ROUND SAVAII.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 106, 11 October 1879, Page 2

ROUND SAVAII.

v T3OUOVM SPECIAL CO-RESPONDENT CTRIL No. VU.: Tbera art over 150 teres in cotton, tnd in fuU hearing; 86 aoret in count of planting; IWmm rapidly undergoing burning «nd defining, tnd which will «ry*oo»Jb» put into antd, to that before the *ed of tie year than trill bt 350 •Mi under cultivation,—uo Btan result* for'tbetiist two wart of » new plantaturn. Besides thU, then in'SOiam under corn in ell ategee: tnd come 8 or 10 aorta under food, tuoh es yams, Ulo, «ai«M,*e. The oottoa trees are pleutod *t eseotly 10 Jest between the trees, and Ufaet between tit* Ntjj cocotnuta, 30 feet, btuMUM lOteet, *nd hreadfroit *Wtl,e road*-«»&st apart Growing in almost wmUti mWi* in various parte of the .plantation fcxaa of which have bofn jpknted. wfcie the rest was found growing on the earnfe), art coooenut trees, yarns, Ulo, fcenaaQee, orange*, tobtcoo, etna (ef vtnowktoda, minding tht true Bate or rattan of India), ami 33 feuonutmagef «onwNiM. Idd «o,ihl» an unlimited «spply of rood foe* water, *wm two huadreji corn-fed fowl* el tht Cochin China farted, mere fresh ejgee •my day than con bo consumed, make* f lis Lata ;plautation * second land of

troshen,—a land flowing, if not wit! ] milk and honsy, with almost every de* ! criptionof food which is to. be found all over the group. %• I■' , Such it my description of the plantation as I found it; the difficulties which have been overcome, »ad Uwes which will have to bo mastered as the work of clearing is advanced Theestate contains several thooaand acres, which ofeourse will take yeara to convert into a plantation, though in the meanwhii% it U a valuable tract of !sau.

After dinner om the Friday all the haada wen called up to the hooaa,—it being pay day. And a moat motley tight tat men, women aad children formed. It wa* tret explained to them that half, or M near as possible, of the amount of wage! due to them would be held back, in order that they might have a sufficiency of clothe* to enable them to appear with credit when returning to their own home*. There were ever one hundred persona present, and a lively chattering they kept up. They'were, called up in a certain order by name, to receive what articles they required, 'which were laid out on a table for their inspection and choice. It was rather interesting to notice the variety of tastes amongst the men in picking out a shirt; but the most decided patterns worked out in the loudest colours were evidently the favourites. My friend the cook fell two cents in my estimation when I saw him choose one of the "loudest" shirts in the stock. But the best fuu was in watching the women. With all the other womeu's eyes upon her, one, whose name had been called, would come op to the table as shyly and coyly as though aha were a beautiful blushing maiden of *weet sixteen, and carefully overhaul the prints placed before her for selection. Having at last decided upon a pattern, she would be served, and retire as shyly aa aha had entered. On the other hand others would enter in response ,to their names, and make their selection with' an amount of confidence and speed that showed they had made up their minds long before they were called upon.

table m shyly and coyly aa though aba visn a beautiful blushing maiden of *wsst sixteen, and carefully overhaul the prints plaeed before her for selection. Having at lan decided upon a patters, she would be served, and retire aa shyly aa the had entered. On the other hand others would enter in response to their names, and make their selection with' an amount of confidence and speed that showed they had made up their mind* long before they were called upon. If there were a sure and profitable market for coffee, the upper portion of the plantation near the house offers a> most excellent site for the cultivation of the plant. It is just the proper distance from the sea, the toil is of the richest quality, and the land is on a gentle slope from which the rain' Water naturally drains itself. The aspect is good, facing the south, and the trees would bo well sheltered from the strongest winds by the mountain at the back. In facta more suitable place could not be found in Savaii. So also sugar would thrive equally well; but unfortunately, through the absence of a sure market, and the lack of enterprise on the part of Sydney and Auckland merchants in this direction, ths day has not arrived when either can be made to pay the grower. In all instances of planting, if any pecuniary loss occurs through the fall of market prices or other causes, tb* poor planter is the first to suffer for his enterprise; and upon his shoulders the greatest burden of the loss invariably falls, not nnfrequently bringing him to utter rain.

The mules on the station are of great service in packing cotton down to the ■tore on the beach landing, from whence it is conveyed to Faritootai, when His ginned, haled, and stored to await shipment to New Zealand. On Saturday the 9th of August, much a* I was loth to leave the roof of my hospitable entertainer I had to bow to circumstances over which I had no control, and make another start on my round tour. After a late breakfast we started for Osgaernelae, thanking Mr. Mc.Kenae for his uniform" kindness, and the generous manner in which he entertained me. We oalled at Mr. De Vere's house at Salailua, and there heard that a half-caste boy, John Craig, had been shot with dynamite at OagaemaLae. The report of the explosion was so loud that, as I afterwards learned, it was heard by the natives at Faiaai, n town fully five miles distant. At the time of the accident the youth waa shooting fish for a fallow named Thomaa Moss, "who supplied him with the dynamite for that purpose. He sustained injuries to his face and left hand, and has lost his right hand and • portion of the arm. We took him up to Palauli in the cutter, from whence he wae swiftly conveyed to Apia in a large tanmaloa. Although it is only thirty miles from Gagaenialas to Palauli, the passage occupied tie just 48 hours, owing to bend winds, dirty weather and a very nigh confused sea. The cutter-boat .had been ballasted, trimmed and provisioned for siv persons,—Mr. Cornwall, myself and the crew; but owing to this dynamite accident we had to give up tho only place of ebeltcr to the poor sufferer,. and give a passage to six native men and two women. Under ail the circumstances the passage wen a meet uncomfortable one, and I wee very glad when we anchored inside) the reef st Satapaitee (the lee end of Palauli bay), after passing 48 uncomfortable hours. Mr. Cornwall at once made arrangement* for forwarding Craig to Ante, who wae seat on the same evett-

ing in a well manned taumalua. We dm went oft t& Palsali, end were kindly received by Mr. Froak Wilton, whoeo boepiulity we tcjoytd until we bed to of tha want on the Stwfcod^rt,—■**#?* into open water, md by S ofoJock. in toe •irening necked Mr. Co*owaU'.re*Vl«W et F»«toot«i after«n e*e*Moßo!3Q deyi. Uuforttini.te.ly I hod uottunn to'call upon'

•Ny of fit* whiten at Foaalileaga, bat M wti us an opportunity occur* I shall take i special trip to this, the most important jopr* trading district in Savaii. In the meantime,—" Tbfa!" '..'.. ; „...-. (Concluded.)