Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before Part 1

Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before.

by George Turner.

CHAPTER I.

POSITION OF THE ISLANDS--EARLY VISITORS AND TRADITIONARY ORIGIN.

Samoa is the native name of the group of volcanic islands in central Polynesia long known as the "Navigators Islands." They are situated about 3000 miles from Sydney, and stand on the charts between the parallels of 13 and 15 south lat.i.tude, and 168 and 173 west longitude. The mountains of Savaii, one of which is 4000 feet high, may be seen 50 miles off, and, on coming near, the stranger finds a lovely island, 150 miles in circ.u.mference, and covered with vegetation as far as the eye can reach. The mountains of Upolu and Tutuila rise 2000 and 3000 feet above the level of the sea, and present the same aspect of richness and fertility. These are the princ.i.p.al islands of the group. They run east and west. Upolu, 130 miles in circ.u.mference, is in the middle, having Savaii 10 miles to the west; and Tutuila, an island 80 miles in circ.u.mference, about 40 miles to the east. There are several smaller islands which are inhabited, and several other isolated romantic spots here and there which are not inhabited.

Upolu is almost entirely surrounded by barrier reefs; these wonderful submarine walls, or breakwaters, built up to the level of the sea and forming a fine smooth lagoon, invaluable for fishing and facilitating all kinds of communication between the settlements along the coast.

The distance between the sh.o.r.e and the reef is from thirty feet to three or four miles. In some places the lagoons are shallow, and require the rise of the tide to allow a canoe or boat to pa.s.s along; in other places, and particularly where there are openings in the reef, they are from ten to twenty fathoms deep, and afford anchorage to ships. The rivers are neither numerous nor large, but there is no lack of fresh water; it springs up in abundance in many parts in the interior and along the coast.

The Dutch "three-ship expedition," under Roggewein, in 1722, seems to have been the first to notice these islands. Then followed the French navigators, Bougainville and La Perouse, the former in 1768 and the latter in 1787. Bougainville, seeing the natives move about so much in canoes, gave the group the name of the "Isles of the Navigators."

Captain Cook heard of them in 1773 from the Tongans, noted some of their names, and in 1791 they were visited by H.B.M. ship _Pandora_.

Little, however, was known of these islands until 1830, when a mission was commenced there by the agents of the London Missionary Society.

The natives, who number about 35,000, are of the prevailing light copper colour of central and eastern Polynesia. Hardly a vestige is to be seen among them of the crisped and woolly-haired dark-brown Papuans, or western Polynesian negroes. But as the physical characteristics and languages of central and eastern Polynesia are well known, I pa.s.s on to other and traditionary matters, and begin with what the Samoans have to say on COSMOGONY AND MAN.

1. There was first of all Leai, _nothing_. Thence sprung Nanamu, _fragrance_. Then Efuefu, _dust_. Then Iloa, _perceivable_. Then Maua, _obtainable_. Then Eleele, _earth_. Then Papatu, _high rocks_. Then Maataanoa, _small stones_. Then Maunga, _mountains_. Then Maunga married Malaeliua, or changeable meeting-place, and had a daughter called Fasiefu, _piece of dust_. She married Lave i fulufulu tolo, or down of the sugar-cane flower, and to her was born three sons: Mua, _first_; Uso, _brother_; Talu, and their sister Sulitonu, or true heir. And then follows a story as to Mua and Talu originating the names of two districts on the island of Upolu.

2. A cosmical genealogy takes the form of married couples, and runs as follows:--

_Male._ _Female._ _Progeny._

1. The high rocks. The earth rocks. The earth.

2. The earth. High winds. Solid clouds.

3. Solid clouds. Flying clouds. (1) Confused winds.

(2) Quiet winds.

(3) Boisterous winds.

(4) Land beating winds.

(5) Dew of life.

4. Dew of life. Clouds clinging Clouds flying about.

to the heavens.

5. Clouds flying Clear heavens. (1) Shadow.

about. (2) Twilight.

(3) Daylight.

(4) Noonday.

(5) Afternoon.

(6) Sunset.

6. Quiet winds. Beautiful clouds. Cloudless heavens.

7. Cloudless Spread out Tangaloa the heavens. heavens. originator of men.

8. Tangaloa Great heavens. Tangaloa of the heavens.

9. Tangaloa of Keeper of the Pili.

the heavens. heavens.

10. Pili. Sina the tropic (1) Sanga.

bird (2) Ana.

(3) Tua.

(4) Tolufale.

(5) Muganitama.

11. Ana. Sina the powerful. Matofaana.

12. Matofaana. Sina the bald. Veta.

13. Veta. Afu lilo. Naituveta.

14. Naituveta. Toe lauoo. Toso.

15. Toso. Langi fiti pula. Siu tau lalovasa.

16. Siu tau Pai (who reckoned Siu toso.

lalovasa. the light).

17. Siu toso. Lau lano ma lau Ata.

vai.

18. Ata. Uliaumi. Siufeai.

19. Siufeai. Polaitu. Siu le lau mato.

20. Siu le lau mato. Sina i lau tolo. Feepo.

21. Feepo. Sea faetele. Ationgie.

22. Ationgie. Tau vai upolu. Savea.

This Savea was the first Malietoa, and then in the continuance of this genealogy there follow twenty-three generations of Malietoa, down to Malietoa Talavou, who was proclaimed king in 1878, and subsequently recognised by the Governments of England, Germany, and the United States. Many other traditionary genealogies of chiefs might be given, but let the above suffice as a specimen of the rest.

3. Other descendants of Cloudless heavens (No. 6 above):--

_Male._ _Female._ _Progeny._

(1) Cloudless The eighth heavens. Tangaloa the heavens. dweller in lands.

(2) Tangaloa Cloudy heavens. Tangaloa the dweller in explorer of lands.

lands.

(3) Tangaloa the Queen of earth. Valevalenoa, or explorer of _s.p.a.ce_.