THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1877.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 10, 8 December 1877, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1877.

By the arrival of the schooner Elizabeth' from Tutuila, we learn that there has not yet been any more fighting between the Government party and Mauga's party. The latter appears te be in too secure a position on the small island of Aunuu for the former to be able to get at him. It is the opinion of those parties who know the island well, that if the island will only produce food enough to keep Mauga and his party they will be able to defy the Government party. However, the Government appear to be quite as determined to dislodge him as he appears to be to fight to the last, for we understand that by the next trip of the Elizabeth, she is to take up some big guns for the purpose of protecting herself and some fifty canoes which intend to storm his forts. The result of this attempt will be anxiously looked for. This war seems to have been the commencement of a new era in Samoan battles. It is said by those who have resided in these islands for a number of years, and who have seen numerous civil wars here, that never before was fighting carried on with so much determination, and never did they fight so bravely as j they have done in this one. We are somewhat at a loss to understand the cause of it, for in one quarter we arc informed that Mauga and his party have rebelled against the authority of the Samoan Government, and that he refuses to acknowledge it, whilst in another we hear that it is simply a continuation of battles that have been fought in former years between the chiefs of Leone and the chiefs of Pagopago from a spirit of jealousy. But wo have no doubt that lioth has had a good deal to do with it. Jealousy on the part of the Leone people towards those of Pagopago, as possessing the best harbour on the island, was probably the primary causo of the war, and then it l>eing known that Mauga was not favourable to the Government in its present form, no doubt urged the Government to take the part of Leone as against that of Pagopago, and treat them as rebels. How far cither one party or tho other may be in the right wo arc unable to give an opinion, for Samoan politics is in such a confused state that we have been unable to unravel the mystery, so as to be able to tell who is who. It savors very much of Spain. Sometimos it is a monarchy, then the king is deposed, and it becomes a republic. (Jut with regard to Samoa in its present

tat'- we CM IWlfcn neither one nor the >ther out of it, for the king who was ■livUml according to a Constitution made in tin; time of Steinbarger has tin dethroned, his successor has not been elected, neither does it appear t<> own a president, and. according to theiVmstitution, the time fori which the Faipule were elected has transpired, but so far as we know, no new elections have been held. As we are in stieh a fog as to how the pit-sent Government hold that position, we are unable to say how Manga should lie treated, whether as a rebel or no. In another column will be found a very graphic description of Mauga's escape from his fort at Aua to the island of Aunuu. Accompanying that report is a letter from Mauga to the representatives of the Government, which he sent no doubt for the purpose of allaying the suspicions of his enemies till he should make liis escape to a place more safe than that then held by him. How his strategy succeeded let the report say. Suffice it for us to say, that the ruse was one which was worthy the man Who had many lives under his charge, and even his encinies cannot hut give him credit for the miuiiin- in which Inlulled his oponents to sleep, and led his followers to a place, for the present at any rate, of safety.