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Faithless Faa-Piu - Burial Ceremony - Samoan Hades - Spirit Journeys - Unburied Spirits - Extra Pressure - Deputations - Extraordinary Performance for a Government - Samoan Diplomatic Cunning - One-sided Agreement - Another English Petition - Paltry Charges - Kidnapping a King - Weber again - Flag-Hoisting - Nice Picture for a Friendly Consulate - Pulling down the Samoan Flag, again.

NEXT morning, in spite of the emphatic promises of the apparently faithless 'Faa-Piu,' the little Matafangatele maid, my outside premises presented a very dreadful appearance of litter, with relies of the feasting and dressing scattered all over the place in unsightly confusion. However, I soon found that I had been blaming her a little too early; for in about an hour her people came with many apologies, and quickly put things straight.

The interior of the house required no arrangement, as that had been under her charge the whole time, and I must say to the credit of the company, a very mixed one, that although many trifles valuable to them were lying about, which they could have taken without the least risk of detection, there was not the smallest article missing; and with regard to my personal experience of the natives, I can say that during my whole sojourn in Samoa, with my house and premises always open, and often for hours together without anyone in charge, I never detected the loss of anything beyond two towels and a flagline, a very small allowance for four years anywhere.

To-day I was perforce a witness of a burial ceremony of modern times, held over the remains of a neighbour of mine, committed to his last resting place just outside my compound. In old times, especially if the deceased had been a man of some standing, the funeral ceremony was of the most complicated description; even nowadays a great many ancient practices would be observed at the obsequies of a very high chief. The funeral ceremony of the present day is very simple, but always entails some mat-giving and feasting. The body is carefully swathed in mats, more or less fine, in accordance with the rank of the deceased. At the time appointed, which in this climate must follow quickly after the death, the body is carried in procession by the male relations to a shallow grave, generally as near as possible to the house in which the deceased had lived, and deposited on the ground. The mourners then sit down in two rows at the head of the grave - men on one side, women on the other - the native pastors conducting the ceremony taking up their position between them. A hymn is then sung, and the service read, followed by a short harangue. This over, the corpse is lowered into the grave, when, after filling it up, the male portion of the company take their leave, the females remaining. These, under the instructions of the highest in rank, begin to plait into baskets the cocoa-nut leaves they have brought with them. When ready, all troop down to the beach in single file, and, filling the baskets with smooth black pebbles, return and heap them on the grave. As soon as a sufficient quantity is collected, they are smoothed out to the proper shape, the edge bordered with large blocks of coral, the grass carefully weeded round about, and all take their departure. In some instances bottles, ends uppermost, are planted all over the grave; and in the case of a chief of note, a solid concrete coffin-shaped block is erected over him, sometimes surmounting two or more terraces of built-up stones.

It is very observable that the Samoans, unless the graves are in the immediate vicinity of their houses, take little or no care to keep them in order, but permit them to be overgrown and decay just as nature wills it; but at the same time they always recollect where people have been interred in the very old times, and do all they can to prevent such spots from being disturbed. The graves are placed in close proximity to the dwelling-houses, in obedience to a very pretty native fancy, that it will please the departed spirit if the firelight of his former home should shine upon his last resting-place.

The ancient Samoan idea of what became of the spirit after death, was that when it had dissolved partnership with the body it travelled to the extreme west end of the island of Savaii, and from a certain stone there leaped into a circular pool, which was the entrance to their Hades, called 'Pulotu.' Just on the edge of the plunging-place there stands a solitary cocoa-nut tree, against which if the spirit strikes it returns to the sick body, and the patient recovers. It was very much easier work for spirits leaving the body in Savaii to reach home, than for those who shuffled off the mortal coil in the other islands, who had to jump or swim from certain stones, pointed out to this day, before they attained the haven of rest.

I could never get any information from a Samoan of what would happen to an unfortunate spirit who might miss his aim at one of the appointed landing places. I was always told that no such thing could possibly happen, for a spirit could do anything; although it was still true that they hit occasionally against the unhappy cocoa-nut in Savaii and returned. To go off successfully, however, the body must have been buried. The spirits of those who had not received burial did not go home, but wandered about disconsolately in the vicinity, calling out, 'Oh, how cold - how cold !' If anyone were to ask a Samoan the meaning of some strange noise in the bush, he would most likely get for an answer, ' Oh, that is the spirit of some poor fellow who has not been buried calling out his complaint!'

On the last day of the month the natives, who were now almost daily threatened with annexation, were put in the greatest state of consternation by the unexpected arrival of a new German man-of-war, when all previous tall talk was redoubled, and they were told they had arrived at the last week of their independence. Everything concerning her arrival was, and had been, very mysterious, and the commander not making the usual visit of respect to the King, the native alarm rose to a most painful pitch.

The poor fellows had been for a long time hearing about Teutonic land acquirements and aspirations in all directions for the future, amongst which their own annexation had been mentioned as a certainty, not only as a punishment for commercial misdeeds, but also for having repeatedly dared to wish to be British, and to petition England in preference to the Fatherland. The German agents now went very busily to work, advising the Samoans to make perfect submission, and to offer themselves to the care of the strongest, which they said they were; but it was no use.

I myself was persecuted day and night by deputations from the Samoan Government, but could give them no help. Over and over again I was asked whether it was true that I had received orders not to object to the Germans doing anything they pleased, and that the Queen had given them up altogether, for so they were being told daily. They were ready, they said, to hoist the British flag at any moment, and to do anything rather than be taken against their will. When I told them that I had no authority to accept them, and that I could discuss no German subject with them, they would go back in despair to devise some means of avoiding their apparently certain fate.

A few days afterwards it did not surprise me to hear that they had gone to the German Consulate, and in the dust of the road performed the most severe abasement permitted by Samoan custom; but, nevertheless, they let it be distinctly known that it was only done in atonement for sins committed, and not as a sign of any wish to belong to Germany. All the cognoscenti were of opinion that this most extra ordinary proceeding was merely one of the ordinary native schemes for putting off an evil day; but this time, as soon appeared, Samoan diplomacy was rather deeper than usual.

This submission had the intended effect, and pleased the Germans, who sent them back with a preliminary forgiveness, to be made substantive when they should agree to something further, which in due course would be presented to them for signature. They little thought that these very submissive gentlemen had but the day before drawn up the fullest and most complete petition to England that had yet been sent, and had forwarded it to the Governor of New Zealand, praying him to telegraph it to England so that they might get an answer back quickly, until which time they had determined to make it appear that they were inclined to do any thing the Germans wished.

The something further appeared in a few days in the form of an agreement, which handed over the entire control of Samoan affairs to the Germans. This document was merely read to them; a copy for discussion was refused, and they were asked to sign it on the evening of the second day, the intervening one being a Sunday. Should they fail to do this, they were told that there was one war-ship in harbour, and there were more coming.

This same night I received a visit from the King in person, begging me to help him in his difficulties, as he was now convinced that if I did not his worst fears would be realized; but I could give him no more assistance than before. He asked me whether it was a practice amongst white nations to make one another sign treaties without first reading and discussing their points; and many other questions equally reflecting upon late doings towards him and his people. And before leaving, said that his Government had unanimously decided not to sign anything whatever without first being allowed a proper and dignified opportunity for discussion, with liberty of action.

Two days afterwards the King sent me word that he and the Vice-King, fearing for their country, had at the last moment, and against the wishes of the Government, signed the German agreement; and in his explanation of having done so, for the first time he made me acquainted with what they had done the week before, forwarding me the following copies of the petition and other letters connected with it:

'YOUR MAJESTY,

'This is to make known to your Majesty that the King of Samoa and the chiefs of these islands have sent a petition to your Majesty, praying that you would set up your Government in Samoa.

' We have sent that petition to the Governor of New Zealand, and have besought him to send it by means of a telegram to your Majesty, and make known to your Majesty that he has received our petition.

'We have informed your Majesty that painful anxiety has taken possession of our minds, because we are much afraid of Germany lest she should take our islands against our wills.

'Your Majesty, we are in distress on account of the Government of Germany lest they should take our islands.

'Therefore we have accepted another treaty with Germany.

' I wish to make clear to your Majesty, in consequence, that I have accepted that treaty against my will, likewise against the will of my Government; but I have accepted it on account of my fear.

'I have thought that should your Government be set up in these islands that treaty will be of no effect.

'I have entreated the English Consul here to make clear to your Majesty all the reasons of our fear, which have led us to accept the treaty; and to make clear to your Majesty the meaning of that treaty, and to inform your Majesty of myself and my Government, and our great desire to give our islands to the Government of your Majesty.

'I respect extremely the Government of your Majesty, and I trust that speedily you will receive our petition.

'I am,

'MALIETOA,

'King of Samoa.'

'Mulinuu, 12th November, 1884.

'To W. B. Churchward, Acting British Consul.

'SIR

'I wish to inform your Excellency that I have written to her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and made known to her Majesty our petition which has been communicated to the Government of New Zealand, and is also mentioned in this letter.

'I have begged your Excellency that you would explain to her Majesty everything that gave rise to my receiving the agreement that was made last night with Germany, I and my Government having been much distressed lest our group of islands should be taken by Germany. I wrote yesterday to the German Consul to give me a copy of the agreement with me and my Government, but the German Consul replied that he would not give me and my Government a copy. Then the whole Government met together and deliberated what was right to do, and it ended in our rejecting the agreement, and it was not received.

'Notwithstanding that, our distress still continued.

'It was getting near the hour of night which was fixed to hold the meeting, and I walked on the road when Tuptia Tamasese came down.

'He spoke to me with distress, and told me that same bad tale.

'I and Tamasese, bearing in mind the agreement, were very anxious; and I said, "Let us both go down and receive the agreement, in order that we may be in peace to-day, and let us wait for the decision of Great Britain."

' I beg your Excellency to make known to her Majesty the great love of me and my Government for Great Britain, and also our strong desire to give up our group of islands to the Government of Great Britain.

'I hope in her Majesty.

'Do not bear in mind this agreement with Germany, for I am determined that when the Government of Great Britain is in these islands, then that agreement shall end.

'Let not your Excellency be offended, but do you make these things clear to her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and do you send this letter by the steamer at Tutuila.

'I am,

MALIETOA,

'King of Samoa.'

I could now understand how it was they condescended to the humiliation in front of the German Consulate, a thing that astonished everyone, natives included; but it had the effect intended, of drawing public attention for a time from the action they really depended upon. The same explanation they gave for signing the agreement held good for the public submission-viz., that both these actions were of no real value, as after sending off the petition they were no longer their own masters, and whatever they might do after that was merely to keep peace until they received an answer.

The greatest marvel of all was that such an important act should have been done with the knowledge of so many, and yet kept a secret for a week; but so it was for twelve days, when one of the scribes stole a copy, and sold it to the Germans for thirty dollars.

These proceedings naturally enraged the Germans, and what the unfortunate Samoans had had to submit to before was nothing to what they now had to endure. All sorts of paltry charges were made against them, and on every possible occasion they were accused of insulting Germany. Two of their most influential chiefs were publicly accused of insult in saying that Germany was a land of robbers and had no religion. They did not deny that they had said something of the sort; but it really was this: One of them had said that the Germans were land - robbers, referring to many Samoan land-cases; whilst the other justified his statement by saying that several Germans had told him and other Samoans that they believed in nothing at all. These remarks were made in a private house in course of conversation, and not at all for public effect, yet were seized upon as causes of complaint.

Although almost abject respect was expected from the natives, very little was shown in return; for letters of the most peremptory nature were written to the King, whilst those from him complaining of the conduct of Mr. Weber, who had recommenced his high-handed proceedings of former years, were not even acknowledged.

This gentleman, who in reality was the moving power in all these new departures, one evening waylaid the King, and attempted to force him to sign a recall to the English petition, or send a similar one to Germany, but without success; and although proper complaint was made of this, no official notice whatever was taken of such proceedings. He then with his widespread influence did all in his power to break up the Malietoa Government; and what with dollars, and working up the old Samoan family quarrels, did succeed in dividing it, and raised a rebellion.

All these acts, openly done, the German authorities could not see, but let Mr. Weber do exactly as he pleased, in spite of both white and Samoan representations. The fact is notorious that the rebellion was taken under German protection to forward the plans which they had failed to bring about in a peaceful manner through Malietoa; so they were determined to try other means, even if it cost another war. If the rebels assembled under the leadership of the family of the rival candidate for the throne could succeed in diplomatically ousting Malietoa, well and good-they would then have the German tool at the head of the Government, and do what they liked; but if a peaceful revolution could not be effected war was to ensue, when under the pretence of ensuring peace they would feel conveniently compelled to hoist their flag over the group, and then all would be as they desired.

Everything now appeared to have retrograded to the state of affairs that existed when Mr. Weber was Consul and head of the big German firm at the same time, and did exactly as pleased him. He would receive deputations and visit the rebels in a most prominent manner, and his name was quoted from one end of the island to the other. It was, 'You must do this, or that, Mr. Weber sends word, just for the present;' or, 'You must clear up your town, and make roads, so that when the German men-of-war come, they may see that you are better men than the King's people,' etc.

To still further complicate Malietoa's position, at the end of January, 1885, the Germans attached the King's sovereign rights in the municipality of Apia - a mere farce, for he had no tangible ones at all-and hoisted their flag at the seat of Government, even cutting down the cocoa-nut trees on his Majesty's private property, and seizing his house as a barracks for a guard.

The same moment that the German flag was hoisted, the rebel one was displayed in actual warlike menace some fifteen miles down the coast, and the Vice-King left Malietoa to put himself at the head of the movement.

In hoisting the German flag in the municipality, the German authorities wished to show the natives the superiority of their nationality over both British and American, a fact that had been dinned into their ears for a long time before.

Another but less dignified method of illustrating the above was employed in the public office of the German Consulate, where a coloured cartoon from some English paper was prominently exposed on the wall, portraying Prince Bismarck sitting down in ,New Guinea or New Britain with his feet upon the Union Jack, pointing contemptuously over his shoulder to Lords Granville and Derby, who are being turned off the place-and every Samoan who came near was brought in to see this precious picture.

The flag itself was a trap for the unfortunate King; for from being guarded by a body of eighteen men, they gradually dwindled down to three in number, who in time faded away to none at all, leaving the imperial flag to be hoisted in the morning and taken down at night by a black savage of a labourer from Mr. Weber's factory.

By this arrangement the whole premises were left unprotected for quite eleven hours of the day and the entire night, during which any man wishing to do Malietoa an injury could do it by damaging the pole or house, which would be put down as another insult, and visited with some other act of oppression.

The King wrote to the German Consul complaining of the unfairness of such a state of things, but received no answer; so for his own safety he kept a guard of his own police over the emblem of his own ignominious suppression.

The unfortunate monarch was never permitted to remain in peace, and every opportunity possible was taken advantage of for degrading him in the eyes of the people. He was forbidden to play cricket; his customary Samoan meetings were tabooed. He was once by an armed marine patrol made to pack up for eviction from Mulinuu, to which place Weber had raised some claim. At home the German Government had given assurance of the repudiation of the

Consular flag-hoisting action; but such never reached Samoa, or if it did, was of small avail. When Malietoa showed any intention to appeal to arms against the rebels, he was told that he would not be permitted to do so by the German man-of-war, 'on which the Government party drew a parallel between the condition of affairs in Samoa and Zanzibar, where the Sultan was not permitted, under threats of bombardment, to punish a rebellious chief who was taken under German protection.

This, was the unhappy state of affairs in Samoa when I handed over office in November, 1885; but before I left the country, in which I had passed four pleasant years amongst a most interesting and amiable people, I was spectator of a final act of oppression, when the German Consul, acting for Mr. Weber, evicted Malietoa and his people from the seat of Government, in spite of a price formerly agreed upon being offered for its redemption. When the King shifted his quarters I saw the Samoan flag that was hoisted there, again pulled down by a party of armed marines, headed by the German Consul in person, who gained nothing more of the native goodwill by the manner he thought fit to adopt in announcing what he was about to do to a King who was ostensibly entitled to the highest respect through solemn treaty obligations.

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