THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 165, 25 September 1880, Page 3

THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY

Si/duri/ M„;i AagiKl 2S. News from Samoa is very slow in reaching us, and although tho a lopti.m of a Sanioan constitution anil the crowning of King Malieloa T. took place iu tho hitter part of last December, a detailed accomit of tilt! ovont lias only just bean received in this part of the world. Tho Sainoan Constitution was adopted by an uss.mulilv of eminent Samoans, who met on board a German corvette Iviii" in Samoai, waters. An unusual display of trousers was made on that occasion, no : less than throe of tin: members of the j constitutional assemhty hnving put on thesa impressive garments before swimming out, to the corvette. Tlio assembly | was culled to order by one nf the Germain officers, who, through an interpreter, explained to Iho members that tile adoption of a Constitution was a little ceremony in (he nature of grace before nails, and that on its ' conclusion three large-sized iron nails would lie served out to each one of them. There was not much discussion as to the provisions of the ('oiistitutii.n, partly liec-ausu it was lend iu Herman, and lu-cause its iuterpreter summarily tiauslateil it as int-aniiiL', "Now you fellows, keep ipiiel, or yiin won't get. no nails." Having thus laid the foundation of a fie... constitutional monarchy, the assembly elected one -Malietoa King of Samoa, and the boatswain prmnptlv crowned him with a black sill; hat. His Majesty was then saluted with hveuty-oiie guns, during which ceremony the entire assembly jumped overboard in great, terror, an'.! the King had to he held by four stout sailors. On the restoration of confidence the members of the Assembly returned, received their nails an.l escorted t.hnir monarch to the beach. It is the opinion of Prince Jiismarek that an abler and better conducted IWliaineutary body never assembled, and he greatly .egrets that the Gcruiun I'.irlianiont cannot Inmade to transact business after the quiet and intelligent Sainoan method. The kingdom of Samoa lining thus established, the king devoted the following d.,v to a celebration of the event. The German ofllcers went on shore to lake puvt in the festivities, and were ellteiliiilied at a gorgeous banquet. A review of the Sainoan army followed, and it must, have been a most imposing affair. full army corps of one man eaeudciilod before tho King, and had it not been that one corps was thrown into disorder by undue indulgence in beer, under the iiiliuonou of which he sat down on the point of bis baronet, the spectacle would have left, nothing to be desired. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the King presented each of the Genitalis with a hundred cociixim&s and the badge of the Order of the Straighttailed Fig. It was here that the difficulty between Samoa and Germany began, -a difficulty which mayyet lead to the gravest results. Tlio' badge of the order in quostion is "a white and vullow spotted pi,' with a straight tail/' Tlio King had been carefully instructed iu the art of establishing an order of knighthood, and. kn.-w perfectly well that it is the l-'.uro-pean custom to wear the badge of knighthood on the left, breast. 11". therefore very naturally expected that the (lerman officers would promptly attach their pigs to their left breast," To bis great dismay they did untiling nf the kind, hut calmly handed over their pigs to their servants, with orders tn take them on board the corvette. This he regarded as an insult, lie had himself linen presented by tho German caplnin with a tin box Formerly containing seidlitz powders, and he were it in the proper place with the aid of a piece of twine. That, while, iie was thus paying due honour to a ( lerman order of knighthood, bis German ".nests simiiid contemptuously refuse to weai' their Sum,.an pigs was an insult w.nrli hi.. :!i_111i\ le ppivd lion to resent. Tim King, however, did not permit his jus! anger tn lead him into a disregard of the laws of hospitality. He merely announced to bis guests that the ceremonies of the day were ended, and that, (hey were at liberty to retire. He turned a deaf ear to the suggestion of bis Cabinet, that to allow six plump* German officers, in lino condition for the table, to escape from the royal palace uneaten, would be an act of great weakness. Even when the commander-in-chief of the Arniv explained to him that the people fully expected that at least one cold German would be aiven to them, he firmly replied that the German ofllcers wore, on that occasion, to be looked at and not to be eaten, and that on some future occasion be would gratify his faithful subjects with a pair of missionaries. In spite, therefore, of the threatening looks of the populace,, the Germans regained their vessel in safety, and soon alter sailed away. _ For the present there is a suspension of diplomatic intercourse between Samoa and Germany. Whether (he German Chancellor will succeed in convincing the Samoau King that tlio refusal of the tie. eoralcd oflloers to wear their pigs was not an intentional insult, hut a more mattor of necessity, remains to bo seen. In the state of feeling which exists n spark may at any time set lire to something, and n European congress nin.v yet be narosary to settle the Samnan question and secure peace with honour.