AMONG THE CORAL REEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1874, 21 October 1887, Page 32

AMONG THE CORAL REEFS.

Considering its extent, I think that Samoa may fairly be classed as at once the Richest and Most Important group of islands in the South Pacific. At a distance of about 3000 miles eastward of Australia, and 1750 to the north-east of New Zealand, they lie directly in the ocean track between the United States and Central America and these colonies. At present the mail steamers between Australia and San Francisco pass between two of the islands on their course, and in doing so go hardly a mile out of the most direct route possible. Samoa lies about 400 miles east-north-east of Fiji, and 300 miles north by east of the Tongan group. The soil is more fertile, and the climate is better, because less exposed to hurricanes, than those of either of the otheT groups mentioned. There are only three important islands, although there are about half a dozen smaller one also inhabited in the group; and the area, even of these three, is not considerable. About 1,500,000 acres is their very outside measurement; and a good deal of this is comparatively poor land, being greatly broken and very rocky. The islands lie about the thirteenth and fifteenth parallels of south latitude, and are, therefore, strictly tropical. They are entirely volcanic I in their formation, although all signs of recent volcanic disturbance have disappeared ; and, as a consequence, the soil is for the most part of extraordinary fertility. Every kind of Tropical Fruit and Vegetable grows in Samoa to a perfection rarely seen elsewhere. The shores are fringed with the tall cocoanut palm, which both grows and bears with exceptional vigour in the group. The dark bronze green of the bread-fruit tree contrasts on all the low lands with the bright velvety green leaf of the banana. The primeval forests are full of nutmeg trees ; and the cinnamon and other spice trees are to be found everywhere. In every clear spot in the forest is to be seen the graceful leaf of the ginger plant; and wherever the soil is broken up a spontaneous growth of pineapple plants immediately follows. In the patches of native cultivation round each village, yams of most gigantic growth abound ; and in every running stream the water is overshadowed by the broad and graceful leaves of the taro, growing frequently to a weight of from 601b to 701b. Such are the native productions of this wonderful group of islands. And the plants and trees introduced by settlers have had a success hardly less remarkable. The orange and lemon of Europe, and the lime of the West Indies, flourish and bear fruit hardly equalled in their native countries ; and the beautiful mango tree of India forms quite a feature in the neighbourhood of the European settlement. On the higher slopes of the hills the vines bears splendid fruit ; on the lower slopes the cotton shrubs flourish luxuriantly, and in swampy places rice grows

equal to the best produced in India or America. There are no mineral treasures to be looked for, however, in a group of islands so entirely volcanic ; and nature has not been liberal in the matter of harboursforcommerce. There is indeed only One Real Harbour in the group, but that is the best, perhaps, in the Western Pacific. The possession of this was undoubtedly coveted by the German authorities, as in all their new possessions in these seas they have not a single harbour which can be considered entirely safe. Pango-Pango, in the island of Tutuila, is as safe as a harbour can be, and will make a naval station of great value —so great, indeed, that we shall probably wonder in a few years more how any British Government could have let it fall into foreign hands, when it might have retained it. For commerce, indeed, it will be of little value. It is situated in the smallest and least valuable island of the group, and is far from accessible on the landward side even there. The port of most value for commerce is that of Apia — in the central island called Upolo where the European township is situated. It is not a very good or safe harbour in the hurricane season, and serious wrecks have actually taken place within it already. But in ordinary times it is sufficiently safe for any commerce likely to exist for many years to come. The native Population is not less than 35,000 souls, and there are no signs of its decay at present. The total European population is about 350 souls, of which about 150 are British subjects, 100 Germans, 75 Americans, and 25 French. Although not the most numerous, the Germans have considerably the largest money interest in the islands. This is chiefly brought about by the German Trading Company, which took over Goddefroy and Co.'s business and property in the South Pacific, and has "established its headquarters at Apia, where it has a large establishment, extensive plantations, and quite a fleet of trading vessels, large and small, engaged in keeping up its commercial relations with various groups in the South Pacific. Prince Bismarck is said to be a shareholder to the extent of £5000 in the company ; and ifc is probably owing to this, among other reasons, that the group seems at last to have fallen into German hands. Hitherto the Germans have not been favourably regarded by The Natives, who are numerous and warlike enough to be most formidable, and it may be feared that the way they have inaugurated their new connection docs not promise any great improvement. As yet they have had no experience of dealing with native populations on a large scale ; and it is more than possible that they may find that they will have much trouble before they reduce Samoa to a submissive colony of a German type. — Correspondent Sydney Town and Country Journal.