STEVENSONIANA
A “TUSITALA” LETTER NOW IN AUCKLAND APPEAL TO SAMOAN KING rpwO interesting letters from Robert Louis Stevenson, hitherto unpublished, are in the possession of Mr. E. W. Gurr, now resident in Auckland. One of these, signed jointly by Stevenson and Mr. Gurr, is addressed to Baron Senfft von Pilsach, president of the municipality of Apia, and dated 1891. The other was written by Stevenson in Samoan and signed with his Samoan name—Tusitala. It beers the date July 4, 1894. It is well known that Stevenson befriended many Samoans sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for participating in the cause of Mataafa. The Road of Gratitude is an evidence of this. The letter mentioned above pleads for another prisoner who was related to one of Tusi-tala’s servants. This letter came into the possession of Mr. Gurr (then a judge) when administering the estate of Malietoa Laupepa, and with the permission of Malietoa Tanumaflli, his successor, it was retained by him. Following is a translation of the letter:— V ailima. To his Majesty, Malietoa, King of Samoa, Your Majesty, If you please, this is a beseeching letter. There has been in the gaol since the first, the prisoner Po’e. The doctor says he is sick, old and weak. If he remains in the prison then he will quickly die. His punishment is imprisonment, not death. Toicards sick people it is right that we should be kind and sympathise with them. Although he is guilty have compassion still for him on account of his distress like unto our Father in Heaven who has love for all of us. If it be your pleasure, if you please, say to him that I will be bondsman for him. How, I set apart property as security for him, if it is according to your desire, after the foreign custom. If you accede to this, I will be ever thankful and bless you. Your Majesty, I retain very great regard for you. May you live long in the grace of God. 1 am, your true friend, Tusitala. Po’e was released by King Malietoa the morning following receipt of this letter.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNAK19300613.2.158.2
Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 997, 13 June 1930, Page 14
Word Count
354STEVENSONIANA Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 997, 13 June 1930, Page 14
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