TUTUILA.

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

TUTUILA.

The following is a further accountof the war now carried on at Tutuila:—" On the 4th instant, the government schooner Elizabeth anchored here, and shortly after landed a Taimua, some Faipule, two judges, some government troops, and other fighting men, about IGO. The news of this arrival was immediately sent on to the seat of war, with a request that the first deputation from the government, and the governor of Tutuila would come at once to Leone, to consult with these now arrived concerning the war. The next day, about noon, Aufai, a Taimua, and the governor, Tuitele, came. After a short consultation with the deputation by the Elizabeth, it was decided to go the next morning with the whole force now brought from Upolu, to the government encampment, as it was likely that skirmishing, or real fighting was even then actually taking place. The' next day, as decided on, the fighting party from Upolu, with ifri leaders, and also a great many Tutuilans, who, for various reasons, had straggled away from the fighting neighborhood, left Leone for Pagopago. They slept at Nuuuli, and occupied the greater part of the next day in trying the cases of supposed accessories to the murders committed there the previous Saturday, and in killing, cooking, and eating pigs. The two following days we heard nothing from the seat of war, but the next day, November 10th, very early in the morning, the news was brought that Mauga and his party had escaped from Aua, the fortress in which they had been so long entrenched, to Aunuu, the small island oft' the east end of Tutuila. This escape occurred on Thursday night, November Bth. It was a bold and brave action, and was performed in a wonderfully secret, and masterly manner. Although the wind was a little more moderate on this night than it had been for weeks previously, still it was very far from being light, and there must have been a very heavy sea running outside the harbor. There were several very heavy boats, and an unfinished Alia. Besides men, they had a great many women, old and young, and many children. They had their cannon, small arms, and ammunition to take, besides clothing and native property. Of what they had in the fort, very little was left behind. That they were able to get away, and take so much with them, so completely without discovery is truly astonishing. They were almost surrounded by their enemies, and the further from them were not a mile off. A little before daylight on Friday, Novomber 9, Mauga, with part of his people, got to Alaufau, a small village about threefourths the, distance between Aua and Atmim, and aliout the same time tho government party were aroused from their llumber by (he news that their oncmy h.ii deserted their fortress.

Pursuit was at onoe commenced, and shortly after daylight tho foremost at the Banners wen within half-a-mile of where Hang* still was. By the timely warning of ime of the Protestant mission teachers, he was again enabled to escape the vengeance of libs adversaries. TbLunfortunate, ill-advised, and misguided chieftain, with another old chief of hi> party were sitting at a tire, warming themselves when their deliverer gave the warning that their certain destroyers were close upon them. They narrowly escaped. Much of the property they brought from Aua was left behind, and became the spoils of the enemy, doing further east the pursuers came closely upon another division of Mauga's party, these also were off their guard. They had kindled a fire to cook pigs. The warning, timely given by another Protestant mission teacher, saved these also. This teacher nearly answered with his life for his humanity. One of the principal chiefs hero levelled his gun at him, but some of the others happily prevented its being filed. The pursued party had just cleared the reef of Auasi. opposite Aunuu, when their pursuers tired at them. It is said the shots reached the boat, ami slightly wounded two of the people in it. At 9 a.m., Manga and his party landed safely at Aunuu. This was seen by their pursuers on the opposite shore. The distance between the two nearest points of Aunuu and the mainland is alwut a mile. The main body of the government party gave chase to Mauga and his party when it was known that they had left Aua. Many, however, remained behind and made their way, some to the deserted fortress at Aua, which was quickly plundered of every thing of any value left there, and fire soon burnt the whole villuge to ashes, and some made direct for Pagopago, Mauga's chief village. Plundering was carried on here in a very searching manner, and on a pretty large scale. Every house in the village, except that of the Missionaries, and the chapel, was set on fire. In ten minutes the destruction was complete. The same also was the fate of Fagatogo, and Fagasa. There is scarcely a house left standing either at Fagasa, (a neat village at the north side of the island, which had many well-built and costly native houses) or at any village around the whole harbor of Pagopago. The destruction has been as complete as the strength, the envy, ami the hatred of an exasperated unrelenting foe could make it. Mauga and his party, as has been stated, left their stronghold at Aua for Aunuu on Thursday night, the Kth of November. At about noon, on Saturday, November 10th, all the government forces were collected along the shore directly opposite Aunuu, and here they were kept by the intervening channel, and having no boats, from further ' pursuing their escaped enemy. Mauga and his party after landing at Aunuu, made no delay in raising a wall of defence. It is now finished, and is said to be broad, high and strong. It is nearly in the form of a semicircle, and the curve it is thought, will measure a mile and a half. It is said that the beseiged party intend to defend themselves to the last extremity, rather than surrender under the condition proposed to them by the government. It will appear strange that the government party, so numerous, should have been so remiss in their watch as to allow Mauga and his party to escape so easily, and as it were through their hands. The government party ever since they had occupied the harbor, had been suspicious that Mauga would attempt an escape of this kind. Two days before the escape they seriously contemplated sending 150 men to occupy Aunuu, and prevent the party at Aua from landing there should they succeed in getting out of the harbor. This night their suspicions were certainly lulled, for no watch whatever was kept.

The following letter from Hauga to the Government will probably explain the cause of the remissness. With this, and its translation I conclude. M. HUNKIN. Aua, Novema, Bth, 1877. I alii tofia ole Malo Samoa. Ou alofa tele atu lava ia te outou uma Tairaua ma Faipule ma Faamasino sili ole Malo o Samoa. Silosila mai, ua ou le toe faasaga lava i so sauniga ole taua na fai nei i le motu nei (pe la e ui i le taua nei) se taua ea na amata e le nofo nei e faapea e fou ai le malo o lo tatou atu nuu ? Ou te mamao ma se fou i le malo o lo tatou atu nu'u. 0 lenei, e ui i lea, a ua le toe aoga sa'u upu i le malo; a ia tau ma outou alii tofia o lo tatou malo, ia lenei itu taua, e le vale foi nei tagata, aua le faitaulaga i lo tatou mala Ao le a ou nofo ma faatali atu se tonu na maliu mai ma outou i le ao ole malo o Samoa. Ma le tasi mea, e ui i upu ua ou ta'u atua, ua lcai lava sona toe aoga, a ia tau ma a outou afioga alii tofia. , Ua ou toese lava i le malo aoao o Samoa i le taua na fai nei, atoa ma mea ua ou faia, ua ou manatuifo i lo'u loto ua se.se mea uma, a ia tau ma outou lo tatou atunuu. Ia alofa le Atua ia faatonu nei sauniga, O au o Mama. Ana, November Bth, 1877. To the commissioned gentlemen of the Government of Samoa. I have very great respect for you all. Tut uma and taipulo, and the supreme judges of our Government of Samoa. Be pleased to notice, I shall not again direct my attention in any Butter having reference to the war which is now lieing carried on by tho people of this islamfc For, (notwithstanding thin war), is it a war liogini by tlii.i party in rcMlion against tho Government of our common

country 1 lam very far (row rebelling against the Government of our country. And now, although this be *>, B0 WOW uf mine can henceforth be of any effect in the Government Sti'l, 1 pray thai you commissioned gentlemen of our Government will be considerate towards this pai tv in the war. These people am not valueless, tf their contributions to the taxes for our Government only be taken into account. And now, I remain and wait the directions which came with you from the head of the Government of Samoa,

There is one thing more, although I have thus spoken, nothing that 1 can say can again be of any weight, still, 1 beg the forbearance of your excellencies. commissioned gentlemen. Before the universal government of Samoa, I regret with sorrow the war which has been carried on. Moreover, I think, from the bottom of my heart that everything which I have done, has been wrong. Still, may you be anxious for our common country. May Clod be merciful, and rectify these complications. I am, Mauga.