emissaries, and expressed their joy at the establishment of a government and assured me of their hearty co-operation. The articles of confederation (document marked K) they had refused to sign, having no affinity with Mauga, and were unable to act without the sanction of Atua. I found these chiefs prudent, sensible men, with whom I spent some time, and, leaving them, visited the different villages en route to PagoPago on foot. The following night, at a late hour, reached the bay, and found Mauga on board my vessel awaiting me, and unable to con trol his anxiety to know of my intercourse with the Tutuila chiefs at the Seaward end of the island. I could get from him no satisfactory explanation of his outrage upon the English schooner Dauntless, but he was profuse in his apologies. He had not buoyed the harbor nor opened the boat-passage for water. He begged that I would do this work for him. Finally, with the pilot, we arranged for this work, and there is a reasonable hope that it will be done. The object of Mauga's patient waiting was a desire to see the " Atua mat," to which I could not accede. Our friendly relations, however, were not disturbed. The following day I met Mauga and some of his Council: gave them a history of the government at Mulinuu, and the desire for unity and concord among all Samoans. With these people I found the same desire for peace and hopes of the future, but all talk drifted to one point, a determination to see the "Atua mat." I tried to convince them that I had no right to exhibit it. I read my address to Mauga, (document marked A 2,) and received his letter to the President, (document marked A 1.) After the exchange of a few presents and a general hand-shaking, we parted with kindly feelings. The next morning weighed anchor, and sailed for Manua; landed on the 12th at the village of Tau-Manua, where I found the teacher could speak English, and with him met Tui-Manua that day. I found the king to be a blind old man of eighty or more years, his hair long and white as snow. His people stood around, their faces expressive of awe and pity. But few white people come to Manua, except the missionaries, and they only at long intervals. The natives were so horoughly Christianized, the little island so isolated and being without a harbor, that they were secure in their faith. The old king had kept himself informed of all matters in the large islands, and welcomed me with sincere pleasure. For an hour he held both of my hands, talked to me of government, of law, of peace, Christianity, and his love for the Samoan people. Even this exertion was rapidly exhausting him, and I bade him farewell. In an hour he sent me the "Tui Manua mat." The bext day I left Mauna and Samoa. The Samoan government consists of the Taimua and Pule," the former comprising seven chiefs, not among the greatest, but known for their ability; the "Pule," four chiefs of higher grade, who crown the edifice. The Taimua and Pule appoint legal magistrates for districts from among the people over whom they are to have jurisdiction. The government is to be sustained by a per-capita tax. With their resources this will be trifling, and cheerfully paid. But they know nothing of finances, or the art of government; in theory they may display some wisdom, but they must fail in practice. They fully realize that some government must aid them. With a population about one-third less than the Hawaiian Islands, vastly greater natural resources, and amiable and tractable people, and upon the track of a growing trade between English-speaking people, Samoa, under guidance and protection, would develop and concentrate a great trade. To the touch of industry, its harbors would be busy marts, its timber utilized, and its valleys and mountain-slopes teeming with native products. Without needless amplification or argument I have, in this paper, endeavored faithfully to picture Samoa; and now I have the honor to be, your very obedient servant, Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. INDEX TO ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. A 1.-Mauga, chief of Pago-Pago, to the President of the United States. A 2.-Steinberger to Mauga. B 1.-Steinberger to chiefs and rulers of Samoa, at Mulinuu, Upolu. B 2.-Chiefs and rulers of Samoa, at Mulinun, to Steinberger. C 1-White residents of Apia, Upolu, to Steinberger. C 2. Steinberger to white residents of Apia, Upolu. D 1.-Samoan government (Taimua and Pule) to the President of the United States. D 2.-Steinberger to Samoan chiefs at Mulinuu, Apia. G.-Samoan laws. H 1.-Native teachers to Steinberger. H 2.-Steinberger to native teachers. I 1.-Rev. George A. Turner to Steinberger. I 2.-Whitmer, chairman, Turner, secretary, London Missionary Society to Steinberger. 13.-L. Elloy (Catholic bishop) to Steinberger. I 4.-Rev. Geo. Brown (Wesleyan) to Steinberger. K.-Articles of confederation, drawn by Commander R. W. Meade, United States steamer Narragansett, for Tutuila chiefs to sign. L 1.-Appendix to harbor regulations, Pago-Pago. L 2.-English consul's recognition of Appendix. M.-List of Samoan trees. N.-List of Samoan fruits and vegetables. [Inclosure A 1.] PAGO-PAGO, August 15, 1873. To His Excellency the President of the United States : May it please your excellency to receive greetings from a native chieftain whose people are few, and whose resources are less. We have come to know your excellency as a great chief, over many chiefs and over a great people. Your people have met us as friends. They have come among as friends, bringing greetings from their great chief, and our hearts are warm with friendship. At our home (Pago-Pago) we are Christian, worshipping your God. The good teachers have taught us to be honest, observe your doctrine, and maintain the faith. We know that you are a great people, with many ships and many warriors, but that you are all united in peace; that you cultivate the soil, build great houses, make great roads, and talk to each other through the air. We want the same, and pray for the aid, protection, and friendship of the President of the United States. Your men-of-war and your people's vessels have come into our harbor. We have Laade agreements with them, and your flag is joined to ours. We gave to you exusive right to our harbor, and we want you to use it. We are poor, but we are happy in our peaceful island. Our Samoan brethren in the other islands are divided, and their hands raised against each other. We all sant peace; we want unity and laws, and beg you to come and instruct us in concord atlaw-making, extending to us the protection of your excellency's great Government. This will ever be the prayer of the Samoan people. I send kindly words of greeting, and extend my hand to your excellency. MAUGA, Chief of Pago-l'ago. I hereby certify that I have duly attached the original and translation, and also that the a true and correct translation of same. T. MEREDITH, United States Vice-Commercial Agent. [Inclosure A 2.] PAGO-PAGO, August 10, 1873. The Great Chief of Pago-Pago, greeting: I have come over many miles of land and water from the great chief of the United States of America to offer you a friendly hand in the name of our people. Commander Meade, with one of our great war-ships, has made a treaty with you, and you have given us the right to your beautiful harbor. Commander Meade also le for you a flag and hoisted our own, believing that at no distant day your harbor would afford refuge to our vessels, and create such general commerce and commercial relations as would more nearly bring the Samoan and the American into close relation and bonds of fellowship. I have come among you to explore your islands, look at the rich and varied vegetation, know of your manners and customs, meet your great chiefs, see the evidences of your Christianity, and learn of your desire for closer connection and intercourse with the white man. I shall carry home to our great chief a truthful picture in my mind of your beautiful bay, your fertile lands, soft climate, and the fruits and vegetables which the good God has given you without asking and without labor. Nothing that I have seen among you has impressed me more, or will better please ar Great Chief, than the Christian character of the people you rule over. The good Laissionaries have brought to you the word of the true God, and you have taken it to our hearts. I will tell my chief of your faith and honesty; how my ship has been ed with Samoans, (men, women, and children,) our valuable articles spread about, and not even a nail missing; how, when your Sunday comes, all is quiet and each Saon goes to the house of God; but I will be more happy to tell of the virtue of your With a heart full of feeling, great chief, for you and for your people, I must tell of things which you do not do. Your lands are not tilled, your people do not work, the art of industry is not fixed among you, and your people are not clothed. In our try we till the soil, our great fields are spread everywhere, families labor together, ad our nakedness is covered. Your people are not afraid of work; your young men are brave and active; they ave gone with me through the bush, and climbed to the top of high mountains; they Lave paddled my canoe when our white people would sicken. Your religion teaches you industry as well as devotion; your people love you and ton can do much for them; my Government and people will not forget you in your -forts. I have been in Upolu, among your brethren, and there find them poorer than you are; and not so steadfast in their goodness. This has come from war, where chiefs and families have engaged in ugly strife, and a beautiful country is suffering for want of anity, concord, and law. I find in Apia that the white people are your friends, and hat the great chiefs want peace and will begin to adopt laws. I have tried to aid them, and will do more before I leave you. In our country we have many tribes of natives, but they are not so peaceable or honest as yourselves; only a few are Christians; but it is cold in winter, the earth gives them but little, (you have everything,) but my Government gives them lands, farmers, tools, teachers, clothing, and provisions, and make laws for them. Some tribes are rich and happy, but they have made farms, built churches and school-houses, aud live as their white brethern. My Government or people do not want your lands; we want to aid you. My Great Chief told me to advise you not to sell your lands "to individual foreigners : when you part with it you lose your mother who maintains you, and who will always support you. Of this I have in our talks cautioned you so much that you will believe in our kindly interest in you. In the harbor regulations made for you by Commander Meade, he did not provide for absence of harbor commissioner, or fix regular harbor dues. This I have done for you, making the amount three cents per ton. I have paid you this small sum to establish the precedent, but you cannot expect to collect dues from vessels unless you stake and buoy your harbor. I have instructed you in this, and your pilot will bring back the chain given by Commander Meade to fasten the big buoy in place. Now, great chief, in saying farewell, I will again express my hopes for the welfare of your people, and prayers for your life and happiness. I am, truly, your friend, To the great Samoan chiefs and rulers, greeting: I have come from the Great Chief of the United States to visit your islands, see your people, and talk to your high chiefs. I bring from a great government greeting and kindly words of fellowship. I know you will have a great meeting to-morrow, and I send to ask if some of you will meet me at the consulate, or appoint a day and place when I shall come among you. I salute you in the name of our people and Great Chief. Fraternally, A. B. STEINBERGER, United States Special Commissioner to Samoa. [Inclosure B 2. GOVERNMENT HOUSE OF SAMOA, To the chief from the American Government: August 21. 1873. This letter is from the government of Samoa to your excellency. In answer to your letter expressing your wish to confer with some of the chiefs and rulers, we will now appoint chiefs and rulers to wait on you on Monday, at 9 o'clock. And again, let us meet at Mr. Collies's house; and we wish you to ask Mr. Williams to be our interpreter in the Samoan and English languages. That is all. May we all have God's blessing. We are the rulers and chiefs of the Samoan government. This letter was written on the 22d, and received on the evening of the same day. [Inclosure C 1.] NAVIGATOR'S ISLANDS, Apia, August 19, 1873. SIR: On the assumption that you have been delegated by the President of the United States of America to visit these islands in answer to a petition sigued in April, 1872, by a large and influential majority of high chiefs and rulers, praying that the protec tion of the United States of America be extended to this group of islands, we, the undersigned foreigners, residents in these islands, holding as we do a majority of interests, and deprecating the prolonged and the ever-recurring civil wars, subversive alike of morality and religion, and seriously impeding the material advancement of this valuable group, approach you with the expression of our hope that the prayer of the natives may be granted by the President and Government of the United States. On our own behalf and on behalf of the petitioners we respectfully request your favorable consideration of the prayer of the petition. Since the cessation of late hostilities, attempts have been made by the chiefs of the two opposite factions to frame a code of laws. Although deeply sensible of the importance to themselves, and well aware that wholesome laws will tend to the progressive improvement of their country, the natives have found themselves unequal to the performance of legislative duties in framing such a code of laws as will prevent civil strife and of involving them in trouble with foreign powers. It is not incompatible with the welfare of both races that whites and natives should live side by side and in amity with each other; but to conduce to and insure this desirable and practicable end it is necessary that a sound code of laws should be established for the government of natives and whites irrespective of rank or condition of both races. Humbly praying that it may be consistent with your high duties to give the spirit of our request your favorable consideration and further the attainment of our object, We have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servants, Colonel STEINBERGER, United States Commissioner. [Here follows a number of signatures.] [Inclosure C 2.] APIA, SAMOA, October 6, 1873. GENTLEMEN: I have read with more than ordinary interest the document bearing your signatures of August 19. I have delayed a specific auswer until such time as might enable me to see Samoa and the Samoans. Now, upon the eve of my departure, I am proud to say that I have learned no little of the character of the Samoans. I have traversed the islands, seen their internal and domestic homes and relations. I have read their laws, which you yourselves have pronounced correct in intention, and modified after the Samoans have submitted them 10 ΤΟΠ. You, gentlemen, nursed in religion and civilization, will appreciate that an aboriginal people, struggling for light and prone by habit to make no distinction in their intercourse with the whites, will have many difficulties to overcome. Charity and the better elements of manhood will prompt you to give to them the aid and comfort which your civilization and knowledge of law and its observance suggest. I am deeply sensible of the necessity for law and an established government upon these islands. I regard it as being necessary for the salvation of the Samoans that some government extend to them power and protection. My feelings and sentiments are the more enlisted from association with the natives, on observance of their simplieity, their honest intention, and the deep religious sentiment which absorbs them; in this I recognize the great labors of the missionaries, their devotion and their sacrifices, and the earnest devotedness of the natives to their teachings. For this let us thank the good God. Your petition I will present to our Government of the United States. I will carry with me your hopes; your prayer will be in my mind and heart. I leave you and Samoa with regret, with all charity and love, and thank God for the great unity of sentiment pervading all races and color in these islands. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your very obedient servant, A. B. STEINBERGER, United States Special Commissioner to Samoa. Messrs. WILLIAMS, COLLIE, TURNER, DEANE, BARNARD, PARKER, BLACKWOOD, and others, Apia, Samoa, [Inclosure D 1.-Translation.] THE HOUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA, To the Principal Chief of the American Government: We are the rulers of the government of Samoa. We send a great deal of love to your excellency. Although we are not acquainted with one another, and have not met face to face, nor talked with one another since the world was created, yet we write this letter in |