The War in Samoa.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 33, 19 August 1893, Page 102

The War in Samoa.

SCENES OF BLOODSHED AND BUTCHERING.

SPIRITED _A_ IST 3D ACCOUNT.

THE war-cloud which so long threatened Samoa has burst, not without considerable destruction, and

after a storm of tropical strangeness, severity and brevity has disappeared, it is hoped, forever. The blue skies of peace now shine over Samoa, and three of the greatest powers in the world are metaphorically wiping their heated brows and resting on their arms with the satisfactory knowledge of duty effectually if somewhat tardily done. But to begin •

On the Government side there seemed no enthusiasm ; their ever arriving men looked sour and sullen as they marched in companies through the one street of Apia, about one-half or more armed with rifles, the rest CARRYING VICIOUS-LOOKING ‘HEAD-KNIVES,’ or that more formidable weapon, the American trade axe. It was plain that the King was getting a powerful following, and the fighting men in Mulinuu were variously estimated from 1,800 to 2,500. For some of these it was rumoured that Malietoa had paid dearly, the price of young Tamasese’s support being the Vice-kingship of Samoa. On Friday the Vaimaunga force of five or six hundred men took up their assigned position in the bush behind .Malie, which was to be hemmed in by the Atua contingent on one side, by the A’ana army on the other, and simultaneously attacked. Boats were also to be in readiness to cut off retreat by sea. All this while the Consuls were busily impeding the activity of the Government, and trying their hardest to delay matters for a few days. When the Alameda arrived on Friday and brought no decisive instructions from the Treaty Powers, the Consuls wrung a reluctant promise from the Government chiefs that they would not begin the war till Monday, and realized that they could do no more.

On the afternoon of Saturday, July Bth, while most of the Europeans were at the races at Fangali’i, an excited black boy came running up to one of the German overseers with a message that there was fighting at Vaitele Plantation, and

as the whites streamed back to Apia they were met with the first grisly evidence of a Samoan battle. The wounded were being helped up to the Mission by little knots of friends, the dead and the more seriously wounded were slung on poles, and

THE BLOODY’ AND GRUESOME HEADS OF THE CONQUERED were being carried to Mulinuu, preceded by capering savages, to lay at the feet of the Treaty King. And to the everlasting shame of all and everyone who has anything to do with this parody of civilized government, the King came out and thanked the warriors for these detestable and ghastly

trophies, two of them, the heads of young girls. It was said, and truthfully said I believe, that the King shrank from the ordeal, but was forced out by his brother, and that while he hung wavering and undecided within bis house, a single word from a white official would have turned the scale, and the first blow would have been struck at HEAD-TAKING IN SAMOA. But the white official was not there, nor had any previous protest been made against this cowardly and detestable practice. It was near the Vaitele Plantation house that the belligerents first met. The Mataafa people were about 400 in number, and held a strong position behind a stone wall, their sea flank being protected by another wall at right angles to this, but which (unfortunately for them) had agateway pierced in it which had not been blocked with stones or earth. The Government party were perhaps a hundred or two more rifles. When within about sixty or seventy yards of the wall, the Government men halted, and began to exchange friendly greetings with the Mataafas. Kava was made on either side, compliments passed, and many of THE CONTENDING PARTIES KISSED AND SHOOK HANDS. until one of the Government leaders grew indignant, and began to belabour his people back to their ranks. Then one of the Mataafa chiefs asked this old gentleman, * What is the meaning of this war?’ and got a rude answer in reply. Asi, one of the Malietoa leaders, and a man famous

in Samoan fighting, made a little speech, advising the Mataafas to go home and not fight that day but join their main body, and on their refusing, he proposed to settle the matter by a single combat between himself and one on the other side—a plucky challenge, for he is an oldish man and one-handed. Of a sudden a gun was fired, no one rightly knows from where, though each side accuses the other of treachery. The Mataafas Hew pell-mell into their fort, the Malietoas fell on their bellies or wriggled behind trees, and in a second A MAD FUSILLADE BROKE OUT between the parties. This probably lasted an interminable time, to judge from native accounts, with few casualties on either siue, beyond a poor girl who was shot dancing on the wall, waving a gun. But the weak point in the Mataafa position was the gateway, which the Malietoas at length seized, and began a devastating flank fire into the main body of their enemy. Then these began to weaken, and the Malietoas facing them formed np in line, * just like English soldiers,' as one of the warriors told me with pride, and carried the fort with a rush. The fight inside was short and stubborn. The pick of the Mataafas stayed and died like determined men, while the rest Hed. Mataafa’s nephew, Leaopepe (The-cloud-of-Butterflies) made a Homeric end, killed with his back to the wall like a brave man. His head taken by Foe was the proudest trophy of the day. Then there began A SCENE OF SAVAGE AND REVOLTING CRUELTY that would have made a Whitechapel butcher vomit. The dead and living Mataafas, many of the latter crippled with trifling wounds, were decapitated as they lay ; some of them screamed horribly as their heads were hacked off, to the horror of the German plantation manager, Mr Todemonn, the only European eye witness of the fight. But whether a living girl, who was clinging to a sapling in a paralysis of horror, was decapitated or not, it is impossible to say with certainty. Many natives believe and repeat the story, however, though much hushing-up has gone on at head quarters as to GIRLS’ HEADS BEING TAKEN at all. That two at least were taken, either from dead or living women, is indubitable, and no amount of headquarters industry can conceal the fact that they were taken and presented to the King. This is the first time in the history of Samoan warfare that women’s heads have ever been intentionally taken, and it makes an ugly declension in Samoan manners. It goes, of course, without saying, that no attempt has been made to sift this matter, nor to punish the authors of it for their barbarity. There is but one essential part that King Malietoa plays in our politics —that of universal scapegoat—a personage without whom no mismanaged country is complete. And so in this discreditable business of the heads, as in every other branch of bungling and cowardice, it is invariably the King who is thrust forward for target. IS MISSION WORK A FAILURE? 5 W’hen one reHects that no Samoan rises in the morning without taking part in morning prayers ; never retires at night without the same ceremony ; that the name of God is invoked over every meal ; that all vie with one another in subscribing to the missionary hat; that even the bloodstained wretches who murdered the wounded men at Vaitele, lying in their helpless agony know ten times more of the Bible than most educated Englishmen, the reflective man will ask himself ‘ What is the good of it all ?’ If this VAST PIETY MILL which has been grinding away men, women, and money for sixty years has not altered one of the few barbarous practices of these people, it is confessedly a failure. Some reflections of the sort must have passed through the Rev. Mr Hill’s mind a few days since, when his boat was boarded by armed men in order to murder the Mataafa wounded they expected to find in his charge. That there were no wounded vias due to the fact that the wounded wouldn’t come—naturally enough as events proved—distrusting the efficacy of the King’s • safe conduct.’ To THE ETERNAL CREDIT OF THE WESLEYAN BODY, Mr Came, their missionary at Lufilufi, has always been a vehement, out-spoken, and fearless opponent of headhunting. At the Vaitele fight Mataafa lost about thirty killed, the number of wounded carried off the field is uncertain. On

the Government side three were killed, two died subsequently from wounds, and some twelve were more or less

wounded. On Saturday night at the London Mission-house, in the improvised hospital, the BEST AND BRIGHTEST SIDE OF MISSIONARY LABOUR WAS PRESENTED. For several days preparations had been made for the wounded, and when these began to arrive late in the afternoon, everything was ready. Mr and Mrs Clark and Miss Large were indefatigable in the work, and what was even more, they were as cool, quiet, and resourceful as professional nurses. The doctors from the German warships were quickly on the spot ; courteously consented to take medical charge of the hospital, and drew on the naval stores for everything that was required. It was a well- managed business, and reflects great credit on all concerned. Mr R. L. Stevenson and the other directors of the Public Hall placed that building at the disposal of the L.M.S., and as the Vaitele struggle was thought to be the beginning of a long and obstinate war, it was urgently required.

But on the morrow when the Vaimaunga formed up and charged the cattle wall some hundred yards behind the scene of the fight—the wall which had sheltered the defeated Mataafas after their rout, and which had sustained a vigorous fire throughout the night—it was found to be deserted. Pressing cautiously but quickly forward the victors at length reached Malie, and found it

DESERTED AND IN FLAMES. Mataafa had fired it with his own hands ; had embarked nearly all his people in boats, and with the rest had marched westward on foot through the district of A’ana, the people of which made no attempt to detain their dangerous visitor.

The flotilla and the chief afterwards united at the little island of Manono, which lies several miles off the extreme westerly end of Upolu. Seumanutafa, chief of Apia, and a man of distinguished rank, was one of the commanders of the Vaimaunga, and seeing the flotilla so close at hand and so burdened with women and children and effects, he proposed instant pursuit. But Taniasese’s people from Atua were the only ones with boats, which they would neither lend nor man themselves, and the scheme fortunately fell through, and the victorious forces sat down to FEAST ON THE ENEMY'S PIOS. Brains and humanity usually go together, and Seumanutafa honourably distinguished himself by not allowing any of his people to steal or loot, and when he and his clan returned to Apia, they came clean-handed and free from the reproach that afterwards fell upon the others. A great meeting was held the day after at Malie, and the A’ana folk who had allowed Mataafa to walk nnhaiined through their country, now came in to join the winning side. This accession raised the Government forces to 3.500, or at the most 4,000 warriors, which were spread along the coastline nearest Manono. Mataafa made several abortive attempts to land in Savai’i, but he was firmly and steadfastly refused, and then returned to Manono to fortify it for a last stand. Here he was in a bad case, though far from crushed, with about 700 men, six old cannon, and the advantage of a strong position. The dilatoriness of the Government forces every day increased his chances, not only by the possible and likely dissensions in their ranks, but also by the increasing reinforcements that began to reach him from Savai’i. But on Sunday, July 18th, a new complexion was put on the war by THE ARRIVAL OF II M S. KATOOMBA, Captain Bickford, C M.G., with important dispatches, and a report soon spread through the town that the wai ships were

going to take action. Secret conferences were held between the captains of the men of-war and the three Consuls, and on Tuesday morning the Katoomba weighed anchor and put to sea, followed a little later by the German warships Sperber and Bussard. Arrived at Manono, an ultimatum was sent to Mataafa by the British captain. This accomplished, the three ships took up their position around the island, leaving “the channel between it and the mainland threatened with a line of 140 boats containing Government forces. It is said to have been a wonderfully picturesque and animated spectacle. To doomed Manono it must have appeared in a more sombre light. Mataafa sent a letter to the three Consuls and appeared alongside the ‘ Katoomba ’ with his twenty-eight chiefs about fifteen minutes before the firing was to begin, THIS FINISHED THE WAR. The German and British Consuls returned forthwith to Apia in the German warships, leaving the Katoomba to get in the arms, and one of their number, Mr BlacklocK, the American Vice-Consul General to see the matter through.

But the Katoomba had hardly started homewards when the king’s boats raced for the island, and the smoke of burning houses began to rise behind them. Mataafa fell on his knees before Captain Bickford and pointed to the work of destruction that was going on behind them. The captain was angry, and instantly returned to the island, first sending ashore the Government interpreter and then Mr Blacklock with stringent orders that this must stop, and that if it conti .ued he would punish the perpetrators. Mr Blacklock brought off word that only a few huts were on fire ; that the

chiefs had apologised and promised to restrain their people ; and that when he left prisoners and conquerors were fraternizing in the most amicable manner. Nevertheless by next morning every house in Manono was burned excepting a few belonging to the missionaries. A general loot had taken place.

WOMEN HAD BEEN STRIPPED NAKED AND BEATEN ALONG THE ROADS, and the prisoners showered with every petty humiliation and indignity that a school boy imagination can conceive. In extenuation of this ugly business it was said that the Manono people had disobeyed the orders of the Consuls by hiding away their weapons, and that they had therefore earned a salutary punishment. This is an ample explanation for one set of savages attacking another set of savages, but, be it remembered, in Samoa this is not supposed to be the case. We are possessed of a whole * outfit ’ of white officials, who purport to have charge of affairs, and one—Mr Blacklock — was actually sent on shore to see to it, and came off again with what we must certainly be allowed to call misleading intelligence. It is a fair question to ask. Where was Mr Thomas Maben, Secretary of State? But there is no good in complaining. Try to push these and other matters, home, and there looms up the figure of KingMalietoa in his perennial capacity.

MATAAFA AND HIS TWENTY-EIGHT CHIEFS were distributed amongst the various war-vessels, and were all of them treated with the utmost kindness and consideration, the great chief himself being assigned an ollicer’s cabin in the Katoomba. The other prisoners from Manono, several hundred of them, fared worse, and were most savagely and brutally mishandled as they were marched into Mulinuu, lashed, beaten and taken in parties from house to house to undergo

REPEATED AND UNMENTIONABLE INDIGNITIES. The Chief Justice played a manly part in stopping some of

this dirty work, and the King raised his feeble and ineffectual voice against it ; but where were the white officials on whom the blame morally rests? Not in Mulinuu at least, where from every consideration of honour and fairplay they should have been on guard to prevent and condemn such cowardly practices. On July 26th Mataafa and the remaining chiefs were taken on board the Sperber, and at twelve o’clock were carried off to exile in the I'nion Group—a nest of low islands some 250 miles to the northward. This hurried departure was probably prompted by the naval officers’ reluctance to send any more of their prisoners ashore, and was an infinitely better fate for the chiefs themselves. At Fakaafo they were landed and put in charge of a local trader, and every arrangement made by Captain von Arnoldi for their being well fed and looked after. On another page we give illustrations of the fighting and of some of the forces marching out to war. A sketch is also given of the Catholic church at Vaimoso, which had its windows blocked with kits of earth and green cocoanuts, and a little further was a Native house blocaded by a wall of stones.

The signs of conflict at Vaitele were few beyond the graves of the Mataafa party, and some bullet marks in the trees. Two broken and blood-stained cocoanut water-carriers, an ula (necklace of pandanus fruit), and a chip of skull, were about all the relics on the ground. The bodies of the slain had been buried, just where they fell, by L.M.S. teachers in the morning, so that they might be identified and re-inteired (together with the severed heads) by their friends after the war.

Mataafa’s following was estimated at seven hundred men only. Thus the war has been brought to a speedy close and much BLOODSHED AVERTED BY CAPTAIN BICKFORD'S COOLNESS AND DECISION. The amount of fines to be levied on the vanquished and the term of exile to be apportioned Mataafa and his chiefs by the Three Bowers are matters of present moment but of small relative importance. Owing to the shifting and uncertain nature of Samoan politics, Mataafa’s once great power has crumbled to the dust, but with the annihilation of this notable chief, a new Pretender is rising up to take his place. No sooner is the war over than the name and fortune of young Tamasese is on everyone’s lips, and vistas of new wars and fresh complications stare us in the face. Taxes are as immeasurably distant as ever, so are the prospects of peace and order. The old weary, dreary business will soon begin afresh, and a country of about the size of ten parishes will again monopolise the attention of the three greatest powers in the world. Herr Schmidt, the new President, and Mr Henry C. Ide, Chief Justice-elect, will both be here in October to work the unworkable Treaty, and * restore the inestimable blessings of peace ami good government to Samoa. ’ May their efforts be crowned with .success ! But when this blessed event takes place it will be due to no Berlin Treaty. When that piece of bunting called the I'nion Jack shall fly over Government House and a British resident, then and not before shall we rise ‘ to that state to which it has pleased God to call us’—a prosperous, peaceful insignificance. • But Lord, it is long, long, long on the way,’ as the old Christy song has it. MALIETOA'S SIGNATURE.