TO MALUA AND BACK.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 73, 22 February 1879, Page 2

TO MALUA AND BACK.

(Communicated.) Yesterday, through the kindness of a friend who loaned me his hoise, I took a horseback ride down the coast to Malua. It was the first time I had been there, and naturally enough the first thing I did was to get lost in the bus]], and go several miles out of my way. Finally, however, I struck the trail, and was entirely struck with the beauty of the scenery along the coast of Upolu. Tall cocoanut trees, breadfruit trees, and tropical trees and the creepers on them everywhere afforded shelter from the burning rays of the sun, and occasional openings afforded glimpses of the smooth blue sea gently laving the sleeping shore. Native villages were scattered here and there, and their inhabitants were bathing in the refreshing pools, numerously scattered along toe shore, or lounging in their fales. In some places only the remains of once thrifty towns, new overgrown by tropical vegetation, appeared, deserted by their former occupants who moved farther to windward (luring the wan to avoid the invasions and attacks of their foes from Savaii. Yaitele, Vaiuso, and other villages lie along this route. The most disagreeable and disgusting part of this ride was that a public highway should be blocked up on an average every half mile by pig-fences, obliging (■in- to dismount and jump his horse over them. On my return I took the trouble to count these public barracades, and found twenty of them between Vaitelo and Malua, making forty times' that I was obliged to dismount and mount my horse ilk a ride of twenty.live miles. When within about a mile and a half of Malua, I caught a glimpse of that beautiful spot located on tho opposite arm of a kind of orescent-shaped msee of 'land enclosing a beautiful bay. Beyond It the beautiful little island of A r lima lifted

its head above the sea, while Savaii rose high amid a golden mist overhanging the ocean, and spread far along the horizon The view was very attractive, and I hastened on to reach the home of Rev. Dr. Turner, at Malua. I received a cordial welcome from the well known mission iry and his gnod lady, and soon found myself seated within their spacious halls enjoying the delightful breeze that floated in from across the placid waters. The doctor's house is on quite an elevation above the sea and affords, a fine outlook. It is large and built of stone. It is surrounded by an ample lawn, and all sorts of choice tropical trees and Mowers, with pleasant pebbled walks around the grounds. After a good wash and rest, with a comfortable change of apparel, which the doctor's good lady thoughtfully provided for me, I was invited to a really sumptuous dinner which I ate with the same relish that I always experience under similar circumstances, and to which I did ample justice. After dinner Dr. Turner took me about and showed me the college buildings, for it will be borne in mind that Malua is entirely a college town belonging to the Mission for which the doctor labours. On cither side of a large tree-covered campus I counted ten thatcliroofed stone houses, or twenty in all, with as many ordinary native houses back of them, the latter for friends of the students when visiting thorn. Each of the stone buildings will accommodate three native families, and they are all occupied by the students and their households. In the rear grounds is a large stone chapel and study room. The stone buildings are all substantial and painted white. Thero are some stone houses outside these grounds for the pupils. Oocoauut and breadfruit trees flourish all around, though thirty-eight years ago when Doctor Turner first went to Malua it was all bush. Now the shore around is skirted by a nicely shaded mode road, and the students have erected an excellent breakwater of coral. About two hundred acres belong to the mission here, all under cultivation. Each student is allowed three acres for the support of himself nnrl family, and he has ail the cocoanuts, breadfruit, bananas, &c, that he can grow on it, but no produce can be sold. At present there are ninety-four students in the college. I found the doctor with a good library, and very systematic in all his habits. I had an exceedingly pleasant visit, and toward night roue home, though urged to stay longer, which I promised to do iu future. This college cannot fail to effect a vast deal of good for the people of Samoa, who avail themselves of its privileges, and utilise the information gained there for the welfare of themselves and their country. Apia, Feb. ICth, 1879.