| OCR Text |
Show ;;.t; - - flATiVE- ciMGiN W)H BOttT SO LITTLE has been written of the Samoan Islands that many American citizens are not even aware that to the United States government belongs the finest coaling station, at one of the most strategic points in the south seas. Dating back to the early part of the year 1899, the two rival factions of Samoa, the "Tumua," or party led by Chief Mataafa, and the Matua, or party par-ty led by Chief Malietoa, held a "fono" or mass meeting at Apia, on the island of Upolu. Both Mataafa and Malietoa aspired to the throne of Samoa, and the object ob-ject of this meeting was to settle the I dispute and place the rightful king on j the throne, writes Eugene D. Park, Jr., yeoman, U. S. N., in Los Angeles Times. The decision, when rendered, declared Malietoa to be the reigning king of Samoa, and this decision was upheld by the United States, Germany Ger-many and England. Mataafa now became hostile, and fell back with his followers, the Tu mua faction. After this ensued the j engagements between the United I Slates, Germany and England with ' Malietoa on the one side and Mataafa and his rebels on the other. The trouble was finally brought to an end and adjusted through a commission com-mission sent by the three countries and the representative from the United Uni-ted States must have been a splendid iliplomat to nave secured Tutuila. This commissicn conceded to Germany Ger-many the island of Upolu, on whose chores the town of Apia is situated, lo England was given the island of Savaii, which Germany later gained possession of in exchange for her treaty rights to Tonga, and for the United States was obtained the Islands of Tutuila and Manua. Whatever attraction Manua had I do not know, but in getting posses-nion posses-nion of Tutuila the United States secured se-cured the prize grab of Neptune's south sea collection, for here is located lo-cated the navigable and land-locked harbor of Pago-Pago; in fact, it is the only harbor in Samoa where a vessel could seek adequate protection from storms. This harbor is commodious enough to shelter a fleet and the Pacifln float seven cruisers and seven torpedo boats, rode at anchor here without Inconvenience. Since a ship must be allowed enough floating space to swing completely around her anchor with the change of tide, it can be plainly seen that the harbor of Pago-Pago Pago-Pago is a valuable aid to the United States. As the harbor opens to view to the eye3 of the visitor it presents a beautiful beau-tiful aspect, one which is simultaneously simultane-ously grand, awe-inspiring, quaint and restful. Being completely surrounded sur-rounded by high mountains, the harbor har-bor seems like the gigantic crater of some extinct volcano which, in its final struggle for exls with one last rend which tore out a narrow channel to the Pacific, allowing allow-ing that peaceful old mother of oceans to sweep In and put an end to all volcanic disturbances. Along the entire distance around the shore can be seen groups of native na-tive houses, rearing themselves against a background of towering hills, whose sides present the aspect of an impenetrable Jungle. When ashore for the first time In Tutuila One Is both surprised and pleased at his reception by the natives. na-tives. Their hospitality seems unbounded. un-bounded. As you walk by any Samoan Sa-moan house you are cordially invited to enter. A clean mat will be spread for you to sit cross-legged upon, vou will be treated to the best that the house affords, and usually the maid of the house will make you a bowl of kava, the national drink. After you have been feted and praised until you Imagine that you are the original bale of virtues, your glowing opinion of the Samoan's keen Insight into human nature and your first Impressions of his noble hospitality hospi-tality are rudely nipped in the bud by finding that all his attentions and praises were simply a commercial transaction on his part, for he fully expects you to reimburse him two for one for every little trouble he may have gone to to entertain you, and for many that he has not. If you should fail to "come across" with the expected filthy lucre he will not hesitate to tell you about your deficiency, de-ficiency, and after that, if you are still going to stick to the established standards of hospitality, which your mistaken father and mother taught you to uphold, these hospitable Sa-moans Sa-moans will accompany your disorderly disorder-ly retreat with derisive exclamations and cat calls. On the other band, if you submit to extortion rather than take any unworthy advantage over an ignorant savage, you will be invited in-vited to come again. Thw furnishinigs of a Samoan house are simple in the extreme, and during the day consist only of rough mats spread upon the coral floor. When a Samoan wishes to build a house he utilizes the services of all his "aigas," or relatives, and everything is manu-j manu-j factured from the crude material gathered from the hillsides. The floor plan of the house is of an oval shape. This space Is leveled off and covered with broken bits of coral which are gathered in abuudance on the beach, by the women. Surrounding this I floor space a set of poles are secured in an upright position, reaching to a height of 'bout six feet. In the center cen-ter two or three large upright poles, usually about one foot in diameter by fifteen to twenty feet in length, are secured, and from these to the tops of the outer supports the framework of the roof is built. As the Samoans have no nails they have devised a method of making a very serviceable kind of fiber cord. The' old men collect a quantity of co-coanut co-coanut fiber, which they roll between hand and knee to the thickness of ordinary cotton string, after which they braid and splice It together into great rolls. These rolls are cut from as needed. This, then, is the means of binding and lashing the roof together to-gether and securing It to the uprights. Then sugar-cane leaves are gathered, gath-ered, doubled, laced. hraMprl nnrl fin. ished into little mats, about three feet long by fifteen inches wide. When a sufficient number of these are ready the roof is thatched with them after the method of shingling a house, allowing the eaves to extend over a distance of two feet. This forms a most efficient protection between be-tween the Samoan end his country's prodigious rainfall. A Samoan house has the advantage over an American home, Inasmuch as it can be opened on all sides or on any one side at the discretion of the family The posts surrounding the floor space are set at a distance of about 2 feet apart and a curtain is formed for each Individual space thus created by using small mats similar to the thatching mats except that these are made of cocoamtt leaves instead of sugar cane. These little mats are arranged ' over the openings in such a manner that they overlap and will readily fold up shut-terwise. shut-terwise. In this manner any of the spaces between these many posts can be opened to or closed against the weather by merely v pushing up the curtain and securing it or by unloosing unloos-ing It with a light pull at a bow knot and letting it drop. Mats are then spread over the coral floor and the house is complete. It is generally the custom to celebrate the completion with a "fia-fla " or feast. Aside from chests, boxes, etc for the storage of personal property, the furnishings consist only of the prerequisites pre-requisites of peaceful slumber "tal-namus," "tal-namus," sleeping mats, and bamboo pillows. The bamboo pillow strongly reminds re-minds me of the days of the Spanish Inquisition but custom and natural Inclination have taught the Samoa-to Samoa-to "lay me down mid sleep" j nn old place and at uny o y. |
