SAMOA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 275, 12 June 1874, Page 3

SAMOA.

The following, in reference to Samoa, may be interesting to any contemplating a visit:— . <

Samoa, or "Navigator's Islands, lie between the latitudes of and 14J ieg. south, and the longitudes of > 168deg. and 173deg west, and consist of four principal islands and five ismalleri ; reckoning Rose Island to the eastward among the number. They were first seen,by. Bougainville in 1768/ and by La Perouse in 1787. In 18-39 the " United States Exploring Expedition"' paid them a visit,: and in the same year H. M. Sloop Favorite calledwith the ' renpains of- the enters prising missionary. Mi - . Williams, who was killed at Erromanga. The islands are evidently of .origin, the remains of extinct craters being visible in many places] more' '.particularly'on. the ridge of Upolu, which is 2,570 ft. above the level of the sea. During the first 'four months <df the ybar hurricanes occur, productive occasionally r of /most destructive jresults sweeping everything before them, levelling the fruit trees, and consequently depriving the natives of the means of support. . A case of this kind occurred at Mangia, one of, Cook's group, in March, .1846. During the .winter months, a great deal • ofjirain falls, attended at. times with high . winds and northerly gales,; the cli'm'ate is.variable,. and during - certain seasons very hot. and'humid.' *, Tropical fruits gVow in'great variety, anil most luxuriantly, Nature being a most bountiful parent to the natives, supplying'them most liberally with every necessary 'requirement*, till the ! white ihan• introduced his civilization,; been followed by :the usual demoralizing, results, iln the -absence of ; the imported article, illicit distillation is,extensively indulged in;;a -liquid' called orange s beer and. spirit extracted from the pine'apple, being drank with, avidity, till the,inevitable consequences ; ensue. The .area 1 ! embraces, some 2,650 square' miles; and a-population of about 30,000.'' There are a number of Europeans engagedin the culture of sugar, 'coffee, '&C.", the great'natural "product ;.be- 1 Labor.is paid, at 'the rate of ten dollars per month, which is generally - represented by, trade, .money playing a subordinate part as a medium of .exchange. . Anyone desirous of enjoying a holiday, will have, an opportunity of feasting his eyes on one of the fairest scene's in nature; but' thpse going with the view of supporting'themselves by their own labor* will'return' S7dder it not wiser men. On the South-Sea Islands, a white man must have capital, as the humblest white laborer would not entertain the idea ;of competing with the native - article: In reference, to: the ■ existence < of; -gold,- which admits scientifically ■of 1 .grave doubts, as none has been discovered in similar locali-i ties it has never been seen among the. •Natiyes .in any .- of the Southern; Islands,; except that which bears the stamp of some foreign potentate,■>.. Experience, does not always inculcate lessons, and distance lends .enchantments -The reports in reference,to, the Northern,. Territory in Australia* of, tlie.most glowing .description, but, unfortunately., have not been realised, ; and have ended .in disaster, and, I may SEiy, icpllapseiv Upolu ; lies >in easterly) direction . from: Eandav u,; distantsome 650 miles. 1 ' 1