68 AROUND THE WORLD VIA INDIA. 



ample of what such forests are capable of accomplishing 

 in the way of securing an adequate rainfall. Drought 

 is unknown. The rainy season in the Samoan Islands 

 is supposed to be during the first three months of the 

 year, but in Tutuila it rains more or less throughout 

 the year, rendering the atmosphere damp. The rain- 

 fall last year, according to Dr. Odell, reached nearly 

 200 inches. Every ravine leading from the mountain 

 heights to the sea has its rivulets or small rivers, which 

 drain off the excessive moisture of the saturated soil, 

 furnishing the inhabitants all over the island with a 

 faultless water supply. The climate is uniform, the 

 tropical heat modified by sea and land breezes. The 

 temperature seldom rises above 85 degrees F. and is 

 rarely less than 72 degrees F., although on rare occa- 

 sions the thermometer has registered as low as 60 de- 

 grees F. (Odell). The nights are generally delightfully 

 cool. The climate is, on the whole, very similar to that 

 of Hawaii. 



THE PEOPLE. 



"They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 

 <|u;iff immortality and joy." — Milton. 



The Samoans are a noble race, simple, honest, affec- 

 tionate, peaceable and hospitable. The men are splen- 

 did specimens of physical development, above average 

 size, and with a courteous and noble bearing. I ob- 

 served several women who were close to the six-foot 

 mark and as erect as the poles of a bamboo thicket. I 

 noticed that many of the women and some of the men 

 had dark brown hair, which, I was informed, was the 

 result of a process of bleaching with lime, done either 

 with the intention of ridding it of its live inhabitants 

 or for cosmetic reasons. The women are rather fair- 

 looking when young, but lose their attraction before 

 they reach the age of 30 by premature old age and 

 obesity. Tattooing among men remains as a national 

 custom. Tt is done as a ceremony as soon as the boys 



