THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2O, 1877.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 3, 20 October 1877, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1877.

l!v the arrival of the schooner Elizabeth from Tutuila. we an- placed in possession »f tin.- information that the. Government anil the Puletua party have commenced war in earnest; ami also that there are a number of half-castes engaged the- em, either actively lighting, or serving one or the other party in various ways. Now, a question of a very important nature arises out of this. which is one that has been for many years causing a great deal of trouble in the-e, as well as other Islands of a similar nature to these. We refer to the nationality of these half-castes. We are well aware, that the law of nations, is that whatever country the father claims to lie that of his birth, is the nation which is supp Bed to have the care of his children. But how far that law would hold good with regard to those of these Islands who claim the protection of any of the great nations of the earth, because their father is a native of any one of them, we are at a loss to know. However, in these wars, it is a question of vast importance to the natives engaged on either side; for, the half-castes, in consequence of their better knowledge of firearms than the majority of Samoans, are valuable allies. The difficulty is this, they fight on one side or other in these wars, or take part in the polities of tieSamoans, in the sane' manner as fullblooded Samoans; but, when there is a chance of their being punished, or dealt with by the opposite side as full-blo ided Samoans would he, they immediately screen themselves by threatening tln-ir Tvith thereby throwing their father's nationally over them as a sacred cloak. This kind of thing brings us foreigners into disrepute with the natives, and they come to the conclusion that we are anything but a just race of people. They complain, and very justly too, that if they do the slightest damage to, or interfere in any way with the property of any

foreigner they are lined heavily fur it whilst foreigners, in the shape of lialf-ra-ics, can even take uj> arms against them, and they have no redress. We .in not know how soon we may have an outbreak here, and before that is possible we would advise the various Consuls to come ti» a conclusion at once .-is to tin nationality of the half-castes of the who!, of the San'ioan Group. If they should In of opinion that they are Sainoans, thor acquaint them with that fact, and mil only them hut the whole of the native community. But if, on the other hand they look upon them as their own countrymen, then let them he cautioned that if they take part in Samoan politic* in any shape or form, they do so at theii own peril, and that they are not to look to their Consul for assistance should the\ get into trouble. The natives shoul'r also lie made acquainted with this fact so that they may nut lie misjudging lie foreign residents as a body. So tar a> our own opinion on the matter is con corned, we would say, that tiie whole ol the half-castes, who can prove the lega marriage of their father are undoubtedly foreigners. lint there is no occasion whatever, to enter into any investigatioi of the matter. We would advise tha they should all be treated as foreigner.' Then we would say this with, regard ti the English portion 'of the half-castes there is a law in force in England, whicl is called the "Foreign Enlistment Act, and which informs all British subject* that they are strictly forbidden to ;..:. up arms, or in :0,, way take part ii. warfare in any foreign country, unless they receive the sanction of the Queen, and that if tiny do so it is at their own peril. With regard to the Germans, we think we are correct in stating that any subject of that country, who takes up arms or interferes in another country's quarels, will not have the protection of the flag to screen them. Some time ago in a discussion upon the subject of half caste Americans, it was agreed in Congress, that the child of an American father, horn in foreign part., and of a foreign mother, should he guarded Ivy that country till he had attained the age of twenty-one, then, if he choose to go to America, and remain there for two years, he would he looked upon as an American subject; but should he remain in the land of his mother, it would !.• considered that he had chosen that country as his. and must, only look to it in trouble. Now, under these circumstances, we think we may safely say. that any half-caste who takes part in tin 1 native war at Tutuila, or any other part of Samoa, and loses his property, or sustains any personal damage in consequence, will not receive any protection from the country he claims : but the verdict will be, " servo him right." We will go Further even than this, and we will say that he should be made liable for the damage he may do to the natives of the opposite si.l". in conclusion, We Would suggest, that the various Consuls located here do collectivol; i»»ii<) a notice, both in English and Samoan, .stating that all the half-castes are foreigners, and that they are not to take pot in any civil witf of the SamoaiW, and that if they do lively and willing take part, they foreffo their nationality, and nay he treated !h' same U a Samoan.

PtKB vr Mruiwi \ A correspondent writing to n* from Mnlifamia. «upp)ia< us with tlit! following informa- •; in At noun on W,■ 1,„...;,_., t|„. 10th iu-t., u destructive lire occurred at the dwelling of Mi. William Harris, situated mi in ■ beach at S.uu a. an.! adjoining the 1 plantation of Messrs, J. C. Go leflVoy.and Sun, Mulifanua. Mr. Harris, (now a boat-builder, was formerly a tailor), aeeouipanied by a friend, wen! np to his bouse t.i have a smoke together. His friend having lighted his pipe, threw the ivillains of the match, which appeared extinguished, out of the window, and a gust or current of air imi-t have rekindled and driven it back into the thatch, fur in a moment the place was in Haines, and owing to the dryness of the material, in about 10 minutes, the house and rooking shed were a heap of ashes. The house was built of planks and thatch, and was very comfortable. Two Samoans saved one box with eight pounds of powder in it; it had just ignited, and the eonse [uences of an exclusion would have caused, perhaps the toss of life. X..thing else could be saved, as the heat both in and outside the structure was intense. Harris has inhabited the Samoan Islands for 40 yens, and lias gained the friendship and respect of nil classes, from his straightforward, obliging, and upright ways. He is now penniless; clothe,, provisions, and all his carpentering tools have been destroyed. It is a must direful loss, between £4O and £SO, and he bring an elderly man, and in uncertain health, will take some time, if ever, to recover. Larceny.—On Friday night, the 12th instant, the premises of Mr. Pratt, at Faleapuna, was broken into, it, is supposed by some natives, and a quantity of trade taken therefrom, as well asSIOO in cash. Robberies of this nature seem to be getting pretty rife now, bul under present circumstances, the only way that we can suggest the prevention thereof, is liv pei-sons keeping their gooiLs well ' under lock and key. ~ AssatrcT—by -"Samoaxs. —On Sunday last, one of Mr. Branker's plantation j labourers got ratlin- roughly handled by sum.- Samoans. It appears, from what we can learn, that some of the hands of the plantation, in taking a ramble over ' the grounds, came upon some Samoans ■ stealing vegetables, and at once seized i them, and were bringing them to their , master to be dealt with. One of the , prisoners mad'- his escape, and brought a

I lot ot his (•■Miiitryini'ii to the assistance of his comrades, when a set. to was eom- | ineneed, un.l one who held on to liis prisoner till the last, got tin: full force of i a stone thrown by one of tli- assailing ! party, which caused him to let go his i prisoner. We believe the miscreants all I made their escape, hut it was with some | difficulty that Mr. Branker kept his n | liaek from making an attack noon the native' village in order to retake their ' prisoners, and have revenge. Dkath. -On Thursday evening, llih inst, Freiderich Mdller. sail maker of the (ierman barque, " Papa.'' ilieil after a few • lays illness, and on the following day, his remains were interred in the cemetery behind Apia. He, having left a widow, and several children at, home entirely unprovided for, Captain Bannan considerately put himself in communication with the captains and crews of all the vessels in harbor, with a view of raising a subscription for their benefit, We understand that he has in ■( with unexpected success in his laudable effort, a very considerable sum having 1 n contributed. Pratique.— AVe are happy to lie nl.le to state that the natives who arrived in the Helena last week, and were put in quarantine, haw boon released and allowed to go to their respective plantations at Vail.de, 1 Vuivuso, and Mulifaimn. On Thursday afternoon last Dr. Turner visited lie hulk Susanno Godetl'roy. and not lindiaganv sign of measles on board, a.lmitted her to pru-