THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 267, 10 November 1899, Page 2

THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

: Seat of Government, Apia

The following concise description of "the Samoan Group is by Mr H. J. Moors, of Apia:—

The Samoan Islands, area 1701 ■square miles, are 14 in number, situated in the South Pacific Ocean, and are of volcanic origin, but of a very old formation, and native traditions say that about 400 years ago a volcano broke out about 17 miles east of Apia, at Fagaloa Bay. On Christmas Day, 1895, after a severe earthquake shock, smoke and steam ascended from the bottom of Fagaloa harbour for several hours, and the water at this point is now quite shallow, where formerly it was of great depth. The chief islands are Upolu, Savaii, and Tutuila. There is much valuable land, suitable tot the .production of any tropical plant, and to a great extent this land is covered with forests of valuable timber. Tho laws of the country now forbid the sale of land by natives to foreigners, but they are;allowed to lease it for a term of 40 years, the rates running from 25 cent to. one dollar per acre per year. As, however, the greater part of the useful land was sOld to whites many years ago, It is very easy for intending settlers to buy such property as they may require. Labourers can be introduced into Samoa at V cost of about $50 each from the Solomon and New Hebrides groups, the usual term of engagement being for three and four years at $3 or $4 per month. Employers have to feed and return to their homes those people whom they engage. The cost of feeding them is very trifling indeed, salt meat or fish being given to them at the rate of about two pounds per adult per week. Indian corn, bananas, breadfruit, yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc., are raised in great quantities on all the plantations. About 16,000 acres of land are under cultivation by foreigners, principally Germans. Cocoanut trees commence to bear about six years after being planted, and: yield about half a ton of copra per annum per acre, worth per ton in Samoa from $40 to $50 U.S. gold. It is calculated that each ablebodied labourer can attend to six acres planted in cocoanuts and the cattle as well. On the high lands coffee is now being successfully and profitably grown, and is of such good quality' that it brings the next highest price after Mocha coffee. It is nearjy all shipped to Hamburg. Tobacco is now extensively grown by the natives, and is to a small extent exported to the neighbouring groups by the white traders. Cocoa o_ tbe finest quality is now being; 3jro_.uc.edj and will wiihia a i ew

years take its place at the head of the ! exports. The plant thrives remark- ; able well, and bears prolifically in j about three years' time, many trees', producing 300 pods in a single year, j Ramie of a very superior kind is found growing wild in the forests, as also i the Manila hemp. This fact was only. I recently discovered, and steps are now i being "taken to utilize both plants. iLand formerly worth from $3 to $15 iper aci*, has' irmmeusely increased in lvalue since the introduction of cocoa, | and now brings as high as $50, and in ! some cases even $100. Good land, however, can still be bought for $3 per acre in places that are now considered out of the way, but as the cocoa industry extends" this land will no doubt become quite as valuable as that in other parts of ithe islands. The climate is exceedingly healthy, and droughts are unknown; the thermometer stands almost steady at SO degrees the year round. Fevers are scarcely known. Numerous rivers furnish abundant water power throughout the year. The country is governed under the "Berlin General Act." There are about 300 whites permanently settled in Samoa, most of whom are at Apia, a. town on the north side of Upolu island. The place has in all a population of between .5,000 and 4.000 people, consisting of Samoans and oth^r Pacific Islanders and a- few Chinamen (Chinese are now excluded by,law). Mercantile business, in consequence of the considerable competition which has now developed itself, has bwen of late very unsatisfactory. Apia is reached by Oceanic Co.'s .Mail steamer from San Francisco, by three lines of steamers from Auckland, and by the German line from Sydney. The principal export of the group at present is copra, of which about 8,000 tons are produced annually. Bananas, pineapples, avocadoes, and oranges are also exported at considerable profit. As no statistics are at hand it is impossible to give even approximately the amount of the other products.

There are a number of good schools in Apia.

Poultry and swine -hrh% greatly in the Samoan Islands, and snakes and poisonous insects are unknown. Consumptives are greatly benefited by a short stay in the Islands, and as Apia now boasts a good hotel visitors find a month's sojourn all too short. The natives are a friendly and hospitable race, number about 35,000, Und are not decreasing. They axe much given, to picknieking- and pleasure seeking, are lazy, and do but little work; fciance nearly all the plantations are carried on with imported labourers. The island® are susceptible of great improvement,, and it is calculated that not more than two per omt. of the tillable land is at present put to any practicable use whatcer.

Ring Malietoa died on August 22, 1898, and since that time the political affairs of Samoa have been in a tangled statu. Mafaafe, the arch rebel, who, along with the Oerrnans, was the prime mover in the rebellion of 1899, had been permitted to return on giving a written promise that he would never allow,him. c#lf to be nominated for the kingship. He led a revolt against King Tamasese, who had been set up by the Germans after the exile of the hereditary King, Malietoa Laupepa, in ISBS. Since 1889 the isla.nds have been under a joint protectorate of Germany, Great- Britain, and the i United States.