and this is the principal reason Tor
small crops. There are two species OF
beetle that attack the trees and eventu-
ally destroy many of them. Rats and
flying foxes" (large fruit bats) destroy
many of the immature nuts. Pests also
attack several varieties OF staple foods,
also the sugar cane. whose leaves are
used for house thatching.
We are told that the younger genera
ton could not be kept at work by the
"matais." If there we're individual
ownership of land and laws guarantee
ing that the workers would receive the
reward of their labors. the copra IN
dustry might revive and even expand,
provided that the pests were kept under
control.
The life of the Samoan is not life
of ease. Before sunrise every morning
most Of the people go into the forest to
gather food and raw materials for the
manufacture of tapa (native cloth),
canoes, houses, etc. j,
For about six hours they work hard
and then carry the food and raw ma
terial to the village, where the natal
takes charge of and divides 1t. During
the heat Of midday they sit IN the
house, eat their first meal, which con-
sistS of what has been left over from
Tie Gay DeIOIe, uLlLlA dFa "AiA SAN'.N
sonnet. a Irvine made from coconut-
husk fibers and very necessary in build
ing houses, canoes, etc.
Early in the afternoon the men COOK
the food brought in that day and about
dark o hot meal Is eaten, after an hour
of family worship Soon after dinner
the natives curl UP on the mats laid
over the floor of small round stones
and sleep unless there Is an entertain
ment. Their principal forms OF amuse-
ment are singing and dancing.
If you can picture people OF the pres
ent time living in the medieval ages
YOU will get some idea Of the Samoans.
They love to malaga" (pay visits to
adjoining villages and ceremonies,
with accompanying feaStS, songs ana
dances. Titles and the order OF prec-
edence appeal strongly to them. They
have guilds. There is no industrialism.
For about 80 years American Samoa
has been governed by the United States
Navy; a presidential decree declared
them to be a United States naval
district" About 40 acres OF nat LAND
on the shores of Pago Pago Harbor
were purchased by the United States
and a naval station established. The
remainder of the territory OF these
islands was still Samoan and has re-
NAMED so until Congress recently ac-
cepted the cession by joint resolution,
thus making American Samoa part
of the United States.
Nays Work Praised.
The United States Navy during what
might be called 1.-The period Of waiting"
has governed wisely and well. A form
of government has been created IN
which the beneficial native customs
have been preserved as far rs possible
and laws enacted in an effort to adj
vance the prosperity, comfort and hap
piness Of the Samoans. The results
seem to justify the effort.
The general health Of the people has
improved. Many diseases common in
America and in all civilized countries
do not now exist there. Flu" and
other epidemics have been kept out.
The tropical disease known as ''yaws,
which is prevalent among children
| throughout Polynesia, has been stamped
out. -,
Clean, fresh mountain water has