A TRUE STORY OF THE SEA

Samoa Weekly Herald, Volume 1, Issue 2, 3 December 1892, Page 3

A TRUE STORY OF THE SEA

701) MILES IN A COCKLESHELL. Is our last issuo we briefly commented on the arrival of some natives of Manihiki, or Rokohangn, in an open lioat, and we are now in a position to give some further particulars.

It appears that the present King of Eokohanga is loti, an unele of Taupe, ono of the natives who arrived in Samoa. Taupe claims to bo the rightful King, and ho has been urging his claims for many years. Vory recently loti made use of an old custom well known in j.lokehangn and put an Evil Spirit into Taupe, so that ho should die. Taupe apparently felt no ill effects, but he objected to being turned into a perambulating boarding house for spirits of ill fame, and went to King leti to ask him what lie meant by 't. His Majesty wns lying on tho regal sofa, and Taupe admits that he shook the King on to tho floor by tipping up one end of .the sofa. Tho courtiers canio rushing in rally armed, shouting, "Taupo has killed leti," and Taupe was soon in irons, at liberty (to speak ironically) to reflect upon the folly of interfering with Kings and sofas. leti now shammed sick, but his court physician said the shuck so far from injuring tho system had improved the circlation. Tho native supreme court wasprompt to act: it fined Taupe SIOO, and unlike Samoa, the fine was rigorously exacted without any delay. Taupo and his fo] lowers were banished, and leti apparently used his roj-al foot to speed tho parting. They started in two small half-decked boats of a vory superior build to tho boats inuse in Samoa, and mado Nassau Inland iu 4 days. One of tho boats was leaking so badly, owing to the holes which luta had treacherously caused to be punched in her, that she had to be hauled up for repairs. They left Nassau, 15 souls in all, on November 17, landing at Alaau, in Tutuila, on November 20. There Isnko, thenativo preacher, was very kind to them, and iu return they consented to bring up a Sonioau and his wifeto Apia. However, on Nov. 23, off Tiavea, theSamoan woman wns so ill that, fearing she was dying, it was decided to land her. This was done, and the smaller boat was standing out on a light wind to rejoin her consort when a .boat from Tiavea gave chase, and by armed threats forced tho Manihiki natives to givo up tho boat. Tho Snmoana tore tho earrings from their ears and tho rings from the women's fingers with violence, and stole everything in tho boat. Having forced tho owners to get into the larger boat, tho Samoans took tho smaller Manahiki boat back to Tiavea. The Captain of tho German cutter Niuatnbutabu, who witnessed the assault, most kindly protected tho Manihiki natives in the larger boat, who wero by this timo themselves the object of an attack by a socond boat from Tiavea, commanded by the native preacher, who usod ovory argument to compel tho Manihiki people to como ashore. Tills Captain Giese refused to permit them to do, and told them to hoist tho British flag, which lie saw that thoy had in tho bont, mid also offered to tow them into Apia, which ho did.

Tho British Consul wont cm board tlio Niuotobutnbu to thnnk Captain (Hone for tlio protection which he hud afforded to those people. It being impossible to obtain warrants from tho Supromo Court of Samoa for the arrest of tho natives who it wub alleged hnd stolen a boat at Tiavea from tho Mnnihilei nativos until the actual pnrtios had been Identified, (ho British Consul loft Apia in IT.M.S. Hingnrooma on November 30th for Tiaven. Tlioro wore also on board la> Mnmra, kindly sent by tlio tfamoun Government to act as interpreter, two of the Mmiiliiki natives and tin ir interpreter. On reaching Xiavoa tho persons previously described wont ashore in tho wholor, which was in charge of Liout. Macdounld. Landing was not tho easiest of matters owing to tho Burf, but it was successfully accomplished. Tho stolen boat was almost immediately discovered, entirely hidden hy coooanut broncho*, and was taken possession of by the Lieut. Tho Consul proceeded to the house where tho chiefs wore assembled. Over almost every house white lings were Hying in token of surrender. A very short intnrvtow was sufficient to dispose of tho lying excuse of tho chiefs, and soon tho names of the eight offenders were obtained, eleven of these agreed to como to Apia In Dip man-of-war and deliver themselves- up for trinl. The eighth was absent and will follow. The seven native* who hnd stolen tho bunt hod to row the Manihikl nativos off to the man-of-war in tho very boat which they had

been guilty of stealing. As soon as the reefs were cleared the man-of-war's boat took the other in tow. Just at this juncture Mr. Carne arrivod in his boat. He had heard of the stealing of the boat by the members of his mission. lie was, however; too late to take any part in the proceedings. After H.M.B. Ringarooma had put to sea a big canoe was observed flying the Samoan flag, which was made out to contain soldiers from Mulinuu. They wore just in timo to bo too late, and their secret malnga to Tiavea fßoiiiß a curious waste of energy. The Kingarooma anchored for the night in Fagaloa Bay, leaving at 11.30 a.m. the next morning for Apia. Immediately on arrival Mr. CusackSmith proceeded to the Supreme Court with Taupe, the leading native of Manihiki, -who laid the necessary informations. We understand that the British Consul wished the Samoan authorities to take the seven delinquents from the warship, but was informed that the Samoan Government were unable oven to provido a boat for the purpose. This necessitated a second journey to Mulinuu at 5 p.m., when the Consul found no one ready to receive the prisoners, and eventually Mr. Denvers was discovered at Sogi, the centre of a disorganised band of half-drossed soldiers, who were hurriedly scrambling out of the adjacent huts.

The Tiavea natives were then lauded and marched off to gaol. They had evidently expected that some outward and visible sign of the power and majesty of tho Samoau Government would have emphasised their arrest. They could hardly have been awed by the haphazard nature of their reception. Tho preliminary examination by tho Supremo Court of .Samoa will take place this morning at 0 a.m.