OUli POSSESSION IN SAMOA FROM A MEDI- 

 CAL STANDPOINT. 



We landed at Pago Pago on Thursday, July 21, at 

 6 :30 a. m. The natives were on hand to welcome us, 

 and many a greeting was expressed in the euphonious 

 word "talofa" (love to you). The moment the ship was 

 anchored in the harbor a fleet of canoes surrounded it 

 and their brown inmates in native attire — men whose 

 only garment, was a breechcloth, women in the loose, 

 comfortable Mother Hubbard calico dress, children 

 with no clothing incumbrances of any Kind, all of them 

 with a copious growth of jet black long curly hair 

 freely exposed to sunlight and breeze, with upturned 

 faces and large, gentle, imploring coal black eyes — were 

 soliciting patronage for the products of their charming 

 island. Gaudily painted tapa cloth made of the bark 

 of a tree, coral beads, baskets of various designs and 

 sizes, shells and tropical fruits were the principal ar- 

 ticles offered for sale. The competition between the 

 dusky vendors was not a spirited one; it made little 

 difference who reaped the greatest profits, as in a short 

 time the gain of the morning's sales, according to the 

 customs of the island, would soon be shared equally 

 by nil. Our time in the harbor being limited to 

 a few hours. I was very anxious to improve every 

 minute in studying the resources of the island, its peo- 

 ple and their diseases. By previous appointment I was 

 met on board by Dr. H. E. Odell, P. A. Surgeon U. S. . 

 Navy, the medical officer of the training ship Adams, 

 now in the harbor (Fig. 14). To this officer I am 

 greatly indebted for many charming courtesies and most 

 valuable information. He took me ashore at once in 

 the government launch and on landing introduced me 

 to Chief Pan Pan of the village Aua, who happened to 



