SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6829, 6 October 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

SAMOA.

Mb. E. Baerill sends the following information $rith regard to Samoa Now that a petition is stated as being prepared in Samoa praying for annexation with New Zealand; I wonld recommend those ' interested in South Sea Island affairs to refer to the Blue Book containing Mr. Seed's report of his visit to the Navigator Group *s far back as 1871, together with the memoranda of the late Mr. H. 3. Sterndale on the same subjeot. Since the date of Mr. Seed's visit, endeavours have been made to ann»x Samoa to the United States and to Germany, but somehow have been dropped like a. hot potato, the Samoans, in their innocent wisdom, preferring to remain the "smallest nation on the face of the earth," to German regime or American slavery. Mr. Seed says in the report referred to that whilst at Apia he took the opportunity to ascertain from the leading chiefs the feelings of the natives with reference to a foreign power assuming the Government of tin islands. The most influential chief of the Mauono. party, and representing one of the three great districts into which the island of Upolu is divided, said, "There is no country we should like to take over Samoa equal to England. We know the English are just. An English protectorate would be sweet." The principal chief belonging to the Tua Masanga said his .own feeling and that of his people was that they would gladly welcome British rule, but that they did not want any other power, from whom they had experienced oppressive treatment. By Mauuna (chief at Tutuila) and by other chiefs the same views were expressed, and Mr, Seed adds that if British authority should be established in Samoa he believes that the natives, under proper management, would readily adapt themselves to our institutions and conform to all necessary laws for maintaining order amongst themselves, and that New Zealand, in addition to being the nearest British colony to the Navigator's, is also moat favourably'situated for communicating with that group, owing to the prevailing winds for nine months in the year beiDg favourable to the passage both ways. found that many of the European settlers were fully alive to the advantages they would derive from a connection with New Zealand, and he believed a large number of them would willingly aid in establishing such a connection. Several of them recognised that the long experience the New Zealand Government has had in the management of the Maoris would enable it to suggest measures or' to take steps that would avert many complications that they think wonld arise if the management of the islands were placed entirely under persons having little or no knowledge of tho character and prejudices of the Polynesian natives. Of the samoari natives Mr. Sterndale says that they respect the proprieties and enforee a code of morals, which, though not.perhaps including every enactment desirable, has nevertheless operated to preserve their self-respect and to render them immesurably superior in the , matter of good behaviour to the other f islanders of Polynesia. They are not by disposition cruel or prone to the shedding of blood, 'treachery is no part of their nature, nor iB ingratitude. They treat their women with great respect and their children with extravagant affection. In the matter of a bargain, their word is entirely to be depended upon, they will never go back from a promise of which they have been truly .made to comprehend the conditions. Thus in all their Jand transactions no disputes

subsequent to the original transfer have ever been known to take place in cases where the conditions of the bargain had been truly interpreted to the vendors. During my sojourn in Samoa a few years ago I became very much impressed with the character and kindly feelings of the inhabitants of this dreamland of the Pacific. They are amiable, meek, and melancholy, are'of a dark olive complexion, resembling polished copper. The male Samoan may be described as tall, erect, proud in bearing, with smooth, straight, and well-rounded limba. The l females are generally slight, especially the young girls, erect and symmetrical, easy and graceful in their movements, " the charm of light-heartedness seeming •to follow ' every action.'! With them Sunday is a day of Food—ia collected on Friday and prepared on Saturday, •. on the Sabbath scarcely' a boat is to be seen; cron the fambols of the children are sacrificed, londay approaching, young and old commence' their native chaunts with their various occupations, making their summer life one ceaseless song. As showing the intelligence, and, perhaps, the grim humour of some of the Samoans, I will give you some extracts from a letter I received from Patioli, a powerful chief, at Matantan, in Apia, after my return. 1 may mention that he is by no means a little man, being about three feet (more or less) taller than Mr. (jr. Von del Heyde. He writes me:—" We Samoans are a thoughtful people, bat still have some weaknesses—Patioli had a weakness. He bought a case of square gin from me at four o'clock one afternoon, and invited me to his house to help him drink it, I arrived at 10 p.m., and found him quite sober, but no square gin left, and we took kava as a substitute—such as being careless, letting things go their own way. The reason of our trouble is the interference of foreign people, who make their living in keeping small stores, and by their talk induce some of our foolish chiefs to listen to them. It is the root of all evil that occurs in Samoa; the meddling of missionaries and foreigners with the domestic policy of Samoa, and telling our ignorant-chiefs false stoiies, praising and stuffing .them with untruths, that they are led to believe they -must indeed be of some importance. lam well acquainted with some rich people who were formerly runaway sailors from whalers, cast ashore here in Samoa, miserable and povertystricken. Some of our chiefs kindly took them in their own houseß, fed them with Samoan food, and compelled all their people t6'ijhow them respect, just the same as if thej? were chiefs. But afterwards, when onte-.of these men, after all the kindness shown them, happens to get some clothes and?better off, and eats like civilised people, forgets the persons that were kind to hiffl in hia adversity, gots pompous and proadj and grows to detest all the Samoans. This' is an instance of many cases in Samaa. When- Colonel Steinberger came here amongst us teaching us to be enlightened in civilised oustoms, they all began to hate him, as they did not want us to know any better, so aa to suit themselves and their money-making. This is how I look npon it. As for the missionaries, certainly they live like kings here in Samoa. 'Whenever they travel by land, and get tired, then they must have a litter made and four Samoans to carry them the reßt of the journey. If they travel by boat, no matter how strong the wind blows ahead, he must have an awning only for himself and wife, and the poor Samoan boatmen eat tip with the san— and no pay. Commanders of ships of war are sometimes led astray by misrepresentations. If, before they act, they would consider first and hear what we have to say, it would cause less trouble. It is always so with the Consuls. Whenever any little thing occurs, instead of settling it according to the duties of his office, his threats are always, " Wait till a ship of war comes." If they did right no trouble would ensue. No one in Samoa would hurt them. It is

through themselves commanders of ships war do things when they come here, for instead of investigating well into the difficulties to find out the real truth, they listen to the Consuls who are very quick in putting fines on us without looking well on both sides of the question. Some of the foreign complaints may be very trivial, but if ne happens to be poor, then he makes it appear very great, so as to get some money for himself. This is why many of our ignorant people murmur, and say when they are unjustly fined, lls this justice from those where religion cotres from?' We have had some of the post-captains here who have done right by us, and others who have acted with injustice. For instance, there was Captain Stevens. I have never met a person like him before. Whether he did what he did for notoriety or to show off before Dr. Turner's women-servants, I do not know. He was so pompous and seemed so stuffed up with his own importance that i for any small errand he would send a large ; file of soldiers for it, just as if he was the i only one who had' soldiers at his command. ' . . .. We hope yon have "sent our- , petition to your Queen Viotoria, and that ■ good may come. We all pray that your en--1 lightened Government will proteot our small ■ nation for the love of our God," Pould the orce of pathoa go/further ?