DEATH OF MAUGA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 4, Issue 173, 20 November 1880, Page 2

DEATH OF MAUGA.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF Till: SAMOA TIMES i Sin, —I have the melancholy duty of informing you of tho death of Manga, tho old chief of PagopagO. As he has been a great deal at Mulinuu of late years, he will be probably known to most of your readers, and the account of his having pass.'d away not without interest. He wits bom at Oftl, in Manila, but early made his way to Tutuila, where he eventually succeeded to the title of Manga. Since then, bis life has been a very chequered one, having been almost continually involved in the novel-ceasing Samoan wars. Reverses have been far more frequent than victories, and of lute years have done much to break his spirit and hasten his end. His energy of character, firmness of will, and native dignity of mind made him respected often when he has been most disliked. Had circumstances been more favourable to him he would probably have developed into a character worthy of great admiration. Your reader's '.rill be acquainted with the account of his crushing defeat in tho beginning of 1878, and with his year's residence, together with all bis people, as war prisoners at Mulinuu. Last year renewed difficulties sprung up, and Manga only saved his life by a twice repeated unconditional surrender. For about six months they were again kept away from their bay. and were only getting comfortably settled down since their return, when the old chief was seized with his hist sickness. Ho had a very severe attack of dysentery while the U.S. ship of war (Alaska) was in Pagopago. Every possible attention was given him bv Dr. Hiland, of the Alaska. Both medicine and food were freely supplied, but though the dysentery was entirely cvirod,his constitution was broken, his strength gone, and in spite of every effort to save him, he rapidly sank and passed away on Tuesday Vight, October 26. His last words wore an exhortation to his poop e to live at peace, to seek the kingdom of tioil and His righteousnesss, and to prepare for the life beyond the grave. The interest felt in the old chief, Manga, and his being so generally known both in and beyond Samoa may. perhaps, justify tho insertion of this rather long account in your paper.—l am, fro., (,'iias. Phillips. Leone, Tutuila, November 4, 1880.