ARCADIA. By The Koko-nut Lagoon, Moata'a.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 32, 10 August 1923, Page 5

ARCADIA. By The Koko-nut Lagoon, Moata'a.

This is the record of a baud of "contacts" in quarantine inscribed so that our children's children shall know that we camped at the above address by order of the Chief Medical Officer, whose task is to barricade the 'Hu from out ot "The Isles of the Blest." Our ship was the "Tofua," on whose decks we spent many, many happy hours. En route to Samoa, two persons (not us) developed a red face, a husky throat, and exceeded the speed limit of 98.4 which, by the way, was the prevailing temperature at Moata'a. As great tales had come over the wireless wires about undertakers overtime in Wellington, etc., and as Samoa had been once bitten and was twice shy ot the 'Flu, it was decreed by the Lords-in-Couucil that we should be removed from the ship in an antiseptic boat, and conveyed by a lone sea route to quarantine. Having heard of "Ellish Island," where men died with their braces or suspenders round their necks; and women shrieked for cocame and so missed the meals ot emaciated kippers aud OnePea Stew, grave grew the laces of all. But the Great Chief in a white helmet (the C.M.0.) was unbending. Armed with a paillul of thermometers, one keg of Coudy's fluid, three tuus of concentrated lysol, i 4 straight jackets, and 14 copies of Kipling's "If," he stood at the helm while we looked long aud longer at the s.s. "Tofua," a ship ot dreams ; had we not learned to love the lady passengers from Otago, Canterbury, Tarauaki, Wellington and Auckland too? Others had left their flasks behind ; all they had for solace was a corkscrew and memories of Johnnie Walker's Bar. As boat (the s.s. GermKill) was pounding its way through a blue lagoon bounded by a coral reef upon which lashed the angry breakers ot a ship- wrecking sea, many thought ot the old folks at home, Wives auct sweethearts far awr ( y, the bills unpaid, mortgages one, but worse, that hue lagoon intested (according to delirious

novelists) with awful sharks who could bite the hams off an elephant or swallow a Tarauaki man (Bft x Bft) like a Maori eating oysters by the sea. Depression seized the hearts of all, but the black Bosum passed bananas and the aspirin, while the Dominie (Director of Mental Disturbances) bravely suppressed his own fears and led us in that old Anthem—"M\ J,,-.,,,:,. tt -ho i pain il.ali dwell of n,,. Klu with cheerful voice," A smile swept over the face of that C.M.O. ; the Bosun grinned, "The Banker" slopped thinking about the bank, ''The Quartermaster"' put his arm round "Margaret's" waist and joined in the chorus, "Mummy and the baby" grinned, "Gertrude" bravely flung her banana skin into the sea and took the part of soprano, "the Doc" took off his hat and yelled, while the others co operated in sending that Anthem from the shores of Samoa to the bathing boxes of Manly and Tahiti. The spirit of their fathers had seized them. Like the Old pioneers who landed at Port Chalmers, Lyttelton and New Plymouth with only a pair of kippers and a New Testament, they decided to step on the beach of Koko Nnt Lagoon unafraid of the All-Blacks aud determined never, never, never to weep upon the shore or exceed the speed limit of 984. The barge bumped the beach ; the passengers stepped ashore into quarantine, not the quarantine of the imagination, but a palm-screened camp, on which were set two excellent bungalows ; inside were beds with spotless linen ; there was a Hue airy dining-room, also au excellent verandah which faced the sea. The luggage was hauled from the boat: — within two hours the internees were at home. Ah Cum, a priceless cook, soon tickled the palates of the crowd. After dinner the faces of all were wreathed in smiles; the C.M.O. then retired to his own camp conscious of something attempted, something done to earn a night's repose. By a unanimous vote "growsing" was made bad form ; others outside could call it quarantine, but the internees inside vowed it Arcadia. The sun was always shining, there was a splendid beach, a native boat, also a large community boat lent by "The General." Day by day motor-car after motor-car came up to the fence with gifts of fruit, vegetables, books, etc., etc.; that never failing friend, the telephone, was at hand, and the wireless was handy just to let our friends on the "Tofua" know what a happy time they were missing. Arcadia it was. We even had a "Tote" at sixpence "a time on the temperature of a Sainoan lady iu the native compound who was temporarily indisposed through eating the many good things passed over the wire by kindhearted Samoans,

Tims were the Arcadiane introduced to life in the Tropics. All had "the time of their lives" in the best sense of the term. "The Quartermaster" and "Mummy" proved the best housekeepers siuce Moses; day by clay the men's waist-belts exteuded, day by day sunshine spread further over the suntanned faces of all. Instead of complaints the note of the day was, how could we impress on "The Geueral," theC.M.Q. and all kind Saraoau friends that instead of being pitied we were, blessed and that this was oue of the happiest gatherings of good ttierids in Samoa. Our recreations were many. The Samoaus, always kind, climbed up the cocoanut trees like "hens after a grosset" as they say in Scotland. From the top they threw down the nuts; tae.ic were cleared of their fibre, die nuts were then tapped by a knife, and out came the milk—the sweetest and best drink in the Tropics. The Dominie with three lines, nine hooks and about 20 lbs. of steak went out day by day seeking for the fish that "a - ways nibble" but each day the verdict was "Not ad bite." In the one-man boat "The Surveyor" and others attempted to emulate the Samoaus. Alas, the boat often "drowned" and the cauoe man had to wring the salt sea but of his boots. "The Scribe" spent his time telephoning for tit bits about R. L, Stevenson, interviewing au old Fijian about the number of A.B.'s his grandfather had . roasted at Levuka, and listening to "VVangauiii's" latest scenario for a Los Angeles firm, entitled: Lazy Lucy. A Saucy Wench in a Lavalava. "Malay," the naturalist, was 'determined" to have one of those Samoan crabs which, it is said, can mesmerise a cocciinut as a snake mesmerises chickens, and after three flaps of its ears and a couple or taps of its shell, causes the said cccoauut to fall with a crack; the crab then gets drunk on the milk, after which it is arrested by the naturalist who sticks a label iuto its claws, then sends it home to the Museum at Auchterinuchtj', Ecclefechan or Mulgy. Our "Sergeant," grim veteran of the law, solemnly informed the young bachelors that the Samoau women are so lovely that all meu under J 25 get a free issue of blinkers (Army p.itteru, Mark IV). Over the teacups we had breathless Lues oi mariners in scows patched up with Swiss milk tins, aud sails mended with bed quilts; the said mariners lured Solomon Islanders on board with the smell of roasted pig and peanuts ; then they were battened down below, carried off to Honolulu, where they were sold to American women as shoe-shine ineu and plate*

breakers. " Qneenslander " was the early bird who turned the sun on at dawn, but bis well-meant efforts were always repulsed by the rude chant of a Scotsman, who (from below "the sheets) sang Harry Lauder's nonsense: "Oh! It's nice tae get up in the mornin' But it's better tae He in yer bed." All this indicates the spirit of the camp. New Zealanders, if anything, are resourceful and adaptable. Children of the pioneers.can make.good under almost any circumstances. All agreed with £The General" that a stitch in time saves nine and it would be unwise to expose the Samoans to the dangers of another epidemic of the 'Flu. What other quarantine camps are like we do not know, but if they are all like Moata'a then there can be nothing to complain oi So quick went the days that onr period of internment (seven days) went like the flash of a gun. The last dinner-party was merry and yet sad. Friendship is a noble quality and ever should be our aim. Casual meetings of this order threw men and women together for the public good. By the exercise ot good temper, sweet reasonableness, and good manners, the best in human nature conies out; the worst is put behind. Thus we enlarge our vision, deepen onr philosophy and add to our belief in the general goodness of Life's plan. These happy days will ever be a pleasant memory. Therefore we gained by quarantine. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. ITo the Flu! The General and the C. M. O. we therefore accord onr heartiest thanks. Lang may their lum reek! R. W. CAMPBELL.