LIFE IN SAMOA. 225 



arrowroot, and the various oil-producing trees. Tea and 

 cinchona would undoubtedly do well in Samoa. 



For the cultivation of the two last, no climate or country 

 presents more favourable conditions. There is no reason why 

 Englishmen, having once conquered the popular prejudice 

 that tea cannot be successfully cultivated or manufactured by 

 Europeans, or outside certain localities, should not enter upon 

 this industry in the great islands of the Pacific, especially as 

 the amount of labour required is so small in comparison with 

 that necessary for the cultivation and preparation of coffee, 

 sugar, cotton, or tobacco. 



Tea adapts itself to various temperatures in a manner im- 

 possible to coffee, is extremely hardy, and bears a crop which 

 defies rains or hurricanes ; it luxuriates on high and sloping 

 grounds, especially those of ancient forest where the giant 

 trees are allowed at intervals to remain, affording a shade in 

 which it delights. It is, of all products, one of the most 

 suited to the woodlands of Samoa. The seed could be easily 

 procured from China, and if gathered at the fitting season, and 

 packed in damp sand or sugar, would arrive in good germinat- 

 ing condition. The tea-shrub yields its first paying crop in 

 the third year from the planting of the seed. For the planta- 

 tion labour, the services of Polynesians are suitable, and 

 easily procurable. The skilled workmen required for the 

 manipulation of the leaf are to be met with in Hawaii, 

 or can be obtained from Ghina, and at a low rate of remu- 

 neration. 



All the long list of Fiji plants applies to Samoa, which has 

 in addition some trees with very fragrant blossoms that might 

 be used for the preparation of scents : notably the datura 

 tree, which grows to the height of an ordinary cottage, and 

 which is completely covered in the season by lovely cream- 



15 



