THE WAR BETWEEN MANONO AND AANA.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 9, 1 March 1849, Page 1

THE WAR BETWEEN MANONO AND AANA.

We gave an account in our last Number of the position of the war parties, and their proceedings up to the night attack on Lufilufi. Six months have passed since that report; various have been the movements of both parties during this interval of time, and the islands have been kept in a state of sad suspense, and its paralyzing effect felt, more or less, in all our districts. No general engagement has taken place, but several slight skirmishes, in which some have been killed and others wounded. The fear of death seems to have come over many; and, although they do not seem disposed to give up the contest, yet, by all possible means, delay coming into fatal collision. Manono has taken up her position in a fortification at Mulinuu, on Upolu; which place affords them good protection, owing to the difficulty of any large body of men approaching it, as it is surrounded by the sea, with the exception of a very narrow isthmus, across which they have raised a breastwork, and immediately inland of which it is very marshy. On its eastern side, from which it is easiest of approach,

the people are neutral; and, out of respect to them, the Aana and Atua forces are kept back from making an attack in that direction. The Aana and Atua forces are scattered over the lands of the latter. They have fortifications in most of the principal districts. The two “ olos” (or, fortifications) to which they attach the most importance are, the one at Solosolo, on the north side, and the other at Siumu, on the south side of the island. They have also raised breastworks at every village easy of access by sea. These have been the positions of both parties during the last six months, each side eagerly listening to reports which are taken by women visiting their friends in the fortifications, and who have free access to both parties without itiolestation. Shortly after the attack of Mane no on Lufilufi, a party of the Aana people came down upon a party at Samatau, a village of Aana, and killed a Manono man. Manono is chiefly dependent for her supplies on the main-land of Upolu; and, at great risk, they have to come from Manono to the Mulifanua, a distance of four or five miles, in their canoes, for food. This has often thrown persons into the hands of Aana, who, had they been so disposed, might have killed considerable numbers. The Aana people are called, “ ’au o le vao ” (the bush-fighters), as Manono are called sea-fighters; each political division having its respective destination in the war. Parties of Aana people frequently come from Siumu to their own lands, and range the bush for three or four days ; now and then coming down to the sea-beach, to look out for their enemies’ canoes. One of these parties came upon some of the Manono people, who had called in at Sagana, a land of the Tuamasaga, killed one man, wounded two others, and destroyed five of their canoes. Most providentially, the rain was pouring down in torrents at the time, and the muskets of the Aana people, which amounted to upwards of sixty, were thereby rendered useless ; and thus, according to human cal-

culation, many escaped, who otherwise might have been killed, as they had to swim to their canoes, which were some distance from the beach. Last November, a large body of people of the Manono party went up to the village of Laulii, on the boundaiy of the districts of Atua and the Tuamasaga, to seek food, and to fight, if an attack should be made upon them. A party of the Atua people were watching at the boundary line. A skirmish took place, which resulted in six being killed on the Manono and six on the Atua side. Manono retired to Mulinuu, and Atua to Solosolo. Since that event, the fleet of Manono went up in , the night, with a view to attack Fagaloa, the land in which the Atua fleet was said to be, and, if possible, to take or destroy their canoes. They succeeded in burning a village which had been vacated, and entered Fagaloa bay; but they were repulsed by the Atuans, and made a retreat to their fortification without the desired success. Manono lias displayed a most dogged perseverance. Every available means she has employed to accomplish her purposes. After the attack on Fagaloa, she visited, in upwards of thirty large canoes, her former allies at Falealili, (at present neutral), to endeavour to gain them over to her party; but, after making speeches on both sides, it ended in her returning without any apparent advantage having been secured. Things have been almost stationary since that period. No skirmishes have taken place, both parties being afraid of each other. Detachments of Aana and Atua people frequently come down to their own lands; but it has been almost invariably the case, that, where they have made their appearance, there have been no Manono people near. Manono has had several very narrow escapes. She has been surprised by Aana forces visiting their lands, but she has had time to escape to her canoes. A man, however, of the Manono party,' who was fishing at the Mulifanua, was shot on the beach by one of the Aana people, who was lying in ambush; who, having no axe or sharp instrument to cut off some part of the body, to take as a proof of what he had done, bit off one of the man’s toes : showing to what disgusting alternatives war will induce them to resort. It is the custom in Samoa, when a person kills another in war, to decapitate him, and take his head to the chief, or the leading men of the principal laud of his district, and dance and sing before them ; and they, in turn, thank him for his valour in fighting ; and the man is called a “ toa” (or, brave warrior). We feel assured, that we have only to acquaint our Christian friends at home with the state of things at present existing in Samoa, to excite their sympathy, and di aw forth their prayers at a throne of grace, on behalf of the people and those who are engaged in the work of their evangelization. Whilst there is much to cast a gloom over our minds and to dispirit us in the scenes by which we are surrounded, yet there are fa mt rays of light, which still cheer our hearts, and encourage us to go on in the strength of the Lord. We had hoped “the red axe of war had been buried, and that the tree of peace had been planted,” and that its roots bad struck deep into the ground. Our hearts had been cheered and our expectations raised by the number of persons who seemed to

be seeking Christ and his salvation; but we have learned, by painful experience, that the old heathen feelings and passions have still a very strong and general hold upon the Samoan mind; and that, in many cases, they have burst forth in fearful violence, and overborne every restraint imposed by Christianity. We have had proof that the fires of former days were still smouldering in many hearts, and it only wanted something to fan them to a flame, and to show us that Samoa still demands our deepest sympathy, our most strenuous exertions, our most ardent prayers, and the active co-operation of our friends at home to carry on the work of God more vigorously amongst them. At most of our stations, “ the ways of Zion do mourn,” the boar out of the woods doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.” There are some, however, who have kept themselves unspotted; and there are a few names,even in our Samoan churches, who have not defiled their garments; and in all we have passed through, and in what is now taking place, there is more than a little which shews us, that the Gospel has done much to modify where it has not reclaimed. Many who are in the war, on both sides, would welcome peace again, and rejoice in a settlement of the quarrel. They cannot go to war in the same spirit as formerly. They know something of the truth. The thoughts of death and coming judgment make many to tremble for the issue of the’r conduct.

Manono, being amongst the “ malo” (or, conquering party), feeling her position a critical one, prompted by pride, agitated by doubts, she will not consent to give up the war, unless the Aana and Atua people will come and bend to her, and acknowledge her authority. On the other hand, Aana and Atua, forming a very strong force, and being amongst the conquered party formerly, are not willing to acknowledge the superiority of Manono, as they feel in a position to resist her claims; but they profess, that, if Manono and her allies will consent to a general meeting, and agree that all shall have equal rights, she will give up the contest. The neutral parties have been meeting during the last month, and are trying to do what they can to obtain peace, and induce both parties to come to terms; but political feeling and bias work so strongly, even amongst those who profess “ to be taking hold of the Word of God,” as greatly to damage all they do, by exciting suspicions as to their motives, whether they may not be scheming in favour of one side or another. One of these divisions has had a meeting with Manono and Malietoa, the principal chief on the Manono side; and they were that it is of little use trying to urge them to give up the war. There are so many things difficult to overcome, in their Samoan mode of thinking, that they say, only on one condition will they give up the war; that is, that Aana and Atua come and humble themselves, as Manono and her party are the “ malo; ” and, if they will not comply with these terms, they must fight until one party is conquered; and then they will feel satisfied. Thus we see no prospect of an immediate settlement of this affair. Our only hope is, that there is a large body in Samoa who will refuse to unite with them, and that, ultimately, they will be compelled by circumstances to give up the contest, and unite in the formation of some more equitable arrangement as to the “ malo.” May the prayers of the churches be heard, and peace be once more restored, that the Word of God may have free access to their hearts, and His kingdom widely extend amongst these islands!