27

A.—4.

gin," consumed during any one month in either Apia or Levuka by so disproportionate a number of white settlers, one need not be surprised at hearing an outcry about disease. As concerns the mental capacity and disposition of the Samoans, little more need bo said than I have already said with respect to the Tonguese. They are, on the whole, possibly of a less energetic and more lazy disposition. Both tribes are originally from one stock, though long separated, and now differing from each other in many social customs and habits of thought. Thws a system of religion, settled government, or unity of action, which has for many generations characterized the Tonguese, are unknown in Samoa. Frequent wars have taken place between them in past generations. The Tonguese invaded Samoa from time to time, and settled considerable tracts of Upolu and Savaii. They left behind them evidences of their presence in huge fortifications and highways paved with stone. Whether they were finally expelled by force of arms or left of their own accord, is doubtful. The Samoans still greatly fear the Tonguese. From the earliest times the Samoans appear not to have advanced in any degree. They are> well affected towards strangers, especially English, but do not exhibit any great anxiety to abandon thsir ancient usages. They are naturally of a simple mind, hospitable, peaceable, and generous. Though they have been for some time past at war among themselves, they do not love civil strife for its own sake, neither was the quarrel of their own seeking; it was thrust upon them by the intrigues of foreigners, who fomented mischief among them to serve their own purposes. It is in connection with these unhappy disturbances that they have shown almost the only signs of advancement which have become apparent in their condition since their first acquaintance with civilized man nearly half a century ago, inasmuch as they have invested largely in muskets and other weapons, and have devoted much attention to rendering themselves familiar with their use. As regards their mental disposition, they are the best of all the people of the Pacific, if we except, perhaps, the islanders of the Hervey and Austral Isles, or those of the Union group, who are, of course, quite exceptional, inasmuch as until visited by white men they were altogether destitute of weapons of offence. The Samoans respect the proprieties, and enforce a code of morals which, though not perhaps including every enactment desirable, has nevertheless operated to preserve their self-respect, and to render them immeasurably superior in the matter of good behaviour to the Marquesans, Hawaiians, or natives of the Society Isles. They are not by disposition cruel, or prone to the shedding of blood; on the contrary, they had from old time many merciful and excellent laws, such as the providing of sanctuaries or places of refuge, where a man should be secure from the vengeance of those whom he might have offended, and an institution of public reconciliation, whereby the life of a man could be saved even when regarded as justly forfeited in consequence of some evil deed. Moreover, in all their wars they respected the lives of non-combatants; such as infirm persons, children, and women. They were never cannibals, sacrificers, or idolators in any shape. Treachery is no part of their nature, nor is ingratitude ; they treat their women with great respect, and their children with extravagant affection. In the matter of a bargain their word is entirely to be depended upon ; they will never go back from a promise of which they have been truly made to comprehend the conditions. Thus, in all their land-sale transactions —and they have sold very large areas, not in blocks but in small portions, a section of 100 acres frequently comprising twenty or more separate lots, the property of different members of a family—no disputes subsequent to the original transfer have ever been known to take place in cases where the conditions of the bargain had been truly interpreted to the vendors. They have been of late years very much addicted to thieving from plantations, and they have been known even to take hogs, Indian corn, and other produce, by force of arms ; but they would protest, and with much show of reason, that they were compelled of necessity to support themselves in time of war, by taking what they might find to their hand. On the whole, throughout all their troubles, they showed great respect for the property of Europeans, and a very praiseworthy desire to bring to justice any of their own people who maliciously injured or annoyed them. War, which so demoralizes even the most enlightened of Christian peoples, could not fail to bring out in high relief many dark traits in the character of these Samoan barbarians ; but when free from its evil influences they have no sympathy with violence or dishonesty, and I believe that all British officers who in the discharge of duty have been brought into contact with them have described them as courteous, right-minded, and open to conviction. The centre of commercial operations upon the Samoan group is situated at Apia, on the north coast of Upolu. Here is a large harbour, presenting accommodation for a very great number of ships. It is regarded as perfectly secure unless it might be in December, January, and February, when the north wind at times drives in the sea, though it has seldom happened that when proper care has been exercised any casualties have resulted to shipping. The settlement, which has the appearance of a long straggling village, extends along the water's edge, and consists of about two hundred houses, the property of Europeans, including the large establishment of the Messrs. Godeffroy, the German, English, and American Consulates, a fraternity of French Eoman Catholic priests, a school conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, an English mission, half a dozen large stores and some retail shops, six or seven publichouses, a billiard saloon, a bakery, two smithies, and two steam cotton-gins. The trade of the port is very considerable. It has not been unusual for several years past to Bee as many as six or seven large vessels loading in the harbour at one time. Their freighcs are, however, not the product of Upolo alone, but are collected in small vessels and brought there, as to a central depot, from the other islands of the Navigator group, from some more distant as Nieue, Manihiki, Tokarau, the Ellis group, Uvea jFottuna, and elsewhere. The bulk of these cargoes consists of dried cocoanut, and the trade is chiefly in the hands of Messrs. Godeffroy; but another German firm, Messrs. -Hedemann, Euge, and Co., have lately established themselves at Apia in the same line. There are also other articles of export—cotton, fungus, ginger, arrowroot, pearl shell, and beche-de-mer. Some of these products are indigenous; others are obtained elsewhere by small

I.—The Islands generally: Mr. Sterndale.