AT SAMOA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14403, 21 September 1914, Page 2

AT SAMOA.

AUCKLAND VOLUNTEER’S EXPERIENCES. KAVA WITH.THE “KING." Some entertaining descriptions of doings at Samoa are given by a member of tho Auckland Divisional Signal Company (College Rifles) in a letter to his parents dated September sth. “There was a mild scare last night," he writes. “It was reported about 10.30 p.m. that three ships were approaching the coast. They stopped some distance oft', and began to signal in an unknown code. Three lamps on different parts of the island answered them a few words, and then disappeared before troops could arrive at the spots. All troops were called to stations, and Colonel Logan and his staff never slept all night. stood in our linos practically all night, anxiously reading every message from the nilot station. At one a.m. we had to drop all our tents, and remove our baggage out of sight of the harbour. The picket boats scanned the harbour all night. The ships, whatever they wore, steamed away a good two hours before daybreak. Colonel Logan himself saw both the lights at sea, and tho lights flashing ashore. T.he troops have been scouring the country all day in a quiet manner, but have found no trace of anything suspicious, except the place where one lamp was situated. Five of us (I am one) .arc going out to-night to Observatory Point, where one of the lamps was found. Onr instructions are to challenge if anyone approaches, and if our challenge is not obeyed at once, to shoot. “The ‘King’ of Samoa, Makalolo, sent us a present of bananas, mummy apples, and cocoanuts when we first arrived," continues the letter. “Four of ns waited on him, the other night, to return our thanks, and to make him a small present of a piece of cake. Ho received us most graciously, and paid high compliments to the English. He spoke English very well, so we got on splendidly. Most delicious cocoanuts were given us to drink, and were most refreshing. Then the native women came in to make kava. A bowl was sriven to each, and the chief and we four raised them and cried, ‘Marionoto’ (‘Good luck'). I took a mouthful and was nearly sick. Kava tastes exactly as you would imagine varnish to taste. I was lucky, as I was sitting in front of a window, and at a convenient moment tipped it all out without anyone noticing. The chief was delighted at our exclamations of pleasure at the Samoan national drink. I did the same thing every time the vile stuff was handed round. We had fish and boiled bananas. The natives sang to ns. and the chief’s daughter danced for us, and presented ns with bends. We then, in turn, sang to the natives, and they wore charmed, especially with ‘Everybody’s Doing it,’ and demanded it again and again. Before we left ‘His Majesty’ presented us with mats all round, to sleep on. We have invited him to dinner with us one evening, and he is going to come.”